Elite Fighting Promotions 5: Saratoga Springs Event Recap

Kristin Gordon

Elite Fighting Promotions put on yet another action packed event at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Saturday, September 20, 2025. This was Elite Fighting Promotions 5th time hosting an event in the Capital Region, and they did not disappoint.

Getting into the venue and the event was smooth as ever, and we were greeted with many vendors, a DJ playing music to get the crowd pumped, and catering by D’Andrea’s Piazza.

The fights began around 5:30 PM, announced by John Murrell Gallogly and being streamed by STF Media. The crowd was ready and rearing from the get go to see an action packed night of head to head combat.

Fight 1: Michael McGeever (blue) v. Tomas Reyes (red)- 155 lb Muay Thai

Tomas Reyes: Representing Campanella Martial Arts
McGeever: Representing Sukhti Muay Thai & MMA

Round 1: Both fighters begin by showing great defensive and offensive maneuvers. Reyes delivers a kick to McGeever’s chest and knocks him down for just a moment, but he gets up just as quick. Fighters continue going head to head, until Reyes pins McGeever agains the cage, but the fight is broken up by the bell.

Round 2: McGeever starts round two by upping his defense much more this time around, while Reyes still continues to hold his own. Reyes attempts a spinning back elbow, but misses. In that moment, McGeever gets a great shot in on Reyes. Both fighters end up in a clinch until the ref breaks it up. Both try to attack each other with kicks, but are broken up again by the bell.

Round 3: At the beginning of the round, McGeever attempts to go at Reyes with a kick, but Reyes lunges at McGeever. Both fighters give it their all and really finish the round strong.

Winner: Tomas Reyes (red) by Unanimous Decision.

Fight 2: Isaiah Padilla (blue) v. Haki Lumpkin (red)- 155 lb Muay Thai

Isaiah Padilla: From Amsterdam, NY. Representing Saratoga Academy of Elite Martial Arts.
Haki Lumpkin: From Schenectady, NY. Representing Electric City, BJJ.

Round 1: Both fighters begin by exchanging some good kicks and jabs to each other’s faces. Lumpkin has great defense, but Padilla delivers a hit that knocks Lumpkin down. Lumpkin gets back up and goes even harder. Padilla loses his footing for a moment, but manages to stay up.

Round 2: Fighters give each other a fist bump, and the round begins. Both fighters exchange some really great kicks. Padilla gets in a great hit, and then the fight is paused for the unfortunate groin hit. Once the fight resumes, Padilla goes in aggressive, and both get in some really good hits on the other until the bell breaks up the fight.

Round 3: The round begins, and Lumpkin goes crazy, temporarily knocking Padilla down. Padialla combats with some great head shots on Lumpkin, which appears to be making Lumpkin slow down a bit. Lumpkin dodges some punches from Padilla, just for Padilla to anticipate his dodge and nail Lumpkin with a brutal body shot that could be hear all throughout the room.

Winner: Isaiah Padilla (blue) by Unanimous Decision.

Fight 3: Sean Chan (blue) v. Dhamani Johnson (red)- 145 lb Muay Thai

Sean Chan: From Hong Kong, China. Representing Sukhti Muay Thai & MMA.
Dhamani Johnson: From Hartford, CT. Representing Performance Combat, MMA.

Round 1: Both fighters begin by getting in some great kicks right of the rip. Johnson catches Chan’s foot, and drops him. Johnson had a couple of technical difficulties with the tape slipping off his sock mid fight, causing the ref to have to pause to ensure fighters were safe. Once the fight resumes, Chan becomes a little more offensive in his maneuvers, but Johnson continues to hold his own.

Round 2: Chan begins round two dead focused, delivers a wicked kick to Johnson and knocks him down. Johnson gets back up and in Chan’s face, but Chan swiftly knocks back down again. Chan seems very still and focused while Johnson seems to be trying to distract his opponent by zig-zagging all over the place. Johnson gets in a few really great jab combos to Chan’s face, and drops Chan incredibly hard onto the floor. Chan gets back up, and the fight resumes until they are stopped by the bell.

