Results tagged “State College” from MMA Explosion

ALTOONA, PA - 10/11/2009 - This past Sunday night at the Jaffa Shrine in Altoona, PA, in front of a rowdy Penn State cheering section, heavyweight Aaron "King Kong" Anspach (1-0) dominated James Armstrong (4-3). In one of the most exciting fights of the evening, KONG stopped Armstrong by TKO in the 2nd Round. Anspach used a series of overpowering double legs, one of which broke the lights on the cage, to bring the crowd to its feet and show everyone the explosive athleticism that he brings to every fight.

"I had a lot of fun and it was cool to hear all the guys cheering for me. I get a huge rush just taking someone up in the air and driving them into the cage. I got hit a couple of times and it shook me a little bit, but I have been hit harder than that in other events and I know it will take a lot to stop me."
-Aaron Anspach

In other action Sunday night, LionHeart Fighter Lou Armezzani had to injury default in the 1st round when he dislocated his shoulder and was forced to stop.

Windsor pro Biff Walizer has an opponent for the Central Pennsylvania Warrior Challenge III: Joel Roberts, 27, is 5'6", 154 pounds and has a 1-1 pro record. Walizer, 34, is the same height, 155 pounds and has a 3-5 pro record.

Biff, for those who don't know, was York County's first MMA pro, is a former collegiate wrestling All-American (at Penn State) and coaches the Red Lion High School varsity wrestling team. He has trained at LionHeart in State College in the past, but I believe now spends most of his time training in York County.

Roberts had a 4-1 (with one no contest) amateur record. As a pro, he beat Scott Bickerstaff by arm bar at King of the Cage: Explosion on 6/15/07. He then lost to Dustin Pague, who also beat Walizer, at Inkosi .... It's Time in Bushkill, Pa., on 7/11/09 by TKO at 3:14 of the 3rd round.

Roberts has another fight scheduled before his bout with Walizer: He's facing Bradley Cook at Crime and Punishment: Cops vs. Cons on Oct. 3 in Reading.

To order tickets for the CPWC III, held in Lancaster on Oct. 23, click here and then go to "ticket information."

From LionHeart Management: Next up for LionHeart fighters is Paul Bradley (11-1) who will make his Strikeforce debut on September 25th in Tulsa Oklahoma. Paul, who was featured on The Ultimate Fighter a few seasons back, was one of the first fighters to train at LionHeart Fighters in State College.

MAIN CARD (BEGINNING AT 10:00PM/CT):
Tim Kennedy (11-2) vs. Zak Cummings (10-0) - 3X5 - 185lbs
Ray "Sugarfoot" Sefo (1-0) vs. Kevin "The Shaman" Jordan (11-7) - 3X5 - Heavyweights
Tyron "T-Wood" Woodley (5-0) vs. Zach "The Lisbon Outlaw" Light (6-8) - 3X5 - 170lbs
Thomas Longacre (4-0) vs. Travis "The Dark Night" Calonoc (4-0) - 3X5 - 147lbs
Daniel Cormier (debut) vs. TBA - 3X5

NON-TELEVISED UNDERCARD (BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00PM/CT)
Lacey "The Ladie" Schuckman (2-0) vs. Jeri "Fists of Fury" Sitzes (2-2) - 3X5 - 120lbs
Levi "The Marine" Avera (12-5) vs. Paul Bradley (10-1) - 3X5 - 170lbs
Trey Houston (1-0) vs. Brandon Gaines (4-10) - 3X5 - 185lbs
Kenny Giddens (8-5) vs. John Carson (7-1) - 3X5 - 155lbs
Nick Gibbons (13-0) vs. Josh Pulsifer (11-4) - 3X5 - 145lbs
Lemont Davis (2-3) vs. Dillon Smith (1-0) - 3X5 - 170lbs

From Chad Dubin, LionHeart owner:
Over this last year we have had a few of our fighters sustain injuries that could have had a serious effect on the development of their careers. About 9 months ago I was introduced to a group of Orthopedic Surgeons based out of PA that specialize in working on elite athletes that participate in wrestling, football and now MMA.

I can honestly say that finding this Orthopedic Group was one of the best things to happen to our organization since our inception.

I know this is kind of last-minute, but I figured I'd put it out there.
Here's the text from the email sent to me:
"We will conclude the 2009 Summer Camp Season with two weeks of training for all ages and skill levels in Allentown, PA. Walk-ins will be accepted. Check-in is from noon until 2:30pm pm on Sunday, August 2nd."

