MOON TWP - Ethan Goss laments the time he spent away from his 10-month-old daughter. He invested 12 weeks training for his Professional Fighters League featherweight fight with Frederik Dupras Saturday at UPMC Events Center. When everything ended with a contested stoppage in the first round, it was draining for Goss.

"I spent 12 weeks only getting to see my daughter 30 minutes a day in the morning because I was gone every evening and on the weekends," Goss said. "I was driving to Pittsburgh and training at other gyms to be 100 percent for this. It's one of those curve balls life throws at you."

Dupras didn't have any questions about the stoppage. The Canadian fighter was on top and wrenching a guillotine choke. He said he felt Goss go unconscious.  Referee Chip Snider agreed and stopped the fight at the 2 minute, 46 mark of the first round.

Goss believes the replay shows his head popping out of the hold before Snider stopped the fight

“I didn’t see the fight yet, but the way I was feeling, I was feeling like he was panicking,” Dupras said. “His arm was kind of trapped. I was feeling he had no way to tap. … At one point, I felt like he was getting numb. I feel he went out.”

Goss, a former two-division champion at locally-based 247 Fighting Championships, believes the replay shows otherwise. He immediately protested the stoppage in the cage. After watching the fight back several times, Goss said that he planned to file an appeal with the Pennsylvania State commission to try and overturn the result to a no contest.

"If you watch the fight, as he went over the top of my head, I immediately caught the arm and my hands were in," Goss said. "He was being coached by the ref to be active because he wasn't doing anything. He warned him like two or three times that he was going to stand us up. He tried to pull the choke underneath. You aren't going to choke someone out when you have both hands in. I wasn't pulling my hands out because I didn't want to slip and give him the choke."

Dupras, who improved to 2-1 in the PFL and 12-8 in his career, has seen all three of his PFL fights end by submission. He felt like Goss had gone out. Dupras lost his debut fight by rear-naked choke to Gabriel Braga, but has bounced back with a pair of guillotine wins over Nathan Kelly and Goss. 

Goss felt like Dupras' corner helped influence the stoppage.

"As soon as I started kick my legs, they were yelling that I was tapping and I wasn't tapping," Goss said. "Obviously, I was kicking and fighting and fighting. Then when I went flat for that split second to get him to regrip or reangle his choke, they yelled, 'He's out. He's out'. They persuaded the ref to stop the fight. If I would've went flat and laid there for three seconds it would have been understandable. But it was a split second, a half second."

MOON TWP - The Pittsburgh area will see the return of an global MMA promotion for the first time since Sept. 16, 2017, Saturday night when the Professional Fighters League hosts a fight card at Robert Morris' UPMC Events Center. 

PFL officials said at the weigh-in Friday at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott that the event was sold out. Local fans will see plenty of talent from the area. Dalton Rosta, a Laurel graduate, is at the top of the list. He will compete in the co-main event against Impa Kasanganay.

The UFC last hosted a show at PPG Paints Arena nine years ago which saw Luke Rockhold defeat David Branch by second-round TKO in the main event. All three local fighters are coming off defeats in their last fight.

Rosta will be eager to bounce back after suffering his first-ever KO loss last April during the PFL Middleweight Tournament championship fight against Fabian Edwards. After two competitive rounds, Edwards, the brother of former UFC champion Leon Edwards, caught Rosta with a headkick to secure the win.

Rosta, who was previously on a three-fight winning streak in MMA, is 11-2 during his career. Rosta will have a difficult challenge against Kasangany, who has found a second life in the PFL. Kasanganay, a former UFC veteran best known for being on the receiving end of one of the most devastating knockouts in the promotion's history in 2020, has showed off his striking throughout his PFL tenure.

Kasanganay, who is 19-6 overall, is 9-3 during his time in the PFL. He set the PFL world on fire after he won a PFL challenger series fight before going on to win the 2023 PFL World light heavyweight championship.

Mt. Washington resident Xavier Rodela, who recently made his successful novice amateur debut with 247 Fighting Championships, signed to compete with the Future Fight League in their 135-pound bantamweight division.

The FFL is planning to hold an event March 21 in Harrisburg. According to Tapology, the FFL is based out of Ottawa, Canada. Rodela debuted with a second-round KO during the 247 MMA at the Venue 4 event in North Versailles.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

NORTH VERSAILLES TWP -- Sticking on a college campus wasn’t going to work for Xavier Rodela. The Texas native moved to live with his family in Mount Washington in June of 2024 with the idea he would go to West Liberty (W.Va.) University to wrestle, pursue a degree and add some traditional structure to burgeoning ambitions of being a barber.

