Category Archives: Preview

Wow, Dave George and the staff at Combat Zone have out done themselves this time. The fight card for CZ 36 is flat out awesome, and I can’t wait for Friday to roll around. Before I get into the card, I want to make sure to hit the essential details for you guys..The show is FridayJan 28 from their usual venue, Rockingham Park in Salem, NH.

Now onto the good shit..

The main event is literally my favorite type of fight…a well respected guy with a ton of hype taking on a prospect who wants what he’s got. Calvin Kattar is one of the most popular, most exciting and most talented 155 pound fighters in New England. He’s set to take on up and coming Luis Rodrigues. Calvin is 10-2, and has a mix of submission and KO wins, but all his fights are either a quick and brutal beating, or a war…and the crowd rarely finds time to sit while he’s in the cage. Luis is 4-0 as a pro, and is insanely slick on the mat. I’m not sure Calvin can grapple with Luis, and I’m not sure Luis can stand with Calvin. Either way, both guys finish fights in a flash, so neither guys is safe from the moment the bell rings. Who ever wins this fight should climbs quite a bit in the rankings.

The co-main event is another sick, sick fight. Veterans Nuri Shakir and Nate LaMotte are set for action, and neither guy is ever in a boring fight. I always get super excited to see Nuri fight, man. He’s got fast hands, he talks shit, and most of his fights get UGLY. Nate has been known to get into some wars too, and I’m expecting this one to go the distance. Nuri will have the advantage on their feet, but Nate has the better wrestling and will be able to control the action if it hits the mat. One thing I can say for sure, is that both guys have a violent style that is fun to watch. Someone is getting beat up in this one…maybe both!

Will Santiago takes on Chris Madden in what should be a fun fight. Chris’ only pro fight was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen. He went to war with Buster Crandall at WCF 10, and both guys were out on their feet at various points. I’ve never seen anything like it, other than Rocky 2. Will is more technical, but there is something very difficult about fighting a guy who wants to go to war. Chris will have to turn this into a street fight. Will has shown slick BJJ and good overall MMA skills in his previous fights, and he is a prospect I’m very excited to see grow in the local scene.

“Filthy” Perry Filkins takes on Corry Murray from Bombsquad as well. Perry is one of my favorite fighters competing on the local level, and I’ve only had the chance to see him fight once. His intensity is great, and his skills are awesome. I haven’t seen Corry fight, but he’s a bombsquad guy, and they are all fucking tough. This is a very underrated fight, and could steal the show.

Here is how the rest of the card breaks down:

(Pro)

Jesse McElliot (Connors MMA) vs. Mike Stewart (Bombsquad)

Adam Toussaint (Havoc) vs. Evan Parker (Fight Factory)

(Amateur)

Dustin Hurtgam (Bombsquad) vs. Anthony Loycano (Warriors Pride)

Justin Clough (Pitbull Fight Team) vs. Ethan Conley (Wai-Kru)

Lowell Zangri (Team Valor) vs. Rob Goodwin (Guy Chase MMA)

Wayne Ahlquist (Lakes Region VT) vs. Mike Sullivan (Gracie Barra NH)

Peter Wellman (DWMMA) vs. Smith Cotito Cachay (Tengu)

Mike Burke (Lakes Region VT) vs. Nick Berube (Terry Dow Academy)

Bob Larochelle (Fury) vs. Cheyenne Vazquez (IntenZe MMA)

Karyn Wesch and Premier FC are making it easy to love my job previewing and reviewing amateur events. Jason Franklin, Premier FC’s matchmaker clearly has an eye for good match ups. There’s a great mix of meaningful bouts, pro contenders, and a balanced amount of debut fighters.

Premier FC 4 is set to take place February 5^th at the Hippodrome in Springfield, Massachusetts. If history has taught me anything, these shows have gotten better and better with each installment. This promotion has learned quickly to take care of fighters, fans and business in that order. Fighters love fighting for Premier FC, fans are always pleased with the show and the business falls into place as they’ve got their priorities straight. This card has a great range of fighters from all over the north east and at least four bouts that could headline any amateur show.

Matt Leddick (New York Boxing) 2-3 vs. Ralphy Cruz (American Fight Team) 2-2 170lbs.

This is a well deserved rematch from Premier FC3. Cruz won the decision by a hair with a 29-28 score. While he controlled most of the fight, Leddick posed the most threat for a stoppage when he caught Cruz on a couple of occasions. Assuming both fighters have improved somewhat since their last bout, Cruz, the likely favorite, can’t let this one go to decision or else Leddick may catch him with a submission or knockout.
Nicolas Pallini 1-0 vs. Jeremy “The Boss” Reipold (Ravenous) 1-0 135lbs.

