NAAFS Night Of Champions Report

On Saturday December 4th NAAFS put on their Night Of Champions card. The biggest show of the year with many titles up for grabs. As is normal, they put on a great show. Many fantastic matches highlighted by Doug Kulbis and Kevin Rothacker putting on one of the best fights I have ever seen live in person. These two warriors left it all in the cage. Neither backed up and neither gave any less than 110 percent. This fight defined why I love mixed martial arts. Another highlight for me was seeing one of the top female amateur fighters in this sport Tamikka Brents in action against another talented fighter Jessica Zomcik. One thing about the NAAFS is you will not see mismatches. The fights are evenly matched and usually action packed. Sure you will see the quick finish, but that happens on every show with every company. This show was attended by many and more than once there was nice standing ovations for the fighters. Seeing an NAAFS show is exciting because you see so many future stars in this sport as the continue to improve. If you have not seen an NAAFS show, you truly must, it isn't the glitz and glamour of a UFC PPV, but instead it is what this sport is all about. Hungry fighters doing what they love to do, and leaving it all inside the cage.

1. Bantamweight Amateur Title:
Brett Gruber (4-2 Ohio BJJC) vs Isaiah Chapman (7-1 Rock Hard MMA)

RD 1: Gruber lands a nice leg kick early. Chapman then lands a nice cross and leg kick combo and then gets a takedown. Gruber went for a triangle but Chapman escaped it. Gruber was able to get to his feet but Chapman secured another takedown landing in side control. From that position he landed some good knees to the body before standing back up. Chapman then landed some good punches and a nice body kick before getting another takedown and getting the mount. He landed some good ground and pound before getting Gruber's back and going for a rear naked choke as the round ends.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Chapman.

RD 2: The clinch and Chapman lands a nice knee. Chapman gets another takedown and ends up in Gruber's guard. Chapman is able to maneuver into side control. There was a nice battle for position between the fighter's here. Chapman is able to posture up and lands some punches to the head. Gruber tried to go for an armbar but Chapman pulled out. Chapman lands some punches before standing up. Gruber tried for a takedown to end the round.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Chapman

RD 3: They both come out striking with Chapman getting the better of it. Chapman lands a vicious body kick. They clinch and Chapman lands some good punches before pulling out. They clinch against the cage and Chapman gets a takedown into side control. From that position he lands some good punches to the body followed by some good head shots.
I scored RD 3: 10-9 Chapman
My Score card: 30-27 Chapman
Result: 30-27/ 30-27/ 30-27 for Chapman

2. Featherweight Amateur Title
Clint Musselman (5-2 PM Fight Club) vs Justin Steave (11-5 H2O/ Mainstreet)

RD 1: Both men were looking to counter early. Musselman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it. He shoots in again and Steave lands a good uppercut. Musselman looks for a single leg but gets stuffed. They clinch against the cage and then move to the center and Steave lands some good punches. Musselman gets the takedown but Stave gets right back up. They clinch and both men throw nice short punches. Steave lands a hard punch after the bell but clearly not intentional.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Steave

RD 2: They cinch against the cage and Steave lands nice knees to the body. Musselman rushes in but Stave gets the takedown. Musselman is able to get on top and lands in Steave's guard. Steave goes for an armbar but Musselman picks him up and slams him. Not much happening for a minute as they battle for position. Steave gets an armbar and Musselman has to tap.

Result: Steave by armbar at 2:40 of RD 2

3. Lightweight Amateur Title
Joe Goyette (6-1 Team Air-Gadfly) vs Clint Musser (4-0 Evolve MMA)

RD 1: Musser lands some good leg kicks and shoots for a single and gets it. Goyette is able to pull guard and hold him close. Not much action going on. Musser postures up and lands a nice punch. Musser is now in half guard and lands some punches. Musser was going for a guillotine as the round ends.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Musser

RD 2: Good leg kick by Musser. Musser tries a spinning backfist but misses it. Musser gets the single leg takedown and lands some punches but not big shots. Then he starts landing more including some real nice body shots.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Musser

