Rumble Time: Epic - Preview

On May 16th Rumble Time Promotions makes its long awaited return to the Chase Park Plaza. The historic venue in the Central West End was home to professional wrestling for many years and for the second time in 13 months, the hotel and banquet center will host professional combat sports.

With a fight card titled "Epic", Rumble Time hopes to go big with some of their top stars stepping back into the cage.

In the main event, the "Sensational One" Ken Porter returns to action coming off a first round submission in January and a busy 2014 that saw the exciting flyweight fight three times with only a single loss on a high-profile Titan FC card in Kansas City. In addition to a busy MMA schedule, Porter has tried his hand at boxing amassing a 4-0 record with 2 TKOs in just under a year of competition.

Facing Porter is four-time RFA-vet Aaron Ely out of Kansas. Ely (4-2) started his career winning three straight before tasting defeat at RFA 2. He would go on to win one and lose one in his next two fights including a split decision loss to the UFC's No. 11 flyweight, Dustin Ortiz. The fight with Ortiz was Ely's last since January 2013.

Porter's speed is often too much for his competitors, but Ely has had profile fights in the past and is a veteran of the sport. It will be interesting to see how the long lay off will effect Ely when he faces a very active and razor sharp Porter.

Popular lightweight Jake Roberts will potentially compete for the last time in St. Louis. Roberts moved to Phoenix, AZ in February, training at the MMA LAB in Glendale under coach John Crouch. The gym is most known for former UFC lighweight champion Benson Henderson.

The "North County Nightmare" Roberts (3-0) has never tasted defeat in MMA, rolling off his first three wins as a pro and a perfect 8-0 record as an amateur winning all of his fights by submission. Roberts cut his teeth on the local fight scene training at St. Charles MMA before making the move to Phoenix.

Roberts is one of those special talents, and it's always a treat to watch him fight. If he takes smart fights and can stay injury free, Roberts has the potential to join his former teammates Josh Sampo, Alp Ozkillic, and Lance Benoist in the UFC one day. Roberts is joining a list of local lightweights at the Ultimate Fighter tryouts on April 27th.

Facing Roberts at Epic is Arkansas' Tyrone Paige. Paige (2-1) has turn your lights out power as evident by two of his first three fights as a pro have ended in KOs. Paige had an exceptional amateur career in Northern Arkansas and will be a stiff test for the hometown favorite Roberts.

Powerful wrestler Adam Osmoe will make the cut to 155 after a successful pro debut against Raymond Gray at welterweight. Osmoe can wear down opponents and control where the action goes and although he looked good at 170, he should be even more dominating at lightweight.

Osmoe has sought out the guidance of BJJ black belt and TUF/UFC-vet Kyle Watson, and has been traveling to several local gyms to get work.

Raul Rosas (1-2) will look to even his record against Osmoe after dropping losses to Kirk Huff and the aforementioned Roberts.

Red-hot Kyle Kurtz has wracked up three straight wins as a professional after a rocky road in his amateur career. Kurtz has three first round stoppages, most recently defeating Danny Andrews at Cage of Honor in Kurtz's hometown of Cape Girardeau.

Kurtz won't have an easy night taking on Jeremiah Denson. Denson had an incredible amateur career with wins over Chad Williams and Chuka Willis, but hasn't quite had the same level of success as a winning one and losing one in his first two pro fights.

Speaking of Williams, "The Natural" will be back in the Rumble Time cage taking on Ty Flores in Flores' professional debut. Flores is one of the best amateur prospects and his debut is eagerly anticipated by many. Training alongside teammates Kyle Kurtz and Ken Proter at Steve Berger's Fit or Fight MMA, Flores has the combination of a hulking physical presence and gritty tenaciousness. A fight with Denver Sells last year was nominated for St. Louis' Amateur Fight of the Year.

Williams (1-1) was long considered one of the state's best welterweights when amassed a streak of thirteen wins before finally dropping his first loss.

Nikki Smith and Stephanie Alba will battle in one of two female fights on the card. Smith from Wood River's War Room looked much improved in her last bout winning in just two minutes over Porsha Trust.

Rounding out the card will be Ronni Lawrence in her professional debut taking on a yet to be named opponent.

Tickets for Epic can be purchased from Metrotix.com by clicking on the link here: http://www.metrotix.com/fraBody.php?eventId=6663&perfId=26170

Rumble Time Will follow up "Epic" with their next event on July 16th at Ameristar Casino.

Ken Porter photo courtesy of Bob Barton Photography.

Full Fight card:
Ken Porter vs Aaron Ely
Jake Roberts vs Tyrone Paige
Adam Osmoe vs Raul Rosas
Josh Epps vs Malshon Ball
Kyle Kurtz vs Jeremiah Denson
Nikki Smith vs Stephanie Alba
Ty Flores vs Chad Williams
Ronni Lawerence vs TBA

Royal Shirmer vs Kenia Rosas
Alex Masias vs Cort Wahle
Nora Hamilton vs Canee Boyd
Oscar Abuatzi vs Terry Scott
Erik Newman vs Joey Valdes
Johnathan Bradberry vs Ricky Wisemann
Danny Quaite vs Matthew Ramos

Astin Broom vs Jamese Taylor - K1
Axe Wildridge vs Jared Medley - K1
Dewayne Diggs vs Brett Snow - K1
Chris Brooks vs Jarrod Thomas - K1

Rumble Time: Epic
Saturday, May 16th
Chase Park Plaza, St. Louis, MO