Combat Zone 40
From Old School

I knew that I was back home in New Hampshire when I got out of the truck at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH and I stepped in a huge pile of common sense…

There always is a certain amount of positive feeling I have when I am back home here in NH. But this night promises to be a little special. The Massachusettts Commission SNAFU combined with their overall incompetence put the kibosh to one highly anticipated fight (Morgan v Aruja), so New Hampshire graduates of Common Sense College John Hagopian and Dave George, with a nice assist from Mike Cage Titan Polvere, made that fight happen here instead.
I always love the atmosphere back in NH, and that’s partially due to the people I see at the fights here. So I just want to throw out a shout out to Dave and the whole Combat Zone crew, Commishmen John and Art, Jonesi, Kevin and Steve and the whole Ref crew, Pedro and Sensei Steve, and everyone else. Normally I don’t like other men flirting with my wife (well, those of you who know Miss Barbara know just how lovely she is) but in the case of Chuck O’Neil, I want to thank you for always finding her at the fights and saying hello. She is a big Cold Steele O’Neil fan and you make her night every time!!!
The Combat Zone folks seemed to have, once again, sold out Rockingham Park for Combat Zone 40. It was a warm New Hampshire night on January 27th, and the local folks really came out for a great time!
Let’s fight…

FIGHT # 1
135 lb Amateur
Tim Lightfoot (0-0) Studio 1
Jay Parrin (0-0) Triumph MMA
Jay Parrin has Chuck O and Dennis O in his corner.

Rd 1. The boys are clinching and trading. Tim seems to have the edge and Jay is bleeding a bit from the nose. Jay nails a takedown into the top of guard. Tim locks in an arm bar from the bottom and Jay lifts and slams him a few times, but Tim ain’t letting go. Maybe Tim wants to bring that arm home to Jaffrey with him or something… He hangs on to that arm bar for the entire rest of the round.
Old School score, Tim Lightfoot 10-9

In between the first two rounds the fans were treated to UFC veteran Chuck O’Neil and Bellator veteran Dennis Olson demonstrating to Jay, who was on his stool in the red corner, just how to break through the arm bar! This is awesome!!!

Rd 2. They trade strikes into a clinch where Tim locks in a standing guillotine; it’s really deep and he has it on for a long time, but he can’t finish. They scramble and Jay locks in his own standing Guillotine. Tim works out and gets a takedown. Jay pulls an arm bar from the bottom, but Tim passes to half guard. Tim pushes to the cage and lands some G&P to end the round.
Old School score, Tim Lightfoot 10-9

Rd 3. The fighters come out trading kicks. Tim sticks a nice teep and a right cross that land. Jay responds with a three punch combo that finds a home. Jay sticks a teep to the face (see Anderson Silva; anatomy of a striker), but Jay fires right back with punches to the face. Jay nails a takedown into top control and maintains that position to the end of the round.
Old School score, Jay Parrin 10-9

Official score, Winner by Unanimous Decision, Tim Lightfoot
This was a good fight to start the evening.

FIGHT # 2
155 lb Amateur
Cleon Hoggard (0-0) Team Dow
Lloyd Fernandes (0-0) Renzo Gracie NH
Dan Bonnell has high regards for Lloyd and his composure and BJJ. He sees this fight as Cleon’s street cred vs Lloyd’s smooth BJJ.

Rd 1. Cleon starts striking well, so Lloyd grabs a takedown and secures top half guard. Lloyd passes to side control and works hard to keep it. He goes to north/south and back to side. Lloyd controls the whole round with good BJJ, but no significant strikes are thrown.
Old School score, Lloyd Fernandez 10-9

Rd 2. Cleon strikes, Lloyd clinches, and they separate. Cleon swings for the home run, but Lloyd nails another takedown, landing in top side control. Once again, Lloyd keeps the fight in his own sandbox, holding the top position without too much striking. At the ten second clap, Lloyd throws a few good punches to end the round.
Old School score, Lloyd Fernandez 10-9

Rd 3. The final round starts cautiously. After Cleon lands a few clean strikes Lloyd does what Lloyd does best and he shoots for a takedown, landing in top of guard. Cleon locks in a guillotine from the bottom. It’s deep. After a minute he sweeps to the top mount with the Guillotine still on. Lloyd sweeps back and finally pulls out of the guillotine. Finally out of danger, Lloyd works from the top of guard and half guard to finish out the round.
Old School score, Cleod Hoggard 10-9

