York is a hotbed of MMA - but then, you already knew that, didn't you?

Hanover Academy of MMA's Jay Haas

On the subject of the MMA academies in the area cross-training and helping each other grow, I talked with George McGinnis from York Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Red Lion a couple weeks ago on the subject.

As I had reported before, Jay Haas, from Hanover Academy of MMA, had been training at YMMAA. George gave me an update, saying Jay had been there for the last month or so, stopping by about once a week.

George said his role was to "Help him focus on his already established ground game. ... We're simply helping Jay fine-tune."

A purple belt in BJJ, George said that he had been training stand-up with Hanover trainer Bob Bitner. "Bob is an outstanding coach. I'm really enjoying working with him." George said of Haas, "Jay has good, clean, pure muay Thai."

It looks as though the extra groundfighting training paid off. Although Jay lost his pro debut at CPWC by kneebar, he won against Doug Sonier at WKU Warrior Challenge last month by armbar.

"Thsi kid being only 18, it's disturbing what he's capable of," George said. "Jay is easily one of the coolest kids I've worked with - he's humble, he's modest, he just has a great attitude."

Jay is scheduled to fight on the upcoming Central Pennsylvania Warrior Challenge II on July 18 - as is George's brother, Brett Myers.