Combat Zone returns this Saturday on February 17th to the Radisson Hotel in Manchester NH for their 65th show! This one is going to be a hybrid event of mixed martial arts and kickboxing bouts for the evening. There are a total of 8 mma battles and 2 kickboxing fights including one of the mma being a professional one. There are some great Combat Zone favorite studs on the card that will be sure to please the eager fight fans. The doors will be opening up at 5:30pm and the first fight is set to start at 7pm. We will have the one and only Todd Selva in attendance covering the event for us all. Please follow along as I break down the fight card for you all but as usual I will skip the kickboxing portion.
135 AM KICK Corey Palmer (1-0) Burgess vs. Fouad Shahin 0-0 (F5 Fight Team)
155 AM KICK Andrew Kamakas (0-2) Fusion Training Academy vs. Joe Siejkowski (0-1) Team Link Hooksett
135 AM MMA Dan Ward (0-7) Spero's vs. George Ferrera (0-0) Ind
In the first mma battle Dan Ward will be taking on George Ferrera at 135 lbs. Ward trains with Spero's MMA and comes into this fight with an 0-7 record. For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko, 2 by submission and 4 by decision. He is still looking for that first W as an amateur and no doubt has been training hard looking to do just that. His opponent is George Ferrera and he is an independent fighter. He will be making his amateur debut. One fighter will be going home very happy with their first amateur W.
155 AM MMA Brian Cosco (2-6) Redline vs. Aaron Croft 0-0 (F5 Fight Team)
At 155 lbs Brian Cosco will be squaring off against Aaron Croft. Cosco trains with Redline MMA and comes into this fight with a 2-6 record. In the win column, he has all his wins by way of submission. For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko, 3 by submission and 2 by way of decision. His opponent is Aaron Croft and he trains with F5 Fight Team and will be making his amateur debut. In this one, Cosco has the advantage with the 8 fight experience so Croft better be ready.
145 AM MMA Matt Brady 1-0 (FTA) vs. Tom Pagliarulo 1-0 (Spero's)
Then at 145 lbs Matt Brady will be facing off against Tom Pagliarulo. Brady trains with FTA and comes into this fight with a 1-0 record. He won his first by fight submission and the last Combat Zone event. He would to get another first round submission this Saturday. His opponent is Tom Pagliarulo and he trains with Spero's MMA. He comes into this fight with a 1-0 record with his 1 win by submission. This is a real close battle in which should make for a great fight.
195 AM MMA Jon McNeil (2-2) Triumph vs. Caynen Wills (0-0) Spero's
In the next battle Jon McNeil will be taking on Caynen Wills at a catch weight of 195 lbs. Jon trains with Triumph and comes into this fight with a 2-2 record. He has 1 win by ko/tko and 1 by submisison. For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko and 1 by split decision. His opponent is Caynen Wills and he trains with Spero's MMA. He comes into this fight making his amateur debut. This should be another good fight and we will have to see if McNeil's 4 fight experience will come into play on this one.
168 AM MMA Mo Al Kanani 3-0 (Evolution Athletix) vs. Justin Boraczek (3-0) Spero's
At a catch weight of 168 lbs Mo Al Kanani will be fighting Justin Boraczek. Mo trains with Evolution Athletix in Maine and comes into this fight with a 3-0 record with 2 wins by ko/tko and 1 by decision. His opponent is Justin Boraczek and he trains with Spero's MMA. He comes into this fight with a 3-0 record with 2 wins by submission and 1 DQ win. I see this one being a back and forth battle and their perfect records will be on the line as someone's O must go!
155 AM MMA Ramano Medina (3-0) Burgess vs. Chris Mehu (3-2) Gate City
Then at 155 lbs Ramano Medina will be taking on Chris Mehu. Medina trains with Burgess MMA and he comes into this fight with a 3-0 record. For his wins, he won 2 by ko/tko and 1 by decision so far in his amateur career. His opponent is Chris Mehu and he trains with Gate City. He comes into this fight with a 3-2 record with 2 wins by ko/tko and 1 by decision. For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko and 1 by submission. This one is poised to be fight of the night with these two guys in the cage. I expect this one to back and forth war.
135 AM MMA Jake Pilla (5-2) Spero's/ SLS vs. Rob Fuller (2-4) Colorado
In the final amateur fight Jake Pilla returns to fight Rob Fuller at 135 lbs. Pilla trains with Spero's and SLS and comes into this fight with a 5-2 record. In the win column he has 1 by ko/tko and 4 by way of submission. His two losses, came by 1 by ko/tko and 1 by decision. His opponent is Rob Fuller and he trains with Colorado. He comes into this fight with a 2-4 record with 1 win by submission and 1 by ko/tko to strikes. For his losses, he lost 2 by ko/tko and 1 by submission. I see Pilla winning this one pretty easily with a a submission in Round 2.
165 PRO MMA Nick Alley (3-2) Team Link Hooksett vs. Pete San Antonio (1-2) Mohawk Valley MMA
The main event is a professional fight between Nick Alley and Pete San Antonio at 165 lbs. Alley trains with Team Link Hooksett and comes into this fight with a 3-2 record. In the win column he has 1 win by ko/tko and 2 by way of submission. For his losses, he lost both by ko/tko to strikes. Alley has lost his last two fights and will be looking to turn that around this Saturday. His opponent is Pete San Antonio and he trains with MVMMA. He comes into this fight with a 1-2 record with 1 win by submission and 2 losses by decision. This fight is worthy of a main event as both of these guys give 110% every fight. I see this one being a grinding, dueling ground game.