Commish Chat - An NBHL Podcast · National Ball Hockey League

Commish Chat Episode 28: Ball Hockey to MMA

March 12, 2025·41 min·3 clips

Dennis Hickey started MMA thinking he could quickly go pro and make money.

This episode features NBHL Commissioner Anthony San Rocco and co-founders Gianni San Rocco and TJ Janis interviewing guest Dennis Hickey, a longtime ball hockey player and current MMA fighter. Hickey is a Team USA national ball hockey player, a member of the Marlton Dawgs since the NBHL's founding in 2015, and is preparing for his first amateur MMA title fight. The conversation begins with Hickey's ball hockey origins, starting at age five in Marlton and his notable skill in face-offs. He details his path to the U.S. national team, participating in tournaments in Slovakia and England, and recalls playing in the Barstool Sports Chicklets Cup tournament in Vegas. The hosts discuss the ten-year history of the Marlton Dawgs, one of the league's original teams, and their evolution into a pipeline for young Marlton players. Hickey explains his transition to MMA began at age 21, initially motivated by an interest in jiu-jitsu and a naive belief he could quickly turn professional. He describes a rigorous training regimen involving multiple daily sessions at JET Training and his gym, Bonjornos Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A surprising insight is Hickey's claim that starting MMA later, without a prior wrestling or boxing background, allowed him to avoid bad habits. He recounts his first amateur fight, where an opponent's soccer kick to his face while he was down sparked a comeback victory. Hickey reveals his current combined record is 3-1 in MMA and 3-0 in kickboxing, with his lone loss being a TKO that only increased his motivation. He states his ultimate goal is to fight professionally, potentially in the UFC or ONE FC, and views his upcoming amateur title fight for Dead Serious MMA on March 28th as a key step. The tone is casual and conversational, filled with inside jokes and nostalgia about the NBHL's early days. The style is interview-based, with the hosts asking direct questions about Hickey's athletic journey and interspersing personal anecdotes. This episode would appeal to NBHL players and fans interested in a member's unique dual-sport career, or anyone curious about the mindset and path of an aspiring MMA fighter. Listeners seeking a purely tactical hockey analysis or a polished, high-production sports interview might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A familiar NBHL voice follows one player from the rink into MMA.

Commish Chat keeps its focus on Dennis Hickey, a Jersey Tier 1 ball hockey regular since the league's 2015 start, as he talks through the move from ball hockey to MMA and the push for his first amateur title at the end of the month.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a ball-hockey regular whose next stop is an amateur title fight.

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