"As I got more involved in it the more I found that I liked it," Flock told Webb Weekly. "It is a great way to stay in shape and it also great in getting to make you more mentally sharp and being able to focus on the task at hand, which is to defeat an opponent."

Flock said he has always been active athletically, dabbling in various sports. He has played semi-professional football in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and it is almost as though he has the ring in his blood. His grandfather, Frank "Tinky" Casale, was a noted local professional boxer during the 1930s and 1940s.

Flock recently turned pro in the MMA ranks and has fought several bouts, both winning and losing several of them.

He said his family is supportive of his MMA activities and his professional bouts but said they still worry — particularly his mother — about him getting hurt.

"I get a lot of encouragement and support from both my family and friends and it means a lot to me," Flock said. "My sisters all come out to my fights and root me on and that’s kind of neat."

Flock is quick to point to his training partner, Lewis Rumsey as the source of some of his success.

"He has been a huge help. He is a real good training partner," Flock said.　 "Lewis has been involved in MMA a little longer than me and he has given me the benefit of his experience.

According to Flock, he is not sure how long he will continue to fight professionally in MMA. He wants to fight in an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Scranton in February. UFC is a professional, promotional body associated with Mixed Martial Arts. Fighting in UFC-sanctioned events is a goal of those who fight in MMA.

"I’ll try and fight for as long as my body will allow me. I would like to get at least 20 professional fights in me before I retire," Flock said.

As for the aforementioned Lewis Rumsey, he is very dogged in his quest for MMA success and right now it is his career.

He has been training and involved in Mixed Martial Arts since he was 17. He is now 22

"Competition like this has always been appealing to me. It gives me a positive outlet as I work out at the gym at least two times a day with it," Runsey said. "It is a great way to keep me out of trouble and keeps me off the streets," he said laughingly.

"I met John about two years ago at the gym and he’s a real cool guy. He’s always willing to learn more. I really enjoy training with him. I think we are both benefiting very well from working out together. We can identify each other’s weaknesses and help build up our strengths. The training we do really helps me to prepare for my fights"

Rumsey turned professional about two years ago and has a record of 7-7 as a pro and has won his last four bouts. His pro experience includes fighting bouts in Atlantic City and he said his biggest thrill was fighting on the Bell Tour, where he got a chance to fight some "world class opponents" and was able to fight in front of a huge crowd.

"The thing about being successful in MMA is that it requires a lot of very hard work and you have to be focused on what you want to accomplish," Rumsey said. "It really helps you to develop a sense of discipline. This is my chosen profession and I want to be successful at it. My eventual goal is to be a champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship."

He said the popularity of MMA seems to be growing locally. It is not uncommon, according to Rumsey, to see between 18 and 20 people working out at the gym he and Flock frequent. Already several more local fighters have, turned or are about to turn pro, including, Eric Steppe. Greg Wolfe and Mark Mangiardi.

Back to Top