Joining Coach Chertow and the Gold Medal Training Camp Staff in Allentown will be:

Troy Nickerson, 2009 NCAA Champion &
5x NY State Champion

Rob Hermann, Head U.S. Olympic Coach, World Team Coach & a World Medalist

Mike Mena, 4x NCAA All-American, 3x U.S. freestyle national team member and coach at Indiana University

Cliff Moore, NCAA Champion and 2x NCAA All-American, Big 10 Champion and Edinboro Coach

Carlton Haselrig, 6x NCAA Champion and NFL All Pro for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Willie Hilton, 3x NCAA All-American

We offer many Super Gold Medal Camp options for wrestlers who want to make a big commitment this summer and reach their goals in the upcoming season. Email SuperGold@kenchertow.com for more information.

Technique and Training Camps • Small Group, Personalized Instruction

Specialized Youth Camps • Team Discounts for All Ages

Multi-Week Advanced Training • World Class Staff



Make Your Plans Today for Weekend Warrior Fall Training!

We are in the process of finalizing our Fall Training Camp schedule. Our 2 and 3 day weekend training camps will be conducted across the Nation for wrestlers of all ages. Keep checking kenchertow.com for dates and locations.

If you would like to host a Weekend Warrior Camp in your community, please contact us at camps@kenchertow.com.

Pittsburgh native and former LionHeart Fighters trainer Mark "Fightshark" Miller was back in his hometown for the Ultimate Cage Fighting Challenge event and took a couple photos. Mark's still living out in LA, planning his comeback fight, which might occur in the fall.

With Tito Ortiz.

With undefeated LHW Phil Davis.

Be sure to check out Mark's Web site here.

Still trying to find results from last night's UCFC "Rumble on the Rivers" event that went down in Pittsburgh and featured LionHeart Fighters Phil Davis and Paul Bradley (word was David Sachs did not fight) plus veterans like Rich Clementi and Cole Miller, not to mention hot female prospect - and new LionHeart Fighter Meghan Wright. I'll let you know when I find out something.

This one promises to be a good one, with three LionHeart Fighters on the card, plus one of my favorite former UFC'ers, Rich "No Love" Clementi.

Three LionHeart fighters are on the card at Rumble on the Rivers.

Here's some more information from LionHeart Fighters on Rumble on the Rivers:

SAVE $$ ON TICKETS: for discounted ticket packages that include tickets and FREE VIP WRISTBAND please contact:

Chad Dubin
chad@lionheartfighters.com
(814) 280-1982

Also on the card: Dream and WEC veteran Micah Miller and former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro Carlton Haselrig have also been booked to compete.

$49 to JOIN THE FAN BUS......STATE COLLEGE BUS & TICKET SPECIAL

Includes:
Coach bus from State College to Pittsburgh and return trip to State College
Ticket to the event
Special VIP meet and greet with Tito Ortiz
FREE VIP wristbands

Contact Chad Dubin (814) 280-1982 or chad@lionheartfighters.com

Just received an update from Chad Dubin, head honcho at LionHeart Fighters in State College. Three of his fighters are on the UCFC: Rumble on the Rivers event, to be held Saturday, June 27 at the Mellon Arean in Pittsburgh:

Phil Davis (3-0) will be coming back East after 5 weeks of training with Cain Velasquez and Brandon Vera. He is looking to improve to 4-0 and make his much-awaited fighting debut back in his home state of Pennsylvania.

Phil Davis unleashes the gnp.

Sherdog has a "prospect watch" story on LionHeart Fighters' Phil Davis, whose fights have been chronicled on this blog in detail:
The globalization of mixed martial arts and its frenetic pace makes for easy parallels between the sport and society. Phil Davis has trouble with the pace, though not in the way one might think.

The most difficult part of the four-time collegiate All-American wrestler's transition to MMA has been the wait.

"In wrestling, you wrestle every week, twice a week," says Davis, who starred at Penn State University. "In MMA, you fight like every three months."

Just talked with Jerod Phillips, owner of Hanover-based MMA clothing company, Tap or Sleep, who is at the Iron Will Fighting Championship event in Johnstown. And, unlike the last event he was at, this one was a good night.

First, Lou Armezzani (a one-time York County resident who now trains at LionHeart Fighters in State College) started his pro MMA career off with a bang, pulling an armbar on his opponent in 37 seconds. Congrats, Lou. You're on your way, bro.

