News

05/12/2010
News/Event Results 2/26/10-3/13/10
CAMO Administrator

CAMO Event Round Up for 2.26 to 3.13
By Jay Tan
Young Guns throw down in Coaching Kids Pankration Event

Coaching Kids MMA started their 2010 schedule with a pair of charity Pankration / MMA events in late-February and mid-March at the Sacramento Radisson Hotel. The two events complemented each other in format, as the February 26th show consisted of seven Pankration bouts and a single MMA fight, while the following show, two weeks later, featured six MMA matches and one Pankration match on the bill.

“Everything went good, other than that we probably threw the shows too close together. We need to space them out, because there’s a lot of amateur shows. . . I’d like to sit down and throw seven to eight shows per year,” said promoter / Coaching Kids head Allen Garcia.

The second event, which took place on March 12th, also included the induction of California veteran fighter Jaime “El Cucui” Jara to the MMA-KO Hall of Fame. As Garcia explained, Jara’s volunteer connection to Coaching Kids dates back several years, when Garcia ran an amateur boxing youth program.

Match results from Coaching Kids MMA on 2/26/10 are as follows:

124 lbs. (Pankration) – Joseph Morales def. Anul Pina via submission, R3, 1:41.
152 lbs. (Pankration) – Tyler Harris def. Chris Tabaldo via split decision.
158 lbs. (Pankration) – Sam Wooten def. Ian Freeman via unanimous decision.
174 lbs. (Pankration) – Matt Swanson def. Matt Davis via unanimous decision.
265 lbs. (Pankration) – Arturo Rodriguez def. Josh Peterson via submission, R3, 1:00.
186 lbs. (Pankration) – Charles Wilson def. Aaron Hamilton via unanimous decision.
127 lbs. (Pankration) – Brianna VanBuren def. Delecia Velasquez-Stump via unanimous decision.
159 lbs. Emelio Gonzalez def. Jerry Ribeira via unanimous decision.

Match results from Coaching Kids MMA on 3/12/10 are as follows:

205 lbs. - Gary Luisi def. Angelo Henry via DQ, R1, 1:55.
185 lbs. - Aaron Hamilton def. Matt Grigorian via TAPOUT R1, 1:18. lbs.
155 lbs. – D’Alexander Davis def. Brandon Hafer via TKO, R2, 2:00.
170 lbs. (Pankration) – Allen Garcia III def. Sam Wooten via split decision.
265 lbs. - Antonio VanBuren def. Josh Peterson via TKO, R1.
145 lbs. - Jesse Henderson def. Faustino Quinones via TKO, R1, 1:05.
175 lbs. - Jose Quinonez def. Matt Swanson via TKO, R2, 2:14.

Despite the name on the marquee, Garcia says that his amateur promotion transcends age, noting that his program gets hopeful trainees of all ages, from 15 to 35.

“There’s all kinds of different people coming out of the woodwork. Not just kids. . . Grownups come with their kids, and they want to participate in the amateur program that we’ve got going on. I think it makes a difference because I go through probably, I would say, 400 kids in half a year, who want to try MMA. And they try fighting, they think they can fight. Once they get their feet wet, once they get in the cage, they change their mind. It kinda humbles them.”

Von Flue brings Future Valley stars to Fresno

That same weekend, a new promotion, Valley Future Cagefighting ran their inaugural event at The Big Fresno Fair.

“I’ve never been so stressed out in my life. I almost hyperventilated four or five times,” joked company frontman (and “Ultimate Fighter” / UFC alum) Jason Von Flue, adding “but on the other hand, what was cool was [CAMO] was really easy to work with, and the guys basically told me that the show would take a life of its own once it gets going. And they were right.”

VFCF’s first outing was also a mixed format event, with three MMA bouts to complement a heavyweight round-robin Pankration tournament. Jacob Hallmark came emerged as champion for the night, going 2-0 against Jerald Apps and Robert Pinon.

Match results from Future Valley Cagefighting on 3/13/10 are as follows:

265 lbs. – Jacob Hallmark def. Jerald Apps via unanimous decision.
170 lbs. – Matt Foster def. Dustin Mouser via DQ, R2, 0:15.
205 lbs. – Thomas Perkins def. Erik Betancourt via submission (triangle choke), R2, 1:28.
265 lbs. – Jerald Apps def. Robert Pinon via unanimous decision.
135 lbs. – David Catano Jr. def. Diamond Templeton via split decision.
170 lbs. – Trinidad Valdez def. Michael Rosati via TKO, R1, 0:51.
265 lbs. – Jacob Hallmark def. Robert Pinon via TKO, R2, 0:55.
145 lbs. – Angel Lopez def. Anthony Torres via unanimous decision.
155 lbs. – Kris Williams def. Andrew Von Flue via unanimous decision.

The main event was a family affair, as younger cousin Andrew Von Flue faced wrestler Kris Williams, battling back and forth for three rounds, with Williams getting the better of the scorecards.

“I thought it was just a great match. I thought the fans really enjoyed it too. I was really proud of that match,” said Von Flue.

“Williams, for only doing any MMA for a short period of time, was actively trying to finish. He was working ground-and-pound and trying to change positions, and actually got on Andrew’s back a few times. And tried for an RNC. Andrew, when he dropped him and went after him really hard, worked for a D’arce choke at the very end. . . I really felt that both guys were actively trying to finish, and the right guy won that night.”

