Joe Solecki (3-0 MMA, 3-0 CFFC) will return to competition at cage Fury Fighting Championships 65 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 20, 2017.
Solecki’s opponent has not been officially announced by the promotion, but he will be competing for a fourth time with the CFFC.
Most recently, Solecki earned his third-straight rear-naked choke victory by submitting Kevin Perez in the first round at CFFC 63 at the Borgota Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey Feb. 18, 2017.
UFC President Dana White watched the bout cageside while filming for his UFC Fight Pass show “Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight.” After the 23-year-old earned the finish, he told NJ MMA News he learned something about himself.
“I tried to find him (White) in the crowd, but I couldn’t,” Solecki said. “That is the most powerful man in the fight game, if you can perform in front of him, you can perform in front of anybody.”
All three of his finishes occurred while fighting under the CFFC banner. In his professional debut Oct. 29, 2016, Solecki tapped out Chris Rollins via RNC in the opening round at CFFC 61.
In the following event at CFFC 62, Solecki made a quick return and finished Andrew Chirico with a first-round RNC Dec. 17, 2016. After the bout, Solecki called out for a title shot.
Today, Solecki ranks as the No. 15 lightweight fighting in New Jersey and is pegged out No. 3 in his home state of South Carolina according to Tapology.
It is clear the CFFC belt is important to Solecki. In February, he told NJ MMA News he would be taking one fight at a time and wait until a title shot presents itself.
In a stacked lightweight division with fighters like former title challenger Mike Wilkins, Joe Lowry and Stephen Regman, Lowry seems fine with waiting his turn as he is still in the earlier stages of his career.
If he continues to choke out his opponents in the first round, it will be hard to deny his chance at the strap.
“I have a lot respect for his game,” Solecki said. “The CFFC title is something I have my mind and focus set on.”