The 2009 NAAFS Achievement Award Results

The year 2009 provided the NAAFS Nation with plenty of memories. We were treated to familiar faces returning back to the fold, as well as new faces rising to the occasion. Let’s take a look back at who the NAAFS Nation voted for as the best of 2009!

Comeback Fighter of the Year - Chris Lozano (383 Votes)

Chris Lozano closed out 2008 with the first loss of his career against AJ Aeschlimann at Night of Champions for the National Amateur Middleweight Title. There is a saying in mixed martial arts that you can’t truly tell the measure of a fighter until you see how they rebound after their first loss. Chris Lozano was an undaunted warrior, who returned to the gym more determined than ever. In 2009, Lozano capped off his amateur career with a victory at Midwest Combat Challenge 7 back in April, then made a successful professional debut at Fight Nite in the Flats V. After an impressive win at Rock N Rumble, Lozano made good in his first professional title opportunity, defeating Allan Weickert for the Pro Series Middleweight Championship at Night of Champions, completing a full circle comeback in the process.   

First Runner Up – Joe McCall (185 votes)

When Justin Black won the NAAFS Pro Series Heavyweight title at Columbus Night of Pain 4, “Cujo” Joe McCall found himself starting on the comeback trail whether he liked it or not. Early in the year, a series of setbacks kept the former champion from returning to the cage. After being forced to withdrawal from a fight against Carlton Haselrig, many wondered if McCall would ever fight in the NAAFS again. Then everything changed at the 3rd Annual NAAFS Rock N Rumble, when McCall made the most of an opportunity by defeating UFC veteran Josh “Heavy” Hendricks, who at the time had been unbeaten inside the NAAFS cage. Although he started the comeback journey last year, this year McCall has the chance to make his comeback complete when he faces “Big” John Hawk for the vacant Pro Series Heavyweight title at Caged Fury 9.

Second Runner Up – Dan Spohn (167 votes)

Dan Spohn originally began making a name for himself in the early days of the National Amateur Light Heavyweight division, quickly rising to a 3-0 record that included a win at Fight Nite in the Flats II. After a loss to eventual 2006 champion Chuck Ellison, Spohn took nearly two years off before returning back to sport. He fought for various smaller promotions, before making his return to the NAAFS midway through 2009 at North Coast Showdown 3. Spohn followed that up with a victory at Rock N Rumble over Lewis Rumsey, but came up short in the National Amateur Semi Finals against Jason Butcher. However, Spohn rebounded almost immediately, scoring arguably the biggest win of his career defeating hometown hero Josh Stansbury at Caged Fury 8 in East Liverpool, OH on November 25th.  As we head into 2010, Spohn finds himself positioned nicely in the Pro Series Light Heavyweight division.

Others Receiving Votes: Doug Kulbis (66 votes), Allan Weickert (61 votes)

 

Submission of the Year - Dane Bonnigson over Adam Farrell
(318 votes)

When it was signed that 2008 National Amateur Light Heavyweight Champion Dane Bonnigson was going to put his undefeated record on the line against 2008 National Amateur Co-Heavyweight Champion & 2008 Amateur Fighter of the Year Adam Farrell, the fans were expecting to see a treat. If the voting trends are any indication, the NAAFS Nation was given just that. Until that point, no fighter had been able to successfully combat the highly touted Farrell. Even though Bonnigson was dropped with a punch, he quickly rebounded by latching onto Farrell’s leg. He then secured a deep knee bar to pick up the 2009 Submission of the Year at Fight Nite in the Flats V. 

First Runner Up - Nick Sorg over Dustin Kempf
(210 votes)

A great submission comes from hours upon hours of practice in the gym. Sometimes it’s a chance occasion and others is matter of perfect execution. Nick Sorg’s rear naked choke over Dustin Kempf was a prime example of all the elements coming together. This was Sorg’s first fight at back in a year and it was his first fight in the Pro Series Featherweight division, so he was more determined than ever to make a statement. As he sunk in the choke, it was obvious to all watching that his statement was received loud and clear. Now with both of these competitors entered into the Pro Series Featherweight tournament, the possibility of a rematch is always there.

Second Runner Up - Bryon McCroskey over Larry Ray
(135 votes)

This submission took place at NAAFS Caged Fury 7 as part of the Men’s Show in the IX-Center. Originally miscalled as a TKO due to injury, it was later revealed to be a very rare style of submission win for McCroskey. Ray had actually taken McCroskey’s back and locked in a deep rear naked choke. The mistake he made was by crossing his legs and an alert McCroskey quickly took advantage by locking on a cross ankle breaker.  Ray quickly went from being on the offense to full on defensive mode until he was forced to submit. A less experienced fighter would have been so concerned with defending the choke that he might have overlooked the offensive opportunity. McCroskey did not and he was rewarded in victory.