RD 3: Goyette lands a nice counter punch and Musser shoots for a takedown but gets stuffed. He tries for the takedown again, getting it this time. They stand back up and Goyette lands some good punches till Musser gets another takedown. Musser lands some good body shots then some hammer fists to end the round.
I scored RD 3: 10-9 Musser
My score card: 30-27 Musser
Result: 30-27/ 30-27/ 30-27 Musser

4. Welterweight Amateur Title
Josh Oppenheimer (5-2 Evolve MMA) vs George Comer (8-0 Griffon Rawl)

RD 1: Nice body kick by Comer. Oppenheimer lands some great punches using his reach advantage very well. Comer lands a kick but Oppenheimer counters with two good punches. Comer is bleeding from the mouth. Comer shoots in but gets stuffed. He tries again but oppenheimer clinches and lands good knees to the body. Comer is able to get a takedown right at the end of the round.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Oppenheimer

RD 2: Good body kick by Comer. Comer gets a takedown and lands some good punches from the top. He then lands some more shots to the body.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Comer

RD 3: Good leg kick by Comer and then he gets the takedown. Oppenheimer tries for an arm. Comer lands good body shots. Comer ends up in half guard with not a lot going on. Comer nicely gets the mount and lands some short punches to the head.
I scored RD 3: 10-9 Comer
My score card: 29-28 Comer
Result: 30-27/ 30-27/ 29-28 Comer

5. Middleweight Amateur Title
Bob Rech (6-1 Team DNA) vs Chase Owens (7-2 CO MMA)

RD 1: They clinch against the cage with Ownes trying for and getting the takedown. Owens lands some good punches. They stand up and Rech gets a slam and lands in half guard. He lands some punches to the head.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Rech

RD 2: Owens throws a wild punch and misses almost falling down. Rech gets a takedown but Owens goes for a choke from the bottom. Rech gets side control. Rech begins bleeding from the head. Rech gets his back but Owens is able to turn over and end up on top in side control. Owens lands some good punches. Rech almost got the sweep but Owens gets his back and lands some hammer fists. Rech escapes at the end of the round.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Owens

RD 3: Rech shoots and gets a takedown. Owens almost escapes. Rech goes for a guillotine but Owens rolls and gets on top in side control. Owens lands a couple punches but Rech sweeps and gets on top. Ownes himself sweeps and gets back on top. Great ground work here by both. Owens gets the mount and then gets his back as the round ends.
I scored RD 3 10-9 Owens
My score card: 29-28 Owens
Result: 30-27/30-27/30-27 Owens

6. Light Heavyweight Amateur Title
Mike King (5-1 Buckeye MMA) vs Jeff Hughes (6-1 Instigator Fight Team)

RD 1: They clinch and Hughes lands a knee to the body. He lands another knee below the belt and the ref calls for time. When action resumes Hughes lands a nice leg kick and they clinch against the cage. Both landing knees. Hughes goes for the single leg but can't get it. King lands good punches and hurts Hughes. He lands some more knocking Hughes down and landing more before the ref stops it.
Result: King by TKO 1:45 of RD 1

7. Heavyweight Amatuer Title
Rick Day (8-0 USA Martial Arts) vs Nelson Best (6-1 Team Impact)

RD 1: Best lands good leg kick. He lands another leg kick followed by a nice body punch. Best lands a nice counter punch and then a really nice punch that puts him out.
Result: Best by KO 1:14 of RD 1

8. 155lb Amateur Title
Jessica Zomcik (5-2 Team DNA) vs Tamikka Brents (5-0-1 Warrior Concepts/5 Knuckle MMA)

RD 1: Zomcik opens landing a good jab. Brents shoots and gets the takedown into side control. Zomcik tries hard to hold her close. Brents gets the mount and lands some good ground and pound with lot's of shots to the head. Brents pins her arm down and lands more before the ref stops it.
Result: Brents by TKO 2:10 of RD 1.

