CODY GAMBLE

PITTSBURGH — Cody Gamble has only fought competitively once inside a cage. However, the former Harrison Central two-sport standout learned quite a bit while earning his first win.

The 24-year-old Gamble, who trains at The Mat Factory Wrestling Club in Pittsburgh, will look to make it 2-0 Saturday night when he competes during Brawl in the Burgh V inside the Monroeville Convention Center. The first bell is at 5 p.m. and the event is sponsored by 247 Fighting Championships.

“In my first fight technique-wise it was good and I carried out my gameplan,” Gamble said of his first-round victory via a neck crank. “I had a lot of adrenaline going being my first fight and everything, but this fight I will be more relaxed, fluid and calm.

“I’m absolutely in the greatest shape of my life, both mentally and physically,” Gamble stressed. “I’m ready to fight. Everything is calibrated and I’m hitting with precision.”

Gamble’s opponent in the 3-round heavyweight bout is 24-year-old Raiden “Amadeus” Keller (2-0) who fights out of Bowerhouse MMA in Frederick, Md. Both his victories have come in 2020 by submissions.

“He’s a grappler,” the 6-2, 250-pound Gamble said of his 6-6, 256-pound opponent who attended Towson University. “Originally that was my style, as well, and will always be my go-to, but I’ve really been working hard on my striking. I’ve always felt that to be an all-around martial artist, the more tools you have under your belt, the more dangerous you are. Those are usually the guys that win.”

Gamble said it doesn’t matter how Keller wants to fight. He’s ready for whatever he is presented with.

“I’ll take it as it is. I’ve watched his two fights,” Gamble said. “I think one opponent was 1-0 and the other 0-2, but that’s fine.”

The former Huskie football and wrestling standout kept busy when most MMA facility’s were shut down for quarantine due to the COVID-19 global pandemic by boxing as an amateur.

“I had a pair of boxing matches in the Akron area to to keep my cardio up,” he said. “I won both of them pretty easily.”

Keller defeated Hank Keighly 46 seconds into their Oct. 3 fight at Ultimate Battle Grounds IV: The Return in Myrtle Beach, S.C., by rear naked choke. He had previously taken down Dale Reed with a triangle choke during Stellar Fights 45 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds on Feb. 1.