NAAFS Proving Grounds 7 Report

NAAFS put on Proving Grounds 7 on June 11th. As I always say, I love the Proving Grounds series. Gives young and new fighters a chance to fight for a great organization and earn their way on to one of NAAFS bigger shows. This show featured several really nice finishes.

1. Amateur Lightweight
Zach Forrester (0-0 PA Brawlers) vs Jeff Schapiro (1-3 Pain Headquarters)

RD 1: A hook by Forrester and a takedown. Schapiro reverses and gets his back and begins throwing punches before moving to mount. Forrester tries to push off the cage and Schapiro gets his back again. Shapiro lands two punches and after a few seconds lands many more. Schaprio looks for the choke but Forrester escapes. Schapiro flattens him out and looks for the rear naked again and gets it for the tap.

Result: Jeff Schapiro by Tapout (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:39 of Round 1

2. Amateur Middleweight
Kirk Crankshaw (0-0 Vanyo Fight Team) vs Jeremy Chupp (0-1 Independent)

RD 1: Slam by Chupp but Crankshaw gets on top. Chupp gets half guard. Body shots by Crankshaw who then gets mount. Chupp sweeps and gets on top. They stand up and Chupp shoots in but a nice sprawl by Crankshaw. They clinch and Chupp takes it down, but Crankshaw lands on top in mount. He lands good ground and pound and then gets his back and a rear naked for the tap.

Result: Kirk Crankshaw by Tapout (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:55 of Round 1

3. Amateur Welterweight
John Wedow (0-0 Vanyo Fight Team) vs Nate Davies (0-0 Instigator Fight Team)

RD 1:Jab by Davies. Body kick by Wedow. They clinch on the cage and a nice throw by Wedow. Davies goes for a triangle and looks fairly tight but Wedow holds on and escapes. Wedow is on top in guard. Davies tries for the triangle again but Wedow escapes. Wedow stands and lets Davies up. Two good punches by Wedow followed by a front kick. They clinch in the center of the cage and Wedow takes him down but stands right back up. Push kick by Wedow.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Davies

RD 2: Leg kick by Wedow followed by a body kick and a hook. Davies gets a takedown and gets mount. Nice sweep by Wedow who stands up. Wedow kicking the legs of a downed Davies and then let's him up. Nice uppercut by Davies. The clinch against the cage and Wedow gets a nice throw but let's him up. Keg kick by Davies answered with a kick to the body by Wedow. Wedow throws some light leg kicks. Jab by Davies. Body kick by Wedow.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Wedow

RD 3: Two body kicks by Wedow. Jab by Davies. Davies hurts him with a kick to the body. They clinch and Davies gets a takedown. Davies gets mount and lands shots. He starts landing harder shots. Wedow gets him off and Davies stands and drops down with punches. Wedow goes for a heel hook and Davies gets his back. Wedow turns into him and ends up in Davies guard. Davies looks for a triangle and lands shots from the bottom.
I scored RD 3: 10-9 Davies
My score card: 29-28 Davies

Result: Nate Davies by Unanimous Decision (29-28/30-27/30-27)

4. Amateur Bantamweight
Rob Hileman (0-0 Team Bundy) vs Ryan Arce (1-0 Evolve MMA)

RD 1: Jab by Arce. Arce drops him with a hook and drops down hard shots. Arce lets him up and drops him again with a punch. Arce starts landing ground and pound till the ref stops it.

Result: Ryan Arce by TKO at :53 of Round 1

5. Amateur Bantamweight
Tim Enright (2-0 USA Martial Arts) vs Mario Micale (5-4 Evolve MMA)

RD 1: Leg kick by Enright and a hook by Micale. They clinch on the cage and Micale lands a knee to the body. They separate and Micale throws a kick and Enright takes him down. Hard punches from the bottom by Micale. Micale goes for an armbar and has it tight. Enright pulls out. Enright tries for the arm again and gets it for the tap.

Result: Mario Micale by Tapout (Armbar) at 1:44 of Round 1

6. Amateur Lightweight
Khama Worthy (4-2 PTT) vs Kenny Jackson (6-3 Evolve MMA)

RD 1: Hard leg kick by Worthy. Worthy with another leg kick, and another. Both land nice leg kicks. Kick to the body by Worthy drops him but Jackson is right back up. They clinch against the cage. Both are landing knees to the body. Worthy lands one low sopping the action. They resume and a nice body kick by Worthy followed by a leg kick and another. Nice jab by Worthy. Worthy with a couple leg kicks. Worthy drops him with a hook and celebrates thinking the fight is over, but it was just the end of the round.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Worthy

RD 2: Both are missing punches. Worthy lands a jab and leg kick. Jackson lands a leg kick. A hook by Worthy and a leg kick. Hard leg kick by Jackson and then another. Both are missing punches. Inside leg kick by Worthy. Worthy lands two hard punches and then a jab to the body. Worthy ends the round with a leg kick.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Worthy

RD 3: Leg kick by Worthy. Hard kick to the body by Jackson. Two punches by Worthy. Hard kick to the body by Jackson. They clinch on the cage and then move to the center still in the clinch. Jackson gets a takedown and lands in half guard. Great job by Worthy to avoid damage. Jackson stands and moves nicely to get his back. Jackson lands head shots to end the round.
I scored RD 3: 10-9 Jackson
My score card: 29-28 Worthy

Result: Khama Worthy by Split Decision (30-27/28-29/30-27)

7. Amateur Heavyweight
Nathan Bryant (8-4 Ground Zero) vs Jeff Hughes (6-2 Instigator Fight Team)

RD 1: Leg kick by Hughes and another. Clinch against the cage and a knee to the body by Hughes. Nice cross by Hughes. Hughes drops down and gets a single leg takedown. He lands punches to the body. Hughes is in guard. Bryant going for an arm and Hughes gets side control and traps an arm landing hard shots. Hughes gets mount and lands shots. Bryant gets half guard. Hughes stands and let's him up. Leg kick by Hughes and then he rocks him with punches.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Hughes

RD 2: Jab by Bryant. Back fist by Hughes. Leg kick by Hughes and a hook by Bryant. Hughes lands a hard hook. Hughes shoots in for a takedown and Bryant backs up and gets his back. Nice reversal by Hughes to get his back. Bryant gets up and looks for a takedown. Hughes instead gets the takedown. Bryant almost gets up but Hughes pulls him back down. Hughes gets mount and lands shots. Hughes isn't being active enough from mount.
I sored RD 2: 10-9 Hughes

RD 3: Hard body kick by Hughes. Hughes waves him on. They clinch on the cage and Hughes lands a body shot. They separate. Leg kick by Hughes and kick to the body by Bryant. Hughes lands a body shot. and leg kick. Bryant with a nice kick to the body and Hughes answers with a hard one of his own. Both fighters look tired. Leg kick by Bryant. Hughes with a nice three punch combo. Leg kick by Hughes and another. Knee to the body by Hughes and a leg kick and another leg kick. hey clinch on the cage as the round ends.
I scored RD 3: 10-9 Hughes
My score card: 30-27 Hughes

Result: Jeff Hughes by Unanimous Decision (30-27/30-27/30-27)

Submission of the Night: Mario Micale

KO of the Night: Ryan Arce

Fight of the Night: John Wedow vs Nate Davies