The first sets of photos featuring USKBA TEAM USA in the Ukraine are in. The photos depict the members of USKBA TEAM USA (see photo at left ...from clockwise; Tom Bottone, Peter Kaljevic, Moti Horenstein, Tony Ventura, Devon Cormack, David Salgado, Ruben Colon, Gary Bonenfant, Gene Fabrikant and Pasquel Rouse...not shown; Dan Rawlings and Andrew Brown) as they prepare for their exhibition bouts against TEAM UKRAINE. The photos also show the great treatment of USKBA TEAM USA in the Ukraine and the special guests World Champion martial artist and movie star Don "The Dragon" Wilson and PRIDE Champion Igor Vovchanchyn.

These photos were taken on the first part of the trip...in Dniepropetrovsk Ukraine. Additional photos of the entire trip through Dniepropetrovsk, Kremenchug and Severodonetsk will be posted as they become available. A feature article on these events for national magazines will be completed shortly.
 

USKBA Promoters Charlie Sampalis and Tony Ventura (see photo at right) are putting the final touches on their amateur kickboxing event entitled "SUPERBOUTS 6" scheduled for this Saturday at The Riviera Club in Cranston RI. Five USKBA title bouts and a fantastic undercard is guaranteed to pack the house.

The Main Event will have USKBA Amateur Full Contact Light Heavyweight World Champion KEN HEWSKI defending his title against ERIC PINARRETA. The other amateur USKBA Full Contact title bouts will be in the following divisions; Light Heavyweight Northeast Championship Title, Super Middleweight New England Championship Title, Super Welterweight New England Championship Title and Super Featherweight New England Championship Title.

For tickets and information, contact TNT Kickboxing at 508-991-5929. The Riviera Club is located at 1612 Elmwood Avenue in Cranston RI.
 

The new issue of Action Martial Arts Magazine is out. This issue covers November & December 2000 and January 2001 and includes a USKBA Champions Page along with four pages of stories and articles on USKBA Sanctioned events. Copies of the magazine can be picked up at most USKBA Sanctioned events. To guarantee receiving the magazine, subscriptions are available by contacting Action Martial Arts Magazine at 718-856-8070.

On January 20, 2001, Action Martial Arts Magazine will be hosting their "First Hall of Fame & Awards Banquet" celebrating their 10th Year Anniversary. This event will be held at the World Famous Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. For more information, call Action Martial Arts Magazine at 718-856-8070.
 

USKBA Promoter Joe Puleio and his Top Kick Championship Kickboxing, brought "SUPERFIGHTS 12" to the Sports Plus Events Center in Lake Grove NY on November 17, 2000. This event was filled with superb professional and amateur kickboxing and grappling bouts that provided non-stop action for the packed house.

In a double Main Event, USKBA Super Middleweight World Champion TOMMY "Bee" BOTTONE went against DARNELL GREEN (see photo at left) in a five round non-title bout and USKBA Welterweight World Champion "Diesel" DAVE BUGLIONE defended his USKBA Welterweight Intercontinental Championship Title against PETER "F16" KALJEVIC (USKBA Super Welterweight International Champion) in a five round bout. It took Bottone 41 seconds into the third round to stop Green with a spinning backfist. Green was given a standing eight count in the first round. Bottone never let Green establish any kind of attack. Referee Pat Sullivan called an end to the fight after Green hit the canvas from Bottone's spinning backfist. Green stayed on the canvas for minutes.

In the battle of champions, Buglione and Kaljevic (see photo at right) fought one of the hardest fights in some time with Buglione capturing a majority of the rounds. All three judges gave Buglione the first three rounds. Two judges gave Kaljevic the next round. In the fifth round, Kaljevic received a one point deduction after he attempted to land, for the third time, a spinning backfist that hit Buglione with an elbow. Neither fighter seemed hurt by any of the hard blows thrown by each. After five rounds, the judges scored the fight in favor of Buglione by 48-46, 50-44 and 49-46 scores. Talk of a ten round fight between these two champions was overheard.

In a three round amateur title defense, USKBA Amateur Featherweight World Champion BOBBY CAMPBELL defended his USKBA Amateur NYS Championship Title against LENNOX CHANCE (see photo at left). In a superb display of technique and power, Chance took one minute and twenty one seconds to win Campbell's title as Campbell did not continue after being knocked down by Chance in the first round.

In a four round defense of his USKBA Amateur Light Heavyweight Tri-State Championship Title, KEN HEWSKI defeated JASON KURDZIEL by a majority decision (see photo at right). The judges scored the fight in favor of Hewski by scores of 40-37, 39-37 and 38-38.

In a pro non-title kickboxing bout, TIM LANE dropped in weight to the Super Lightweight division to meet USKBA Northeast Champion KEITH NESBITT. Lane continued his voyage to the top by dropping Nesbitt three times in the first round to win the bout by TKO at 1:36 (see photo at left). Within the past year, Lane has knocked out two USKBA Champions...Tommy Rodriguez and Keith Nesbitt. Lane is assuring himself of a title bout in the near future.

In another pro kickboxing bout, KADIR KADRI continued his unbeaten pro record by scoring a unanimous decision over FRANK D'AMBRA. D'Ambra stood up to everything Kadri threw, but couldn't mount an offense against Kadri to win the rounds. Both these fighters have a bright future.