And, in the main event, Tap or Sleep-sponsored fighter Charlie "The Spaniard" Brenneman put on "a dominating performance" as Jerod put it, unleashing a vicious ground-n-pound. Jerod said Brenneman's opponent tapped out to strikes in the second round. "Charlie's one tough sumbitch," Jerod said. The win puts Charlie's record at 8-1. Niiiice.

State College, PA - May 12, 2009 - This Saturday at the Iron Will Fighting Championships in Johnstown, PA, Lou Armezzani will take the next big step in his MMA career. After years of training and fighting in the ametuer ranks, Armezzani is ready for pro status.

Charlie "The Spaniard" Brenneman, a Tap or Sleep-sponsored fighter, is co-headlining the card.

Lou Armezzani

Recently, I posted a trailer about a documentary on Mark "Fight Shark" Miller, a K-1 and MMA fighter planning a comeback after open-heart surgery. As I said, I met him last year at lionHeart Fighters, where he was working as a trainer. Here are a few photos I snapped of him:

Mark (L) with then-LionHeart BJJ instructor Jeff Rockwell.

Mark cageside during a LH Friday Night Fights.

You don't want to mess with a dude who has "666" tattooed on the back of his neck.

I met Pittsburgh native Mark Miller - who has competed in both K-1 kicboxing and pro MMA - at LionHeart Fighters in State College last year. Prior to being hired to train LH's fighters like Paul Bradley, Phil Davis and Biff Walizer, Miller had trained at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Before that, he trained at Miletich Fighting Systems. Not long after we met at LH, he lifted up his shirt to show me a nine-inch scar down the middle of his chest. He had undergone open-heart surgery a couple years ago and said he was planning his comeback to the fight game. The casual observer might scoff, but they don't know the will of the Fight Shark. Check out the trailer.

Biff Walizer, Jerod Phillips, and Charlie "The Spaniard" Brenneman

Jerod Phillips, owner of Hanover-based Tap or Sleep fightwear, was at the Respect Is Earned event last night in Oaks, Pa. (near Philly).

As I reported yesterday, Biff Walizer lost in the third round - after a war of a fight - by RNC to Dustin Pague. Two other members LionHeart Fighters had fights there as well: Paul Bradley lost by unanimous decision to Mike Pierce and Dave Sachs won in the third round over Jacob Kirwan by tapout to a rear-naked choke, according to the Pa. State Athletic Commission.

Dave Sachs stands center, joined by two unknown dudes on the left, Jerod Phillips with the Freddie Roach-style glasses and Dave Klick from Cage of Chaos on the far right.

Spoke to Jerod Phillips - he said Biff Walizer lost in the third round of his fight at Respect Is Earned.

"It's a tough loss," Jerod said. Tough, because, Biff was winning after the end of the second round, Jerod said.

"He (Biff) had him in the 'bread n butter' (scarf-hold with a triangled arm) and was pounding his face the whole second round," Jerod said.

Unfortunately, in the third, Biff got hit with a knee that had him reeling and then on the ground, his opponent sunk in a rear-naked choke. Biff never tapped, he passed out, Jerod said.

"It was a great fight," probably fight of the night, Jerod said.

Just got a call from Jerod Phillips of Hanover-based Tap or Sleep fightwear, who is in Oaks, Pa., just outside Philadelphia, for the state's second MMA event - and the first all-pro event - since the sport was legalized.

The event is called Respect Is Earned, a new relatively new, but seeminly well-financed promotion that has also held events in the western part of the country.

When Jerod and I spoke, he had just wrapped Biff Walizer's hands. He said Biff's fight is third on the card, so it shoudl be over while the night si still young, and I'll have the info. up here as soon as I get it from Jerod.

Besides Walizer, there are two other LionHeart Fighters fighters - Dave Sachs being one, and in the main event, Paul Bradley.

By Mike Fridley of sherdog.com:
Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET: Former Big Ten standout wrestler Phil Davis is now 3-0 after his destruction of Terry Cohens (4-3) at UWC "Capital Punishment."

A four-time All-American at Penn State University, Davis punished his opponent from a variety of positions before putting him away with punches from the mount at 4:29 of the opening period.

Davis provided one of the best interviews the Sherdog Radio Network has ever aired some months ago when he spoke with Jordan Breen, but he kept it short and sweet Saturday night in Fairfax, Va.

"I did what I could," said Davis.

The 24-year-old prospect could make waves in the sport at 205, but I think his frame is best suited for the middleweight division. I believe it's only a matter of time before we see this kid handing out beatdowns in the Octagon.