Silverbacks Classic IX: Heavy Arsenal

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Saturday, January 19th, 2002
LaSalle, Illinois
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Phil Johns

Phil Johns has an extensive history in mixed martial arts, and is a highly-decorated veteran in the field.  In high school he was an undefeated State Champion, but a lack of competition drove him into the arena of mixed martial arts following college.  After taking up jujitsu he decided that he again wanted to be a champion, and the desire that pushed him to success in his wrestling career went on to make him a champion in multiple venues.  Phil's impressive list of titles include: Submission Fighting Champion, Ironheart Crown Champion, Extreme Challenge Champion, and Hook And Shoot Absolute Lightweight World Champion.  Phil has also proven himself in many other events, such as World Extreme Fighting, Dangerzone, Shooto, and Ultimate Fighting Championship.  He has always fought the top competition in the world and never backs down from any challenge, regardless of how daunting.

Having known what fighters go through with a select few promoters, Phil decided to start his own organization, one where fighters would be thought of first and foremost.  They would be matched up with equal competition, know everything up front, and would not be exploited.  This attitude has helped to shape the Silverbacks Classic into one of the best fighting events in the Midwest.

Whether it's learning, teaching, competing, promoting, or giving advice, it is clear that Phil Johns' legacy current has and will continue to make a big impact on the world of mixed martial arts.

Bob Long

If it's a trainer of champions you want, then look no further than Bob Long.  Bob started his training at an early age, first in the Silver Gloves boxing organization, and then moved on to learn several different forms of martial arts, honing his craft to the best of his abilities.  Bob is highly skilled in the arts of hapkido, sambo, jujitsu, and vale tudo, and following his teaming up with Phil, he has gone on to teach several champions their trade.  Not the type of trainer who simply lectures his students, Bob is very hands-on in his approach, strongly believing that regardless of your skill level, you can always learn something new.  With that in mind, he is always open to trying any new technique that may be beneficial to himself and his students, often with impressive results.

Not only is Bob an accomplished trainer, he also has to his credit over 250 mixed martial arts bouts in which he has served as referee.  He has observed many well-known competitors from this close-and-personal point of view, and because of this he his highly sought-after by promoters to referee their events.

Bob, like Phil, always looks out not only for his own fighters but those from other camps as well, and this attitude has earned him a great deal of respect in the martial arts community.

Adrian Serrano
Milwaukee, WI
Serrano's Fighting Academy
75-17-4

The Silverback Classic Light Heavyweight Champion is world-class inside and outside the ring, and his name alone brings the respect and admiration of the martial arts world.  If it's a reputable event, you can bet he's been there and done that, and his resume of events never seems to end.  Any young fighter wanting to do things the right way need not look any further than Adrian Serrano as a perfect example.  With over 10 titles to his credit, including the Hook And Shoot World Championship, two Extreme Challenge Championships, and an Ironheart Crown Championship, this King of the Cage and Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran is a true legend in the sport today.

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Jimmy "The Wildcat" Bruketta
Norris, IL.
Silverbacks Vale Tudo
10-4-1

His wrestling background can be seen when he takes his opponents down at will, and his nickname "Wildcat" shows when he gets them down and unleashes an unending barrage of strikes and submissions.  This Hook And Shoot veteran will be a very well-known name in the world of mixed martial arts for some time to come.