Skyrocketing MMA star Calvin Kattar of Methuen returns to the cage in front of his home crowd when he headlines the main event of Combat Zone "Steel Cage Fighters" in the Sports Club at Rockingham Park June 14.
Kattar (13-2-0), a charismatic professional who is highly skilled in all of the mixed martial arts and has a tremedous fan following, returns from an eight-month layoff and will put his fight-five win streak on the line against the undefeated Gabriel Baino (5-0-0), a Brazilian fighting under the banner of Team Link. The bout will be contested at 145 pounds.
The co-main event features Paul Gorman (9-8-0) from The Academy against Josh Beauparlant (0-4-0) at 140 pounds.
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The full card of 12 evenly-matched amateur and professional bouts features many of the rising mixed martial artists in the Northeast. Kirk Florian, the younger brother of former UFC standout and MMA analyst on ESPN's coverage of the sport, will be making his debut in the cage against an undefeated Dominic Cafone (3-0-0). Other locals to watch include Team Fury’s Kristian Lombardi (0-1-0) of Methuen, MA against Dan Connaughton (0-0-0), Brazilian Top Team/Team Pitbull’s Dave Spero (2-2-0) from Atkinson, NH in a match with Eric Tseronis (3-3-0) from Manchester, NH, Dave Sousa (1-1-0) from IntenZe MMA and North Andover, MA against Scott Gorgone (2-0-0) and Paul Gaffney (1-0-0), from Manchester, NH and representing Team Link, vs. Gerry Lyndon Wells (0-0-0). One of the matches is reserved for female fighters and Brazilian native Fernanda Aurujo (0-2-0), who had her first fight in America in Combat Zone 40 at The Rock in January 2012, will be back to battle with Kim Russell (0-0-0). Doors open at 6:30 PM and the first match kicks off in Rockingham’s Sports Club at 8 PM. Tickets for the event are $40 for general admission, $50, $75, $90 or $120 for ringside seating and parking is free. Tickets may be purchased at www.combatzonemma.com or by calling promoter David George at 978-360-3846. Fans are invited to the weigh-in, where they have the opportunity to meet their favorite fighters and get their autographs. This free event will be held on Thursday, June 13 in the Sports Club beginning at 6 PM.