Coaching Kids MMA anticipates announcing their next date for the Sacramento Radisson Hotel very soon. Valley Future Cagefighting returns to The Big Fresno Fair in mid- to late-June.

For more info on upcoming amateur MMA action, visit http://www.camo-mma.org/events.

03/09/2010
News/Event Results: Playboy Fight Night
CAMO Administrator

CAMO Event Round Up for 3/4/10 to 3/6/10
By Jay Tan

Playboy’s Fight Night hits in Visalia

The action was in Central California this weekend, as Undisputed Promotions brought Playboy Fight Night to Visalia, with a pro-am MMA show that packed the convention center. Five of the nine matches on the card were CAMO-regulated amateur bouts.

With a matchmaking resume that includes a pre-Zuffa WEC and the Palace Fighting Championships, Undisputed’s Christian Printup didn’t have to look any further than his already extensive network of fight camps to find an able pool of rookie talent.

“This was the first time we were going with the amateur fighters. Everyone brought guys that were ready for this. They weren’t thrown in there to the wolves . . . and I was just extremely proud of everyone,” he noted.
Although Central California is not home to many of the bigger prize fights in MMA, according to Printup, the region’s contribution developing superstars of the sport is undeniable.

“There’s been so much talent that’s come out of the Central Valley. Even people that moved to Vegas or San Diego, San Jose or whatever; their roots are here. . . You’ve got [the Fresno State wrestling] program. Also, the Western Yosemite league, from Clovis to Bakersfield to Lemoore. . . That and you’ve got a lot of great boxing clubs and boxing trainers out here. So when you put all that stuff together – we’ve been blessed. And tonight, it’s nice to be able to feature some of the amateurs, to see that next wave.”

Match results from the amateur portion of Playboy’s Fight Night are as follows:

171 lbs. – Jesus Jesse Ramirez def. Shawn Goode via unanimous decision.
164 lbs. – Chris Bonilla def. Marqus Betancourt via submission, R2, 0:42.
171 lbs. – Geoffrey Quares def. Jake Arvance via TKO, R1, 1:12.
156 lbs. – Rudy Sanchez def. Jaime Valdez via TKO, R1, 1:53.
265 lbs. – Jose Aispuro def. Cliff St. Martin via TKO, R1, 1:39.

“We will definitely continue pro-am shows and strictly amateur shows as well. We really want to make a strong commitment to the amateur program; part of the biggest reasons for the continued growth [of mixed martial arts] is going to be the development of the amateur program. We’re excited to have this going on in California now,” commented Printup.

Undisputed Promotions next brings the Playboy brand to San Diego on April 7th for an all-amateur event, at the On Broadway Events Center.

For more info on upcoming amateur MMA action, visit http://www.camo-mma.org/events.

03/04/2010
News/Bout Results: Strikeforce 2/26/10
CAMO Administrator

Strikeforce runs Pro-Am event in San Jose
By Jay Tan

California amateur MMA was given a big vote of credibility this weekend, as one of the largest MMA promotions in the world, Strikeforce, held their first pro-am MMA event at the San Jose Civic Auditorium, as part of their “ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers” series.

“It was an experiment for us on our end. By supporting [CAMO], we’re supporting MMA at every level, including the grass roots level. Which is what it’s all about. We just like being involved in helping the sport grow,” explained Strikeforce matchmaker Rich Chou.

Chou paired six amateur matches, which took place as a lead-in to six professional matches, five of which aired live on Showtime.

The event also marked another milestone for the prestigious promotion, as the main event, Sarah Kaufman vs. Takayo Hashi, crowned Strikeforce’s first 135 lbs. women’s champion. The British Columbia–based Kaufman walked away with the match, and the championship title, in a unanimous decision with scores of 50-45.

Match results for the amateur portion of ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers 6

136 lbs. – Ronald Carrillo def. Anthony De Los Santos via submission, R2, 1:20.
265 Lbs. – Steve Dickey def. Alan Lummel via TKO, R1, 0:33.
145 Lbs. – Renee Robinson def. Lilia Salas via TKO, R1, 1:06.
145 Lbs. – Jesse Tobar def. Johnson Nguyen via submission, R2, 1:24.
156 Lbs. – Tristan Arenal def. George Miller via TKO, R2, 0:30.
185 Lbs. – Samuel Bracamonte def. Chris Stewart via TKO, R3, 0:59.

For Chou, the action in the cage was a testament to the relevance and value of a regulated amateur MMA program: “the fights were all exciting . . . and I think that’s what the program is for. It’s really to give guys experience and eventually what I think it will do is raise the level. . .Guys are going to have to earn their stripes. It should mean something to be a professional, and we’re glad that there’s a standard set now.”

Chou confirmed that Strikeforce’s next “Challengers” event, slated for March 26th in Fresno, will be another pro-am event.

For more info on upcoming amateur MMA action, visit http://www.camo-mma.org/events.

03/04/2010
News/Bout Results: Weekend of 2/11 to 2/14
CAMO Administrator

CAMO Event Round-Up for the Weekend of 2/11 to 2/14
By Jay Tan

Fighters, Not Lovers, in Canoga Park for Valentine’s Day Weekend

This past Sunday might have been for lovers, but Saturday night was alright for fighting, as American Hapkido Karate hosted their first “Fight Factory MMA” event at their Canoga Park training facility.

