On Saturday, May 30, 2009, MMA coach Rodney Guignet and Team Hammer member Jeff Morber fought at Barbarian Fight Club’s Taste of Fury amateur MMA event in Ruther Glen, VA. 

Originally Jeff was not scheduled to fight on this card, but another fighter was unable to make weight so Jeff stepped in at the last minute.  With only a few days notice, Jeff had to lose 15-20 pounds to make weight for the weigh-ins on Friday evening before the fight.  Jeff made weight and came prepared to fight.  He entered the ring confident.  Jeff made some nice attempts at Judo throws, but overcommitted on one allowing his opponent to take his back.  After awhile of fighting his opponent off on the ground, Jeff submitted to a rear naked choke at 2:19 of the first round.

Coach Rodney was expected to fight on the card and was even on the event poster.  However, the promoters struggled to find an opponent for Rodney, but finally did.  Unfortunately, the opponent they found did not show up and the promoters were scrambling to find Rodney a new opponent only hours before the fights started.  Because of Team Hammer and Rodney’s reputation, the promoters could not find anyone in Rodney’s weight class to fight him on such short notice.  The promoters could only find one fighter who was willing to take the fight, but this fighter outweighed Rodney by about 10-15 pounds.  Rodney went to the event to fight and took the fight even with the size disadvantage.  Even with the disparity in size and weight, Rodney entered the cage confident and held his opponent at bay with some powerful kicks and punches.  Getting a little too confident, Rodney dropped his hands and was caught by an overhand right, which knocked him down.  As soon as Rodney hit the mat, the referee jumped in and stopped the fight for a KO victory for his opponent in 40 seconds of the first round.