June 25 AFO Mansfield
Actually, I should say June 25-26th. After a late start due to traffic holding up key officials, AFO’s summer bash got off to an exciting start and continued the trend throughout the night to a brief but explosive main event and a co-feature that is likely the best amateur fight AFO’s audiences have seen in 12 shows.
In the main event for the AFO 155-pound title, Joey Proctor, representing team aggression, became the new champ with a first-round submission over Dragon Lair’s Nelson Gaipo. Gaipo came out at the bell aggressively, landing a good right hand, following with a takedown, but made the mistake of allowing the phenomenally strong Proctor the front headlock, which he held for over a minute, eventually causing Gaipo to tap after numerous attempts to break free.
The co-feature brought two talented and undefeated amateurs together in what may be the best fight yet in AFO’s 12-show run. Kin “Kong” Moy, representing Redline MMA won a 3-round unanimous decision over Sityodtong’s Dat Tran at 135 pounds. Both fighters, having similar aggressive, technically superior styles, collided like two runaway trains, landing combinations standing and jockeying for position on the ground. Every time it looked like one fighter had the advantage and was about to end things, the other found a way to escape and reverse the advantage.
Moy, however, dominated the second and third rounds sufficiently with accurate, sharp combinations to win the decision, 30-27 twice, 29-28 once.
Bill Nickerson (RI Combat) ko’d Joe Augusta (Lobo MMA/Banana BJJ) in the second round in a heavyweight bout.
Tyson Chartier (Sityodtong) won a unanimous decision over Ricardo Georges (Team Pradal-Serey) in a very competitive bout at 170 pounds. The pit-bull like Chartier kept the fight in close on the ground, taking away the outstanding distance striking of Georges. Look for good things from both fighters in the future.
Joe Lamoreaux (South Shore Sportfighting) brought his usual energy and exciting style to win a very competitive close decision over the talented Joe Cloutier (Doomsday) at 185 pounds.
It was bombs away from the bell for Anthony Carmenatti and Jesse Gutierez (Connors MMA) who stood throwing haymakers until a left hook dropped Carmenatti mid-way through the first, giving Gutierez a tko win in his first fight.
John Campbell (South Shore) easily by armbar in the first over Joey Palmer (Rockstar). Campbell is one of the strongest 135’s around, and audiences would LOVE to see him and Kin Moy soon!
Joe Pingatore (Rockstar) took a 3-round decision over Jim “The Joker” Armato (Doomsday) in the 155-pound division.
Tony Ellison (Aggression) had a successful mma debut with a first-round submission over Scott McLean (Dragon Lair)
Heavyweight Benjamin Ortiz (Bestway/Am. Top Team) needed just 17 seconds to score a first round knockout over Nick Finnegan via a single head kick.
In what was surely a contender for fight of the night, Danny Alexis (Redline) won a close split decision over Estaban Robles (Rockstar).
Brian Marino (Allaire) got back in the winning column after suffering his first defeat in February with a tko-2 over Jarrod Johnson (Dragon Lair) when Johnson could not answer the bell for the second round, upon advise of the ring doctor. The first round showed a patient, paced effort by both men, with most of the action standing up with Marino’s superior hand speed giving him the edge. Johnson, the taller man, scored several takedowns, but Marino broke out and returned to the standing position where he is looked more comfortable. Just before the bell, Marino landed several hard head shots, staggering Johnson who looked slightly dazed returning to the corner. Upon speaking to him after the fight, he said that he got hit behind the head, most likely unintentionally, but it did enough to throw off his equilibrium and justify the stoppage by Dr. Berhan Yeh.
Frank Sforza (South Shore) had a successful mma debut with a second-round stoppage via ground-and-pound over the very competent Curtis Anthony Moore (Cutting Edge, Worcester) at 155 pounds.
Patrick Walsh (Bishops/Waikru) scored an exciting third-round stoppage in a very competitive and exciting fight over Tunde Odumusu (Rockstar) at 205 pounds.
The only good thing about being stopped via guillotine by Jeremiah Diruzzo (Redline) is that he’s also a Chiropractor so if your neck is sore, he can fix it. Joe Powers 1-1 (Dexter) never got his momentum rolling, coming in head low giving Diruzzo the chance to end the fight before the heavy-handed Powers could get any offense going.
Kevin Knight (Steve Casali) won over a game Nick Ryder (Allaire)
Dan Cormier (Rockstar) won a close decision in a give-and-take fight with Michael DeLosReyes (Dexter). It was the debut fight for both.
Andre Soukhamthat (team united) came back from being rocked repeatedly in another fight-of-the-night candidate to stop Jose Rustrian (Luke Raphael) in the third round of an exciting, well-matched bout.
Evan Scott (Lauzon) beat Tim Padua (Dexter) via armbar.
Jonathan Cox 0-0 (Whaling City) W Sam Muddiman 0-0 (Steve Casali)
Leo Akikki (Redline) stopped Jake Johnson (Dexter) on one exciting round in which both men landed good shots.
Jeffery Barmani (Sityodtong) beat Vaughn Lahr in the first, via tko.
Ethan Connolly (Waikru) won a hard-fought split decision over Jeff Lyons (Dexter) in an excellent fight that could have gone in either direction on the judges cards. Both camps were pleased with their fighter’s efforts.
Devin Pilkington (RI Combat) beat Fred Mandrachia via a first round guillotine.
Nate Andrews (Rockstar) started the evening off with a band with second round RNC win in a very exciting fight against Jay Reinhold (Sityodtong) at 170 pounds.
Good event, and from what the venue showed it would be a great night. I think the the situation called for a better venue though. With what Pete is accomplishing down there in Rhode Island, it seems that bigger venues may be in order. Although the amount of fights scheduled seemed to be a bit much as well, I personally left arounf 12 becuse I was already out past my bed time. At times it seemed to be a little packed in both the actual room, as well as the hallway adjacent to the room. Through the night though, it seemed to disperse a bit and open up a bit. Fights seemed good, well matched, and the event ran smoothly.
I have to say though I was actually pleasantly surprised to a degree to see that many people in an event again, was like old times to a degree….tons of people jammed in, cheering, yelling, great crowd interaction, and a general sense of MMA returning to its roots. My major complaint though…The Pikes Peak resturaunt was horrible…haha. Many people as well as myself and my party, waited ridiculous amounts of time for their food…over an hour in some cases!!
Props to Pete and the AFO, for a job well done on many levels…just move it to a bigger venue next time guys…give us some breathing room!!
I too thought it was a great event, and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of all the amatuer bouts. I think the only one I said ‘this isnt going to end good” was the guy who got his head kicked off 15 seconds later.
Going late was a problem. Making use of both entrances, and getting someone to help clear the aisles could have shaved some time off.
FWIW there is a Domino’s about a mile away from the venue, I thought about picking up 10 of the $5.99 special, and selling them at the back door for $10…
Well needing a bigger place is a good problem but a few more steady like that will let us see for sure. Our last three shows, two sold out but the one in the middle, the first with the state was not even close so ill be a bit careful before moving. If the show started on time and a few corrections in the back the time wouldn t have been to bad. All in all we happy with the show and got to work with some new teams which i always enjoy
So I thought this was the best picture of the night…… Check it out! this is winning at all costs
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/photo.php?pid=419545&id=1850535614