I’ve gotten to know both of these guys a bit outside the ring so this is going to be a tough one to call. REEP has the gym experience and quickly submitted the now pro fighter, Fred Mandraccia in his amateur debut. Pallini is a basketball shorts wearing fighter who trains without a gym. The typical tell for a tune up fighter but this kid looked GREAT in his fight debut controlling the fight and submitting his opponent with a standing guillotine. The safe call has REEP using his Jiu Jitsu to out experience his opponent into a submission. The long shot has Pallini’s raw talent catching REEP by surprise. Either way, two great guys in a great match up that everyone should enjoy.

Jen Rivera (Mixed Breed) 1-0 vs. Sarah Payant (Ravenous) 0-0 135lbs.

Jen Rivera is a tae kwon do fighter out of the infamous team, Mixed Breed. From what I’ve been told by her team, she’s an accomplished fighter with hundreds of tae kwon do wins.  Sarah Payant has won at NAGA’s and fighting out of team Ravenous, you know she’s going to be well prepared for anything. This brawler versus grappler match will be over quickly.

Todd Matulis (Lions Den) 0-1 vs. Jon Garcia (Blue Devil) 0-1 170lbs.

Matulis lost his debut to the heavily favored and much larger Jeff Hammond. Matulis has the tools to compete if he’s matched up with the right fighter athletically. Jon Garcia comes from a great team so this match could go either way.

Walter Freeman (Anvil) 0-0 vs. Dan Wilcox (Blue Devil) 0-0 125lbs

While the name Walter Freeman might ring some bells in the mind of people interested in the history of lobotomies, there wasn’t much information available on either of these fighters… All I can say is that Blue Devil guys always bring some serious game.

Tim Corcoran 0-1 vs. Jeff Henriques (American Fight Team) 1-1 205lbs.

I’m excited to see Corcoran fight again even though he came off a one sided loss. He was bullied a bit in his loss after being dazed from an illegal strike so hopefully Henriques is a better match up. However, from what I hear about Henriques, this is going to be a violent and vicious fight.

Bobby Matthews (CTMMA) 3-0 vs. Mike Filippone (American Fight Team) 4-2 165lbs.

My pick for fight of the night. Mike Filippone comes in ranked as the #5 amateur lightweight. Matthews is looking to improve upon his already perfect 3-0 record. Both guys are outstanding athletes and I would expect this is one of the last times you’ll see either of them fighting as an amateur.

Steven Carr (CTMMA) 2-1 vs. Nate Nadeau (American Fight Team) 2-1 155lbs.

If the Matthews / Filippone fight isn’t the fight of the night, here’s your replacement. Nate’s fights have always been full of action and he’s going full steam ahead at all times. Carr recently submitted Nate’s brother, Sam at Fury in Fight Town so you know this fight is filled with all kinds of drama. Carr may have the slight advantage in the submission game, but Nate has the emotional, made for tv circumstances on his side…

Dexter Rhodes (CTMMA) 1-0 vs. Claudio Padilla (Octane) 1-0 (206lbs. – 225lbs.)

This is a great match up for both of these fighters. I was able to see each of them make their debut at CES and Premier FC and they’re virtually identical fighters. Good heavyweights who handled some basic opposition but neither guy is a jacked up killer. People love to tout heavy weight matches with phrases like “someone’s getting knocked out” or “this fight  is going to be over in a flash” but I’m expecting a well matched bout with each guy constantly looking for the edge. As long it doesn’t turn into a stalemate, this is going to be one of those fights other fighters appreciate.

Matt Petrides (CTMMA) 1-0 vs. Vinnie Mazza (American Fight Team) 160lbs.

Matt Petrides is another CTMMA fighter who I had the privilege of watching make his fight debut. In his first bout, his fight efficiency made it clear that he’s committed to ending fights early. I’m hopping Vinnie Mazza is well prepared in his debut because Petrides isn’t going to give him much of an opening.

Other fights include:

Mike Amore 1-0 vs. Josh “The Bad Seed” Laporte (American Fight Team) 0-1 145lbs.

John Haber 0-0 vs. Sterling Mosher (Abdali) 185lbs.

John Marcheterre (Mixed Breed) 0-0 vs. Ed Thornton (Champions) 0-0 155lbs.

