MMA fighting in New England began at Rhode Island Vale Tudo 1. It was held in a kickboxing gym, Manny Neves’ Elite Martial Arts Center, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on July 10, 1999. Co-promoters Kipp Kollar and Manny Neves both competed on the card. So did future UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia.

The event grew rapidly, and by the fourth promotion it had changed states, name, and Kollar was the sole promoter. The promotion was now called Mass Destruction. 

One of the bouts at Mass Destruction 1, held on April 14, 2001, in Springfield, Massachusetts, was Jon Weidler vs. Andrew Staiger. A recent graduate of Hofstra, Weidler was a Div I wrestler with nasty striks and submissions. In Weidler’s corner was a young Phil Baroni, who would go on to have a colorful, even controversial career, before The New York Badass’s life took a dark, dark turn.

However, back then in the early days of the sport, everything was new and the Long Island duo of Weidler and Baroni represented only enthusiasm, grit, skill, and thrilling action.

Some fans assumed the Guard pass below, dubbed the Omosplatta, was invented impromptu, but in Weidler and Baroni had been working on it. In fact, right before it happens, you can hear Baroni yelling, “He’s doing it, don’t stand them up, he’s going to pass his Guard right now.” Then you can hear Baroni say, “Let’s go.”

And then Jon Weidler did the Omosplatta, and entered the history books.

This was Weidler’s last amateur fight, closing him out at a perfect 3-0. He would continue to fight as a professional from 2001 to 2003, amassing a 3-3 record before retiring. Past opponents included Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett and Rich Clementi. And the legend of Omosplatta lives on, and on.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE UNDERGROUND. Weidler is still there; his screen name is HYBRID_JON!