Reviewed by Greg Saks.

Paddy Thompson knocked out Jose Valentin in the AFO main event on Saturday night to retain his welterweight title in impressive fashion.  While the event was hurt by a few injuries and cancelled bouts, all the guys that fought delivered good action and the crowd was into it, with Thai Nguyen, Joe Lamoureaux, and Paddy “Thunder Kitten” Thompson getting the biggest support from the fans.

The event was once again held at the Sheraton Braintree hotel and the room filled up pretty solidly by the time the fights were underway.  Promoter Pete DiLorenzo is showing no signs of slowing down the pace of events for his organization in 2010, having had the first local card of the year and another event planned for a little over a month from now.  All in all a good, fast-paced night of fights.

JESSE PENNY vs GRAEME PRUE (3×3 Amateur Bantamweight)
Red: Prue – 135lbs – Boneyard
Blue: Penny – 135lbs – Inner Circle
Ref: Dan C.

Round 1: Exchange of kicks, Penny lands solidly, and then Prue gets a takedown.  Prue working patiently to try and get a guillotine.  They scramble and finally Prue now has it tightly, on his back with full guard.  No choice but for Penny to tap.

Official result is Graeme Prue wins by guillotine choke at 1:37 of round 1.

GEORGE KATSARS vs JIM ARMATO (3×3 Amateur Lightweight)
Red: Katsars – 155lbs – Smithfield MMA
Blue: Armato – 156lbs – Doomsday
Ref: Dan C.

Round 1: Intense action to start, both guys going right at each other.  Armato lands a solid couple of shots but Katsars is game and stays in there until getting a takedown.  Back up to the feet brawling wildly again, Armato lands a clean shot and then so does Katsars.   Now Armato decides to take it down.  Katsars reverses and then in a scramble up to standing, takes Armato’s back and they hit the mat as he sinks in an RNC.

Official result is George Katsars wins by rear naked choke at 2:52 of round 1.  Awesome fight.

ZACK LYDON vs NICK RYDER (3×3 Amateur Welterweight)
Red: Lydon – 170lbs – Mike Schneider’s MMA
Blue: Ryder – 170lbs – Inner Circle
Ref: Kevin M.

Round 1: Ryder gets a takedown and almost has mount before Lydon gets back to his feet.  Ryder gets rocked and shoots for a single leg but Lydon defends.  Ryder is getting blasted on the feet but keeps fighting back.  My score: 10-9 Lydon.

Round 2: Ryder nice jab and then a knee in the clinch.  Now Lydon is looking hurt and some blood is trickling.  Both guys exchange big punches… this is a war.   Lydon lands the cleaner ones and Ryder is falling down against the fence.  Kevin jumps in to stop the fight.

Official result is Zack Lydon wins by TKO due to strikes at 2:52 of round 2.  Another great fight.

GRAEME BUTLER vs JESSE McELLIGOTT (3×3 Amateur Light Heavyweight)
Red: Butler – 192lbs – Schneider’s MMA
Blue: McElligott – 206lbs – Connor’s MMA
Ref: Kevin M.

Butler has filled in on late notice to face McElligott, who is an imposing looking guy standing in the cage.  If McElligott cut any weight to make it to 206, Butler’s 192 will be a real disadvantage.

Round 1: McElligott throws a jab and a low kick, but then eats a nice punch from Butler.  McElligott decides to take it to the mat with a big slam, passes to side and then to full mount.  Big trouble as punches come down, ref steps in.

Official result is Jesse McElligott wins by TKO due to strikes at 0:50 of round 1.  He looks sharp and ready for a step up in competition.

THAI NGUYEN vs DANIEL SHIELDS (3×3 Amateur … got distracted and missed the weights)
Red: Nguyen
Blue: Shields
Ref: Dan C.

Round 1:  Nguyen looking for a takedown but Shields ends up taking him down instead.  Nguyen back up to his feet and mixing up his striking.  Shields looks for another takedown and lands some good shots, is warned to not hit the back of the head.  Shields looking for a guillotine but Nguyen gets out.  Nguyen in half-guard, then to mount, then takes the back throwing punches as the round ends.  My score: 10-9 Nguyen.

