Murrysville fighter prepares for 2nd MMA bout at 'Brawl in the Burgh 10' in Monroeville

Growing up in Murrysville, hockey had always been Craig Perry’s sport, but he spent a good deal of time watching mixed martial-arts competitions, too.

“Connor McGregor was my favorite, and I always told myself that if I ever got the chance, I’d try MMA,” Perry said.

After he stopped playing hockey, the 20-year-old Perry said he got “really bored, really quick.” Then one day, he was watching Pittsburgh native Khama Worthy fighting on TV.

“I jumped on Twitter and (direct-messaged) him,” Perry said. “He actually got back to me, and I started training at his gym, The Academy, in the West End.”

On Feb. 5, Perry will be back in the ring for his second MMA fight as part of 247 Fighting’s “Brawl in the Burgh 10” at the Monroeville Convention Center.

“This is actually our 12th event altogether,” said Hunter Homistek, 31, of McKeesport, who took over as general manager for 247 Fighting a few months ago after spending the better part of a decade covering MMA events as a journalist.

247 Fighting has been hosting local MMA events since the spring of 2019. After coming on board as GM late last year, Homistek was planning a card with both boxing and MMA for early December, but that ended up being devastated by fighter injuries and illness.

“It was a weird introduction to planning this type of event,” Homistek said with a laugh. “The December show got everyone ramped up, and then it didn’t happen. But now we have this (Feb. 5) card together and it’s one of our strongest on paper.”

The card includes a main event featuring Worthy in his first fight since being released by the UFC in November 2021, following five appearances in the octagon.

Perry (0-1) will be looking to notch his first win in a fight against Cleveland’s Anthoney Morris (0-2).

“I lost by a split decision last time, and it was in large part because the kid I fought was such a good grappler,” Perry said. “If that were to happen again, I feel like I’d be much more prepared for it.”

When it comes to grappling, Evan DeLong, 26, of Brookville, has experience in spades, having wrestled in his younger days and in NCAA Division I competition at Clarion University. DeLong will go up against Connecticut fighter Kenyon Moore.

“I grew up watching UFC every weekend,” said DeLong (1-0). “It just excites me.”

One of DeLong’s friends, Mike Kocjancic, had gotten into MMA toward the end of his wrestling career, and DeLong began helping with his training.

“I really liked it, but I didn’t have a good place to do it,” he said. “Then I met Isaac Greeley from the Mat Factory (in Lower Burrell), and I decided to give it a try.”

DeLong came away with a win in his first fight.

“I was pretty strategic — I don’t think I got hit once and I was able to dominate the whole thing,” he said. “If there’s one thing I’d change, it’s getting a little more aggressive and letting things flow a little more in the ring.”

Both DeLong and Perry said that training helps with physical preparation, but it’s tougher to prepare for the mental moment when the cage door closes and it’s time to throw down.

“I was making things up in my head about what it would be like,” Perry said. “Having that under my belt, I feel way more relaxed now. I know what it’s going to be.”

DeLong said he tries to keep the same mindset both in the gym and in the ring.

“That comes from wrestling,” he said. “I’ve dealt with pre-match nerves. The biggest thing is to realize that you’re trained and prepared to do this.”

247 owner Ryan Middleton said he can’t wait to kick off 2022 with the Monroeville card.

“A Khama Worthy fight is always a special occasion, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him back inside the 247 FC cage fresh off his five-fight UFC stint,” Middleton said.

General table seating for “Brawl in the Burgh 10” is sold out, and intermediate and premium table seats are available at $70 and $90, respectively.

To purchase tickets, see 247Fighting.com.