9. Featherweight Pro Division
Doug Kulbis (8-1 Evolve MMA) vs Kevin Rothacker (5-2 Strong Style)

RD 1: Both throwing strikes from a distance. Lots of missing early. Rothacker lands a nice leg kick. Kulbis lands a great head kick. Kulbis lands a couple of punches and another nice head kick but he falls down and Rothacker gets on top. Rothacker postures up and lands some strikes. They stand up and Rothacker lands a knee. They begin throwing punches from far away again. Rothacker lands a good punch to end the round.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Kulbis

RD 2: Good body kick by Rothacker and Kulbis answers with a good punch. Kulbis lands more good punches some while backing up. Rothacker lands a nice head body combo. Rothacker lands a good cross to break up a clinch. Kulbis throws and lands a good head kick followed by a punch to the head. Rothacker rushes in and lands some punches forcing Kulbis to clinch. Rothacker is bleeding bad from the head. Rothacker lands a great punch getting the knockdown and jumps on top. Both fighters look tired at this point. Rothacker lands good punches from the top to end the round.
I scored RD 2: 10-9 Rothacker

RD 3: Rothacker opens with a good leg kick and another. Kulbis lands a punch before rushing in and landing a few punches. Kulbis lands a flying knee. Rothacker answers with a two punch combo. They clinch against the cage but Kulbis backs out. Rothacker lands a kick to the shin followed by a head kick. Kulbis lands a couple punches and Rothacker answers with more. Kulbis gets a takedown and Rothacker gets up and lands several punches and knocks him down. Just an incredible fight.
I scored RD 3: 10-9 Rothacker
My score card: 29-28 Rothacker
Result: 29-28/ 29-28/ 29-28 Rothacker

10. Featherweight Pro Title
Donny Walker (13-6 Team GriffonRawl) vs Billy Vaughan (9-5 Buckeye MMA)

RD 1: Vaughan lands several strikes and then clinches against the cage. Walker is cut already. Vaughan lands several more punches then gets a takedown. Vaughan goes for a heel hook but Walker escapes and gets up and starts landing several punches before Vaughan can get up. Walker gets on top of him and lands some strikes. Vaughan gets his back and goes for and gets the rear naked choke for the tap.
Result: Walker by rear naked choke 2:58 of RD 1

11. Welterweight Pro Title
Nick Duell (16-5-1 Strong Style) vs Daniel Head (9-2 Indianapolis, Indiana)

RD 1: Head lands a head kick but Duell gets a trip takedown. Head is able to pull guard and use wrist control to avoid damage. Duell lands shots to the body and pushes him against the cage and using ground and pound. Head begins bleeding from a cut in his hair line. Duell lands good elbows as Head goes for an arm from the bottom, but Duell pulls out of that. Duell lands more good elbows before deciding to stand up. The cut is clearly bothering Head. Duell gets a takedown and gets Head's back and lands some shots to end the round.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Duell

RD 2: Duell lands a good cross. Head gets a takedown but doesn't do much from the top. Duell goes for a triangle but Head lands some punches to stop that. Then Duell goes for an arm but Head pulls out and goes for an arm himself. Head is trying really hard to pull the arm out. Duell gets out of that and lands a good punch to the head. They stand up and Head tries hard for a single leg and finally gets it but Duell lands on top. Duell gets his back and goes for an armbar. He gets it and gets the submission.
Result: Duell by armbar 4:11 of RD 1

12. Heavyweight Pro Division
Stipe Miocic (8-0 Strong Style) vs Greg Maynard (7-2 Hells Forty Fight Team)

RD 1: Miocic lands a good leg kick. He then lands a good punch that backs Maynard up, followed by an inside leg kick. Miocic continues to land many good leg kicks. Maynard finally answers with one of his own but Miocic lands another. Maynard throws a very lazy kick and Miocic lands more of his own. Maynard is clearly feeling those leg kicks. Miocic lands a good three punch combo and then knees to the head followed by more punches.
I scored RD 1: 10-9 Miocic

RD 2: Vicious leg kick by Miocic folowed by a nice body shot. Maynard lands a good counter punch and Miocic counters with a leg kick. More leg kicks from Miocic and he then traps Maynard against the cage throwing knees and punches before the ref stops it.
Result: Miocic byt TKO 1:43 of RD 2

Submission of the night: Justin Steave

KO of the night: Nelson Best

Fight of the night: Doug Kulbis vs Kevin Rothacker