PRO MMA (promma.info) will be on hand as the Washington, DC area’s number one MMA promotion, UWC (Ultimate Warrior Challenge) returns to the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA this Saturday, April 25th, with “Capital Punishment.”

Multiple fights for the card have fallen through, but promoter Marcello Foran and the matchmaking team have done a fine job keeping the card together.

Stay tuned to PRO MMA (promma.info) for UWC 6 weigh-in results as well as photos, a recap of each match, and fight results of “UWC 6: Capital Punishment.”

Here is what the card looks like:

UWC 6: Capital Punishment

Mike Easton (7-1) vs. Josh Ferguson (6-1) UWC Bantamweight Title Fight
Last time out, Mike Easton was supposed to face the toughest test of his career in Chase Beebe, but a phantom knee injury and a more appealing fight in DREAM cancelled the fight. In the end, Beebe’s teammate and Elite XC veteran, Justin Robbins, stepped up to fill the void. With the belt still on the line, Easton played it safe, until the later portions of the third round when he finished Robbins with a guillotine choke. Now the champion returns to the cage hoping to further pad his resume with hopes of moving on to the WEC.

Standing in Easton’s path will be submission ace Josh Ferguson. The Louisville, Kentucky native has scored all six of his victories with submissions, and has only one loss on his record. Ferguson is a member of Team Cruz, and trains under Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt Mike Yanez.

Ferguson may be skilled on the ground, but Easton trains with a higher-level camp, Team Lloyd Irvin. Even if Ferguson turns out to be the more dynamic grappler, Easton should be able to hold his own and fend off any submission attempts. On the feet Easton will be superior. Look for Easton to come out aggressively, after taking a cautious standing approach in his last two fights, and finish the fight in the first round.

Reshad Woods (4-1) vs. War Machine (7-2)
The last time Reshad Woods stepped in the cage, he electrified UWC fans with an armbar slam KO of Ron Stallings. Since then he has left Team One Spirit in Sterling, Virginia and moved to Team Lloyd Irvin – ironically the same team as Stallings. Woods brings a muay thair style to the cage, and will be coming down from middleweight for this fight at 175 pounds.

Since losing to Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 84 and being ousted from the promotion, War Machine has since gone 2-0 with two first round stoppages outside the UFC. After dealing with a few legal issues, War Machine seems to have things back on track. He has been training diligently full time at Xtreme Couture and should be more than prepared for Woods.

Woods may turn out to be the more technical fighter on the feet, but it won’t be enough to carry him to a victory. In addition to his wrestling and power, War Machine has been in the much deeper water so look for him to pull out a third round TKO stoppage.

Marcus Foran (5-2) vs. Joey Kirwan (2-1)
This fight was intended to be a rematch between Marcus Foran and Richie Hightower. It appeared as if Hightower had the win locked up, but the win was change to a no contest due to illegal strikes to the back of the head. With Hightower backing out, Foran will not face Joey Kirwan. Foran is a former national preps wrestling all American and a special forced marine. Recently he has been training with Greg Jackson.

Joey Kirwan will make his return to the UWC for the first time since suffering a loss in his professional debut. Since that loss to Kris McCray, Kirwan has put together two consecutive wins. In high school, Kirwan was a four year starter on the wrestling team, and he continued his wrestling career at Meramec junior college.

Marcus Foran showed some chinks in his armor last time out, but as of right now Joey Kirwan is not on this level. Perhaps if he had a full training camp, but he is taking this fight on short notice. Kirwan strength is wrestling, and Foran will be better in that category. Look for Marcus Foran to finish this fight by first round submission.

Ron Stallings (7-3-1) vs. Damian Dantibo (4-0-1)
In his last fight, against Whisper Goodman, Ron Stallings had a highlight reel knee knockout. The knockout was just the next step in the continual evolution of Stallings muay thai for MMA. He has always been a good striker, but recently he has been implementing the strikes more fluidly in his fights.

Now, Stallings will take on former professional baseball player Damian Dantibo. The Los Angeles, California native has been on a tear recently winning back to back fights in the SportFight promotion.

This fight will certainly be a battle between two strikers. Look for both fighters to come out swinging the leather early. In the end Stallings should have the advantage with knees from the thai clinch, and they should be enough to carry him to a decision victory.

Jose Villarisco (0-1) vs. Mikey Lovato (3-1)
Jose Villarisco finally made his MMA debut at the last UWC event after extensive muay thai and BJJ careers. His bit off a bit more than he could chew in John Dodson, but he made sure to make the match up a fight of the year candidate.

In this fight he takes on Mikey Lovato, who brings a quality wrestling pedigree into the ring. Lovato was a three time New Mexico state champion wrestler in high school, and in 2000 he qualified for the Olympic trials.

John Dodson, who often looks to strike, was able to slam Vaillarisco multiple times. Lovato’s wrestling skills will be the difference in this fight, as he will win a decision victory. However, don’t be shocked if Villarisco pulls out a victory since the hometown crowd will be a factor.

Binky Jones (7-7) vs. Frank Camacho (3-2)
Frank Camacho, from Guam, trains with Team Lloyd Irvin. He will be taking on “the Baltimore submission machine” Binky Jones. Jones has been a staple of the mid Atlantic scene for years, but has recently fallen on hard times.

This fight will be telling for both fighters. If Jones is able to pull this one out it will mean that he still has a few fights left in the tank. If Camacho can take the victory, he will be ready for bigger and better things in the sport. Look for Binky Jones to bring home a decision victory.

Phil Davis (2-0) vs. Terry Cohens (5-2)
Phil Davis has already gained national attention as a blue chip MMA prospect. In 2008 he was an NCAA wrestling champion, and he finished his career as a four time all American. Since turning over to MMA, he has been dominate winning his lone amateur fight and both of his professional fights.

UWC fans got a glimpse of Terry Cohens in the main event of UWC 5 against Atwain Britt. Since then he has gotten back on the winning track with a submission win over Thomas Russell.

Cohens had trouble with the power and wrestling skill of Britt, and Davis may have more in both categories. Look for Davis to make short work of Britt as he moves closer to a big time promotion.

Kris McCray (2-0) vs. Ronnie Wuest (3-2)
Kris McCray has made a name for himself on the local scene. After an undefeated amateur career, including the Operation Octagon championship, he has now gone 2-0 in the UWC. McCray brings an aggressive approach to fighting and stays on his opponent the whole time.

Ronnie Weust is a Baltimore native who trains with Team ROC in North Carolina. So far in his career he has managed to stay above 500 with a 3-2 record.

Look for McCray to get the night started with a bang yet again, as he moves his career record to 3-0 in the first round of action.

Note:  Sherdog.com will be streaming a live webcast of “UWC 6: Capital Punishment.” Saturday night, April 25th.

By:  Richard Mann

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