Garrett Teune (Independent) 0-0 vs. Rick Langley (Gracie JJ) 0-0 170lbs.

Jamie Rodriguez (Lions Den) 0-0 vs. Kevin Ortiz (Champions) 0-0 155lbs.

Mike Smith (Guardian) 0-0 vs. Franco Giruffe (American Fight Team) 2-1 205lbs.

If you’re looking to see some of New England’s top up and coming fighters for an unbeatable price, this is the place to be on Super Bowl eve…

Check out ThePremierFC.com for tickets and more information.

Also, there is an after party event at Sinners & Saints 280 Bridge St. – right down the street from the Hippodrome.

See you at the fights!

CES MMA is returning to the Twin River Event Center for CES Snow Brawl this Thursday, December 2^nd.

CES is quickly gaining steam as one of the top shows in New England. This card is stacked with nine pro fights, five of which could easily headline any given fight night. Even with a few injuries changing things up from the original card, CES made sure to provide replacement fights that are just as noteworthy.

Tyson Chartier vs. Justin Switzer 155 lbs.

After going 7-1 as an amateur, Tyson Chartier is set to make is pro debut against Justin Switzer Thursday night. Fighting out of Sit Yodtong, Tyson is one of the best amateur fighters I’ve seen in recent history. What makes his ascension into MMA so exciting for me is his “normal guy” past. He went out, got an education, an MBA and found success as a professional outside of the ring. He pushed himself to “real life” limits but then he got the fighting bug. What has made him a success as a fighter may have more to do with his work ethic than even his raw talent or the top training he receives at Sit Yodtong.

“To me, fighting means I have beat myself. I know that might sound weird, but I have beat myself in a good way. I have fought that temptation to sleep in instead of running in the morning. I said no to going out with friends and went and trained. I’ve said, ‘no, I can’t eat this snack’ because I had to make weight. It’s a series of small victories that result in me knowing that I have ultimate control over all aspects of my life. It’s easy to say you’re a fighter, it’s a lot harder to BE a fighter.”

Tyson’s debut is not going to be a cake walk. Switzer went 2-0 as an amateur before losing his pro debut. With his decorated wrestling background, Switzer could serve to snuff some of Tyson’s striking advantages by controlling the ground game. Both fighters have a lot to gain from this match; for Tyson it would mean winning his pro debut and for Switzer, defeating his highly regarded opponent would shoot his pro career ahead by leaps and bounds.

All things being even, I’ll give Tyson the edge since he’s the only amateur I’ve ever known to have his own walk out shirt for sale on a national level…

Jason Bennett vs. Tateki Matsuda 135 lbs.

It says a lot about the event CES has put together when the #3 (Matsuda) and #4 (Bennett) Bantamweights in the area going toe to toe and it isn’t even the main event… These two guys could headline any local event on any given day. The fact that they’re fighting each other makes it all the more of an incredible evening of fights.

Matsuda trains out of Sit Yodtong and all of his wins have come in knockout form. His two loses are against the talented Bill Jones in a higher weight class and WEC fighter Anthony Leone.  A Muay Thai purest, Matsuda will display more technical striking while Bennett has a bit more of an unorthodox brawling styles.

Don’t let the word, “brawling” disqualify Bennett’s skills. He too has only lost to the top fighters while racking all of his wins up via knock out. Lion’s Den fighters always have a more unique style of fighting but their heart is second to none. While Matsuda may have the slight edge, it would not be a shocker to see Bennett with his arm raised at the end of the fight. The only real “upset” would be if either of these fighters marred their KO streaks with a decision..

Lionel Young vs. Luiz Rodriguez 155 lbs.

Lionel Young is fighter who is known for fighting almost anyone at any weight. While the 3-0 Rodriquez may seem like too much for the 4-4 fighter, Lionel is fighting at his true fight weight of 155. I don’t know if you’d call it an upset, but I think Lionel is going to surprise those who don’t already know him.

Jeff Anderson vs. Hitalo Machado 155 lbs.

Machado is one of the best submission fighters in the north east. All six of his victories have come from submissions most notably wins over John Benoit and Glenn Brown. Anderson has never been submitted with only two losses and his ability to grind out so many decision victories leads me to believe he’s got some good jiu jitsu defense.

The question is whether or not Machado will pull off a submission victory. Anderson will likely control the pace and even position of the fight while Machado is going to have fifteen minutes to find the submission. If Anderson can work his way through three rounds, he’ll likely be the one on top of the score card. While I don’t personally like fights that go to decision, I think the angle of this fight will make it interesting. One guy wins if it goes to decision, the other wins if he can get the submission.

