Meaningful MMA exists beyond the confines of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator MMA and World Series of Fighting. In this monthly series, Sherdog.com recaps the month that was on the regional circuit in mixed martial arts:
If Mike Rhodes keeps this up, the UFC might have to rethink its decision to release him.
Rhodes captured the vacant Victory Fighting Championship middleweight title, as he submitted Rakim Cleveland with a second-round guillotine choke at VFC 51 on June 24 at Buccaneer Arena in Urbandale, Iowa.