American Fighting Organization is returns this Saturday on April 27th, 2013 with their annual Night of Champions. This fight card has tons of fights and has four title fights. It is being held in Boxborough Mass at the Holiday Inn and the doors open at 6pm with the first fight starting around 7pm. Warchild and I will be there keeping you all up to date with all the action. Promo Pete has been working around the clock to make sure the fighters are getting in their medicals and his hard work is paying off. They have a total of 16 fights on this card. I spoke with Promo Pete as he was cutting up a bell pepper to make sure our card is accurate and up to date. Just imagine me trying to listen to Pete on speaker phone on all the fight changes and us going back and forth repeating things like 7 times! AFO will also be announcing the fighters in the $10,000 prize tournament for 145lb fighters. Fight fans are in for a good time and I am excited to see the new venue. Tickets are still available at AFO's website here and also at the door. Tickets start at just $39 bux. Now be easy on me as I fix all the spelling errors and put records up. I know I won't get it all correct but I will try my best.
Tunde Odumusu (NE Combat 2-4) vs. Yeison Berdugo (TUML 1-2)
Tunde Odumusu is taking on Yeison Berdugo. Tunde is with NE Combat and comes into this fight with a 2-4 record. He has a tko ref stoppage victory and a decision victory in his career. For his losses two to armbar and two to tko to strikes. His opponent Yeison trains with Team United and has a 1-2 record. His last fight was for the AFO against Scott Gorgone and he lost that in the first round to a kimura. I think this will be a good stand up battle and we could very well see a knockout in this one.
HW Ray Miclette (Allaire 1-0) vs. Juan Canel (Team United 0-0)
Next up is the heavyweight bout between Ray Miclette and Juan Canel. Ray trains out of Allaire MMA and has a 1-0 record. AFO fans will remember his bout against Brandon Newman where he won in the second round due to ref stoppage to strikes. Brandon will be in attendance and will be playing Ray's walkout song because he is the DJ! Had to give you a shoutout Brandon. Juan trains with Team United and will be making his amateur debut. Being from Team United, I know he will be ready for a battle. I love heavyweight fights and Ray looked great his last fight. Can't wait for this one.
205lb Dan Burke (Burgess 2-1)vs. Leo Powers (Dexter 2-2)
Dan Burke takes on Leo Powers in a 205lb battle. Dan trains with Burgess MMA and has a 2-1 record. He has a submission victory and a ref stoppage to strikes victory. His only loss came to Mike Rodriguez to a triangle. Leo trains with Dexter MMA and has a 2-2 record. He has two wins over Anthony Soto courtesy of his heavy hands. His two losses came to submission and one brutal knockout by the hands of Max Evans. I really like this fight and I think it will be a good one. I expect to see some good clinching and uppercuts. I think Dan's ground game is better than Leo's and if he needs to he will take it to the ground if he can get it there.
130lb Doug Sampson (Xcel MMA 0-0) vs. Fabio Lima (0-0)
Next up is the catch weight fight between Doug Sampson and Fabio Lima. Both fighters will be making their amateur debut and I have heard good things about each of them. Fabio has been on a few cards before but had many of the fights cancelled for various reasons so I know he will be pumped to make his amateur debut. This one is at a catchweight of 130lbs so it should be a fast paced one.
145lb Devin Pilkington (NE Combat 3-3) vs. Jamie Courtney (Sityodtong 3-6)
At 145lbs Devin Pilkington will take on Jamie Courtney. Devin was a last minute replacement and trains with NE Combat. He comes into this battle with a 3-3 record. He fights many tough battles and this one is no exception. He has one a fight with each a submission, dec and ref stoppage to strikes. He lost a few times to a decision. Jamie trains with Sityodtong and has a record of 3-6. I believe I have seen just about every one of Jamie's fights and he just about always goes to a decision. Unfortunately many times they are real close and he ends up losing the fight. One thing though, he is never a boring fighter to watch. I think this is a real good match up for both fighters and I gotta go with it going to a decision and being real close. Stats don't lie :)
185lbs Shane Brady(Franklin MMA 0-0 ) vs. Tim Caron (Burgess MMA 1-0)
For 185lbs Shane Brady is taking on Tim Caron. Shane will be making his amateur debut and trains with Franklin MMA. Not sure if all that is right but that is what Sherdog had. Tim trains with Burgess MMA and has a 1-0 record. He won an awesome battle against Eric Ebbeling at Coliseum to the Cage. It was a bloody fight and Tim has some great stand up. I feel this will be a stand up battle and if I had to choose I would give the slight edge to Tim for his experience in the cage.
165lb Connor Barry (0-0 Doomsday) vs. Nick Miragliullo (0-0)
Next up is Connor Barry taking on Nick Miragliullo for 165lbs. Connor trains with Doomsday and will be making his amateur debut. Nick and I hope I spelled your name right is also making his amateur debut. I didn't catch what team he is training with but no worries. During the show I will get all the info from the fight card. Not much I can add to this fight but I do love the raw fresh talent of two amateurs. You never know what to expect.
165lb James Manning (Xcel 1-1) vs. Blaine Waterman (NE Combat 0-0)
James Manning will take on Blaine Waterman at 165lbs this Saturday. James is with Xcel MMA and has a 1-1 record. James had a good battle against Tommy Venticinque but ended up losing the decision. He then fought Mike Brown for CFX and won that by decision. Blaine trains with NE Combat and will be making his amateur debut.