Mat Santos vs. Ed Medeiros 185 lbs.

If you’re looking for the next UFC star to come out of New England, this is not the fight for you. If you’re looking for a crisp fighting clinic where two guys try to out point each other for a decision win, this is not the fight for you. If you’re looking for one of the most exciting fights of the night between two very well known local fighters, this is the fight for you.

Mat Santos is like a reality television star without a show. If you’ve met him, you’ll get it… One of the most popular local fighters, Mat widely regarded as one of the best grapplers in the north east. Everyone seems to like him as a human being and his, “fight anyone” attitude in the ring has earned him much more respect than it has wins. One of the true pioneers of mixed martial arts in the north east; he’s amassed a fan base that could likely sell out a show on his fight alone.

I spoke with Mat about his upcoming fight, which was originally scheduled to be against Everilton “Soneca” Sliva. Mat lost a decision to Soneca several years back and has been looking for a re-match ever since. We spoke shortly after the news of Soneca’s injury and he was clearly disappointed. Normally, Mat is the kind of guy who just takes a fight without any kind of added training. This time was different. He’d been training hard to get his revenge but instead his preparation will have to be tested by Ed Mederios.

Ed Medeiros is a strike-a-holic who for better or worse, has never let a fight go to decision. Every one of his fights over his five year career has been an exciting bout. He’s a powerful striker who likes to put it all on the line at all times. When Ed goes to town, fights end quick.

Ed’s strength will give him the advantage standing, but it’s unknown what kind of Santos will show up after such an intense training camp. There’s no question that Mat will have the advantage if the fight hits the ground – assuming he’s conscious.

Greg Rebello vs. Taiwan Howard 205 lbs.

After super star striker Mike Campbell had to pull out of his fight with mid-western journeyman Tony Hervey, the match was replaced with super star striker Greg Rebello facing mid-western journeyman Taiwan Howard…

Greg, a fighter out of Sit Yodtong, has always been on the cusp of becoming a UFC fighter. With his journey through The Ultimate Fighter television show and his current status with Bellator, he’s one of the best local fighters at 185. Being a last minute replacement fight, the weight has been set for 205 so the fighters will not have to do much to make weight. Howard’s record may be just a shade over .500 but his experience and willingness to take an out of town fight last minute assures he’s legitimate competition for Rebello.

Dan Lauzon vs. Damien Trites 165 lbs.

Every time a large national MMA event rolls around, we learn about a “beef” between two of the fighters competing at a particular event. It usually starts with one guy’s sound bite being taken slightly out of context and the other guy responding with a stump speech about respect and how badly he’s going to beat his opponent. By the second or third round these guys are touching gloves and by the time one guy’s hand is raised, they’re practically making love. A beautiful story arch for well scripted match making…

Then you’ve got Lauzon versus Trites.

If there was a venue for these two guys to fight to the death with no legal repercussions, I think we’d have to wait for that show to come to town to get this match. These two guys hate each other, pure and simple. I spent almost a half hour talking to both of these guys and after the formalities were worn out, they both spent the entirety of the interview verbally cutting down their opponent.

 Many of you have caught a glimpse of CES’s press release on this fight. Short story, the two had a basic altercation involving a training incident. Both tell differing stories, both seem pissed. This altercation led to escalating words, threats, etc. and again, they both have different stories and are all the more angry with each other. Instead of sorting out who’s telling the truth, who’s in the wrong and who’s in the right, this bad blood has reached a zenith and it will all be sorted out in the ring on Thursday night. Don’t expect gloves to touch unless they do so in a violent exchange and don’t be heartbroken when this fight doesn’t end with hugs when the winner’s arm is raised.

Besides the dramatic implications of this fight, the matchup also looks good from a fight fans perspective. Dan Lauzon is the clear favorite. However, Damien Trites has the tools to turn an upset at any point. Perfectly even match ups often lead to stalemates and drawn out decisions whereas a fight like this has more room for volatility and excitement. Neither fighter has a gaping hole in their game and as much as these guys would hate to admit it, they’re both very similar fighters style wise. If it stays standing, both guys can bang and if it hits the floor, both guys can roll.

Full Fight Card:

Ruben Rey 1-1 (Team Rockstar) vs. James King 0-1 (Team Extreme) 145 lbs.