Round 2:  Clinched up Nguyen lands a good knee.  Shields tries to pull guard but Nguyen ends up in side control and then full mount.  Shields great sweep but immediately has to defend a triangle attempt from Nguyen.  Shields slips out and takes Nguyen’s back.  Great round.  My score: 10-9 Nguyen.

Round 3:  Both guys swinging hard but nothing solid landing.  Nguyen takedown to side control but then Shields reverses him again.  Fast transitions and scrambling.  Nguyen finally ends up on his back with Shields dominating position and throwing strikes.  Shields owns this round.  My score: 10-9 Shields.

Official result is all 3 judges have it 29-28 for Thai Nguyen.  Solid fight.

CHRIS MONSINI vs THEO DESJARDIN (3×3 Amateur Featherweight)
Red: Monsini – 147lbs – IMDC
Blue: Desjardin – 144lbs
Ref: Kevin M.

Desjardin is filling in as a late replacement.

Round 1:  Desjardin clinches and throws a bunch of foot stomps.  Monsini takedown into half-guard.  Desjardin on the bottom with a body triangle for a guard.  Ref stands them for activity, big exchange on the feet.  Monsini latches on a guillotine and pulls Desjardin down.  It’s tight and he taps.

Official result is Chris Monsini wins by guillotine choke at 2:31 of round 1.

After a 15 minute intermission, the next match is a grappling exhibition between Barrington Douse and Mike Campanella.  Campanella was supposed to be facing Andrew Harnois later in the night, but despite weighing in the day before, Harnois was MIA Saturday night.  Hopefully he has a good explanation.  In the grappling match, Campanella started out strong and was ahead 4-0, but Barrington Douse soon took over and racked up 10 straight points to win 10-4.  It was a 5 min match.

TONY DAVEY vs DON SHANIS (3×3 Amateur Welterweight)
Red: Davey – 171lbs
Blue: Shanis – 171lbs – Bishops
Ref: Kevin M.

Round 1: Davey comes out swinging but is taken down for his efforts.  Scrambling and Davey is back up.  Shanis lands a good knee and now is dominating the grappling game… takes mount, then has Davey’s back and throwing strikes as the round expires.  My score: 10-9 Shanis.

Round 2:  Great action, transitions, takedowns.  Shanis getting the better strikes in and ends up in mount position.  Then takes Davey’s back.  Shanis sinks in the RNC.

Official result is Don Shanis wins by rear naked choke at 2:34 of round 2.

JOE LAMOUREAUX vs MATT SNEE (3×3 Amateur Heavyweight)
Red: Lamoureaux – 200lbs – SSSF
Blue: Snee – 225lbs – Inner Circle
Ref: Dan C.

Lamoureaux is pretty amped up as he gets in the cage.  Damn!

Round 1:  Snee throws a side kick and a jab.  He goes back to the side kick again but Joe sees it coming this time and is around to Snee’s back while they’re standing.  Joe double-leg takedown, gets mount, and pounds away for a bout a minute.  The ref is considering stopping it but Snee isn’t taking that much damage and survives the round.  My score: 10-9 Joe.

Round 2:  Snee goes back to the side kick again, Joe gets a takedown.  Joe is looking for ways to finish with strikes or a choke, but can’t find a way to end it despite overwhelming the tired-out Snee.  My score: 10-9 Joe.

Round 3:  Joe takedown slam, into mount.  Not able to land cleanly to the head, but Snee is stuck and finally the ref figures there’s been enough and calls it off.   Dominant win for Joe.

Official result is Joe Lamoureaux wins by TKO due to strikes at 1:24 of round 3.

JOSE VALENTIN vs PADDY THOMPSON (5×5 Pro Welterweight AFO Title)
Red: Thompson – 170lbs – SSSF
Blue: Penny – 168lbs – American Fight Team
Ref: Kevin M.

Round 1:  Thompson comes out with a low kick.  Valentin nice counter jab.  Big exchange and they both swing with power.  Thompson gets clipped and falls to his back.  Valentin hesitates for second and then follows up with a couple strikes while Thompson is on his back, but then decides to let him up and keep it standing.  Just like that, Thompson wings several big punches and one of them stuns Valentin.  He stumbles back a few steps dazed, and Thompson pounces and gets another clean shot in, sending Valentin crumbling and out.   Very impressive win for Paddy Thompson.

Official result is Paddy Thompson wins by KO due to a punch at 1:02 of round 1.

AFO announced their next event will be February 27th.