Official score, Winner by Unanimous Decision, Lloyd Fernandez

FIGHT # 3
150 lb Amatuer
Mike Materkowski (2-2) Cage Strikers
Derek Shorey (1-3) Team Kaos

Rd 1. Both guys are throwing a lot of misses and fakes. Derek clinches and works for a long time before finally getting a takedown. He works to side control and throws some strikes. Derek looks for rear mount, but Mike sweeps to top. Derek sweeps him right back and is in mount, where he throws down some G&P. With a few seconds left he lands some nice punches from the mount.
Old School score, Derek Shorey 10-9

Rd 2. Mike comes out striking and Derek shoots. Mike defends with a sprawl, but Derek pushes through and completes the single; he lifts to slam but misses and Mike finds himself on top and in mount. Mike doesn’t waste his opportunity; he locks in a RNC for the tap!

Winner by RNC @ 0:55 Rd 2, Mike Materkowski

FIGHT # 4
165 lb Amateur
Ahsan Abdullah (3-1) Bombsquad
Cody Anderson (2-0) Triumph MMA
This fight is a real challenge for Cody, the most exciting rising star in the Amateur ranks lately.

Rd 1. The pro-Cody crowd is loud. Ahsan forces the clinch right away. The two warriors switch back and forth along the cage, fighting in the clinch for under hooks. Cody finally grabs for a leg and he gets a takedown into top of guard. Cody looks for some room and he finds it; he postures up and begins to unload like a Wal-Mart stock boy; Holy cow! Cody throws down 25 to 30 unanswered blows. Ahsan covers, but he can’t defend. The ref steps in before the cops have to and Cody is still undefeated!

Winner by Assault and Battery @ 2:11 rd 1, Cody Anderson

FIGHT # 5
135 lb Amateur
Hassan Mahmood (2-3) Bombsquad
Jared Cuomo (1-0) Renzo Gracie NH

Rd 1. The two fighters come out trading strikes and they clinch it up. Jared lands some strikes in the clinch and they separate. Jared works again and this time he gets the takedown. From the top of half guard, Jared throws some strikes, but when he hears the ten second clap he really unloads some G&P to end the round.
Old School score, Jared Cuomo 10-9

Rd 2. Jared strikes into a clinch along the cage, where he works for the takedown. He gets himself into top side mount. He shifts to a modified Peruvian neck tie/triangle choke. It’s the weirdest thing; he looks like a monkey hanging off the side mirror of a dump truck, but it works!

Winner by Hanging Monkey Peruvian Neck Tie @ 1:00 or so Rd 2, Jared Cuomo
That was some crazy submission work!

FIGHT # 6
170 lb Amateur
David Spero (1-2) Brazilian Top/Team Pitbull
Nick Berube (2-2) Team Dow
These are two local guys who obviously know each other. Even their fans know one another. Both fighters have fans and hecklers alike in the audience.

Rd 1. They come out cautious; Nick nails a takedown and works his way to mount. Dave sweeps to top and they stand it up. Dave throws some knees and Nick gets another takedown. Dave throws up a weak arm bar that Nick throws off and Nick moves to mount, where he locks in a guillotine to end the round.
Old School score, Nick Berube 10-9

Rd 2. As they are trading kicks, Nick grabs a mid level Spero kick and turns it into a Berube takedown. Nick then pushes the fight right over to his corner, where he can receive expert instruction. Dave strikes a bit off his back. But generally, the fight stalls out. They stand it up, but Dave keeps the clinch and gets a takedown. Nick tries to tie it up, but Dave is able to land some strikes as a wicked close round ends.
Old School score, Dave Spero 10-9 (real close)

Rd 3. They start cautiously; Nick grabs a single and gets side control, but the action stalls. Nick continues to control from the top. Nick throws some knees from the top and Dave pulls to half guard off his back to defend. Dave lands some insignificant body punches from the bottom. Dave sweeps and Nick sweeps him right back to end the fight.
Old School score, Nick Berube 10-9

Official score, winner by split decision, Dave Spero
The judges must have been visiting the bathroom instead of watching the fight. More than one person came up to me and mentioned how bad they felt this decision was. I agree. From now on we should take our bathroom breaks during the intermission.