Doug Bolanes 0-0 (Team Bolanes) vs. Josh Labossiere 0-0 (Omaplata) 185 lbs.

Tyson Chartier 0-0 (Sit Yodtong) vs. Justin Switzer 0-1 (B&F Boxing) 155 lbs.

Jason Bennett 4-3 (Lion’s Den) vs. Tateki Matsuda 4-3 (Sit Yodtong) 135 lbs.

Lionel Young 4-4 (BJKA)vs. Luiz Rodriguez 3-0 (Sit Yodtong) 155 lbs.

Jeff Anderson 5-2 (B&F Boxing) vs. Hitalo Machado 6-4 (Best Way JJ) 155 lbs.

Mat Santos 2-6 (Team Santos Fighting Academy) vs. Ed Medeiros 3-5 (Snake Pit) 185 lbs.

Greg Rebello 11-2 (Sit Yodtong) vs. Taiwan Howard 7-5 205 lbs.

Dan Lauzon 13-4 (Reality Self Defense) vs. Damien Trites 5-3 (Wai Kru) 165 lbs.

Ticket special:

CES has put together an unbelievable offer for pre ordered tickets. They have teamed up with Wicked Bar and Grill for “Dinner and a Brawl.” If you pre order a pair of $50, $75 or $100 tickets, you’ll get a certificate good for TWO appetizers, TWO dinners, TWO draft or non-alcoholic drinks and TWO deserts. The quantities are limited, but call 401-724-2253

Don’t ask me how anyone is making any kind of money off that deal – just take advantage!

See you at the fights…

Cage Titans FC Presents “Carnage”

On Friday, November 5th Cage Titans Fighting Championship will be putting on its next show entitled ‘Carnage’ at Lombardo’s in Randolph, MA. The promotion plans on building on the success of its last event ‘Epic’ and looks to bring some more exciting action to the fans once again!

Headlining this event is a grudge match for the 145lb. Featherweight Title between Lee Metcalf (South Shore Sportfighting) and Bill Jones (Team Kaos). These guys met before in the cage earlier this year in a bout which Metcalf won in what some claim controversial fashion. In that fight Jones controlled most of the first round from top position but the doctor would not let him go out for the second due to an arm injury. Some opinions are that Metcalf grabbed the cage, used it to his advantage to apply an armbar and then held on to it after the bell ended round 1. Though opinions are divided the one that counted that night was the referee’s and he did not believe that was the case so awarded Metcalf with a TKO victory. After the fight the controversy heated up even more as some people say Jones was heard saying he couldn’t continue and it was him, not the doctor, who stopped the fight. Since then, both teams have had gone back and forth, and Jones and Metcalf are ready to get back into the cage to decisively determine who is, in fact, the better fighter. Both men are extremely powerful, love to trade and have brutal ground n’ pound, so expect fireworks fueled by months of animosity!

As for the Co-Main Event, Barrington “Rude Boy” Douse (American Fight Team) will be back in the Cage Titans’ cage, coming off possibly the biggest win of his career, to take on the very talented Joe Cushman (Lauzon MMA). The always entertaining Douse went to war last show and pulled out the win by shocking the crowd and choking out jiu-jitsu ace and Cushman’s teammate, Matt Perry. After that it didn’t take long to find his next opponent as Cushman quickly jumped at the opportunity in hopes of getting a little revenge and to finish what his teammate started. This match-up has “Fight of the Night” written all over it and both camps are more than motivated with team pride on the line as well as a title shot looming for the winner!

In other action that night Johnny ‘Cupcakes’ Campbell (South Shore Sportfighting) is set to face-off against Chris ‘Kumite’ Rowley (Dragon Fire MMA). Campbell, the highly decorate and undefeated (5-0) amateur, started off his pro career with a disappointing loss and quickly looks to rebound and capture his first pro win. Rowley, on the other hand, is coming in to this fight off a very impressive victory and looks to squash Campbell’s hopes. Campbell is well-rounded but would be best keeping this fight on the feet against Rowley who is known for his tremendous wrestling and ground n’ pound. Whatever fighter executes their game plan should pick up the win in this battle!

Rounding out the pro card will be ‘The Violence’ Anthony Kaponis (American Fight Team) verse Antwan ‘The Perfect Storm’ Penn (MMAT Center). Kaponis needs no real introduction, as he burst onto the local scene compiling a 4-0 record with all of his wins coming in the first round via KO/TKO. In his last fight though he was on the losing end of a close split decision and comes in to this match-up with a ton of built up aggression. As for Penn, a relatively unknown locally, he is a huge 155 pound fighter that stands 6’2 and looks to quickly get recognized as a force in the area. Penn has made no secret about the fact that he plans on using his reach in the stand-up and knocking Kaponis out. This fight is going to be a slugfest and no doubt about it, someone is going to be left looking up at the ceiling!

