Rumble Time: Triumph - Event Preview

Rumble Time Promotions returns Nov. 7th for Triumph featuring six pro MMA bouts and a full under card of amateur MMA and K1.

Headlining the card is Rumble Time's go-to guy as of late, Yohance Flager from Berger's MMA. Flager's been featured in the last two Rumble Time pro/ams, including a controversial DQ loss to Ray Grindstaff back in May. A disqualification loss aside, Flager has won his last two improving his record to 6-5. Flager is an intense submission artist that has submitted five of his opponents.

For more on Flager check out this excellent profile by Brett Auten.

Facing Flager is William Joplin from Glory MMA and Fitness - formerly known as Grindhouse - in Kansas City.

Joplin lost a controversial split decision at the most recent Shamrock FC in Kansas City and has faced some of the best the Midwest has to offer including Mark Dickman, Bobby Cooper, and Owen Evinger to name a few. Joplin is tough-as-nails and can grind out decisions and Flager doesn't give up easy.

The co-main event features the "North County Nightmare," Jake Roberts. Roberts is 1-0 and if you include his amateur run has nine submissions to credit. Roberts, out of St. Charles MMA, is a former Golden Gloves national qualifier who wants to show his diversity in this fight. Roberts has one of the nastiest guillotines in the area and if the fight starts to get away from him, look for him to rely on his crushing ground game.

Roberts will take on John Barron (2-2) out of Oklahoma.Barron is a hard-nosed fighter with heavy hands who has shown a bit of a weakness for the submission game.His only two losses as a pro have come by tap out.

In a match that many local fans have circled on their fight card, Matt Murphy will try and stop the enigmatic Ken Porter in a flyweight showdown.

Porter is lighter and faster than Murphy and will be difficult for the "KO Kid" to pin down. Porter's strength is his versatility on both stand-up and ground, but his lightning reflexes makes him a tough match-up for most. Murphy will be bigger and stronger than Porter as he typically fought at bantamweight for most of his career and is very tall for a flyweight. Murphy (2-0) will likely look to keep the fight standing and try and hurt Porter with punches to try and setup the submission. If Porter can keep Murphy at bay with his jab, and keep Murphy off balance with his footwork, he should win this fight.

Jesse Gerringer returns to action after being out almost a year. Gerringer (1-0) was at one point considered the area's best amateur welterweight shortly before he turned pro at last year's AMMO event at the Chaifetz Arena.

Robert's teammate Travis Draper will make his professional debut against Joesph Schell. Draper is back in action after two successful amateur fights in the summer following a long layoff. The sky is the limit for Draper who has athleticism matched with a fierce determination. Jordan will have his hands full against Draper who boasts power in his hands and a tricky submission game.

In an exciting welterweight clash, Kyle Kurtz will take on Chad "The Natural" Williams. Williams has dominated the Midwest amateur MMA scene for the past two years before finally turning pro last month. He lost to Hugh Pulley in Kansas City and will want to right the ship against Kyle Kurtz.

Kurtz, out of Cape Girardeau has been making the commute to Berger's MMA, and has fought a murderer's row of local welterweights including Joaquin Buckley, Aaron Highfill, and Anthony Livingston. The tall and athletic Kurtz will not be intimidated by William's resume.

On the under card, watch out for Julius Anglckas, Mike Roger's newest monster. The big guy from Lithuania wrestled at Missouri Baptist before landing at St. Charles MMA.

Pro Main Card:
Yohance Flager vs William Joplin
Jake Roberts vs John Barron
Ken Porter vs Matt Murphy
Jesse Gerringer vs Rome Lindsay
Travis Draper vs Joesph Schell
Kyle Kurtz vs Chad Williams

Amateur under card:
Justin Lankford vs Eric Vasquez
Jarrod Thomas vs TBA
Ray Metzger vs Tinyard Boyd
Julius Anglckas vs Jeff Schlager
Michael Pulley vs Treyvon Crawford
Eloy Pluma vs Charles Davie
James Bowman vs Wayne Phillips - K1
Brandon Beatty vs Josh Augustine - K1
Chase Ridenour vs Jeff Kankloneski - K1

Rumble Time: Triumph
Ameristar Casino, St. Charles, MO
Friday, November 7th