Rodela, 20, went 8-9 during his freshman season and chose to leave college to pursue his mixed martial career. 

“I didn’t want to go into debt,” Rodela said. “I wasn’t with school. I wanted to set my own schedule. I didn’t like school, but I knew I wanted to be a barber. I was just putting it off to wrestle.”

Rodela’s amateur MMA career got off to an electric start during the 247 Fighting Championships MMA Saturday night at the Venue 4 at Sunny Days Arena.

He knocked out 30-year-old Jacob Kennedy 26 seconds into the second round of a 140-pound novice amateur catchweight bout.

“I’ve been doing jiujitsu for about 14 years," Rodela said. “I’ve been doing kickboxing, all of that kind of stuff. There were no ifs, ands or buts about it, I was ready for this since I started. This wasn’t a three-month long camp like it was for him. It was a 14-year camp.”

A Familiar Feeling

Rodela had his dad, Randy Villarreal, in his corner for his fight. Villarreal, 39, fought 24 times professionally. He compiled an 11-13 career record and last fought in Fury FC 60 on April 24, 2022.

Villarreal didn’t come into fighting as a decorated wrestler like his son. Rodela was a two-time state champion wrestling in Texas. Villarreal’s background was in jiu jitsu.

“I think the hardest part for me, being a fighter myself, is reliving everything,” Villarreal said. “Everything he’s going through, I went through. In a sense, it kind of brings me relief.”

Rodela showed off his wrestling chops by earning a clean takedown toward the end of the first round. In the second round, Rodela ended a combo with a looping right that sat Kennedy down in the center of the cage.

“The combo that he hit, we worked at the whole camp and that was part of the game plan,” Villarreal said. “Showing the knee, faking the knee and following through with the check hook. He’s going to be dangerous.”

Rodela, who trains with Stout Pittsburgh, said having his dad in the corner is a bonus. His coach, Mike Wilkins, was also there to coach him.

​“That’s my support right there,” Rodela said. “Him, my mom and then coach Mike were in my corner today. That’s just something extra, I’m not going to lose in front of my dad.”

Back to work

Rodela promised during his in-cage interview after his fight to take over the Pittsburgh MMA scene. Villarreal said he feels like his son is a natural 125-pounder and his power will carry to a lighter weight class. Rodela didn’t have to cut any weight for the fight.

Until Rodela’s next fight, he is glad to have work to keep him busy while he trains. Rodela is the founder of Ascension Cutz.

“I love doing fades, taper fades and all that stuff,” Rodela said. “I’m good with that if you want to come and see me.”

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or X @J_oshRizzo.​

NORTH VERSAILLES - Shawn Livingston is ready to move up to the advanced amateur division of MMA. It's hard to say that Livingston, who trains out of Stout PGH and is billed as being from Steubenville, Ohio, shouldn't be in line for the challenge of stiffer competition.

Livingston, a welterweight, has three wins since April, including two by decision. During the 247 Fighting Championships at the Venue 2 card, Livingston scored a well-timed takedown off a kick attempt by his opponent Andreas Angiolelli. Livingston used the sequence to sink in a rear-naked choke.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't use ground-and-pound," Livingston said. "With me going into advanced amateur, you're going to see some of that."

Here are the other results from the card:

• Amateur MMA bantamweight: Jess Hankin win by submission (arm triangle) over Travis Frye, Round 1 1:04
• Amateur MMA lightweight: Hunter Ferber win by submission (guillotine choke) over Ernie Switzer, Round 1 :34
• Grappling super fight: Stellan Mochan win by submission (calf slicer) over Icee Brown
• Grappling super fight: Tyler Tinsman win by submission (rear-naked choke) over Josh Hogans
• Professional MMA: Julian Flenory win by unanimous decision over Jeremy Riley, 30-27 (x3)

Two Pittsburgh-area fighters had a good night at the Cage Fury Fight Championships event at the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Atlantic City. Justin Patton made his debut with the organization by picking up a unanimous decision win over Frank Wells. Patton, a Plum graduate, improved to 9-4 on his career.

Patton was coming off a loss during his last fight to Chuka Willis in April. Karli Jo Thomas, an Albert Gallatin graduate, picked up her second win as a professional. Thomas won by submission in the third round by locking up a rear-naked choke on Annabel Kelly.

Both Patton and Thomas train out of The Mat Factory in Lower Burrell.

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

​Karli Jo Thomas’ introduction to combat sports started as a plan for self defense at the request of her mom, Tonya. Karli Jo and her sister were taken to an MMA-style gym at age 10 to learn how to protect themselves.