In other bouts:
Kickboxing
TOM CAMPBELL def JAMES CHALIZ SR. by unanimous decision.
Kickboxing
SAL CINCINELLI def RYAN McKENNA by majority decision.
Grappling
CHRISTIAN CAMPFIELD def JESSE BROWN by 19-3.
Kickboxing
CHRISTINE YANDOLLI def EMILY BARNES by unanimous decision.
Kickboxing
MIKE FARRELL def ELLIS SEEPERSAD by split decision.
Kickboxing
KEN BASIL def KEN GRAIG by unanimous decision.
Kickboxing
STEVE VENTAMIGLIA def CORY TILTON by TKO at :20 of Round 3.
Grappling
MONICA SHEEHAN def EMILY BARNES by 7-0.
Kickboxing
BILL BEARCE def JERRY HIBBARD by unanimous decision.
Grappling
JOE BERTAGNI and LOU ATTANASIO fought to a draw.

Two exhibition bouts took place between RYAN GRAIG/CONNOR McGORRY and CHRIS ALGIERI/MUNJAL SUBODH. It should be noted that Emily Barnes fought a grappling match then also fought a kickboxing bout. Her instructor, Tom Ingargiola (Shaolin Self Defense Centers) is always there to assist with an event in any way he can.

USKBA Promoter Top Kick Championship Kickboxing has scheduled "SUPERFIGHTS 13" for March 2001. For additional information, call 631-360-8830.

It took less then one round for MARVIN PERRY to win the USKBA Super Cruiserweight New England Championship Title at "THE BOSTON MASSACRE 7" in Revere MA. Perry fought JASON "The Trooper" BONACORSI. Bonacorsi was making his debut fight in a lower weight division.

USKBA Promoters Bruce & Lucinda Marshall, and their Trilogy/Black Belt Productions, staged the seventh installment in their "BOSTON MASSACRE" series at the Wonderland Dog Track in Revere MA on November 10, 2000. According to Mr. Marshall, "this was one of the most successful shows. The people loved it."

In other bouts:

JASON EVANS def JOE HATHAWAY by 2nd Round TKO.
MIGUEL CRUZ def KHOURY PINA by 2nd Round TKO.
ROBERT SCHULTZ def JOHN MATTHEWS by majority decision.
MARCOS SUAREZ def KYLE BATTIS by unanimous decision.
JUSTIN CAPIELLO def RAFAEL CABRAL by 1st Round disqualification.

The next Trilogy/Black Belt Productions event will be "THE BOSTON MASSACRE 8 - USKBA CHAMPIONSHIP GRAPPLING" scheduled for December 8, 2000 at Wonderland Dog Track in Revere MA.
 

USKBA Promoter Joe Puleio, and his Top Kick Championship Kickboxing, is bringing "SUPERFIGHTS 12" to the Sports Plus Events Center in Lake Grove NY this Friday, November 17th. The Main Event will feature USKBA Super Middleweight World Champion Tommy "Bee" Bottone fighting Darnell Green in a non-title bout. Also featured will be Dave Buglione defending his USKBA Welterweight Intercontinental Championship Title against Peter Kaljevic, Tim Lane versus Keith Nesbitt, Kadir Kadri versus Frank D'Ambra and a spectacular undercard showcasing kickboxing and sport jiu jitsu grappling bouts.

Tickets are available by calling 631-360-8830 and are priced at $29, $35 and $45 (ticket prices are slightly higher at the door). Major credit cards accepted. Fight card subject to change.
 

USKBA TEAM USA scored unanimous approval from over 30,000 Ukrainian spectators who came to see them in exhibitions against TEAM UKRAINE. Three shows in three different cities in the Ukraine took place on November 4th, 7th and 10th. The three cities were Dniepropetrovsk, Kremenchug and Severodonetsk. Exhibitions included Full Contact Kickboxing, Boxing, Muay Thai, Pride and Martial Arts. The special guest on hand to witness these events was Don "The Dragon"Wilson (pictured at right with Larissa). Also on hand was Mr. Andrei Chistov (Vice President Professional Association of Martial Arts Ukraine), Mr. Paul Rosner (President USKBA), Mr. Gene Fabrikant (Executive Director USKBA International), Mr. Koichi Kawasaki (Vice President PRIDE), Mr. Falsoni (President WAKO) and Igor Vovchanchin (Champion PRIDE) (pictured at left signing autographs with Don Wilson).

USKBA TEAM USA members included (Full Contact Kickboxing) Devon "The Energizer" Cormack, Ruben "Legs of Stone" Colon, Tony "TNT" Ventura, Gary Bonenfant, Peter Kaljevic, (Boxing) Pasquel "Tiger" Rouse, David "Ghost" Salgado, (Muay Thai) Moti "The Hammer" Horenstein (pictured at right  with Igor Vovchanchin), Dan "Tanis" Rawlings,  and Andrew Brown. The coach of USKBA TEAM USA was USKBA World Champion Tommy "Bee" Bottone.

These exhibitions had a Main Event featuring Moti "The Hammer" Horenstein (USA) facing Serguei Morozov (UKR) for the vacant USKBA Super Heavyweight Muay Thai World Championship Title. The Main Event took place on the last show in Severodonetsk with Morozov coming out ahead in a close decision. Details and additional pictures of all shows will be posted shortly.