125lb Kris Moutinho (Rivera MMA 1-0) vs. Marques Brewster (NE Combat 1-0)
In a 125lb battle Kris Moutinho takes on Marques Brewster. Kris is from Rivera MMA and had his only fight for AFO. He won it by submission in the first round. Marques trains with NE Combat and also has a 1-0 record. His sole fight is also for AFO and he won that via ref stoppage to strikes in Round 2. This is a fresh crop of 125lbers and they are looking to make it higher in the mma ranks on NortheastMMA so this win is important to them.
185lb Mike Brown (Wai Kru 0-1 )vs. Eric Tseronis (Team United 1-3)
At 185lbs Mike Brown takes on Eric Tseronis. Mike trains with Wai Kru and comes into this fight with a 0-1 record. He lost to a decision to James Manning the last AFO. Eric trains with Team United and has a 1-3 record. He lost a decision and two submission at Combat Zones and NEF. He then won a tko to strikes at a Combat Zone as well. Two good schools going head to head.
140lb Joe Pingitore (NE Combat 2-0-1) vs. Mitchell Hatton (3-5 NC)
At a catchweight of 140lbs Joe Pingitore takes on Mitchell Hatton. Joe comes into this battle with a 2-0-1 record. His last fight ended up in a draw against Sergio Moran. Hopefully we get to see that rematch soon. His opponent Mitchell is coming all the way from North Carolina to fight and has a 3-5 record. He has two subs and one ref stoppage to strikes victory. Out of his 5 losses he has lost 3 to subs, decision and one ref stoppage to strikes. Now the key to this fight is Mitchell isn't coming all the way from North Carolina to lose. We also don't know the caliber of fighters he was fighting in North Carolina. With all of that unknown to me makes this an exciting fight and I will be rooting for Ping of course!
125lb Dan Cormier (TUML 1-2) vs. Darren Mima(TNT MMA 1-1)
In a pro 125lb pro fight Dan Cormier takes on Darren Mima. Dan trains out of Team United and comes into this fight with a 1-2 record. Dan's two losses came to Billy Giovanella and Kody Nordby. His sole win was over Mike Deslosreyes unanimous decision. He has some of the best hands in the 125lb division and no doubt will be looking to use them. Darren trains with TNT MMA and has a 1-1 record. He has a decision victory and one loss to submission. As you can see by the records this is a close bout and is a good test for both fighters. This is a good battle between New York and Mass!
155lb Title Danny Alexis (2-0 Redline) vs. Billy Leischner (Dexter 3-3)
In the 155lb amateur title fight Danny Alexis takes on Billy Leischner. Danny trains with Redline and has a 2-0 record. He has two decision victories in his career. Billy trains with Dexter and has a 3-3 record. He won a decision, submission and ref stoppage victory so far in his career. For his losses he lost a decision, and two to submissions. I feel this is going to be a striking battle and could end up being real exciting for the fans. I give the slight edge to Danny but Billy is tough and I would not be surprised if he wins this one either.
155lb Title Pro Lewis Corapi (Sityodtong 4-0) vs. Leon Davis( FAA 3-1)
In the 155lb pro title fight AFO has Lewis Corapi against Leon Davis. Lewis trains with Sityodtong and comes into this battle with a 4-0 record. He has 2 decision victories and finished his last fight with a brutal leg kick that left Kevin Tjaden in pain on the ground. Leon trains with Fighting Arts Academy and comes into this battle with a 3-1 record. Leon has outstanding wrestling and has so much potential. He has 2 decision victories as well. He dominated his last fight against Nate Andrews in the first round and the second round looked like it would have been much of the same. Then Nate catches him in a guillotine and gets the submission victory. Leon was not happy and is looking to bounce back. This is a great match up and I feel Lewis is going to try to keep it standing to use his Muay Thai. Leon will want to work his takedowns and win the battle on top. We will have to find out to see which strategy wins.
170lb Title Jarrid Heon (Link 3-3) vs. Tommy Venticinque (Team United 4-2)
For the 170lb title Jarrid Heon will take on Tommy Venticinque in an amateur bout. Jarrid trains with team Link and has a 3-3 record. He won at the last Night of Champions against Kevin Ortiz by unanimous decision and he is looking to keep that belt. I believe Jarrid usually fights at 155lbs. Tom trains out of Team United and comes into this battle with a 4-2 record. Tom is fresh off a unanimous decision victory from the last AFO and now has his eyes set on the 170lb title. I expect this one to be a ground battle and should be real close.
145lb Title Pro Andres Jeudi (Sityodtong 5-1) vs. Chris Foster (Lion's Den 6-2)
For the main event of the evening AFO has Andres Jeudi against Chris Foster for the 145lb pro title. Andres trains out of Sityodtong and comes into this battle at 5-1. His only loss came to Lucas Cruz where he lost by decision. He has great striking and no doubt will be looking to use it to his advantage. Chris trains out of Lion's Den in Connecticut and has a 6-2 record. He has 4 KO/TKO in his pro career and two decisions. His two losses came from submissions. Chris is very well rounded and has great striking as well. I don't really see this going to a decision with the caliber of fighters on this one. I see this ending in a ref stoppage to strikes or knockout. This is an awesome close match up and obviously highly likely to be fight of the night!
Well that puts a wrap on this teaser. I hope you all enjoyed my insight on the fights. Sometimes I am way off and sometimes I am close. Just goes to show you MMA is totally unpredictable and that is why the fans enjoy it so much. We will be there live doing live play by plays and also Warchild will be taking photos. Thanks to Promo Pete and AFO for hooking us up with the fight card so I could finish this teaser. Make sure to come out Saturday night and check out a great night of fights.