FIGHT # 7
135 lb Amateur
Peggy Morgan (0-0) Triumph MMA
Fernanda Aurajo (0-0) Nova Uniao
If you live under an MMA rock, or are just new to this web site visit http://www.northeastmma.net/archives/4483 and you will have a better understanding of this fight and what it means to these ladies, the two teams, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

Rd 1. Peggy is 6’0” and is using her reach to keep the fight long. She is jabbing and Fernanda is having a hard time figuring out this puzzle. Half way into the round, Fernanda lands her first big punch, an overhand right, and it gets Peggy’s attention. Fernanda follows up with a combo of punches, but Peg clinches and responds with knees. Fernanda misses a throw, but she holds on and lands a vicious barrage of rights while holding Peg in a Brazilian High School Headlock with the left. Peggy fights through and forces the clinch and pushes it to the cage, ending an outstanding round.
Old School score, Peggy Morgan 10-9 (very close)

Rd 2. Fernanda punches into a clinch. Peggy lands some nasty knees and forces a takedown, where she climbs to the mount. Peg is dropping some nasty New Hampshire bombs and Fernanda rolls. Peggy, now in full rear mount with hooks in, unloads on the Brazilian like a dump truck. She then works for a RNC, but rides too high, and Fernanda finds herself on top. The Brazilian returns the favor and throws down some G&P of her own. Peggy locks in a triangle choke off the bottom and punches away at Fernanda. Peggy switches from right to left triangle and locks that in, all the while punching to the face and head of Fernanda. Peggy switches out for the arm bar and gets the tap out and the place goes absolutely NUTS!!!

Winner by Arm Bar @ 2:54 Rd 2, Peggy Morgan

Wow! Peggy showed some very high level BJJ. Both ladies demonstrated great heart, courage, toughness, and fighting spirit. (Mass Comish Todd Grossman might want to take note of these skills, as some day he may want to possess just one of them.) This was Fight of the Night so far.

FIGHT # 8
Bantamweight Pro
Walter “Smeef” Cotito (0-0) Triumph MMA
Josh Lange (0-0) Bombsquad
Smeef was cutting a swath through the Ammy 145 ranks with a 3-0 record; Lange was also undefeated as an Ammy, posting a 5-0 record. This is there Pro debut.

Rd 1. They start very carefully; mostly some jabs and fakes and some measuring. Josh lands some jabs and a few kicks; just enough to control the pace. In a clinch, Smeef grabs a guillotine and pulls guard. Josh pulls out and moves to side control. Josh stands and throws kicks at Smeef, who is still on his back. They stand it up, but Josh gets a takedown. Smeef tries for an arm bar, but Josh easily pulls through and stands, strikes, and jumps back into Smeeef’s guard to end the round.
Old School score, Josh Lange 10-9

Rd 2. Josh comes out striking; Smeef tries a high kick and they clinch. Smeef muckles on to Josh, lifts him up, and carries him over to the Triumph MMA corner, where he deposits him on the floor. Josh is able to sweep to top and he throws some knees and elbows from top of north/south. More knees to the shoulder and elbows to the head seal the deal, as Josh wins another round.
Old School score, Josh Lange 10-9

Rd 3. Smeef comes out aggressive, but Josh is winning the striking battle. Smeef gets a takedown and lands some strikes, but Josh manages to get the fight back to standing. Off the clinch, Josh again finds himself on top. A scramble ensues, but this one is all Josh Lange. Smeef does try a few submissions, but none are really significant, and Josh rides out the final minute to victory, pitching a shutout.
Old School score, Josh Lange 10-9

Official score, winner by Unanimous Decision, Josh Lange

FIGHT # 9
Middleweight Pro
Filthy Perry Filkins (5-1) MFS
Louis Taylor (7-2) Chicago Fight team
Louis is a Strikeforce and Bellator Veteran who was imported by Promoter Dave to either challenge the local fighter or to piss in his NH cornflakes. Filthy Perry believes that a win here will move him a big step closer to the next level.

