By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - There will be a distinct Philadelphia flavor to the six announced undercard bouts that will precede the first-ever mixed martial arts event shown live on network television Saturday, May 31, at the Prudential Center.
Philadelphia area fighters Wilson Reis (3-0), Matt Makowski (2-0), Jim Bova (3-0), Zach Makovsky (3-1) and Mike Groves (0-1) are scheduled for the undercard.
The 140-pound Reis, who takes on Justin Robbins, has been totally dominant in his brief career, always appearing to be a class or two above his opponent.
In a fight that got off to a wild start, Reis won his EliteXC debut with a second-round submission (rear naked choke) over Makovsky on January 25, in Atlantic City.
A fast-rising featherweight, Reis is only 23 but already is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. The world class grappler made Makovsky, a former Division I wrestler, look pedestrian in what was expected to be a close fight.
The popular Nick Serra (4-2), the younger brother of former UFC middleweight king Matt Serra and the second American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Renzo Gracie, will be opposed by Makowski in a 170-pound scrap.
A submission specialist, all four of Serra’s victories have been via tap out. In his last start, he submitted (armbar) Mike Varner in the second round on June 23 of last year in Atlantic City.
Makowski has compiled an outstanding record in Muay Thai and is considered fundamentally sound.
In his most recent outing, Makowski showed a good ground game to go with his striking en route to registering an excellent 4:01, first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Muay Thai specialist Joe Schilling on January 25, in Atlantic City.
Chris Liguori, a one-time middleweight, who now competes at 155-160 takes on the promising Bova, who, like Liguori, signed recently with EliteXC.
Bova trains out of Minersville, Penn. and in his last start scored a 3:59, first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Mark Getto. ova has won all three of his fights by submission.
Makovsky meets Andre Soares of New Jersey at 135 pounds and Groves (0-1) will take on Joe Sampieri (0-2) of Manhattan.
Makovsky, who suffered his first loss, to Reis, in his last start, is a former Division I wrestler from Drexel and his 72 victories rank 18th on the all-time Drexel win list.
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