I had never been to a Valley Fight League event, so I figured it was about time. I was disappointed I missed the last event in the area — Central Pennsylvania Warrior Challenge X — plus, I knew or knew of several fighters on this card, so I made the drive to Hanover last night.
The event, held at the National Guard Armory in Hanover, began with a moment of silence for West Virginia fighter Robert Conner, who had fought on previous VFL cards. Click here to read more about Conner.
In the night’s first fight, Andrez Salazar, of Hanover Academy of Mixed Martial Arts, made his amateur debut at 145 against Nelson Moody. Salazar kicked things off with a vicious low kick, but Moody answered with a takedown into side control. As Salazar scrambled to get to his feet, Moody went for a rear-naked choke. Salazar didn’t tap and was choked nearly unconscious. In a haze from the choke, Salazar took a swing at ref Keith Peterson who was getting a closer look at the action. The punch – clearly indicating that Salazar was nearly out – was enough for Peterson to tell Moody to release the hold and call the fight.
A hot prospect from the northeast, Rex Harris certainly let everyone know the hype is real. Managed by Mike Malast of MMA social networking site MMA Melee, Harris, normally a 205′er, fought Nicholas Piegari at a catchweight of 195 lbs. In the start of the first, Piegari launched a low kick and tried to take Harris down, but Harris responded with knee against the cage and a successful takedown of his own. From there, he quickly moved to side control and winged some stiff shots to Piegari’s ribs, which I’m sure he’ll be feeling in the morning. Piegari was able to get into half-guard, and in the ensuing scramble, Harris had Piegari’s back as the bell sounded.
In round two, Piegari and Harris traded low kicks, before Harris unleashed a barrage of uppercuts and knees to Piegari. There was a point where Harris could have finished the fight just about any way he wanted — maybe two more uppercuts, or a knee from the Muay Thai clinch might have done it — but he went with a standing guillotine and Piegari quickly tapped.The crowd popped for Harris. He may be new to the game, but he just gained about 300 new fans with that performance.
Yohannes Habtu and Joe Wigfield stepped into the circular cage next. In the first round, the two traded low kicks, before Wigfield telegraphed a takedown and got stuffed for his efforts by Habtu. The two ended the round against the fence with Wigfield punching to the face, and Habtu delivering knees to the midsection.
In round two, after another low kick trade, the fight went to the ground with Wigfield hunting for a choke, but was unable to capitalize. The crowd clapped as the two fighters got to their feet. Next, Habtu launched a strong low kick and stuffed another Wigfield takedown attempt. Clinching against the cage, Wigfield was still trying for a single-leg takedown. With the fighters breaking from the clinch, Wigfield absorbed a number of punches from Habtu.
Round three began where round 2 left off, with more punches from Habtu, so many that despite Wigfield still standing, Peterson called the fight, as Wigfield nevertheless looked to be in real trouble.
York Academy of Mixed Martial Arts’ Mark Krumrine had a fight fall through on him at virtually the last second earlier this year, so I was on eggshells over this one, hoping nothing would go wrong. But the fight went off, with Krumrine facing Gary Stotler. For those in the crowd who didn’t know Krumrine, his coach, his training partners, and most importantly, his heart, it looked like he might be in for short, but painful night. Stotler was huge and muscle-bound, and was also several inches taller than Krumrine.
Well, the doubters couldn’t have been more wrong. Krumrine, sporting pink hair, started off with low kicks, then flashed a grin when Stotler caught him with a jab. Krumrine rushed in for a double-leg takedown, got it, and immediately went to side control, pinning Stotler against the cage. From there, Krumrine drilled Stotler several times with knees to the body, and looked for a knee-on-belly, all the while working to isolate one of Stotler’s arms for possibly an armbar or maybe a keylock. That’s the way the round ended.
I thought round two would look similar to the first, with Krumrine going for a takedown and then submission. My turn to be wrong. Krumrine slammed Stotler with a punch in the center of the cage that buckled the big man. Stotler got up, and Krumrinw put him down again with another hard shot, prompting Peterson to wave the fight off. Krumrine hopped up to the top of the cage, his first amateur fight — and a convincing win at that — under his belt.
With three amateur wins in as many fights, Hanover Academy of Mixed Martial Arts’ Eric Moore made his pro debut against Lewis Cassner. The fight was short, brutal, and all Moore. Moore punched hard on the feet, and then, when the fight went to the ground, he unleashed some serious ground-n-pound, while avoiding an armbar attempt from Cassner. Finally, Moore’s punches took their toll and Peterson called a stop to the bout, giving Moore at TKO. Moore definitely has the tools to test himself in deeper waters, maybe some of the promotions in Philly or Atlantic City.
In the evening’s main event, Hanover’s Ryan Harder took on Shane Tyner. Harder looked very relaxed in the cage, exchanging punches with Tyner, and threw at least one high kick before the two clinched against the cage. From there, Harder then uncorked some hard knees to Tyner’s midsection and head. He also threw in some uppercuts before the two jockeyed for position and Harder hip-tossed Tyner to the canvas. Following Tyner to the ground, Harder got in side control, then took Tyner’s back. Tyner was able to flip around, avoiding the rear-naked choke. The fighters were up briefly, and back down they went, this time, Harder was on bottom, pulling guard and putting Tyner in a guillotine. Tyner eventually freed his head, and the round ended with Harder nearly sinking in an armbar from his back. Tyner slammed Harder twice, but could not shake the tenacious fighter’s grip as the round ended.
In round two, Harder opened with punches before the fighters clinched against the cage. Harder scored a takedown, but Tyner rolled through it and the two ended up on their backs with their legs entangled. At the same time, Harder and Tyner got each other in heel hooks. Harder looked to have hsi sunk in deep, but suddenly, he stopped his heel hook attempt and looked to try to stack or spin out of Tyner’s, but couldn’t and tapped. Harder’s teammates, along with the cageside doctor, rushed to Harder, who still lay on the canvas, grimacing in pain. He was eventually helped out of the cage. I heard the doctor say Harder may have suffered some significant damage, but I really hope that’s not the case. Here’s hoping Harder makes a quick recovery.
