Wishes of UFC 205 for Long Islander
(Long Island, NY., August 19, 2016) – Long Island native and UFC fighter, Gian Villante, turned 31 yesterday. As he blew out the candles, did he wish for a spot on UFC 205 held at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2016?
One can make a case for the Long Beach resident, who is 14-7 in his professional career and currently ranked 15th in the UFC light heavyweight division.
Villante, a two-sport Varsity letterman in wrestling and football at General MacArthur High School in Wantagh (Class of 2003), stayed on the island for his collegiate career, deciding to attend Hofstra University. At Hofstra, Villante would become a member of the Hofstra Pride NCAA Division I-AA wrestling and football teams. In 2004, Villante, a linebacker for the Pride, received the nation’s top honors for the league when “The Sports Network” selected him to the Defensive I-AA All-American Team (first team). Villante was scouted intently during his college years while playing football. Unfortunately, after many injuries, the 2007 NFL draft came and went without Villante being selected.
After the draft, Villante decided to master mixed martial arts, as he began training and learning the sport, using his wrestling background to propel him to a very successful career.
Villante made a name for himself in the Strikeforce Organization, and after Strikeforce was canceled in January of 2013, the UFC selected a few talented fighters, with Villante being one of them.
Training under Team Serra-Longo, Villante has nine career victories via KO/TKO. The light heavyweight last fought on March 5, 2016, losing to IIir Latifi via unanimous division at UFC 196.
The 6’2 Long Islander has notable wins over Anthony Perosh (UFC 193), Corey Anderson (UFC on Fox 15) and Sean O’Connell (UFC Fight Night 43).
With the historic UFC 205 card less than three months away, Villante and all of Long Island hope his birthday wishes come to fruition.
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.
Photo credit: ufc.com
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