MIAMI STEALTH ADVANCE TO TEAM COMBAT LEAGUE SEASON 2 MEGABRAWL FINALS

MIAMI STEALTH ADVANCE TO TEAM COMBAT LEAGUE SEASON 2 MEGABRAWL FINALS

WITH 230-226 VICTORY OVER L.A. ELITE

IN OPENING HALF OF SEMIFINALS DOUBLEHEADER AT 2300 ARENA

Monday, July 29 (Philadelphia) – Coach Herman Caicedo’s underdog Miami Stealth fought their way to a berth in the Team Combat League (TCL) Season 2 MegaBrawl Finals by pulling away from Coach Manny Robles’ L.A. Elite in the Middle Rounds, taking six of eight matches, to win by a team score of 230-226.

Fighting in the opening leg of a Semifinals doubleheader from 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, the Stealth once again got big performances from star U.S. Olympian Ginny Fuchs, who twice defeated LA’s capable Lizette Lopez 10-9, and was named the night’s second star for her efforts; as well as TCL Rookie of the Year Award nominee and playoff draft acquisition welterweight Samantha Ginithan, who beat Carson Crawford in Round 5 and Maricela Cornejo in Round 13.

Los Angeles got especially good work from undefeated light heavyweight and TCL Most Valuable Fighter Award nominee Brayan Leon, who defeated long-time Cuban top contender and TCL Most Resilient Fighter Award nominee Yunieski Gonzalez in Rounds 7 and 19 to win the night’s third star. TCL Most Entertaining Fighter nominee Raul Salomon of LA twice defeated Miami late sub-in fighter Gerald McClellan Jr. 10-9. However, it was McClellan Jr. who earned the night’s first star for his brave stand against the formidable Salomon, taking the fights on 24 hours’ notice and becoming ‘The man who took on the boogieman.’

“We wanted this win,” said a happy Coach Caicedo. “I’m sure LA did as well. Maybe they underestimated us. These were all phenomenal fights, but at the end of the day we pulled away in the Middle Rounds. That was the best of the best of TCL action in there!”

The Fight of the Night was awarded to the fierce Round 8 heavyweight donnybrook between Ricardo Aguero and Nestor Santana, won by Santana 10-9.

PHILLY SMOKE ADVANCE TO SEASON 2 MEGABRAWL FINALS WITH 231-223 VICTORY OVER BOSTON BUTCHERS IN SECOND HALF OF SEMIFINALS DOUBLEHEADER AT 2300 ARENA

In the back half of the Semifinals doubleheader, the hometown Philly Smoke survived a scare from a determined, but injury-depleted Boston Butchers team to pull away late in the Money Rounds and earn a berth in the TCL Season 2 MegaBrawl Finals by a score of 231-223.

Coach Bob Kane’s Smoke had been going neck and neck with Coach Marc Gargaro’s Butchers with just two points separating them until Round 21, when Philly veteran Jesse Hart knocked out Boston’s Jordan Jackson for a 10-7 victory that put the outcome virtually out of reach for the Butchers.

Hart was later awarded the night’s first star for his late-match heroics.

“Philly has the best fighters in the world, not just in this league,” said an overjoyed Hart after the match. “I came through in the clutch. That’s what you call a difference maker when a fighter can come through in the clutch and pull it out.”

Another Philly surprise came from rejuvenated Philly light heavyweight Ray Robinson, who punctuated the night with an uppercut, left hook knockdown of opponent Laurent Humes in Round 23.

The second star of the night was Philly’s Hendri Cedeno, who defeated Keno Luna in Round 20 and Jalen Renaud in Round 12. The third star was awarded to Most Entertaining Fighter Award nominee and late-season Boston pick-up welterweight AJ Graham, who twice defeated Philly veteran Avery Sparrow 10-9.

The action was heated throughout, and despite both teams missing some of their stars, the fighters made it a nailbiter with their back-and-forth momentum swings.

“We did great work,” said Smoke Coach Bob Kane. “We lined it up in a way where we knew what we were going to do in the Money Rounds. We gave all the teams a pass last year. We’re winning it all this year. I’m excited! We’re going to win. Win! Win! Win! Knockout! Knockout! Knockout!”

MIAMI STEALTH & PHILLY SMOKE SET TO

CLASH FOR LEAGUE SUPREMACY AT

SEASON 2 MEGABRAWL FINALS ON

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1 AT THE COMMERCE

CASINO & HOTEL IN COMMERCE, CA

The stage is now set for the Miami Stealth and Philly Smoke to square off in the highly-anticipated TCL Season 2 MegaBrawl Finals at The Commerce Casino & Hotel in Commerce, CA on Thursday, August 1.

Tickets for the live event can be purchased HERE.

While Coach Bob Kane’s Philly Smoke will probably be set as the favorites for their regular season dominance and impressive showings throughout the playoffs, Coach Herman Caicedo has shown his strategic brilliance repeatedly in guiding his Miami squad to the MegaBrawl Finals and they should not be taken lightly.

The Stealth will be hoping for strength and leadership from light heavyweight and TCL Most Resilient Fighter Award nominee Yunieski Gonzalez, former WBA Regional Featherweight Champion of the North American Navy Victor Abreu, middleweight Yordan “El Diamante” Barrera and from promising middleweight Raidel Rodriguez.

The Smoke will be looking for more heroics from TCL Most Resilient Fighter Award nominee light heavyweight Ray “The New Ray Robinson” Robinson, Semifinals knockout hero Jess Hart, heavyweight powerhouse Brandon Glanton, featherweight Rasheen “Sugar Sheen” Brown and middleweight Steve Cunningham among the many weapons in their team’s arsenal.

The action will be intense and the leather will be flying at the MegaBrawl Finals as both teams have shown repeatedly that the depth of their lineups means a shocking comeback and several surprise knockouts are more than possible.

TCL’s second season has been punctuated by nonstop action and, with their heart and toughness, these two teams have risen above the pack for a shot at glory and the chance to be crowned TCL champions.

Before the Stealth matchup against the Smoke, the TCL All-Stars will be competing in an exciting format featuring The USA vs. The World.

True fight fans won’t want to miss any of the hard-hitting action this Thursday, August 1 live at teamcombatleague.tv and DAZN.com (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).