“All the fighters were so good. All the coaches that came were so amazing. Everybody really gave the gym a lot of energy on that night,” said gym manager and matchmaker Brandie Bogosian.

Easily the hottest fight came third from the top, as Gevork Chilalyan and Luis Morales battled in an all-out slugfest which had the crowd standing and vociferous. Chilalyan, winning by unanimous decision later got Fight of the Night honors.

“He was so excited. Every single day, he’d ask me ‘did you get a fight for me? Did you get an opponent for me? I can’t go to sleep. I have to fight.’ He brought maybe 80-90 people with him,” commented head trainer and promoter Master Sayed Qubadi.

Match results from “Fight Factory MMA” are as follows:

170 lbs. – Eric Steans, Jr. def. Oscar Paiz via submission, R2, 1:45.
145 lbs. – Danny Worthen def. Kian Danesh via TKO (doctor’s stoppage), R2, 2:00.
205 lbs. – David Neace def. Gary Luisi via TKO, R1, 1:10.
135 lbs. – Ronnie Tanner def. Cameron Harris via DQ.
170 lbs. – Gevork Chilalyan def. Luis Morales via unanimous decision.
205 lbs. – Oscar Avila def. Vahe Ambarchyan via split decision.
155 lbs. – Jimmy Chavez def. Willy (Wei) Chua via TKO (doctor’s stoppage), R1, 1:10.

The next Fight Factory MMA event will be a Pankration event on May 15th, followed by MMA in August. American Hapkido Karate will also host boxing and kickboxing / Muay Thai events on alternating months.

For more info on upcoming amateur MMA action, visit http://www.camo-mma.org/events.

03/04/2010
News/Bout Results: Weekend of 2/19 to 2/21
CAMO Administrator

CAMO Event Round-Up for the Weekend of 2/19 to 2/21
By Jay Tan

Three CAMO Events Debut in Northern California

Continuing the streak of packed houses and fervent crowds, Northern California was the place to be for amateur MMA last weekend, with back-to-back-to-back CAMO-sanctioned events. Friday night, Capital Fighting Championships presented “Friday Night Fights” at Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness facility in Sacramento, while Dragon House MMA wrote Fog City history by hosting San Francisco’s first-ever amateur MMA event, drawing a sellout crowd to their gym, on Saturday afternoon, and a third event was held Saturday evening just outside of Salinas in Chualar, California.

As Sacramento’s favorite MMA son, Urijah Faber’s reputation for intense competition and upstanding sportsmanship precede him. So it should come as no surprise that Faber’s Capital Fighting Championship would stage an event with those same qualities.

“The crowd definitely liked [the fights]. We had three of four fights end in the first round, so it was definitely crazy. . . The hearts of these guys was pretty impressive,” commented matchmaker Tabrez Ansari, adding:
“Urijah’s all about the spirit of competition. He addressed the crowd before the fight and said ‘there are no losers in this. It takes a special person to even step in here, so do not boo, and applaud each person’s effort regardless of the outcome.’ And he was very impressed with the crowd, and impressed of all the fighters.”

Among the standouts of the night, Ansari pointed to Overcome MMA’s Alex Ivanov as demonstrating overall talent. “His wrestling, jiu Jitsu, and stand-up looked great.”

Ansari also noted that “Team Buhawe in Fresno and Folsom MMA were extremely impressive. They had about 50 people representing Team Buhawe. They had a really good support for their team out there. . . The coach for Folsom MMA is named Sean Ward. He really gets his community and his members involved. They have a ton of support.”

Match results from “Capital Fighting Championships presents Friday Night Fights” are as follows:

136 lbs. – Zach Smith def. Raymond Aguilar via submission, R1, 1:20.
161 lbs. – Ray Heredia def. Steve Cartwright via KO, R1, 0:30.
156 lbs. – Chaz Sanchez def. Karsten DeSario via submission, R1, 1:21.
160 lbs. – Richie Smith def. William Piper via TKO, R2, 1:31.
161 lbs. – Mario Soto def. Brandon Smith via unanimous decision.
171 lbs. – Alex Ivanov def. Richard Nero via TKO, R3, 0:13.
145 lbs. – Paul Ruiz def. Rick Inzunza via submission, R1, 0:55.
170 lbs. – Jesse Roberts def. Carl Hoffman via TKO, R2, 0:34.

Dragon House MMA

Ninety miles and 24 hours later, Sifu Zhong Luo and his Dragon House MMA kicked off their first amateur MMA event, which likewise featured competitive matches and an avid audience.

“Everybody’s happy with how the show came out. Good matches, fair fights. . . The next one is going to be bigger. Probably get 100 seats extra.”

As several other California promoters have echoed, Luo noted his impressed surprise over how many amateur fighters carry themselves with the skill and manner of many professional fighters: “These amateur guys come in, but the way they prepared themselves, they way they diet and the way they fight, it’s pretty close to the pro level. Some of them, even better than some of the pros I’ve seen.”

