Joe Solecki booked for CFFC 65

Joe Solecki has his hand rasied. Photo Credit: CFFC MMA/ MDphotoandink.

 

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.”

Writing for NJ MMA New since 2011, Connor is passionate about covering local mixed martial arts. He graduated from Temple University’s School of Media and Communications with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. His love for MMA stems from his past as a high school wrestler and jiu-jitsu blue belt. Former UFC fighter Kurt Pellegrino coached Connor in his senior year of high school. He worked as a Rally Sports Desk report for The Philadelphia Inquirer and interned as a sports reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News.