Others Receiving Votes: Dustin Kempf over Lyle Sansoucie (101 votes), Allan Weickert over Sean Salmon (98 votes)

 

Knockout of the Year - Chris Lozano over John Fields
(220 votes)

The bad blood was at an all time high when John “The Bullet” Fields and Chris “The Assassin” Lozano stepped inside the NAAFS Cage at the 3rd Annual Rock N Rumble to determine who would be the #1 contender for the Pro Series Middleweight title. Fields was coming off a win over Lozano’s teammate Johnny Soeder at Fight Nite in the Flats V, where as Lozano was coming off a successful pro debut at the same event. After a war of words, both men entered the cage to settle their differences. It was Lozano who made the loudest statement with a straight shot down to the jaw of Fields that knocked him out cold. As Lozano celebrated amongst his teammates and hometown fans, the EMT’s had to rush the cage to revive Fields. Even after regaining consciousness, it was clear to everyone that Fields was still out of it. An impressive shot against a top competitor at one of the NAAFS’ biggest events has earned Chris Lozano his second NAAFS Achievement Award of 2009.

First Runner Up -  Nick Duell over Niko Boscarino
(183 votes)

Early in his career, Nick “The Savage” Duell was highly touted for his punching power. Since then he has become universally respected for his all around skill, but at Caged Vengeance 6 the 2007 National Amateur Middleweight Champion showed once again that he still possess that knock out power. Duell caught Boscarino with a shot at 4:12 of the first round that immediately dropped him to the mat. In that one moment, Nick Duell reasserted his knockout skills to any would be future competitor, just in case they had forgotten. If that’s the case, after watching this fight everyone was put on notice that Duell is still one of the most feared strikers in his division.

Second Runner Up - Brian Rogers over Dan Bolden
(152 votes)

This took place at a non-televised event in Toledo, OH but it was a knockout that had the entire NAAFS nation buzzing. Those who had seen it couldn’t stop talking about it, while those who hadn’t seen it yet, were eagerly awaiting the chance to do so. The NAAFS Nation was given that opportunity via the NAAFS Fight of the Week on NAAFS.tv. Despite giving up almost 20 lbs to his opponent, Rogers entered the cage a warrior, looking to take out the opponent standing before him. After an initial tussle against the side of the cage, Rogers took an advantage of a precise opportunity. He connected with a picture perfect flying knee to the side of Bolden’s head, which left his much larger opponent slumped in the corner and earned Roger’s the KO victory.

Others Receiving Votes: Chris Lozano over Allan Weickert (150 votes), Reggie Parks over Huey Contreras (113 votes), Joe Goyette over Tim Davis (44 votes)

 

 Team of the Year - Strong Style Fight Team
(345 votes)

In 2009, Strong Style Fight Team proved once again why they are consistently considered amongst the elite, finishing the year with a 24-3 record in NAAFS competition. Strong Style fighters brought home 3 NAAFS titles to the Independence, OH based gym including two Pro Series titles (Forrest Petz & Chris Lozano) and one National Amateur title (Jessica Eye). Outside the NAAFS, Strong Style had competitors succeed in a variety of events from amateur boxing to world renowned jiu jistsu tournaments. With some of the top level fighters and a second to none coaching staff, Strong Style continues to gain their accomplishments the old fashioned way; by earning them. The area’s original MMA school continues to be one of the most successful and those efforts in 2009 have been rewarded with the Team of the Year award.

First Runner Up - USA Martial Arts (226 votes)

If there was ever a gym to come out of nowhere to make an immediate name in the NAAFS, it would have to be USA Martial Arts. The Toledo, OH based gym moved to the forefront as one of the top gyms in the series in 2009, now home to three undefeated National Amateur Champions.  Rick “Have A Nice” Day won the National Amateur Heavyweight Title and Dane Bonnigson repeated as National Amateur Light Heavyweight Champion, to go along with teammate Josh “Buzzsaw” Johnson’s 2008 National Amateur Lightweight Title. The aforementioned Johnson also picked up a win in the main event of North Coast Showdown 4. USA Martial Arts welcomed back another undefeated fighter when “Mexican Muscle” Tony Castillo returned to the fold and finished off the year with a win over 2009 National Amateur Co- Welterweight Champion Bryon McCroskey at Night of Champions. If 2009 is any indicator, then USA Martial Arts will be a force to be dealt with through 2010 and beyond.

Second Runner Up -  Team GriffonRawl
(139 votes)

Team GriffonRawl is one of the charter gyms in the NAAFS, having been around since the organization’s inception and in 2009 they were still considered amongst the best. A premier gym based in Mentor, OH; GriffonRawl produced three National Amateur Champions in 2009, as well as head trainer & Pro Series Lightweight Champion Jason “Dynamite” Dent competing on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 9. Plus Pro Series competitors Donny “Eagle Eye” Walker, Paul “St8 Outta” Compton, and AJ Pulling all brought victories back to Team GriffonRawl in high profile NAAFS fights. The talent pool at GriffonRawl Muay Thai & MMA Academy continues to grow with each passing year, with more and more great talent being introduced to the NAAFS Nation.