Luo had no problem pointing out a few specific names: “One of them, Greg Ulatowski, from Charles Gracie’s school, he really stands out. Had a really spectacular win. . . Paradise [Vaovasa] was good. He’s from my gym, and is an up and coming young guy. He’s fighting guys, like, eight or nine years older.”

“Who impressed me the most was Justin Vizcarra. Because that guy, from Verretts MMA, he used to be a 290 lb. guy. Two hundred ninety pounds, last year, when I saw him. He dropped to 205 for this fight. He was two different people. He got a really tremendous win against a guy from U.S. Karate. Decent stand-up. Decent wrestling.”

Match results from Dragon House MMA’s event on 2/20/10 in San Francisco are as follows:

205 lbs. – Justin Vizcarra def. Nazal Parvin via submission, R1, 2:58.
170 lbs. – Greg Ulatowski def. Trevor Jodsaus via TKO, R2, 1:39.
145 lbs. – Andrew Rynhard def. Andrew Hansen via submission, R3, 1:13.
135 lbs. – Brandon Lozada def. Brian Liu via TKO, R2, 1:06.
155 lbs. – Paradise Vaovasa def. Devin Butler via unanimous decision.
155 lbs. – Gerard Frantz def. Steven Summers via submission, R1, 1:54.
170 lbs. – Idres Rahmani def. Sasualei Faamausili via TKO, R1, 1:16.
175 lbs. – Riley Wills def. Abraham Vaesau via submission, R3, 1:28.
170 lbs. – Gabe Pena def. Riece Keck via KO, R1, 0:38.

Later that night, another amateur MMA event, the Amateur Fighting Championships, took place in Chulalar. Match results are as follows:

Justin Rios def. Andrew Piersons via TKO, R2, 0:47.
Wayne Cole def. Richard Smith via technical decision, R2, 2:00.
William Butler def. Thomas Quintana via technical decision, R1, 1:49.
Cory Martinez def. Samson Castillo via decision.
Craig Dunlop def. Primo Delfino via submission, R2, 0:16.
Evan Rodriguez def. Abaham Diaz via technical decision, R1, 2:00.

Capital Fighting Championships anticipates hosting another fight night on April 17th. Dragon House MMA expect to announce their next event soon, but in the meantime, replays of their Feb. 20 event will air on local channel Access SF – Channel 29, beginning Saturday, Feb. 27, at 6pm, with replays scheduled over the following several weeks.
For more info on upcoming amateur MMA action, visit http://www.camo-mma.org/events.

02/01/2010
News/Results: Fight Academy 1/19/2010
CAMO Administrator

Proof is in the Punching at ‘Proving Grounds’ in Pasadena
By Jay Tan

The trend of debuting amateur MMA shows continued this week at Savant Young and John Bostick’s Fight Academy in Pasadena. The event featured nine highly competitive cage matches which made for an exciting, competitive night of fights and an official sellout attendance.
“There was strong support. Teams were coming in groups of 10 and 20, so it made it easy to fill the house up. It was a good night. Everybody enjoyed themselves . . . it had that real feel of how a show should feel inside of a gym.” said matchmaker and Fight Academy head instructor Savant Young.
Young, a veteran of Affliction, WEC, Shooto, and the IFL, opened up the Pasadena branch of David Dunn’s Santa Clarita school in August 2009. When the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) delegated amateur MMA regulation to CAMO, hosting events at the new gym was a logical next move.
“We’ve created our niche in Pasadena, as far as where people come to train and potentially do amateur fighting . . . I wanted to be the first one that spearheads the whole legal thing in Pasadena, and we were definitely successful at that last night,” Young explained.

Match results from “Fight Academy: Proving Grounds” are as follows:

150 lbs. (catchweight) – Reshan Sabaratnam def. Jonathan Clegg via TKO, R2, 1:35.
155 lbs. – Frank Miller def. Clinton Cornelison via TKO, R1, 0:55.
160 lbs. (catchweight) – Derek Johnson def. Kyle Sereg via TKO, R1, 1:35.
135 lbs. – Oscar Torres def. Eddie Briseno via TKO, R2, 0:58.
145 lbs. – Matt Reis def. Sharif Elassiouti via unanimous decision.
127 lbs. (catchweight) – Kelvin Martell def. Louis Reyes via unanimous decision.
178 lbs. (catchweight) – Dorien Tharps def. Ryan Escobedo via TKO, R3, 0:43.
205 lbs. – Waldo Nava def. Wolfgang Steinbeck via submission, R2, 0:26.
170 lbs. – Nick Huizar def. Anthony Olivas via unanimous decision.

As for highlights of the night, Young commented “there were a couple, actually. I don’t want to take anything away from any of the kids. . .The main event had one of my guys, Nick Huizar, [against Anthony Olivas]; they stole the show. . . [We had] one guy from California Kickboxing. The other guy was from PKG, out with Ian Harris. They did real well.”

Fight Academy Pasadena expects to hold their next amateur MMA event in late March. For more info on upcoming amateur MMA action, visit http://www.camo-mma.org/events.

01/28/2010
CAMO News/Bout Results for the Weekend of 1/22 to 1/24
CAMO Administrator

Big ‘Ka-Booms’ heard at Quiet Canyon
By Jay Tan

Not rain, nor hail, nor sleep, nor snow was going to keep crowds from the perfect storm of MMA, as All-Star Boxing / Ka-Boom MMA returned to Quiet Canyon Country Club in Montebello on January 22nd, with “Battle of the Rising Stars.”
“I was afraid of that. I kept thinking ‘wow, man, I’m not gonna do too good, because of the weather.’ But it didn’t seem to bother anybody. They were there. For that type of day, I thought we did pretty good,” said promoter Ed Holmes.