As for the undercard, it will feature amateur fighters from some of the area’s best MMA fight teams. Here is a quick rundown of the match-ups…

135lb. Tom Benjamin (2-2, Team KAOS) vs Moises Rodriguez (0-0, Team United) Both fighters are experienced amateurs and look to start the night off with a bang. Benjamin has a 2-2 record and though this is Moises’ first official bout, he is no stranger to the cage and has done a couple smokers in Rhode Island. Moises is the shorter, more compact fighter and will look to get inside on the longer Benjamin. That could be a double edge sword because once within range, Benjamin will look to get him to the ground and unleash some of his relentless ground n’ pound…That is if Moises doesn’t connect with a Knock-out blow first.

155lb. Jonathan Hammond (0-1, Independent) vs Bill Keeley (0-0, South Shore Sportfighting) Hammond lost his cage debut last show but at the time was mainly trained as a boxer. Since then he has dedicated himself to training all aspects of his game and specifically asked to fight against SSSF, so he can truly test himself. Bill Keeley answered the challenge and looks to pick up a win in his first fight as an amateur and make Hammond regret asking for a fight against his school.

165lb. Keegan Hornstra (2-4, Team KAOS) vs Dan Lopez (2-1, Sport Specific Fitness) Hornstra, a former boxer, has consistently complained that no one locally would stand with him. His record shows that as his wins are via quick TKO/KOs and his losses all happened when he was taken to the ground. Well, he may have gotten his wish as Lopez is known mainly for his terrific kickboxing and most certainly will trade with him. I’d be surprise if this ends any other way than a KO.

155lb. Mike Morin (0-1, Dragon Fire MMA) vs Mike Cronin (0-0, Pedro’s Wrestling) Morin comes in with a decorated collegiate wrestling background and Cronin comes from a great school and also has a wrestling background as well as some judo. It’s only a matter of time before this fight goes to the ground, either by Judo throw or takedown.

160lb. Shaun Chadbourne (0-0, Clinch MMA) vs Tim Nguyen (0-0, MAXX) Chadbourne is solid on the ground, trains at a great school and is a Grapplers Quest medalist. Nquyen has very impressive stand-up and will call on his wrestling background to keep this fight standing up. Who can impose their will on the other will dictate how this fight plays out!

160lb. Nate Nadeau (1-0, American Fight Team) vs Ruso Khubecov (1-0, Connors MMA) Ruso made his debut last event and won Fight of the Night honors in a memorable, decision victory slugfest against Chris Lane. Nadeau is the Muay Thai coach at American Martial Arts Academy and will gladly engage Ruso on the feet so expect an entertaining fight.

HVY Zach Zamzow (0-0, Team KAOS) vs Mario Gonzalez (0-0, Team United) Zamzow and Gonzalez are both big guys and pack huge punches, but don’t let their size fool you as they are also slick on the ground. Even with that being said, I still see Knock-Out of the Night being awarded to one of these guys!

140lb. Dinis Paiva (2-2, Team JKD) vs Rico Disiurilo (1-0, Sityodtong) Paiva started his career off 0-2 but has quickly rebounded, winning his last 2 fights. He has an amateur kickboxing background, trains with JKD instructor Keith Allan and is very comfortable standing. Rico won his amateur debut via a vicious 14 second KO and comes from Sityodtong, which we all know is known for their Muay Thai. Can Paiva continue his winning ways or will Rico make short work of yet another opponent?

165lb. Mike Drohan (0-0, Lakeville MMA) vs Zack Costello (1-0, MAXX) Costello has very heavy hands and in his first fight basically made his opponent verbally submit from strikes standing. In this match Drohan will look to use his size and quickness to take the fight to Costello. This battle could surprise everyone and be one of the best of the night.

145lb. Matt Marshall (1-3, Team KAOS) vs Billy Giovanella (0-0, Connors MMA) Marshall is an extremely tough kid and though his record is just 1-3, he is always in the fight. Giovanella is a former High School State Champion wrestler at 125lbs and though he has only been training MMA for a few months, that wrestlers’ drive and countless hours in the gym have prepared him for his cage debut.

