We spoke with Josh about the injury and when he’ll make his pro debut, how he made the massive switch from a heavyweight fighter down to middleweight, why he chose to switch camps and more.

Listen to the interview below.

Midwest Training Center’s Kevin Knabjian made the drop to lightweight in 2011, and it immediately paid dividends with wins over Jonathan Tarrh and Miletich Fighting Systems’ Brandon Adamson [Video].

Knabjian looked to continue his success against Drew Fickett at the inaugural Worldwide MMA event in Texas over the weekend. He was having his way with Fickett until he was hit with illegal head kick. Fickett submitted him shortly after the foul. Knabjian took to the UG to explain.

Ok, so I am not one to complain about why I lost, and have always accepted the blame for the losses in my career. However, I should not have lost to Drew Fickett.

Long story short, I took an illegal kick to the temple while on the ground. I knew something was up when I didn’t remember the moments between letting go of the kneebar to being in the guillotine. I remember every moment of the fight but that. I remember being in the guillotine and thinking “f–k how did this happen”. People were telling me that I got kicked in the head but obviously I didn’t remember.

You can see in the video that the heel lands solid to my temple and the crowd reacts to it. I stand up and am dazed as you can tell by my arms just kind of hanging there.

The ref should have halted the fight regardless of the kick being unintentional or not. Also, the ref actually acknowledged that he saw it. He told my corner who was complaining about the kick that “it was an accident”. Either way it was an illegal strike and time should have been given.

Watch the video and see for yourself. Thank you.

And here is the video of the bout:

Outstanding performance by Fox. The power slam, patiently getting that leg out of Fortner’s half-guard to get the mount and then transitioning to the arm bar — just an excellent fight for the new APFC women’s lightweight champ.

The unified rules of MMA are often misinterpreted, and just downright mind-boggling to some. People are always ripping on judges and refs. But are they sure what they are talking about? Now you can find out more about why refs and judges do the things they do.

UFC ref and MMA judge Rob Hinds will be giving an informational seminar on the unified rules of MMA at Midwest Training Center in Schaumburg. It’s also a good opportunity for you to check out the brand new MTC facilities at their new location.

The cost is just $15 if you register before 3/1/2012. Click the link below to register.

Unified MMA Rules of Mixed Martial Arts- An Informational Seminar
Sponsored by: Midwest Training Center
Presented by: Robert Hinds- Combat Consulting LLC

Friday, March 16, 2012
Check In: 5:00pm
Program Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Venue:
Midwest Training Center
455 E. State Parkway
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Several of Chicago’s top fighters fared well at the Porter County Expo Center  in Indiana on Saturday night at HFC 10.

• MTC’s Dennis Dombrow scored a win over Terry House Jr. with a guillotine sub in the third round.
• Team Curran’s Kenny Booker got back in action and took a unanimous decision over Ryan Storey.
• And in the main event, Uflacker Academy’s Christian “Xaropinho” Uflacker beat LC Davis via split decision, to take the BJJ wiz to 4-0 on his pro career.

Here are the HFC 10 results. For a complete rundown of the night’s fights, visit More MMA.

Amateur Fight Results

Jacob Morales def Cody Conley via submission (rear naked choke) 1:52 Round 3

Jonathan Ciavirelli def Shaun-Ryan Sanchez via submission (guillotine) 1:51 Round 2

James Frasure II def Eli Cantu via doctor stoppage (cut) 2:39 Round 2

Miguel Garza def Michael Manns via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28,29-28)

Nathan Wacnik def Christopher Malamatos via submission (guillotine) 1:21 Round 1

Professional Fight Results

Dennis Dombrow def Terry House, Jr.via submission (guillotine) 4:20 Round 3

Bill Johnson def Rob Morrow via split decision (29-28,28-29,29-28)

Kevin Nowaczyk def Joe Alexander via TKO referee stoppage (leg kicks) 2:43 Round 3

Kenny Booker def Ryan Storey via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28,29-28)

Neil Magny def Daniel Sandman via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,30-27)

Jake Rosenbaum def Dexter Wright via Submission (guillotine) 2:43, Round 2

Larry DiGulio def  Nick Wayne via submission (guillotine) 3:59 Round 1

Christian Uflacker def LC Davis via split decision (27-30,29-28,29-28)

Just a few weeks ago, Midwest Training Center fighter Dan Stittgen got the call of a lifetime. The call was from the UFC, asking Stittgen to fight at UFC 143. Oddly enough, Stittgen was being asked to replace the only fighter to ever beat him in MMA.

