We are just mere days away from Ammo Fighting League 8 which will be taking place at the Big E in Springfield Mass. The big day will be this Saturday on March 14th. Ammo has been working hard and has put together their biggest card to date with 17 mma fights and 2 grappling. The doors will be opening at 5pm and the first fight will start around 6pm. This should be the exact fight order but keep in mind things change as the day gets closer. If you do not have your tickets yet please get them at the link here. Please follow along as I break down the fight card. For the sake of redundancy I am going to skip the 0-0 fighters and the grappling.
GRAPPLING Cecilia Verrilli vs. Jasmyn Nguyen
GRAPPLING Gianna Danielle vs. Jalen Mitchell
155 AM Jake Russo (0-0) vs. Tito Jackson (0-0)
170 AM Jerome Brashears (0-0) vs. Kevin Coggins (0-0)
125 AM Matthew Rodriguez (0-0) vs. Kyle Gemme (0-2 Ravenous)
Matthew Rodriguez will be taking on Kyle Gemme from Team Ravenous. Rodriguez will be making his amateur debut and Gemme steps into this fight with an 0-2 record. He lost his first battle by ko/tko to strikes and then his second one by decision. Team Ravenous always comes prepared and brings the fight fans so this should be a good one.
205 AM Imre Pogascas (0-1 Casa Jiu-Jitsu) vs. James Wolfgang Fiasconaro (1-1 RAM)
Then at 205 lbs Imre Pogascas will be challenging James Fiasconaro in the 205 lb division. Imre trains with Casa Jiu-Jitsu and comes into this fight with an 0-1 record. He lost his first battle at the last Ammo by a head kick against Kenyon Moore. He is still looking for his first W. His opponent is James Wolfgang Fiasconaro and he trains with RAM. He comes into this fight with a 1-1 record with 1 win by submission and 1 loss by ko/tko. This is going to be another solid battle as both of these guys are solid ground guys. I see this one definitely going to the mat rather quickly.
145 AM Tyler O'Doherty (0-1 Defensive Edge) vs. Andrew Herdan (0-0 Team Thunder)
Next up is at 145 lbs Tyler O'Doherty will be squaring off against Andrew Herdan. Tyler trains with Defensive Edge MMA and comes into this fight with an 0-1 record. He lost his first battle by armbar at Combat Zone 71. His opponent is Andrew Herdan and he trains with Team Thunder. He will be making his amateur debut. Another close battle that could go either way in my eyes.
125 AM Josh Welch (0-2 Defensive Edge) vs. Billy Pedro (0-0 Black Hole Jiu-Jitsu)
Then at 125 lbs Josh Welch will be taking on Billy Pedro. Welch trains with Defensive Edge and comes into this fight with an 0-2 record. He lost both fights by way of submission. His opponent is Billy Pedro and he trains out of Black Hole Jiu-Jitsu. Billy will be making his amateur debut. Welch is going to want to keep this battle standing and Billy most likely will want to get this fight to the mat and try to work a submission.
170 AM Aiden Defrancesco (0-0 Practical Self Defense Training Center) vs. Jon Hayes (0-0)
145 AM Keanu Navarro (0-1 Xtreme Ambition) vs. Brandon Lagasse (0-0 Team Thunder)
Then at 145 lbs Keanu Navarro will be challenging Brandon Lagasse. Keanu trains with Xtreme Ambition out of New York with his one loss by decision. His opponent is Brandon Lagasse and he trains with Team Thunder and will be making his amateur debut. This is another close battle that could go either way.
145 AM Anthony Vasta (1-0 Defensive Edge) vs. Jonathon Colon (1-2 Plus One Defense)
At 145 lbs Anthony Vasta steps back into the cage against Jonathon Colon. Vasta trains with Defensive Edge and comes into this fight with a record of 1-0. He won his first battle by submission at Cage Titans 46. His opponent is Jonathon Colon and he trains with Plus One Defense. He comes into this fight with a 1-2 record with his 1 win by decision. For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko and 1 by submission. I see this one being a ground battle.
125 AM Maddie O'Shea (0-0) vs. Crystal Nadeau (0-1 Broadway Jiu Jitsu)
In the next battle Maddie O'Shea will be taking on Crystal Nadeau at 125 lbs. Maddie will be making her amateur debut and I assume is Irish which makes this fight more awesome! Her opponent is Crystal Nadeau and she trains with Broadway Jiu Jitsu. She comes into this fight with an 0-1 record with 1 loss by armbar. Crystal was winning this fight and controlling it on top until she got caught with an armbar. I would expect this fight to be a ground battle and if it was like Crystal's first match it won't be boring, that is for sure!
