Long Island fighters invade the Garden State
(Atlantic City, NJ., August 7, 2016) – Long Island was well represented in Atlantic City on Saturday night, where James Jenkins and Eddie Gordon each fought on the Cage of Fighting Championships 60 card at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. Rocky Point’s James Jenkins was defeated late in the second round via guillotine choke, while Freeport’s Eddie “Truck” Gordon was victorious via split-decision.
With both fighters stepping into the Octagon for the first time in over a year, fans from Long Island packed the Borgata Event Center from wall-to-wall.
Jenkins (8-2) was coming off a professional three-fight winning streak, taking on Jacob Bohn (5-2) in the third fight of the card’s prelims.
In the first round, Jenkins was defending himself well against Bohn, who attacked well with his striking and ground and pound. Early in the round Bohn went for a guillotine choke, but Jenkins denied him and got to his feet.
In the second, after getting Jenkins to the ground and controlling the round, Jenkins was forced to tap due to submission (guillotine choke) at the 3:19 mark.
It was just the second ever loss for Jenkins in his professional MMA career and made no excuses after the fight. Jenkins wrote on his Facebook page “Thank you to everyone who came out to support and thank you to my sponsors, Ryder Champouillon, Joe Maxum, Lifetime Chimney Supply. I’m sorry tonight didn’t go my way, no excuses. Again thank you for everyone, I love you all.”
Gordon (8-4), who hadn’t fought since July, 2015 was the co-main event for CFFC60’s card and looked sharp from the outset. “Truck” looked to take the first round after he was able to catch Cleveland’s Chris Lozano’s (10-4) kick and get him to the ground early on. Gordon showed the more aggression and Octagon control as they moved to round two.
Round two started off slow as both fighters looked to feel each other out. Gordon made his first big hit when he caught Lozano with a jab combination against the cage. Lozano fired back later in the round as he ducked under a big hook and crisply hit Gordon with a leg kick.
It was just as the second round was nearing the end when Gordon dropped Lozano and looked to finish him, but the bell went off and to a third round they went.
Gordon looked comfortable early in the third, while Lozano looked to be more of the aggressor, figuring he could be down 20-18 after the first two rounds. Later in the round, Lozano landed a spinning punch and was aggressive, looking for the finish. They went the distance and it was in the judges hands as eager Long Island fans and Truck’s fight team looked on. After the official decision was announced, a huge roar went off in the arena as Gordon defeated Lozano by split-decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28).
With the win, Gordon earned his first MMA victory since July of 2014. After the fight, Gordon was quoted on his Facebook page, saying, “Love you guys. Great team win. Hoping in shower, then we are going to party! #team truck love you guys.”
It was an eventful night of fighting at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa and James Jenkins and Eddie Gordon certainly provided fireworks. While both fighters trained really hard, win or lose for both, Long Island should be proud.
MMA Long Island Magazine is published by MMA New York Media Corporation. For more information please visit www.mmalongislandmagazine.com or call (516) 318-2418.
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