On 5-15-10 Strikeforce came to Scottrade Center with the "Heavy Artillary" card which featured several local MMA fighters.

One of these fighters was rising young star Matt "The Pepper Lounge Doorman" Ricehouse of St Charles MMA and

Team Vaghi.

Ricehouse was pitted against a formidable and dangerous striker named Greg Wilson, who just several months earlier KO'd Ricehouse's stable mate, Bobby Russell on a local MMA event.

As some of you may know, Tami & Tony Biondo lost their 17 year old son, Jorden Jourdain in a tragic drowning accident in an abandoned rock quarry a little less than a month prior to the scheduled fight between Ricehouse and Wilson on the Strikeforce card.

When informed of this sad news, Mike Rogers, head instructor of St. Charles MMA (Vaghi), asked if there was anything he could do.  We requested that possibly one of his fighters could honor Jorden "Jordy" by dawning his name on their fight shorts.  When the request reached Ricehouse, he replied "No pro

blem, it would be an honor".  The much anticipated showdown between Ricehouse and Wilson was drawing closer and closer, the St. Louis fight community was a wonderful support network in this great time of loss and sorrow for Tami, Tony and their family.

As fight time drew near, we noticed an anxious Tami Biondo seated some 150 feet away from the Strikeforce cage that would be the stage for arguably the fight of the night!  As the fighters appeared on the ramp, Ricehouse eerily walked through the smoke on his way to his appointment with Greg Wilson.  The fight was very close at the end of the first round with Ricehouse ahead on the scorecard by virtue of some takedowns.

As the fight raged on, Tami clutching her walkout Ricehouse tshirt adorning her son, Jordy's name and at times on her feet yelling encouragement to Ricehouse, which a crowd reported of about 10,000 people assured that Ricehouse could not hear (on this night his biggest fan).   With the end of the second round drawing near, Tami, on several occasions, digging her nails deep into the arm of her husband, Tony.

The third round began with Ricehouse taking control and securing the victory with a submission by rear naked choke at 45 seconds of round 3.  With that conclusion came the loudest outburst of joy from Tami that I haven't heard in sometime.

As Ricehouse's name was called out by legendary, ring announcer, Jimmy Lennon Jr., tears of joy rolled down the face of a grieving mother, who on this night, if only for a moment was a winner, for the way Ricehouse fought and honored her son, Jordy.

To "The Pepper Lounge Doorman" Matt Ricehouse and to St. Charles MMA and the whole Team Vaghi family, THANK YOU for helping her take her first step toward healing.

BY: FatLipMMA.com staff