NAAFS held the 28th installment of Combat Challenge on August 2nd. The all amateur card featured mainly young fighters and many fighters in their debuts. While events like this don't draw much media attention, I love them. It is a chance to early on spot potential stars and see some of the rising amateurs. Strong Style had two fighters debut with impressive wins by both Aleksa Camur and Kasey Smith. Evolve had three fighters with impressive wins in Jeffrey Pelton, Devonte Smith and Devon Kelleher. Dornes Butler debuted representing Rock Hard MMA, but unfortunately for him, the only three people in the building who thought he won were the judges.
Here is the play by play followed by the "of the night" awards.
1. Heavyweight 3x3x3 Rounds
Corry Boyd (0-2 LJJA Martial Arts) vs Josh Hampton (0-0 Independent)
RD 1: Hard cross by Hampton. They trade hard punches. They clinch on the cage. They separate and trade hooks. Hampton lands punches. Cross by Hampton. Hampton moves as Boyd charges in and Hampton gets on top landing punches till the ref stops it.
Result: Josh Hampton via TKO at 1:04 of Round 1
2. Lightweight 3x3x3 Rounds
John Mumaw (0-2 Independent) vs Chris Hahn (0-3 Rock Hard MMA)
RD 1: Hahn lands punches and takes him down into half guard. Mumaw looks for a guillotine but can't get it. They stand and drop down with Mumaw on top in half guard. Hahn sweeps and they stand. They drop back down with Mumaw on top. They stand. Slam by Hahn into side control. Head shots by Hahn. Hahn gets a rear naked and the tap.
Result: Chris Hahn via Tapout (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:18 of Round 1
3. Welterweight 3x3x3 Rounds
Jacob Gabriel (0-0 Independent) vs Dylan Finegan (0-0 ASK MMA)
RD 1: Leg kick by Finegan. Finegan drops him with punches and lands more till the ref stops it.
Result: Dylan Finegan via TKO at 0:19 of Round 1
4. Welterweight 3x3x3 Rounds
Damoane Hawkins (1-1 Cleveland State MMA) vs Dornes Butler (0-0 Rock Hard MMA)
RD 1: Hawkins shoots in and they drop down with Butler on top in guard. Hawkins looks for a guillotine but doesn't have it. They stand clinched on the cage. Knee to the leg by Butler. They separate and trade punches. Jab by Hawkins. Leg kick by Butler. Cross by Hawkins. They clinch on the cage. They trade knees to the leg. Knee to the leg by Butler. The ref separates them. Butler lands hard punches on the cage. Butler throws a punch a little after the bell.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Butler
RD 2: Leg kick by Hawkins and another. They trade punches. Jab by Butler. Jab by Hawkins. Leg kick by Hawkins. They trade crosses. Leg kick by Butler. Jab and cross by Hawkins. Body kick by Butler. Jab by Butler. Takedown by Butler and he gets his back and lands punches. They still wanna fight after the bell.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Hawkins
RD 3: Body kick by Hawkins. Leg kick by Hawkins. They trade punches. Jab by Hawkins. Hook by Hawkins. Butler lands hard punches on the cage. They clinch on the cage. Knee to the leg by Butler. They trade head shots. Knee to the body by Hawkins. They separate. Hard cross by Hawkins. They clinch but quickly separate. Leg kick by Butler. Jab by Hawkins. Butler has him hurt bad landing punches on the cage. In the middle of the flurry, Hawkins loses his mouthpiece and the ref stops it, should have waited for a lull in in the action. The resume and Butler lands a hook as the round ends.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Butler
My score card: 29-28 Butler
Result: Damoane Hawkins via Unanimous Decision (29-28/29-28/29-28)
5. Light Heavyweight 3x3x3 Rounds
Ed Howard (0-0 Independent) vs Aleksa Camur (0-0 Strong Style Fight Team)
RD 1: Jab by Camur. Camur drops him with punches and lands more till the ref stops it.
Result: Aleksa Camur via TKO at 0:18 of Round 1
6. Middleweight 3x3x3 Rounds
Brandon Parker (0-0 B Banner) vs Tom Finegan (0-0 ASK MMA)
RD 1: They trade front kicks. They trade leg kicks. Hard leg kick by Parker. Slam by Finegan into guard. Parker gets a triangle and the tap.