The dream of fighting in the UFC will come true for Stittgen when he fights Stephen Thompson in Las Vegas this Saturday night. Thompson will also be making his UFC debut.

Stittgen is replacing Justin Edwards, who had to withdraw due to injury. Edwards submitted Stittgen back in January of 2010 in Wisconsin, the only blemish on his career record.

Since then he has rattled off four straight victories, including wins locally in Rockford and at XFO 39, where he tapped out Jason Graves just over a minute into the bout. Stittgen has also fought locally at TFC and Fight Club One. He made his amateur debut back at XFO 23.

Stittgen is coming of a majority decision win against Mark Stoddard at King of the Cage in Wisconsin, but he is best known as a submission specialist. Five of his seven pro wins have come by submission.

You can see Stittgen’s fight on Facebook this Saturday.

Kevin Knabjian had a bit of a rough ride after competing on Season 9 of “The Ultimate Fighter”, dropping three straight bouts. But a more active 2011 and a drop to 155lbs. has reinvigorated the Midwest Training Center fighter.

He got back in the win column in July, needing just :35 to get Jonathan Tarrh to submit from strikes at Total Warrior Challenge 9 in Indy. Saturday night he was back at it, taking on Miletich Fighting Systems’ Brandon Adamson.

Listen to the excellent coaching from MTC’s Alex Trujillo, preaching patience and calling for the move that would finish Adamson.

Mike Marrello vs Miodrag Petkovich
Mike Pitz vs Kent Rexford Jr.
Daniel Aguirre vs TBD
Kevin Knabjian vs Brandon Adamson
Will Brooks vs Chris Tickle
Vincent Ramos vs Guillermo Serment
Adam Ward vs Daniel Rodriguez
Matt Tobie vs Frank Pizzirulli
Joey Diehl vs Joe Voitik
Anthony Goodwin vs Robert Couillard
Andrew Krzeptowski vs Quartus Stitt
Kenny Booker vs TBD
Christopher Haney vs Stanton Gavia

We’ll have an XFO preview as we get closer to the event. The card looks excellent, packed with great local fighters and prospect. My early pick for “Fight of the Night” is MTC’s Mike Pitz vs. Wrecking Ball’s Kent Rexford Jr. I expect that to be a back and forth, all-out war.

Quick updates on Chicago area fighters…

- Miguel Torres is fighting Nick Pace at UFC 139. You may remember Pace from his insane flying knee KO of Collin Tebo back at Bellator 11. Torres will try to get back in the title picture after his loss to Demetrious Johnson. Pace is coming off a UFC 133 loss to Ivan Menjivar.

- Chicago’s Mike Russow is out of UFC 136 as his opponent Dave “Pee Wee” Herman tested positive for marijuana and steroids. No replacement was named so the fight was scratched.

It’s a tough break for Russow, who last fought at UFC Fight Night in March, when he beat Jon Madsen. Russow is 14-1 and has not lost since 2007, when he was submitted by Sergei Kharitonov at PRIDE 33.

- Dan “The Anvil” Stittgen will be fighting on October 8th at “King of the Cage: Interference” in Wisconsin. The MTC fighter recently won at Rockford Cage Fights and at XFO 39 in May. He is also a veteran of the TFC.

- The Supremacy MMA video game has hit stores, and it features local fighters Felice Herrig, Michele Gutierrez and Jens Pulver. Check out the game at their website.

Send any local fighter or school news to matt@chicagosmmna.com.

Mike Lullo has a new opponent for his UFC Fight Night bout on Saturday night. Lullo was initially matched up against Team Curran’s Mackens Semerzier, but “Da Menace” was forced to withdraw due to injury. Lullo will now get to brawl with Honduran fighter Robert Peralta, who will be making his UFC debut.

Lullo (8-2) fights out of Midwest Training Center and made his UFC debut last November against Edson Barboza at UFC 123. He took the fight on short notice and was defeated after via TKO due to leg strikes in round 3. This fight against Peralta will be his debut at featherweight.

Peralta (14-3) is a brawler and Lullo will likely try to get him to the ground. Two of Peralta’s three losses have come via submission, and Lullo’s ground game is exceptional.

Peralta did turn some heads with an upset win over Hiroyuki Takaya at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley. Takaya is the current DREAM featherweight champion, having defended the title once.