Fan favorites Chris Golz and Jacob Rodriguez did not disappoint their fervently vocal supporters, claiming victory in their respective matches, both via rear naked choke submission.

“I really did think Jacob’s was [fight of the night]. And obviously John Chacon. . . you could see he was probably a great wrestler when he was in high school,” Holmes commented days after the fight.
Chacon, in his match against Marc Fusco, scored consecutive takedowns, including a high German suplex, to claim a unanimous decision victory.

Blake Webber had an early night, landing a right head kick and punches to finish Fernando Barrera nine seconds into the first round. “You never know what’s going to happen at these shows, you know,” said Holmes.

Match results from “Ka-Boom MMA – Battle of the Rising Stars” are as follows:

205+ lbs. (Heavyweight) – Dave Fetherolf (Triple Crown Fighters) def. Cody Smith (Unbreakable Gym) via unanimous decision.
165 lbs. – Blake Webber (Dirty Bird Fight Team) def. Fernando Barrera (Reyes Boxing Club) via TKO, R1, 0:09 sec.
135 lbs. – John Chacon (Millennia MMA) def. Marc Fusco (PKG / Fight Science) via unanimous decision.
185 lbs. – Matt Grigorian (Dirty Bird Fight Team) def. Jesse Crespin (CSW) via unanimous decision.
205+ lbs. (Heavyweight) - Moses Murrietta (Adrenaline MMA) def. Daniel Reynolds (Gauntlet Jiu-Jitsu) via TKO, R3, 0:30 sec.
140 lbs. – Cameron Harris (PKG) def. Jose Huerta (MMAFCd / Champ Krew) via submission, R2, 0:50 sec.
125 lbs. – Ryan Barela (Operation MK Ultra) def. Gabriel Valdez (Blackmat MMA) via unanimous decision.
205+ lbs. (Heavyweight) – Chris Golz (Gauntlet Jiu-Jitsu) def. Daniel Felix (Unbreakable Gym) via submission, R1, 1:23.
135 lbs. – Chris Westrup (Blackmat MMA) def. Anthony Jimenez (Adrenaline MMA) via submission, R3, 1:23 sec.
170 lbs. – Jacob Rodriguez (Academy of Striking and Grappling) def. Eric Steans, Jr. (PKG) via submission, R2, 1:01 sec.

“I was really surprised . . . that that many people came out and were happy. Because a lot of these people have been with me for 14 years, and I never heard one person say ‘well, it’s an amateur show.’ I mean they were really excited about it. So I think the amateurs are just as exciting as the pros,” Holmes added.
Ka-Boom MMA returns to Quiet Canyon on March 19th, and then to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on April 3rd.

Nor Cal Bursts out of the Gates with “Starting Point”

The first amateur MMA event of 2010 in Northern California took place on January 22nd, as Stand Up Fighters, Inc. promoted “Starting Point,” a 15-match event held at the Sacramento Radisson Hotel.

“Everybody was just fired up. . . The crowd was great, the house was packed. All the fighters and coaches were respectful. Probably one of the best events I’ve seen with amateur MMA. These guys were like pros,” commented Stand Up promoter and matchmaker Gary Shurley.

The stacked card featured fighters from all throughout Northern and Central California. Fight of the Night honors were given to the sole female match, Brittney Christian vs. Mandy Ybarra, in which Christian edged out Ybarra via split decision.

Derek Formoso was anointed Fighter of the Night for his TKO victory, which, ironically enough, was the show’s opening match. For their efforts, Christian and Ybarra were given “Stand Up Fighters” letterman jackets, while Formoso received a championship belt that was designed uniquely for the event.

Stand Up president Jim Schuett explained “we wanted to make it special – for the fans, for the families in attendance, and for the coaches. . . Our plan is to continue to have a Fighter of the Night belt and a pair of jackets to the two fighters who had the fight of the night. It’s just to give these guys something extra to work for. They get to walk away with something of substance that they can show their friends and such.”

“The girls were the co-main event, and Brittney and Mandy tore it up. . . . [Derek] defended great against the takedown. His leg kicks, his punches, his head movement was crisp,” added Shurley.

Match results for “Starting Position” are as follows:

