It Truly Was a Night of Champions
The NAAFS Closes out 2009 in Grand Style
Written by Jake Digman
Photos by Bill Reider

(12/07/09 – Akron, OH) – The North American Allied Fight Series presented it’s a year end spectacular on Saturday December 5th and the fans truly were treated to a Night of Champions. The jam packed John S. Knight Center in Akron, OH and the over 60,000 fans on Ustream.tv witnessed live what many are calling one of the best nights of mixed martial arts action ever to take place. Whereas the 2009 National Amateur Series came a to close, many things in the Pro Series just started to heat up. One thing is for certain, the entire NAAFS Nation will be feeling the effects of Night of Champions for a long time to come.

In the main event, five-time UFC veteran Forrest “The Meat Cleaver” Petz (23-7) worked a Unanimous Decision victory (48-47,48-47,48-47) over  WEC veteran Brendan “Caucasian Devastation” Seguin (18-17-1) to become the new Pro Series Welterweight Champion.

These two world class athletes went toe-to-toe and blow-for-blow in what many are calling one of the greatest fights in NAAFS history.

The former champion seemed quite comfortable in enemy territory, not backing up in the slightest against highly touted Petz. When all was said and done, it was the judges who made the final decree in this very close Pro Series Welterweight battle. With the win, Forrest Petz not only adds the NAAFS Pro Series Welterweight gold to his collection and improves to 23-7 overall, but improves his record in Ohio to 10-1.

A new Pro Series Middleweight Champion was crowned at Night of Champions, when #1 contender Chris “The Assassin” Lozano (8-1) continued his path of destruction against WEC veteran and former champion Allan Weickert (10-8) to capture the first championship of his career.

This fight was literally a stand up war that went late into the first round, until Lozano caught Weickert on the jaw and dropped the more experienced champion for the win. Immediately, Lozano darted into the crowd to celebrate amongst his family and friends, before returning to the cage with his mother and brother in tow. In a classy gesture, a very humble new champion dedicated the win and the title to his mom in the center of the cage.

In what was billed as a Pro Series Heavyweight division SuperFight, 2008 National Amateur Co-Heavyweight Champion “Big” John Hawk (9-0-1) defeated Thad Schlichter (7-1) in one of the bloodiest battles in NAAFS history.

Schlicter imposed his will early on while the fight remained standing, even catching and bloodying Hawk’s nose. However, the Strong Style fighter would remain undaunted and eventually take Schlichter to the ground, displaying the now infamous John Hawk Ground N Pound skills that have  brought him so many victories in the past.

After Thad was bleeding profusely, the referee called a stop to the action at 2:31 of the third round declaring John Hawk the winner by TKO. After the fight Hawk once again restated that we wanted the Pro Series Heavyweight title.

The upset of the night took place in the Pro Series Lightweight division, as Daniel Straus (13-4-1) of Vision MMA made history by becoming the first man to defeat “Smokin” Joe Heiland (12-1) earning the win by way of a Unanimous Decision. Straus out struck Heiland, earning the all important points on the judges scorecards. He was able to counter Heiland’s takedowns and set the pace of the fight to earn the decision victory.

With the win, Straus has just become an immediate player in the Pro Series Lightweight division and could potentialll be in the mix for a shot at current interim Lightweight Champion Frank Caraballo.

2007 National Amateur Middleweight Champion Nick “The Savage” Duell (14-4-1) picked up the biggest victory of his career over EliteXC veteran Chad Klingensmith (6-2) by Split Decision. Klingensmith, who holds a win over current WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson, entered the fight with much fan fare and it was obvious to see why.

However, Duell was able to go punch for punch and to move move for move with his opponent, never once showing signs of intimidation.

When the smoke had cleared, Nick Duell moved forward with yet another victory inched his way closer to a future title shot in what is becoming a very deep welterweight division.

The first Pro Series fight on the card saw 2008 National Amateur Middleweight Champion AJ Aeschlimann (8-0) remain unbeaten with a Unanimous Decision victory overy a very game Dustin West (6-2) of Las Vegas, NV.

Aeschlimann used his size and strength to control the fight for all three rounds, thus earning the victory on the judges’ score cards. One has to believe that Aeschlimann was keeping a close eye on the Pro Series Middleweight title fight and new champion Chris “The Assassin” Lozano.

The story of the 2009 National Amateur Finals has to belong to USA Martial Arts, who were nothing less than stellar the entire year and capped it off with a great evening at Night of Champions.  The night started off good for USA Martial Arts when “Mexican Muscle” Tony Castillo (7-0) remained unbeaten against 2009 National Amateur Co-Heavyweight Champion Bryon McCroskey (5-2) by earning a Split Decision victory in the opening fight on the card.

The trend continued in the National Amateur Light Heavyweight Division, when Dane Bonnigson (9-0) became the first ever fighter to win back-to-back National Amateur titles, disposing of the very tough Jason Butcher (5-1) in just 14 seconds to capture the gold!

Finally, Rick “Have A Nice” Day (6-0) capped off an incredible year for Mike Gray’s team by defeating the previously unbeaten Jason “Rampage” Rauch (9-1) to become the 2009 National Amateur Heavyweight Champion.

When all was said and done, USA Martial Arts ended the year with not only 2 champions, but 2 undefeated champions, an impressive accomplishment anywhere in the sport let alone the NAAFS!

Team GriffonRawl also capped off a spectacular year at NAAFS Night of Champions, leaving the arena that night with three new champions in the fold. Teammates Reggie Parks and Bryon McCroskey were both declared the 2009 National Amateur Co-Welterweight Champions after both reached the finals and it was decreed the only fair option.

