Top east coast prospects Joey Gambino and Sean Santella grab titles at CFFC 13

A pair of the Tristate areas best prospects were booked in title bouts at the latest Cage Fury Fighting Championship in Atlantic City, New Jersey. CFFC 13 was headlined by Tristar gym featherweight Joey Gambino (9-0) versus Bellator vet Kenny Foster (9-5). The fight for Gambino was his first versus an ex UFC, Bellator or Strikeforce featherweight.

In a title fight that went the full 25 minutes Gambino imposed his will on Foster with a strong wrestling game coupled with powerful ground n' pound attack. After five rounds Gambino got the nod all three judges' scorecards. The decision was the first of Gambino's three year pro career.

Foster has now lost his three bouts since a March 2011 upset win over Eric Larkin.

With a breakneck style of fighting and a top shelf group of training partners Gambino is on track for a UFC call up in 2012. Gambino is a legit five star prospect at 145 pounds and will immediately find success on the entry level of the UFC's featherweight division. The New York born fighter is the number three featherweight prospect in MMA according to ULTMMA.com.

Back in the flyweight division AMA Fight Club's Sean Santella (9-3-1) returned to the winner's circle versus Virginia's Bryan Lashomb (3-1). Santella relied on his superior submission game to eventually trap Lashomb on the ground. The 27 year old Santella latched on to Lashomb's left leg late in the second round and secured a kneebar for the win.

The tapout came at the 4:47 mark of round two. Santella now has seven submission wins in his 13 fight career. A sparring partner of the Miller brothers and Charlie Brenneman, Santella is on the short list of potential signees for the UFC's flyweight division in 2012.

CFFC 13 Gambino vs. Foster results
Atlantic City, NJ

Travis Wynn def. Marcus Daniels by Unanimous Decision
Brian Nielson def. Dustin Baker by Submission Rear Naked Choke 4:37 R1
Bradley Desir def. Luciano Cristovam by TKO (Punches) 2:43 R2
Jackson Galka def. Terrell Hobbs by Submission Guillotine Choke 3:54 R2
*Claudio Ledesma def. Pedro Gonzalez by Unanimous Decision
Anthony Morrison def. Jay Haas by Submission Guillotine Choke 3:37 R1
*Sean Santella def. Bryan Lashomb by Submission Kneebar 4:47 R2
*Joey Gambino def. Kenny Foster by Unanimous Decision

*Prospects to watch