Result: Brandon Parker via Tapout (Triangle) at 0:49 of Round 1
7. Lightweight 3x3x3 Rounds
Darryl Davis (5-3 Independent) vs Devonte Smith (5-2 Evolve MMA)
RD 1: Hook by Davis. Leg kick by Davis. They clinch on the cage. Takedown by Smith into side control. They scramble and Davis gets half guard. Punch to the body by Smith. Punch to the head by Smith. Smith lets him up. Leg kick by Davis. Leg kick by Smith. Another leg kick by Smith.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Smith
RD 2: Takedown by Smith against the cage. Davis gets guard. Smith stands and drops down punches. Smith lets him up. Cross by Smith. Smith drops him with punches and lands more till the ref stops it.
Result: Devonte Smith via TKO at 1:03 of Round 2
8. Lightweight 3x3x3 Rounds
Joe White (0-0 Independent) vs Kasey Smith (0-0 Strong Style Fight Team)
RD 1: Cross by Smith. Smith lands punches. They clinch on the cage. Foot stomp by White. Foot stomps by Smith. They separate. Smith lands punches on the cage. Uppercut by White. Smith lands more punches against the cage. Takedown by Smith into side control. Smith gets mount and lands punches and the ref stops it.
Result: Kasey Smith via TKO at 2:06 of Round 1
9. Lightweight 3x3x3 Rounds
Jeffrey Pelton (2-1 Evolve MMA) vs Anthony Monteleone (2-1 East Palestine MMA)
RD 1: Takedown by Pelton into side control. Pelton traps an arm but Monteleone pulls it out. Head shots by Pelton and he gets mount and lands more. They stand clinched on the cage. Pelton looks for a guillotine. They drop down and Pelton gets his back and a rear naked for the tap.
Result: Jeffrey Pelton via Tapout (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:46 of Round 1
10. Welterweight 3x3x3 Rounds
David Shim (1-1 Dean Smith's Dojo/Romans Combatives) vs Will Johnson (1-1 Title/FITE)
RD 1: They trade punches. Leg kick by Shim. They trade more punches. Johnson gets a takedown but Shim goes for a leg. Johnson escapes and is in half guard. Punch to the head by Johnson. Johnson lands hard head shots.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Johnson
RD 2: Hook by Shim. Takedown by Johnson into guard. Johnson gets mount and lands head shots. Johnson gets his back and lands more head shots. Johnson gets a rear naked and the tap.
Result: Will Johnson via Tapout (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:52 of Round 2
11. Middleweight 3x3x3 Rounds
Steve Stocker (3-1 Triple Threat MMA) vs Devon Kelleher (2-0 Evolve MMA)
RD 1: Leg kick by Stocker. Kelleher drops him with an uppercut and gets on top in guard. Stocker does well avoiding damage. Kelleher moves to half guard. Sweep by Stocker and he gets on top in guard. Head shots by Stocker. They stand clinched on the cage. Head shots by Stocker. Stocker gets a takedown but Kelleher gets his back and puts him to sleep with a rear naked.
Result: Devon Kelleher via Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:59 of Round 1
12. Heavyweight 3x3x3 Rounds
J.D. Ramsey (3-0 Iron Lion MMA) vs Jon English (4-0 Strong Style Fight Team)
RD 1: Leg kick by Ramsey. They clinch on the cage. Knee to the leg by Ramsey. Ramsey is holding the cage but the ref misses it. They separate. Jab by Ramsey. They clinch on the cage. Foot stomp by Ramsey. Punch to the body by English. Takedown by Ramsey and he gets mount. Head shots by Ramsey. Ramsey gets his back and then mount again. Head shots by Ramsey.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Ramsey
RD 2: They trade jabs. They clinch on the cage. Knee to the leg by English. Ramsey gets a takedown into side control. Ramsey gets his back and lands head shots. They stand clinched on the cage. Takedown by Ramsey and he gets his back. The ref stands them. They clinch on the cage as the round ends.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Ramsey
RD 3: English lands punches. They clinch on the cage. Body shots by English. They drop down with Ramsey on top in half guard. The ref stands them. Ramsey is gassed. Ramsey shoots and they clinch on the cage. Uppercut by English. Body shots by English. They separate. Takedown by Ramsey into side control. Head shots by Ramsey.
I scored RD 3: 10-9 Ramsey
My score card: 30-27 Ramsey
Result: J.D. Ramsey via Unanimous Decision (30-27/30-27/30-27).
Submission of the Night: Devon Kelleher
Knockout of the Night: Aleksa Camur
Fight of the Night: Damoane Hawkins vs Dornes Butler
