Eyes on the prize

Windows of opportunity remain open for varying lengths of time, depending on one’s career path. For a mixed martial artist, that time frame often lasts no more than 12 minutes — and it can be far less depending on the outcome of a three-round bout whose potential end can happen via not only by knockout but a variety of submissions. Simply put, it doesn’t leave fighters much time to leave a lasting impression on judges.

Suffice to say that Freeport’s Eddie “Truck” Gordon, along with Al Iaquinta and James Jenkins, all of whom fight for the Matt Serra-Ray Longo team made good use of their time in the Octagon at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City last month. Each came out on top in three-round decisions at Bellmore resident Louis Neglia’s Ring of Combat XXXVI. To date, the promotion has pushed 61 fighters to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the latest being Baldwin’s Chris Weidman in March.

“The Ring of Combat is a great opportunity for a lot of people to see you,” Jenkins said after his third professional fight, all of which are victories. “No show gets talked about like [Neglia’s].”

Gordon, nicknamed “Truck” by his older brother when he was just 125 pounds but still running over bigger kids on the football field, has grown into the moniker. The Truck made his professional debut as a 250-pound heavyweight in the June 17 victory over nine-fight veteran J.A. Dudley after just three bouts as an amateur. “The guy I fought had a lot of experience so that was priceless,” Gordon said. “Lou [Neglia] does a great job of preparing fighters and no fight is an easy fight.”

“The Ring of Combat is about competitive fights,” Neglia said of his ultimate goal for every bout he puts together. “And competitive fights make competitive fighters.”