Round 3: At the beginning of the fight, Johnson suffers a serious groin injury right off the bat, and he screams in agony as the fight is paused for the fighter to regain feeling from the waist down. Once the fight resumes, Chan starts going nuts and pins Johnson agains the cage. At this point, Chan is literally leaping at Johnson, going in with everything he’s got. The crowd start’s chanting Sean Chan’s name, “Sean! Sean! Sean!”. Chan grabs one of Johnson’s kicks, holds his leg, and starts pummeling him in the face. The ref breaks it up and gives Chan a warning. Johnson lunges and pushes Chan against the cage while Chan continues to deliver knees to Johnson while in a clinch.

This fight was considered a draw for our JMA fight of the night. Keep reading to see which other match tied for fight of the night, and take our poll below to cast your vote on who you think deserves the title!

Winner: Dhamani Johnson (red) by Unanimous Decision

The crowd takes a brief 15 minute intermission to allow spectators to indulge in food, check out vendors, use the restroom, and purchase their 50/50 tickets for the raffle drawing.

Co-Main Event: Michael Curry (blue) v. Taha Sevencer (red)- 155 lb MMA

Michael Curry: From Albany, NY. Representing Sukhti Muay Thai & MMA.
Taha Sevencer: From Latham, NY. Representing Lions Den.

Round 1: Sevencer gets in a great jab at the very beginning of the match, and shortly thereafter, the grappling begins. Curry picks up Sevnecer and drops him to the ground. Both fighters throw some great hits and kicks, but not many of them are landing. Curry drops Sevencer, he gets back up, and the round ends shortly after.

Round 2: Sevencer really puts the pressure on Curry in this round. Sevencer sweeps Curry’s feel, knocks him down, and goes in with no hesitation. The fighters continue to battle on the ground, with Sevencer taking the dominant position on top. Sevencer is relentlessly pummeling Curry while he holds control in mount. Sevencer goes for a knee-on-belly, but Curry maneuvers his way out.

Round 3: Curry makes some really great contact with some jabs to Sevencer’s jaw. Sevencer goes in for a kick, but misses. Grappling begins again, with Sevencer once again taking dominant position. Once they’re back up on their feet, Sevencer backs Curry against the age, and gets in a really good kick right to the side of Curry’s neck which reverberated throughout the entire room. Curry was stunned for a moment, but jumps right back into fight mode. Sevencer drops Curry again, and takes him in a dominant position on the ground. Curry is trying to go for a Kamora and then tried to transition into an arm bar, but he loses his grip. Curry tries to attempt an arm bar again, but the bell rings.

This was our other contender for JMA fight of the night. Cast your vote in the poll below and tell us who you think deserves the title!

Winner: Taha Sevencer (red) by Unanimous Decision.

Main Event: Marcus Davis (blue) v. Ben Battista (red)- 155 Kickboxing K1

Marcus Davis: From Saratoga, NY. Representing Saratoga Academy of Elite Martial Arts.
Ben Battista: From Waterford, CT. Representing Performance Combat MMA.

Round 1: The fight starts out very intense and heavy right from the beginning. Both fighters exchange some great combos, Davis focusing more on kicks while Battista focuses more on jabs. Both fighters exhibit both great offensive and defensive skills. Davis lands a really hard kick to the side of Battista’s face, but he seems un phased. Davis lands a handful of kicks to Battista’s chest.

Round 2: Davis begins the match with some tricky foot work to distract Battista, and then delivers his attack. Davis continues to get in some really great kicks. Meanwhile, Battista throws some really great punches and jabs, but Davis is moving to quickly to make contact. Davis seems very calm and collected in his maneuvers throughout this round.

Round 3: Battista begins the round with a handful of combos to Davis’ head. Davis nails Battista with a flying knee. Battista responds by delivering another set of head combos. Battista attempts a back spinning elbow, but misses, and Davis is just as quick to seize the opportunity to attack. Right before the bell rings, Battista practically goes in with a drop kick to Davis, and the fight ends.

Winner: Ben Battista (red) by Unanimous Decision.

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