Locals thrive in MMA circles

What’s the standard reaction when someone sees a truck bearing down on them? Most likely, it’s to move out of the way and as quickly as possible. While that may be an option on the road, however, it isn’t inside the octagon, where Freeport’s Eddie “Truck” Gordon not only boasts a perfect 7-0 mark as a professional mixed martial artist but recently captured the light-heavyweight championship in Lou Neglia’s Ring of Combat promotion.

Gordon’s final roadblock on the way to the 205-pound title was seasoned veteran Carlos Brooks, whom Gordon defeated via unanimous decision at the Ring of Combat XLII at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, NJ, on June 15. But don’t think the former football and wrestling star for the Red Devils is going to put things on cruise control or tap the brakes anytime soon now that he has the belt. “It’s a great feeling, but I’m hungry for more,” Gordon said. “It’s one thing to get the belt and another keeping it and defending it.”

Slated to fight in Neglia’s next Ring of Combat show on Sept. 14, Gordon, a natural wrestler, used his fists to score some early points on the judges’ scorecards and also caught Brooks by surprise. Once Brooks realized he had to worry about defending strikes on top of the expected takedowns, Gordon, who trains with the renowned [Matt] Serra-[Ray] Longo Fight Team and also gets in some sparring at the Bellmore Kickboxing Academy, was able to seize control. Gordon nearly ended the fight in the opening-round with a rear-naked choke submission and also locked in a guillotine choke in the second that Brooks managed to escape from. In working in striking, submission attempts and grappling, Gordon displayed exactly the type of well-rounded arsenal that is a must-have in mixed martial arts today.