Results tagged “Philadelphia MMA” from MMA Explosion

Earlier this week, I did a post on try-outs for a reality show. Here it is again:
"Come down to American Fighter MMA & Fitness Center located in SWEAT Fitness at 700 Passyunk Ave Queen VIllage PA 19147 on Saturday November 21st 2009 to try out for a new edgy MMA Reality Show scheduled to start taping the second week in January 2010!!! This is strictly for amateurs only!! Try outs are from 10am to 5pm. Call us at (267) 687 - 1599 for more details."

Props to MMAMelee for posting the notice, but as far as more details, that remained a mystery.

So I dialed the number and got a message, but I can say it is in fact the number for the American Fighter MMA & Fitness Center.

UFC fighter Rich Franklin, I'm pretty sure, owns the American Fighter brand of clothing and academies.

I hit up his Web site, and found this video, with a description:

"Already attracting network interest, "American Fighter" is an uplifting documentary about people who demonstrate the fighting spirit in their own lives. The first episode is based on Cincinnati resident Joe Garvey and his struggle against paralysis."

So, that's about all I know. Hope this helps, if only a little. If anybody reading this goes to the try-outs, drop me an email and tell me how it went, and what it was all about. Thanks.

Found out about this through the Migliarese brothers, who run Balance Studios in Philadelphia. It's a new MMA promotion operating out of Philly that has its first event tentatively scheduled for February 27, location and fights to be announced at a later date.

MATRIX PROMOTIONS MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to promote the most electrifying showcase of mixed martial arts. Our promotion will be born in Philadelphia and eventually reach the world. Our elite MMA fighters from around the globe will entertain local professionals and fight aficionados.

Click here for the web site, if you want to fight for the promotion, or just receive updates.

Go to the next page to read about who is involved in Matrix Fights.

Bloodyelbow has a post today about Randy Gordon, a former New York State Athletic Commissioner writing an op-ed piece in one of the NY papers, in support of the sport he once banned, (based on the "new" rules). But in his opinion piece, he has this interesting nugget from UFC 101, held in Philadelphia:

"I got an upclose and personal view of just how popular the sport has become when I went to UFC 101 at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center in August. The event brought in a $3.55 million gate, more than any boxing or combat event ever held in Pennsylvania. The sellout crowd of 15,007 poured into the city early and stayed late, making purchases at arena concessions, staying in hotels, dining at restaurants and taking taxis around the city." (emphasis mine).

Not too shabby, I say. The PA state Athletic Commission recieves no money from the state budget, but does get 5 percent of all gate receipts, so that's anice chunk of change that will go a long way in sustaining the agency that regulates the sport in PA.

Date: Relson Gracie Seminar (Tues Nov 24, 2009)
Times: (All evening classes will be canceled)
6pm-7:30pm Gi Class ($40)
7:30pm - 9:00pm No Gi ($40) Both classes ($75)

Please Call Balance Studios at 215 636 9661 to reserve your spot.

Relson's Seminars generally sell out within the first day, so Call ASAP if you want a space.

If you are a Memeber of Balance Studios, see Josh in the office to reserve your space.

Tom and I talk Strikeforce, UFC 105, PA Fighting Championship, Asylum Fight League, Cage Fight 2 ... and Marlon Brando.

Jim Hettes is a 22-year-old who looks like he's 16, a professional who starts his day with a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. A 140-pound man who doesn't even bother to tell anyone what he really does for a living.

He has learned a lot these last few years. One thing he has picked up is, it's not worth trying to get anyone to look past what seems obvious.

"I tell them I'm self-employed," Hettes said. "I don't tell them I'm an MMA fighter.

"Usually, when you tell them you're an MMA fighter, they look at you a little different. Some people understand it. Some people think you're just a thug or something. Half the people think I'm B.S.-ing them anyway."

Actually, far from it.

Baltimore had its first MMA event a couple weeks ago - Shogun Fights - and Pennsylvania's Jim Hettes represented GracieNEPA and MMAMelee to the fullest, winning by armbar in the first round. I posted a vid of the fight a while back, but here it is again, from another angle, posted just a few days ago at MMAMelee. Parts two and three are on the next page.

I had some results from Jerod Phillips of Tap or Sleep fightwear on the weekend, but you can get the full results of Friday's PA Fighting Championship by clicking here.

Also, on Saturday, Asylum Fight League had their 21st event at The Arena on Philly. Click here to get full results.

Bout Sheet
(subject to change)
John Michael Holland vs. Mike Serrano
Dave Rose vs. Jim Dewar
Ben Tichy vs. Mike Marlow
Robert Bilardo vs. TBD TBD
Jeremy Reed vs. Andrew Arroyo
Jamal McKellar vs. Christian DeHaas
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Jason Harmon
Carlos Brooks vs. Mike Johnson
Travis Lerchen vs. James Garzillo
Larry Byrnes vs. Claudio Ledesma
Mervin Rodriguez vs. Steve McCabe

To see the fights for free via streaming, tune in this Saturday to Go Fight Live at 8 p.m.

Respect Is Earned has had two successful events in Pennsylvania, Brotherly Love Brawl and Philly Biker Brawl, both in the village of Oaks, near Philadelphia. The organization's Web site recently added several of the fights from the Philly Biker Brawl. See them here. No word yet on when the next RIE event will take place.