Rd 1. The two Middleweights cautiously feel the distance. They trade some crisp kicks, but it’s all just to gauge the distance. Filthy throws a pretty high kick and Louis throws a jab and shoots deep and gets the takedown via a slam. Louis drops a few elbows before standing up to strike. Perry hauls him back into guard. Louis stands out and Perry pulls X guard and goes for a leg; Perry sweeps and the fight is up on the feet. Perry hurts Louis with a Filthy right. Louis shoots and Filthy defends. They trade punches in the cage center to end the round!!!
Old School score, Louis Taylor 10-9

Rd 2. Louis looks a bit gassed for the start of the second. He sticks a sweet spinning back kick right to the Filthy bread basket. Louis shoots and Perry sprawls and they separate. They circle and strike. Louis is landing some good clean body shots that come off the jab. Perry is also landing some clean strikes. This is good stuff. Perry lands a nice combo with kicks and punches. Perry forces it to the cage. Perry catches an exhausted Louis with an upper cut that drops him. Louis tries for one last takedown, but he’s gassed. Filthy unloads like a UPS worker and Louis is tapping as the ref steps in for the finish.

Winner by TKO @ 4:02 rd 2, Filthy Perry Filkins
Filthy looked relaxed and calm under pressure. This win is his biggest one yet, and he looked great doing it. I think he won this one with cardio. After the fight, Filthy confirmed that his cardio was the big difference. He’ll be enjoying those New Hampshire cornflakes for breakfast!!!

FIGHT # 10
Welterweight Pro
Ray Shawdee (1-1) Brazilian Top
Brandon Cyr (0-1) Team Dow
Both these boys come out to a huge roar from their local fans.

Rd 1. The boys are circling and Ray drops Brandon like a bad habit with a left hook. Brandon is able to right the ship before Ray can finish the job and the fight is back to the feet. They clinch and scramble as Ray is trying to keep the pressure on. Ray connects again with a single punch and this time Brandon is down for good; Kevin the Ref stops the action.

Winner by TKO @ 1:13 Rd 1, Ray Shawdee
Brandon was down for a while not just from the strike but also from an injury to his ankle that he suffered in the final fall. Great fight by Ray!!!

FIGHT # 11
MAIN EVENT
Lightweight Pro
John Ortolani (6-4) Triumph MMA
Don Carlo-Clauss (7-6) Bombsquad
This pro fight features two guys with records that really aren’t indicative of the quality of fighter they are.

Rd 1. Orto is firing on all cylinders and Clauss is making him miss. Orto connects on a three punch combo, but Clauss is relaxed and unfazed. Clauss connects on a combo, forcing Orto to shoot for a takedown. Claus defends and turns the tables, winning a takedown into top of guard. The New Yorker drops some elbows and punches on Orto to end the first!
Old School score, Don Carlo-Clauss 10-9

Rd 2. Orto leg kicks and jabs. Clauss kicks and Orto blocks it with his cup! (Warning: do not try this at home!) Back at it, they trade jabs, clinch, and separate. Orto lands a body shot. Clauss punches into a clinch and gets the takedown where he starts to strike. He lands some elbows and punches and Orto finally stops the damage by pulling guard. Clauss is punching into Orto’s guard when one of the strikes really hurts Orto. Orto rolls over and Don Carlo-Clauss finishes the deal with some requisite punches before the ref says no more.

Winner by TKO via G&P Rd 2, Don Carlo-Clauss

John Ortolani seemed a bit overmatched here. Don Carlo-Clauss is coming off a Jersey win. (That’s when a fighter goes to New Jersey, kicks the crap out of one of their locals for three rounds, and gets awarded a loss for the effort.) Nice job here from the New Yorker. There was some crap flying around the cage between Carlo-Clauss, the Triumph corner, and the NH crowd, but nothing really worth elaborating on.

It was, as always, nice to be back in the Granite State for a great event. Here is how the fights stack up…

OldSchoolFightwear.com Awards:
Fight of the Night- Peggy Morgan and Fernanda Aruja
TKO of the Night- Ray Shawdee
Fighter of the Night- Filthy Perry Filkins
Submission of the Night- Jared Cuomo
SNAFU of the Night- None here in NH

I’m off to see Cage Titans Invasion at Plymouth Memorial Hall. It’s a gorgeous New England day out there. The weather is here; wish you were beautiful!

Old School