165lb. Wayne Ahlquist (1-2, Lakes Region Vale Tudo) vs Will Chan (2-0, South Shore Sportfighting) Ahlquist is a short, stocky fighter that packs a lot of power. Chan is a well rounded fighter that just joined up with a new team at SSSF. Ahlquist is coming off a loss just a week ago and immediately called looking to get right back in there. Chan is fighting for the first time in his hometown and is looking to add another win to his undefeated record, in front of what I expect a large pro-Chan crowd.

145lb. Johnny Vasconcellos (1-0, Clinch MMA) vs Eddie Lee (1-0, Sityodtong) Vasconecellos is a compact fighter with amateur boxing experience and will most likely try to keep this fight on its feet. As for Lee, he comes from Sityodtong so you can be sure he is comfortable with the fight taking place there. Both guys are undefeated and hoping to leave that way so they can continue their climb in the amateur rankings.

Witness the ‘Carnage’ in the cage for yourself on Friday, November 5th at Lombardo’s in Randolph! Tickets are $40, $55 and $75 and available online. For more information visit www.cagetitansfc.com and be sure to become a fan on Facebook for up to the minute news. (www.facebook.com/cagetitansfc)

Combat Zone 35

Friday October 22
“The Rock” @ Rockingham Park
Salem ,NH 8pm
www.czmma.com

New England’s longest running promotion, Combat Zone brings us CZ35 on Friday night live from “The Rock” at Rockingham Park dog track. The card features 8 amateur bouts and boasts 4 Professional bouts including a Main Event not to be missed!

165lb Don Carlo Clauss 7-3 (Bombsquad) vs John Benoit 10-2 (Renzo NH)

Great Fight! These two meet at a catch weight of 165lbs. I’d have to say this only favors Benoit considering he walks around at 190lbs. Both men are riding two fight win streaks currently. Benoit is coming off his first lightweight Championship in the GFL with a submission win over then, 4-1 Josh Hersey. Carlo Clauss has had an impressive win lately over Alabama native Josh Thorpe 11-2 at Raging Wolf in NY.
This fight is interesting in so many ways. Fighting some of the area’s best, both lightweights are considered N.E.’s top ten on www.northeastmma.net . Carlo Clauss is a grinder, he looks to press you against the cage and use his div 1 wrestling pedigree to overwhelm you in early rounds and score points from top position while earning a decision. Not considered a finisher by most but he’ll leave you feeling like you’ve been in a fight. Benoit’s record reads finisher all over it. 10 wins, 7 submission wins all inside 2 rounds. Whomever can impliment their game plan first and stick to it wins this fight.

170lbs John Ortolani 4-2 (Gracie Barra) vs Derick Kennsington 6-2 (Husky)

John Ortolani steps in for Injured Tom Moreau in this fight on 3 days notice after his great fight with Dan Lauzon a few weeks ago. “Orto” is eager to fight 1 more fight before he heads into a 6 month long Pro Lacrosse season, keeping him off the mat. From what i see on Kennsington he’s a ground guy with a BJJ purple belt and is from South Carolina (where does Dave George find these guys?). I watched some video on Derick and he doesnt look very good standing but his ground game looks solid. At 6ft Derick could keep Ortolani out of reach and strike but he just doesnt look the type. Orto will be happy to oblige and take him down and work him there. should be a good fight.

185lbs Will “Brown Bomber” Santiago 0-0 (ATT) vs Glenn Reaves 0-5 (Reaves)

This fight puzzles me. I just don’t understand why it is even happening. Will Santiago, an ATT purple belt 3-0 as an amateur fighting Glenn Reeves 0-2 amateur 0-5 pro.

145lbs Nate Ainsworth 0-0 (Kaze) vs Adam Tousaint 1-1 (Havok)

Both Guys were 2-1 as amateurs. Tousaint has the advantage with experience here. Fighting for about 2 ½ years now and 2 pro fights. This will be an exciting fight. Both guys are strikers and will stand in front of each other and throw until someone goes down. I’ve never seen either guy in a boring fight either so this one will be fun to watch.

135lbs Derek Lamb 0-0 (Bombsquad) vs Nick Santos 0-3 (Fury)

Nick has had a rough career as an MMA fighter. This is a must win situation for him. Derek Lamb is an experienced grappler with good Jiu jitsu and a strong wrestling base. A 2-1 amateur record Derek makes his pro debut here on short notice and following a win in September at an event in PA. Bomsquad only produces top notch fighters so I expect nothing short of quick work here for Derek.

