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AMA Fight Club’s Sean Santella and Mike Medrano fight May 14 in Jersey City

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PHOTO BY KRISTIN MILLER Welterweight Mike Medrano (6-5), far bottom left, and bantamweight Sean Santella (5-1-1), far bottom right, are pictured with AMA Fight Club coach-manager Mike Constantino, top second from right, and teammates, left to right, Doug Miller, Chris Wing, Andy Main, Jim Miller and Dan Miller. Medrano and Santella will make their debut for Urban Conflict Championship on May 14 at The Armory in Jersey City, Medrano's hometown.

I recently spoke with AMA Fight Club welterweight Mike "Rhino" Medrano (6-5) of Jersey City and bantamweight/flyweight Sean "Shorty Rock" Santella (5-1-1) of Mount Olive and videotaped one of their conditioning workouts with coach Martin Rooney and teammates Jim and Dan Miller of the UFC at Parisi Speed School in Fair Lawn.

On May 14 for Urban Conflict Championship at The Armory in Jersey City, Santella, the Asylum Fight League and New Breed Fighters amateur bantamweight champ and Valley Fight League pro champ, will take on Josh "The Rage" Rave (18-7) of Nebraska in flyweight match at 125 pounds. The fight marks his first as a flyweight. He'll fight for the Ring of Combat flyweight title in September.

Medrano, the NAFL welterweight champion, will fight Sam Jackson (9-18) of the Texas on May 14 in his hometown. Next up for him will be the Ring of Combat welterweight championship against undefeated New Yorker Ryan LaFlare (5-0) on June 11 in Atlantic City.

May 14 marks the debut for both Santella and Medrano for the new promotion, which is staging its second event. Also on the UCC card will be AMA Fight Club bantamweight Joey Camacho (4-6) and lightweight Joshua Key (4-4), plus several other Jersey favorites, including Ultimate Fighter contestant Dante Rivera.

Enjoy the following interviews and videos with Santella, Medrano and their AMA Fight Club teammates:

What inspired you to get into MMA?
Santella: I got into MMA back in 2007 with some old high school wrestling buddies. I really missed competing, so some of my friends suggested I try Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Medrano: I played football for many years, and when I was told I was too small to play in the NFL, I decided to transfer my energy into MMA. I was already using martial arts to improve my football skills.

Were you a high school/college wrestler beforehand? If so, where, when and how far did you place?
Santella: I wrestled for Mount Olive High School in Morris County in 1999 to 2002. I only wrestled two-and-a-half years due to a hernia. I was a three-time District 1 place winner, winning it all my junior year after only wrestling four matches all year. I took fourth in Region 1, having a stacked weight class with Matt Valenti and Jon Mankovich.
Medrano: I wrestled in high school and was a district champion, 3rd place in the regions, 3rd place in the super regions and top 10 in the state. I played football at Monmouth University, where I was the team leading rusher in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.

Comment on the potential of this new promotion, Urban Conflict Championship, which is presenting only its second show.
Santella: UCC is a new promotion with some great sponsors with untamed industries and Buddhasports.com leading the way. Its an all-pro show with great fighters from all over the country. They don't mind spending the extra money to go out and get great fighters were other promtions are worried about their budget and won't fly anybody in. I'm really excited to get in there and mix it up for them.
Medrano:  The UCC gives me a good opportunity to build up a local fan base, since I grew up in Jersey City and went to high school down the street at St. Peter's Prep.

Comment on the belts you hold.
Santella
: I currently hold two amateur belts -- New Breed and Asylum -- and one pro -- Valley Fight League. Bantamweight titles.

Medrano: I am the NAFL Welterweight Champion, which is based out of Massachusetts. I am fighting for the Welterweight Championship in the Ring Of Combat on June 11. In order for me to make it to the UFC, I must hold multiple titles in other organizations to prove that I am the best fighter in the area.

Comment on how in all other promotions except the UFC, you can seek more than one belt, such as the two you hold or say, Strikeforce and Dream.
Santella
: As far as holding different titles in different organizations, I think it's great. When you're the champ, you should fight the best of the best. Not only in your organization but in the world. After all, isn't that everybody's goal? To be the best in the world?

How does it feel to be a successful part of the fastest-growing sport in the world and how is this new promotion a reflection of that growth?
Santella: It feels great! I have an awesome team that keeps pushing me, day in and day out. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys. I think this fight is gonna put me in the right direction, especially with a win (laughs). This kid I'm fighting has 25 pro fights. That's a ton of experience. Should be a great fight.

Medrano: Being part of the growth of MMA is exciting. This sport will open many new doors for me to continue being an athlete. UCC and other similar promotions will only be as good as the fighters that perform for them, and hopefully, I am considered one of the best in New Jersey and in the Northeast region of America. My main goal is to compete at a high level for as long as my body can handle it.


How do you give back to the sport to help it grow?
Santella
: Not only am I an active fighter, but I'm also one of the sport's biggest fans. I love everything about it. I don't miss any fights, and when I have a chance, I try to attend as many as possible, whether I have teammates fighting or not.

Medrano: I give back to the sport by teaching and training other athletes. I bring my wealth of athletic knowledge to teenagers and young kids who want to learn how to cross train to improve themselves in their own sports, whether jiu jitsu, soccer, football, etc. Working with kids is one passion for me, and it gives me a chance to give back. I owe a debt of gratitude to the coaches that helped me when I was growing up. Working with kids is a way to pay back my debt.

8. Any new training tips you've discovered in the past couple of weeks that you can share with those coming behind you or who just want to condition like you?
Santella
: I don't really have anything new going on. I try to clean up my diet and stay injury-free. I never worry about my conditioning because I have some of the best fighters in the world pushing me in every aspect and one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the world, Martin Rooney, who also studies all the different types of martial arts from wrestling to Brazilian jiu jitsu to Muay Thai and even karate.

Medrano: If a person wants to get better, find a great trainer like Jay Lally and Martin Rooney. Give a man a fish he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. These two guys will teach any athlete to be better, faster and stronger. I have learned so many new techniques that it is better to send people to the source. For those who like to read pick up "Ultimate Warrior Workouts" by Martin Rooney.

Feel free to comment on anything else and to thank all your sponsors, coaches and supporters.
Santella
: I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity; my sponsors -- Untamed Industries and BuddhaSports -- for taking a chance with an up-and-comer; all my teammates at AMA for beating me up, day in and day out, and making me the fighter I am today; Mike Constantino for helping me out with life in general and giving me the opportunity to come to AMA with empty pockets and taking a chance on me, and my family and friends for all their support and love. I love you guys.

Medrano: I just want to thank God for the many blessings that have come through hard work and dedication. Thank God for my wife who is my main support system. Lastly, I love my son and my step daughter. Hope to see you at my next fight.


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