145 lbs. – Derek Formoso (Muay Thai Lao Kickboxing Academy) def. Dillon Soper (Marinoble’s Fight Team) via TKO, R2, 0:49 sec.
170 lbs. – Jason Elliot (Valhalla ETC) def. Luke Heebner (Overcome Fight Team) via TKO, R2, 1:47.
125 lbs. – Zach Smith (Ultimate Fitness / Bred 4 Battle) def. Anthony Moser (Brito MMA) via submission (rear naked choke), R3, 1:14 sec.
173 lbs. (catchweight) - Jesse Roberts (Overcome Fight Team) def. Nick Hammond (TNT / Team Takeover) via unanimous decision.
135 lbs. – TJ Dillasahaw (Ultimate Fitness / Bred 4 Battle) def. Kyle Smith (Valhalla ETC) via submission (D’Arce choke), R1, 1:05 sec.
170 lbs. – Ryan Guzman (Huckaba’s Next Generation MMA) def. William Simmons (Brito MMA) via split decision.
160 lbs. (catchweight) – Richard Smith (Ultimate Fitness / Bred 4 Battle) def. Eugene Ivanov (Overcome Fight Team) via submission (rear naked choke), R2, 1:48 sec.
170 lbs. – Jose Quinonez (Cia Paulista) def. Tulio Sara (unlisted) via TKO, R2, 1:51 sec.
145 lbs. – Freddie Patino (Brito MMA) def. Karston Desario (Ultimate Fitness / Bred 4 Battle) via submission (rear naked choke), R3, 1:14 sec.
185 lbs. – Matt Yee (Cia Paulista) def. Steven Murphy (Cen Cal Extreme Fitness) via KO, R2, 0:34 sec.
135 lbs. – Brittany Christian (Overcome MMA) def. Mandy Ybarra (Fresno Kickboxing Academy) via split decision.
145 lbs. – Jesse Henderson (Huckaba’s Next Generation MMA) def. Morgan Aculdo (Valhalla ETC) via split decision.
165 lbs. (catchweight) - Ray Heredia (Overcome Fight Team) def. Robert Saldivar (unlisted) via TKO, R2, 1:45 sec.
180 lbs. (catchweight) – Alex Ivanov (Overcome Fight Team) def. Jacob Arvance (Fresno Kickboxing Academy) via split decision.
Heavyweight – Marty Farmer (Placer County Grapplers) def. David Villescaz (Huckaba’s Next Generation MMA) via TKO, R2, 0:59 sec.

For more info on upcoming amateur MMA action, visit http://www.camo-mma.org/events.

01/19/2010
CAMO News/Bout Results
CAMO Administrator

CA Amateur MMA Events Debut in 2009; 2010 launches in Santa Barbara

By Jay Tan

Although November and December typically indicate the end of a calendar year, California Amateur MMA Organization, Inc. (CAMO) was in full swing, as the first three events involving regulated amateur MMA matches in California took place during that time.

Promoter Ed Holmes (All-Star Boxing / Ka-Boom MMA Promotions) has the distinction of hosting the first CAMO-regulated match, Jesse Crespin vs. Chris Deroma, which took place on November 20th. This and two other amateur matches made up the amateur portion of a pro-am event at the Quiet Canyon Country Club in Montebello.

“It was a great turnout, and at the same time, some of those amateur fights were as good as the pros,” said Holmes.
Match results from All-Star’s November 20th event were as follows:

180 lbs. – Jesse Crespin (CSW) def. Chris Deroma (Champions Karate Dojo) via TKO, R1, 0:12.
165 lbs. – Jacob Rodriguez (Academy of Striking & Grappling) def. Ruben Gudino (West Coast Fight Academy) via TKO, R1, 0:43.
145 lbs. – Cooper Gibson (Team True Warrior) def. Anthony Jiminez (Adrenaline) via unanimous decision.

When asked his thoughts on the level of competition among California’s amateurs, Holmes was quick to point out two rising stars, “Jacob Rodriguez was one and the other was [Cooper Gibson]. I thought both those kids were pretty impressive as amateurs.”

The first all-amateur CAMO-regulated event took place the following week, November 28th, in Santa Maria, as promoter Jeff Restivo’s California Fight Syndicate presented “Battle at the Barracks,” at the Santa Maria National Guard Armory.

“I’m really excited, because it’s a piece of history, and I’ve been wanting this for a long time.” commented CA Fight Syndicate matchmaker Anthony Arria.

For Arria, amateur MMA is the crucial stepping stone that aspiring fighters need to prepare themselves and prevent a false-start to their pro careers. “It’s a perfect opportunity for kids to test themselves without getting thrown to the lions. . . With [amateur MMA], now they can let it all hang, and not have to worry about ‘oh, I might not get that big paycheck.’ Unfortunately, that’s what’s happening with pros. You’re getting these guys that are very one-dimensional, and are losing, because they didn’t have an opportunity to fight amateur,” he explained.

Match results from “Battle at the Barracks” were as follows:
155 lbs. – David Snell (SLO Kick Box & Submission Wrestling) def. Alvarro Corral (Paragon MMA) via TKO, R2, 1:46.
162 lbs. (catchweight) – Joseph Fernandez (independent) def. Jason Ordonez (Ventura MMA) via submission, R1, 1:11.
165 lbs.(catchweight) – Eric Prado (independent) def. Josh Passmore (independent) via TKO R3, 0:41.
145 lbs. – Tim Riscen (KnuckleHeadz Boxing) def. Camron Sewel (Paragon MMA) via unanimous decision.
155 lbs. – Joshua Ruelig (SLO Kickboxing) def. Waldo Dominguez (Team Fresh) via split decision.
160 lbs. – Anthony Dakuras (Santa Maria USA STUD LIFE) def. Vincent Guererro IV (Blue, Black, & Brown) via TKO, R3, 1:48.
180 lbs. – Michael Perez (KnuckleHeadz Boxing) def. Matt Lovato (independent) via unanimous decision.
163 lbs. (catchweight) – Michel Gahan (The Pit Fight Team) def. Bren O’Neal (independent) via TKO, R3, 1:04.
Heavyweight – Jason Quintero (Paragon MMA / SLO Kickboxing) def. Mike Brown (independent) via submission, R1, 0:39.