Amateur Fights

155- Taylor Trayhan 5-4 (Atlas) vs James Grant 2-1 (Renzo Gracie NH)

This has potential to be FOTN. Trayhan has a ton of experience and a respectable record (5-4). Don’t let Taylors record fool you though He has won 5 of his last 6 fights and almost all by submission! Grant is a BJJ blue belt out of Renzo’s and competes in the local curcuit pretty often. Coming off a KO loss to Tyler Nau at GFL 8, Grant is hungry to get back in there and get back to his winning ways. Both men posses good ground games, so Its possible we see a stand-up fight here until someone gets tagged and pounces for a sub.

170- Peter San Antonio 2-1 (Warriors Pride) vs Wayne Ahlquist 1-1 (LRVT)

San Antonio comes in off an amateur unanimous dec win over Dave Spero of Pitbull. San Antonio is a one dementional fighter using primarily his wrestling to take you down and grind out a dec. Ahlquist is the more refined fighter using a more well rounded approach to defeat you. Lakes Region Vale Tudo is a good school way up north in NH. They’ve done well locally. If Wayne can just stop the takedowns of San Antonio I think he cruises to a win here.

135- Colton Blachette 1-0 (Cage Strikers) vs John Santos 2-3 (Fury)

This fight opens the night for Combat Zone but could easily be late in the night after intermission. These two fighters are very exciting to watch. Both Blanchette and Santos are well rounded but are easily enticed to take center and just let it all go. Santos is known for throwing caution to the wind and letting his hands do the talking. If Santos can settle down and pick hi shots he can have a good night. The younger less experienced Blanchette is fresh off his first win in GFL. Blachette utilized a very active guard and a herky jerky stand-up to steal a win in his debut.

‘Cage of Horrors’ MMA show stacked from top to bottom

Almeida-Strauss headlines CES  Pro-Am MMA show Oct. 22 at Foxwoods

 “Cage of Horrors,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Sports and Entertainment, Inc. (CES), in association with Foxwoods Resort Casino, will feature a stacked lineup from top to bottom October 22 at Fox Theater.

The “Cage of Horrors” pro-am MMA show is headlined by the CESMMA Lightweight Championship fight between undefeated Brazilian sensation Magno Almeida (5-0-0) and veteran Daniel Straus (14-2-0).

Last month in the first sanctioned MMA match ever held in Rhode Island, Almeida upset Mike “The Beast” Campbell (8-3-0) by first-round tap-out, while NAAFS titlist Strauss rides a 10-fight win streak into Foxwoods.

The co-feature is a rematch between controversial winner Luis “Rockstar” Felix (5-5-0), fighting out of Cranston (RI) and Boston lightweight Jim Dechaves (3-3-0). All fights on the card will be contested at three, 5-minute rounds, excluding the five, 5-minute round match in the main event.

Other professional combat fighters scheduled to fight on the “Cage of Horrors” card include undefeated light heavyweight Steve Skrzat (4-0-0), Uxbridge (MA) vs. Mike Mucitelli (4-0-0) Watertown (NY); middleweight Jeff “Scary Nightmare” Nader (3-2-0), Plymouth (MA) vs. Dustin Baker (1-0-0), Rochester (NY); welterweight Mark Skelcher (0-1-0), Oakdale (CT) vs. Asa Buck (2-0-0), Uxbridge (MA); lightweights Lionel Young (3-4-0), Boston (MA) vs. Andrew Caron (5-2-0), New London (CT), Hitalo Machado (6-4-0), Danbury (CT) vs. Marquis Daniels (5-4-0), Watertown (NY); featherweight Jeff Moore (1-0-1), Weymouth (MA) vs. Rich De Los Reyes (2-0-0), Danbury (CT); bantamweight Todd Sweeney (1-2-0), Southbridge (MA) vs. Blair Tugman (4-3-0), North Haven (CT).

Six amateur matches are also on tap including featherweight Alex Daley, Southbridge (MA) vs. Rashib Robledo, New London (CT), bantamweight Patrick Quigley, Danbury (CT) vs. Cliff Moulton, Watertown (NY); heavyweight Matt McFarland , Southbridge (MA) and featherweights John Naples, New London (CT), Tal Simpson and Southbridge (MA) against opponents to be determined.

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $25.00, $35.00, $60.00 and $75.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254) or Foxwoods (800-200-2882), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com, or in person at Foxwood’s box office.

For more information contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Foxwoods Resort Casino (www.foxwoods.com). Doors open at 6:00 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.