Once the now 25-year-old Karli Jo started taking classes at the since shut down Uniontown-basd gym she no longer remembers the name of, she quickly fell in love with the training. Her love of the sport distracted from other questions she may have asked.

Why did they need to learn this intense style of combat?

“Honestly, I’m not really sure,” said Karli Jo, an Albert Gallatin graduate. “She always worries and more so that she knows the world is a little bit crazy. Things can happen and it’s better to have some understanding of how to fight if we have to rather than not.”

Karli Jo more than understands the process now. She will be searching for her second consecutive professional win this Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on the undercard of the Cage Fury Fighting Championships 145 event.

Karli Jo, who is 1-0 as a professional, will take on Annabel Kelly, who is 3-0 with two knockouts in a strawweight bout. 

Isaac Greeley, who is the owner of the Mat Factory in Lower Burrell where Karli Jo trains, believes this is a good opportunity for her to build her profile.

“They really liked her pro debut,” Greeley said. “They want her to be a part of the organization. If she can win this fight, she can be set to take off in a big way.”

Mom watches, reluctantly
Karli Jo's early fighting experience wasn't like the typical kid who does a karate class. The first gym they attended allowed younger members to give everything a go.
​
“We did the punching, kicking and everything they do there,” Karli Jo said. “We worked on grappling, wrestling and jiu jitsu.”

As Karli Jo got more involved with the sport, she ended up at the Uniontown Fight Club -- which also no longer exists -- where she met Josh Fremd, who went on to fight in the UFC, and Nick Browne, who fought in Bellator and the Legacy Fighting Alliance.

Karli Jo, who wrestled one season in high school and now coaches the Waynesburg women’s wrestling team, was all in on fighting. It wasn’t exactly what her mom intended.

But Tonya still attends the fights.

“She has some mixed emotions about it,” Karli Jo said. “She made it clear that she would like it if I did something else. She understands I do it because I love it. It’s where I feel like I have purpose.”

Let’s make a weekend out of it
Karli Jo will have plenty of support in Atlantic City. In addition to her coaches, she will be joined by her boyfriend, Justin Patton, who also trains at the Mat Factory. Patton, who is 8-4 as a professional, is a Plum graduate.

Patton will fight Frank Wells in a featherweight bout in the bout before Karli Jo’s. This is the fourth time they’ve been on the same card together.

“What’s funny is I’ll be fighting after him,” Karli Jo said. “I’m guessing it’s because I’ve fought for them once already. Usually he goes before me because he sells tickets and is more popular. It’s definitely stressful watching someone you care about fight like that.”

Greeley said he is excited to see them both compete.

“They both represent what we stress as the Mat Factory,” Greeley said. “They represent that to the fullest.”

Up for the challenge

Karli Jo is hoping to take another step up in the MMA world. She turned professional last May after spending four years on the amateur circuit.

Greeley said he has seen a large improvement in her skillset. Karli Jo cut her teeth in the Ohio Combat Legue and 247 Fighting Championships as an amateur.

“She’s an amazing fighter,” Greeley said. “She’s probably the toughest fighter we have. She is a gritty, tough girl and she’s getting really technical.”

Karli Jo submitted Lateesha Mohl in the first round with a guillotine in her debut. She isn’t trying to make any promises for her upcoming fight.

“From the first fight to the second fight, it doesn’t feel too much better,” Karli Jo said. “It doesn’t feel much better than being an amateur. It’s about learning how to handle the five-minute rounds and pacing myself.”

​Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

Fabian Edwards followed in a family tradition by capturing a belt in mixed martial arts with a head kick knockout Thursday night at the Hollywood Casino in Florida. Edwards put away Dalton Rosta, a Laurel grad, with that particular attack during the third round round of the PFL Middleweight Tournament final.

Fabian's brother, Leon, also won the welterweight championship in the UFC with a head-kick knockout. Leon's was even more dramatic. He knocked out long-reigning champion Kamaru Usman with 56 seconds left in a fight where he was behind on the scorecards.

"That is team headshot, dead," Fabian said to Dan Hardy in the cage after the fight. "That is crazy. God has a funny way to work. I'm so grateful."

While Rosta found success with his wrestling, it wasn't enough to slow down the potent British striker. Rosta completed three of his five takedown attempts and was in control for most of the second round. However, Edwards kept mixing up his kicks and all of the work paid off in the third round.

Nearly 90 seconds into the round, Edwards fired off a left head kick that put Rosta out.

Edwards followed up with one shot on the ground before the referee stopped the bout. Rosta fell to 11-2 in his career.

Josh Rizzo is the editor of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be sent to [email protected] or on X at @J_oshRizzo