Thanks to mmamelee for the video.

Brett "Night Crawler" Myers, Central Pennsylvania Warrior Challenge's 170-pound champion, right after his submission victory over Justin Krebs on Friday night. Catch Brett and head instructor George McGinnis at York Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Red Lion.

Jim "Kid Havoc" Hettes kicks Steven Baker. Thanks to MMAMelee, the ultimate MMA social networking site, for the pic and story.

ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS:
In front of more than 5,000 fans, Jim Hettes becomes the first man in history to win a Professional mixed martial arts bout in the state of Maryland. (See Video) Saturday night Shogun Fights was not only a staple of excitement for the city of Baltimore, but also every MMA fans dream.

Shogun is a brand new promotion and they didn't put on a fight, they put on a show! Top level promotions like the UFC and Strikeforce should beware. If this is their first time doing it, there is definitely a new contender in the house. Full with celebrities, lights, cameras and plenty of action, the crowd was electric and never was that more evident then when Hettes's walk-out song 'Welcome to Jamrock' by Damian Marley started bumping, it sent chills down your spine.

Another win for Philadelphia's Eddie Alvarez, and a hard-fought one, as he had his neck twisted into a pretzel with a standing crucifix.

from an exclusive interview with mmamelee.com, one of the best mma social networking sites:

It's been 4 months since Jim Hettes turned Pro and to say this guy takes his career serious would be an understatement. In that short time "Kid Havoc" assembled a 2-0 record and plans on capturing another victory Saturday night in what will be a historical event in Maryland, then he's scheduled to perform again in front of his hometown crowd November 27th. If you average that out, he's fighting every 6 weeks, still somehow he found time to win 2 Gold Medals in Judo at the Keystone State Games and donate his bones to Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in preparation for his title fight. We sat down with Hettes to discuss his brutal schedule and find out what's in store for Saturday night.

MMA MELEE - Man you've been going hard the last couple months, what motivated you to start competing in MMA and how do you keep up with this pace?

JIM HETTES - I have always been into Martial Arts ever since I was a kid, from watching way to many kung fu flicks, to trying to throw a hoduken in my backyard. I wrestled as a kid, switched over to boxing at age 14, then two years later I started doing jiu jitsu, so it only seemed natural for me to follow the path into Mixed Martial Arts as I got older. As far as the pace, I just enjoy seeing my game get better and better and I love displaying the results. (***Hadouken-Japanese neologism literally "wave motion fist" a punch delivered with a blast of spiritual energy)

An entry at mmamelee.com from MMAtrix: JHET WON 135­ into the FI­RST ROUND by­ ARMBAR!!!!!­!!!!!

Jim Hettes is turning into one of Pennsylvania's best home-grown fighters. Hailing from the Scranton area and training at Gracie NEPA, I'm predicting great things for the guy some call J-Het and others know as Kid Havoc. Hettes fought on Saturday in Maryland's first MMA event, Shogun Fights, put on by John Rallo of Baltimore's Ground Control.

There's Philadelphia native Eddie Alvarez in the front, to the right of Alistair Overeem.

from bloodyelbow.com:
Bellator lightweight champion and past contender to Shinya Aoki's WAMMA lightweight crown Eddie Alvarez (18-2) will battle Japanese Kyokushin karate practicioner and DEEP lightweight champion Katsunori Kikuno (12-1-2).

Alvarez enters the contest following a three-fight win streak in the Bellator lightweight tournament and DREAM lightweight tournament upset victories over Joachim Hansen and Tatsuya Kawajiri. He eventually lost to Shinya Aoki at Dynamite!! 2008, but he still remains one of the best lightweights in the world outside of the UFC. Kikuno is coming off a quick victory over Andre "Dida" Amade at DREAM 10 after knocking out Koichiro Matsumoto in the DEEP Lightweight tournament to win the Lightweight crown.

Pro fight:
Adam Fearon beat Lewis Pascavage by triangle choke, 4:04 of round 2.

Amateur fights:
Allen Cozze beat Craig Alexander by unanimous decision.

Charlie Vinch beat Jamol Brown by KO, 1:46 of round 1.

Robert Mudrak beat Mark Martinez by arm triangle, 1:27 of round 2.

Jose Tilapia beat Brandon Rook by unanimous deicison.

Scott Traskey beat Harold Reddick by TKO, 1 minute into round 2.

Edwin Polcke beat Scott Gregg by split decision.

Randy Dunn beat Andrew Arroyo by split decision.

Daniel Matala beat Michael Colisto by armbar, 1:01 of round 1.

James Garzillo 0-0 160 lbs. 0-1 Hector Pacheco
Tiger Schulmann's PRO NAC MMA

Brendan Barrett 3-4 215 lbs. 2-5 Randy Durrant
Brutal MMA PRO Abdali International

Adam Searon 0-0 185 lbs. 2-2 Louis Pascavag
LA Boxing/Rhino Fight Team PRO Team KOA / Cordo Urso Militech AC

Craig Alexander 5-2 155 lbs. 1-1 Randy Dunn
Tiger Schlumann's REMATCH! Hurricane MMA