170 AM Kenyon Moore (1-0 Texeira MMA) vs. Ray Johns (1-14 Team Thunder)
At 170 lbs Kenyon Moore will be squaring off against Ray Johns. Moore trains with Texeira MMA and comes into this fight with a 1-0 record with his 1 win by ko/tko. His opponent is Ray Johns and he trains out of Team Thunder. He comes into this fight with a 1-14 record with his 1 win by guillotine. For his losses, he lost 5 by ko/tko, 7 by submission and 2 by decision. I see this one being a tough one for Ray Johns but this is mma and anything can happen! Now onto the pro fights!
115 PRO Dan Cormier (8-10 Triforce) vs. Brandon Grimmett (1-14 SCMMA)
In the first pro fight of the night Dan Cormier will be taking on Brandon Grimmett. Dan trains with Triforce and believe it or not is not related to the UFC Commentator/Fighter Dan Cormier! He comes into this fight with an 8-10 record with 1 ko/tko, 2 submission and 5 decision. For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko, 3 by submission and 6 by decision. His opponent is Brandon Grimmett and he trains with SCMMA. He comes into this battle with a record of 1-14 with his 1 win by and I swear to got this is real, a disqualification from biting. For his losses, he lost 3 by ko/tko, 8 by submission and 3 by decision. I see Cormier winning this one easily and by submission early in the rounds.
150 PRO Ali Zebian (4-1 Underground) vs. Cody Zappone (0-1)
Then at a catch weight of 150 lbs Ali Zebian steps back into the cage against Cody Zappone. Ali trains with Underground and comes into this fight with a 4-1 record with 3 ko/tko and 1 by decision. His one loss came by split decision to Matt Probin. His opponent is Cody Zappone and he comes into this fight with an 0-1 record. He lost his first pro fight by split decision at Ring of Combat event. As an amateur he went 5-0 with 2 ko/tko and 2 sub wins. This one is tough to call as I have not seen Zappone fight but I think this one will definitely be a ground battle and back and forth.
135 PRO Will Smith (3-1 Golden Falcon) vs. Chris Disonell (4-4 Renzo Gracie Latham)
At 135 lbs Will Smith will be taking on Chris Disonell. Will trains with Golden Falcon and steps into this fight with a 3-1 record. In the win column, he has won 1 by injury and 2 by way of decision. His one loss came by decision at a previous CES event. His opponent is Chris Disonell and he trains with Renzo Gracie Latham. He comes into this fight with a 4-4 record with 1 ko/tko, 1 sub and 2 by decision. For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko, 1 sub and 2 by decision. I see this one being a ground battle and I am thinking it will go the distance!
155 AM TITLE Brian Cosco (5-9 Redline) vs. Nuridiin Abrar (2-1 Boston BJJ)
Then at 155 lbs Brian Cosco will be challenging Nuridiin Abrar for the Ammo amateur title. Brian trains with Redline and comes into this fight with a 5-9 record with 1 ko/tko and 4 submission wins. For his losses, he lost 3 by ko/tko, 4 by submission and 2 by decision. His opponent is Nuridiin Abrar and he trains with Boston BJJ. He comes into this fight with a 2-1 record with 2 wins by submission. His one loss came by ko/tko at a previous PFC event. This is definitely going to be a ground war and I don't see it going the distance.
125 AM TITLE Nate Russell (5-1 FAA) vs. Blaze Robinson (1-3 Ravenous MMA)
Next up is the 125 amateur title fight between Nate Russell and Blaze Robinson. Nate trains with FAA and comes into this battle with a record of 5-1 with 3 ko/tko and 2 submission wins. His one loss came by submission to Rich Santiago. His opponent is Blaze Robinson and he trains out of Ravenous MMA. He comes into this fight with a 1-3 record with ko win and 3 losses by decision. I see this one being a stand up battle as both fighters have no problem standing and banging. This one is going to be fun to watch!
160 PRO Connor Barry (6-3 Defensive Edge) vs. Rocky Long (21-41 Renzo Gracie PA)
In the main event Connor Barry will be squaring off against Rocky Long at a catch weight of 160 lbs. Connor trains with Defensive Edge and steps into this fight with a 6-3 record with 1 ko/tko, 3 submission and 2 by decision. For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko, 1 decision and 1 DQ. His opponent is Rocky Long and he trains with Renzo Gracie PA. He comes into this fight with a 21-41 record with 4 ko/tko, 8 submission and 9 decisions. For his losses, he lost 12 ko/tko, 11 submission and 18 by decision. I see this one being a stand up battle and of course I will be rooting for our local Connor Barry!!