The final CAMO event of 2009 was “Conquest in the Cage 6,” another All-Star / Ka-Boom semi-pro event, this time at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The event was held on December 5th.
Match results for “Conquest in the Cage 6” were as follows:

140 lbs. – Jose Medina (Adrenaline) def. Rashan Sabaratnam (PKG) via TKO, R2, 1:46.
185 lbs. – Cody Silvett (Team Wardance) def. Fernando Barrera (Reyes Boxing Club) via split decision.
175 lbs. (catchweight) – Raul Ortiz (Destiny MMA) def. Jesse Crespin (CSW) via TKO, R2, 1:51.
172 lbs.(catchweight) – Lou Tapia (PKG) def. Brandon Weil (independent) via TKO, R2, 1:10.

This past weekend, on January 16th, CA Fight Syndicate held their first Pro-Am show. “The show was named ‘Heavy Hitters,’ and at that point it lived up to its reputation,” Arria said afterwards.
Arria went on to note: “the Michael Gahan vs. Anthony Dakuras fight, for me, was probably fight of the night. Even over the pros. Everybody said it was way better than any of the pro fights. Because these guys really went at it.”

Match results for CA Fight Syndicate’s “Heavy Hitters” were as follows:
193 lbs. (catchweight) – Robert Rud def. Shannon Good (S.B. Fighter / Paragon MMA) via decision.
156 lbs. (catchweight) – Juan Ferrer (SKS) def. Joseph Fernandez (independent) via TKO, R1, 1:56.
155 lbs. (catchweight) – Michael Gahan (The Pit Fight Team) def. Anthony Dakuras (Santa Maria USA STUD LIFE) via TKO, R2, 1:52.
185 lbs. – John Hackleman, Jr. (The Pit Fight Team) def. Sam Vargas (independent) via TKO, R1, 0:22.
286 lbs. – Makani Sarellano (S.K.S. Fight Team) def. Deldridge Jones (independent) via KO, R1, 1:18.
135 lbs. – Brandon Drucker (S.K.S. Fight Team) def. Daniel Garcia (SB Fighter / Violent Tendency MMA) via submission, R1, 1:21.

Explaining why he chose to do a pro-am show, Arria said “we have a bunch of pros in Santa Barbara, and some of them train with some of the amateurs. It really keeps that local feel.”

Upcoming amateur MMA events:

Northern California kicks into gear on January 22nd at the Sacramento Radisson, as Stand Up Fighters Promotions and Coaching Kids MMA present their first event of the year. Visit www.CoachingKidsMMA.org for info on tickets.

All Star / Ka-Boom returns to the Quiet Canyon Country Club on January 22nd with an all-amateur show, and then to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel on April 3rd.

Fight Academy Pasadena presents “Proving Grounds,” a 10-match amateur MMA event, on January 29th, at their gym on 491 S. Arroyo Pkwy. Visit www.FightAcademyMMA.com for ticket info.

And the first CAMO-sanctioned Pankration event takes place on January 30th at the Rollerdome in Thousand Oaks, as T.O. Boxing presents “Fight Night 5.” Visit www.TOBoxing.net for details.

11/18/2009
California State Athletic Commission Distinguishes CAMO As Official Regulatory & Oversight Agency for California Amateur MMA Competition

LOS ANGELES, November 17, 2009 – As part of an ongoing effort to improve the safety, competitive and athletic integrity of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has officially delegated authority to California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization, Inc. (CAMO) as the official regulatory and oversight group for all California amateur MMA and Pankration competition.

While MMA has enjoyed a rapid ascension to the ranks of elite national and global sports attractions, it’s evolution has come largely through the professional ranks, leaving the critical amateur level significantly underserved. It’s for this reason that CSAC has taken this action.

Regulatory and oversight responsibilities will be a primary role for CAMO, however, it will also play the critical role as a service organization, providing a critical business hub for licensed fighters, promoters, inspectors, referees and judges, making the business of amateur MMA and Pankration competition significantly more efficient.

“Every sport features a direct relationship between the professional and amateur levels, with one feeding the other and influencing the ongoing evolution and growth of the sport overall, yet this critical relationship has been largely absent in MMA,” said Jeremy Lappen, Chairman & CEO for CAMO. “We’re eager to begin our work to improve the integrity and quality of amateur MMA competition in California, and we are extremely grateful to everyone at CSAC and the Attorney General’s office whose support and diligence was instrumental to making CAMO a reality.”

“The CAMO executive team had a very well thought out plan to oversee the amateur program, and they possess such a wealth of experience and expertise in MMA. These impeccable credentials, and those of its advisory board, made this a very easy decision for us,” said Mario Rodriguez, Chairman of the California State Athletic Commission. “MMA has come so far and yet still has such significant growth potential, making CAMO a critical player in ensuring its continued growth is grounded in a set of standards to maintain the utmost safety and competitive integrity at the amateur level here in California.”