Team GriffonRawl also brought home the 2009 National Amateur Lightweight championship, when George Comer (5-0) continued his winning ways by defeating Strong Style’s Kevin Rothacker (5-2 ) by Unanimous Decision.

This just adding another chapter to the promotions most historic and prolific team rivalry.

The National Amateur Middleweight finals provided fans with a battle of respect between two gladiators and friends, as Kevin Zalac (8-0-1) became the first competitor to win a rematch in the finals, defeating his close friend Chase “Y U Doem Like That?” Owens (4-2) by TKO at 2:15 of the Round 2 to become the 2009 National Amateur Middleweight Champion. Immediately after the fight, Zalac knelt down and said something in private to his opponent and friend before celebrating his championship victory.

Doug Kulbis (8-0) brought home the first piece of gold to Evolve MMA by defeating “The Evolution” Kyle Dolan (5-2) by Rear Naked Choke at 1:45 of Round 2 to capture the 2009 National Amateur Featherweight Title.

JP "The Jackhammer" Jaranowski (8-0) brought more gold to the Fight Farm camp, by defeating Bill Fienberg (4-2) by Unanimous Decision to win the 2009 National Amateur Bantamweight Championship.

The first ever National Amateur Women’s Champion was crowned at Night of Champions when Jessica Eye (5-0) of Strong Style Fight Team defeated Marie Colangelo (3-2) of Eastside Combat Club by Unanimous Decision to win the gold.

The tension in the air was at an all time high for this fight and it transcended into the cage. Eye used her much talked about strength and aggresiveness to out muscle and out score Colangelo for the first two rounds of the fight. In the final frame, Colangelo managed to take down Eye and secure a Rear Naked Choke, but it wasn’t meant to be as in the end it was Jessica Eye who stood tall as the new champion and once again making history in the NAAFS. Afterwards, an elated and emotional Eye thanked everyone who helped her achieve what many believed to be her destiny.

The NAAFS would like to thank all those fans who came out all year long to support the promotion, especially those in attendance at the John S. Knight Center live. In addition, the NAAFS would also like to thank the over 60,000 fans who tuned in on Ustream.tv to watch the event live. A special thank you goes out to Mr. John P. Lennon, Bud Light, US Army, Rev 3 Energy Drink/USANA, Dillards, YellTap, Thomas Limousines, Tim Lally Chevrolet, SportsTalkCLEVELAND.com, BetonFighting.com, Entropy Custom Apparel, Bloody Buddy Fight Gear, TapOut, Actual Fighter and the television home of the NAAFS SportsTime Ohio for their continued support!
The NAAFS kicks of 2010 with two great shows in Akron on January 30th and in Cleveland on February 20th. Check out www.NAAFS.tv for details!

Quick Results

Featured Pro Series Bouts

170lbs TITLE - Forrest "The Meat Cleaver" Petz 23-7 (Strong Style) over Brendan "The Caucasian Devastation" Seguin 18-17-1 (Eastside Combat Club) by Unanimous Decision

185lbs TITLE - Chris "The Assassin" Lozano 8-1 (Strong Style Fight Team) over Allan Weickert 10-8 (Peak Submission Fight Team) by KO at 4:55 of Rd 1

265lbs - "Big" John Hawk 9-0-1 (Strong Style Fight Team) over Thad Schlichter 7-1 (Columbus MMA) by TKO @ 2:31 of Rd 3

155lbs - Daniel Straus 13-4-1 (Vision MMA) over "Smokin" Joe Heiland 12-1(Strong Style Fight Team) by Unanimous Decision

170lbs - Nick "The Savage" Duell 14-4-1 (Strong Style Fight Team/Ohio BJJC) over Chad Klingensmith 6-2 (Denver, CO) by Split Decision

185lbs - "Showtime" AJ Aeschlimann 8-0 (Instigator Fight Team) over Dustin West 6-2 (Las Vegas, NV) by Unanimous Decision

2009 National Amateur Finals

125lbs TITLE - Jessica Eye 5-0 (Strong Style Fight Team) over Marie Colangelo 3-2 (Eastside Combat Club) by Unanimous Decision

265lbs TITLE - Rick "Have A Nice" Day 6-0 (USA Martial Arts) over Jason "Rampage" Rauch 9-1 (Main Street MMA) by Rear Naked Choke @ 1:56 of Rd 3

205lbs TITLE - Dane Bonnigson 9-0 (USA Martial Arts) over Jason Butcher 5-1 (Team Jorge Gurgel) by TKO @ :14 of Rd 1

185lbs TITLE - Kevin Zalac 8-0-1 (Next Level Jiu-Jitsu) over Chase Owens 4-2 (Team TAP) by TKO @ 2:15 of Rd 2

155lbs TITLE - George Comer 5-0 (Team GriffonRawl) over Kevin Rothacker 5-2 (Strong Style Fight Team) by Unanimous Decision

145lbs TITLE - Doug Kulbis 8-0 (Evolve MMA) over "The Evolution" Kyle Dolan 5-2 (Team Lock Haven) by Rear Naked Choke @ 1:45 of Rd 2

135lbs TITLE - JP "The Jackhammer" Jaranowski 8-0 (Fight Farm) over Bill Fienberg 4-2 (Ohio BJJC) by Unanimous Decision

155lbs NON TITLE - Tony Castillo 6-0 (USA Martial Arts) over Bryon McCroskey 6-3 (Team GriffonRawl) by Split Decision