Through its website (www.camo-mma.org), CAMO provides licensing services for promoters, inspectors, fighters, trainers, referees and judges intent on competing in and working at amateur MMA or Pankration events in California. CAMO requires that promoters carry insurance for both events and fighters. The organization requires medical testing for all fighters and has approved a formal training program for all licensed MMA referees and judges. The CAMO site maintains records for every licensed MMA fighter in California, while also offering profiles for the fighters, allowing promoters an efficient means of sourcing talent for events. In total, CAMO offers a more comprehensive level of service than most other organizations currently serving in a similar capacity in other states and hopes to serve as the model going forward for all governing and oversight agencies for amateur MMA across the country.

CAMO was organized by Lappen and JT Steele. Lappen is a proven veteran in the MMA industry for over a decade, having previously provided management services to elite MMA fighters, including Randy Couture and Quinton Jackson. Most recently, Lappen worked on some of MMA’s most prominent nationally televised productions, including the most watched MMA event in US television history, while working for MMA promoter ProElite and its landmark nationally televised events in partnership with CBS. JT Steele, who serves as President of CAMO, was previously responsible for, amongst other things, all regulatory affairs at ProElite, dealing on a day to day basis with many state run commissions and the licensing and medical oversight of hundreds of EliteXC athletes.

Further distinguishing CAMO will be its advisory board – a “who’s who” lineup of experts – which will provide ongoing strategic insight and expertise related to every aspect of MMA. CAMO advisory board members include:

• Bas Rutten – A former UFC Heavyweight Champion and three time King of Pancrase, Rutten continues to be a prominent figure in MMA as both an elite training specialist and the host of HDNet’s “Inside MMA”
• John McCarthy – One of MMA’s most recognizable faces, McCarthy, known to many as “Big John” has handled referee duties for more MMA championship bouts than any other referee in the sport’s history. McCarthy will oversee CAMO’s approved official training program for referees and judges.
• Dan Henderson – The only Mixed Martial Artist to concurrently hold championship belts in two weight classes, Henderson has earned more MMA tournament victories than anyone in the sport’s history. A former US Olympic wrestler, Henderson also owns Clinch Gear – an MMA apparel brand and is a founding member of Team Quest, one of MMA’s most prominent fight teams.
• Eric Paulson – Paulson, an expert in more than 9 combat disciplines, was the first American to win Japan’s famed Shooto title – a title he held for five years. Paulson currently is considered the sport’s leading expert in submission techniques and training, handling training duties for some of MMA’s elite names, including Brock Lesnar, Josh Barnett and Renato “Babalu” Sobral.
• Josh Schwartz – A Harvard Law graduate, Schwartz brings expertise and relationships across the entertainment, sports and advertising industries. Schwartz formerly held the position of COO for Los Angeles-based sports marketing firm, Wasserman Media Group.
• Steve Rusich – Considered to be one of MMA’s leading fight brokers, Rusich manages an extensive list of MMA professionals. In addition to his work in MMA, Rusich owns Valley Auto Center and Valley Kia in Fontana, Calif.
• Marc Altieri – A 15-year sports marketing and PR specialist, Altieri’s experience includes extensive MMA work, handling PR duties for major promotions including EliteXC’s nationally televised CBS broadcasts. Through his company Leader, Inc., Altieri handles marketing and PR for a variety of leading national brands and professional athletes.

“You have to commend the foresight of the California State Athletic Commission in establishing this role for CAMO as it will have a major impact on the quality and integrity of MMA extending up to the professional level,” said McCarthy. “The impact of CAMO will go far beyond just the standards in safety and competition it will establish for amateurs. These standards will dramatically improve training and education for today’s amateur fighters, promoters, referees and officials, many of whom will be tomorrow’s professionals.”

CAMO will waste no time with its first fully licensed and sanctioned events beginning later this month. In addition to its vast array of regulatory and oversight responsibilities, and its business services, CAMO will be organizing an annual California State Amateur MMA Championship Tournament. Details for the tournament will be announced at a later date.

About CAMO:
California Mixed Martial Arts Organization, Inc. (CAMO) is a non-profit public benefit corporation created to oversee and maintain the safety, credibility and integrity of amateur MMA in the State of California. Founded in 2009, CAMO is dedicated to helping foster the growth of the sport of amateur Mixed Martial Arts and to oversee the health, safety and welfare of the athletes that choose to participate in it. On August 24, 2009, the California State Athletic Commission officially delegated to CAMO the exclusive authority to regulate Amateur Mixed Martial Arts and Pankration in the State of California.

10/31/2009
Referee/Judge Training Now Available

California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization, Inc. (“CAMO”) is currently licensing referees and judges to officiate at amateur Mixed Martial Arts (“MMA”) competitions in California. As a prerequisite to obtaining a CAMO license as a referee or judge, applicants must either be currently licensed as a referee or judge by the California State Athletic Commission or successfully complete a course of study at the COMMAND Referee and Judging school.

The COMMAND school is the only nationally recognized training and certification program offered in North America for MMA referees and judges. The school’s curriculum was developed by John McCarthy, and instruction conducted by John McCarthy includes both class room work and practical experience. Due to the intensity of the program, class sizes are very limited and students are encouraged to enroll well in advance.

Together, CAMO and COMMAND will work to produce qualified referees and judges to help advance the sport of MMA at the amateur level. For more information on the COMMAND school please visit the COMMAND website at the following address: www.mmareferee.com .