Others Receiving Votes: Main Street MMA (93 votes), Instigator Fight Team (59 votes)

 

 Fight of the Year - Forrest Petz vs. Brendan Seguin
(423 votes)

It wasn’t even close. Although the fight itself was one of the closest ever seen inside the NAAFS cage, the voting was not. The NAAFS Nation was so impressed with this fight that nearly 50% of ballots submitted included Forrest Petz vs. Brendan Seguin as the 2009 Fight of the Year. This fight was the main event of Night of Champions and it pitted Pro Series Welterweight Champion Brendan “The Caucasian Devastation” Seguin defending his title against 5 time UFC veteran Forrest “The Meat Cleaver” Petz in what would become a five round war. For nearly 25 minutes these two competitors went back and forth in one of the greatest fights you will see in any promotion. When the smoke cleared, the judges declared Petz the winner by Unanimous Decision and thus new champion. It was such a close fight, that many fans still talk about who they feel the winner really was to this day. It will indeed go down as one of the greatest of all time, as Petz versus Seguin now takes its rightful place in history as the 2009 NAAFS Fight of the Year.

First Runner Up - Graham Governor vs. Reggie Parks
(158 votes)

This fight took place on July 25th, 2009 at War on the Shore 3 in Geneva-on-the-Lake. To say it was a battle would be an understatement. Not only did you have two of the top ranked competitors in the National Amateur Welterweight division going at it in their own backyard, but the NAAFS Nation play witness to yet another battle in the ongoing Strong Style versus GriffonRawl war. Governor picked up the win by Majority Decision , as the fight was so close that one of the judges declared it a draw. Parks would recover from the loss and go on to capture the National Amateur Co-Welterweight title, whereas Governor would unfortunately be sidelined with an untimely injury. However, on a warm summer’s night, two of the best in the division gave the fans something to talk about for a long time in fight that could be the equivalent of an emotional rollercoaster.

Second Runner Up -  Leitta Suchevich vs. Jessica Wolbert
(70 votes)

The National Amateur Women’s Division grew by leaps and bounds in 2009, capping off with the crowning of Jessica Eye as the first ever National Amateur Women’s Champion. However, at Midwest Combat Challenge 8 all eyes were focused on Leitta Suchevich of Pittsburgh, PA and Jessica Wolbert of Erie, PA. For two rounds, these two young women stood and banged with each other to the point where it looked like neither had anything left to give. In the final round, Suchevich dug down deep and connected with the shot that finally dropped Wolbert for the KO victory. As both women lay exhausted on the mat, the fans in the house treated them to a much earned standing ovation.  It’s safe to say that the majority of the fans in attendance didn’t come that to specifically watch Suchevich vs. Wolbert, but when they night was over everyone was surely grateful that they had.

Others Receiving Votes: Dan Swift vs. Billy Vaughan (64 votes), Todd Sheppard vs. Tim Davis (60 votes),  Donny Walker vs. Tony Jayme (55 votes), Joey Holt vs. Rhett Northcraft (32 votes)

 

Amateur Fighter of the Year - Dane Bonnigson
(305 votes)

The closest race this year was in the Amateur Fighter of the Year category, but once all the ballots had been counted it was Dane Bonnigson who walked away with his second NAAFS Achievement Award of 2009 defeating Jessica Eye by just 8 votes! After winning Submission of the Year, Bonnigson now adds the 2009 Amateur Fighter of the Year award to his impressive list of accomplishments that continues to grow. In 2009, Bonnigson handed 2008 Amateur Fight of the Year Adam Farrell the first loss of his career in under a minute on the NAAFS’ brightest stage, defeated Larry Shuck in Bonnigson’s own hometown area, and annihilated Jason Butcher in just 14 seconds to become the first ever back-to-back NAAFS National Amateur Champion. Bonnigson accomplished these accolades while still serving as a full time teacher and wrestling coach at Woodmore High School. If the past two years are just a hint to his abilities as a fighter, MMA fans everywhere should keep a close eye on Dane Bonnigson, the 2009 NAAFS Amateur Fighter of the Year.

First Runner Up - Jessica Eye  (297 votes)

The first ever National Amateur Women’s Champion had a very successful 2009. Not only did she defeat every opponent that was placed in front of her, but also in many ways carried the weight of an entire division on her shoulders. Eye made history by winning the first ever NAAFS Women’s bout back in 2008 and in 2009 she was at the forefront leading the charge for the National Amateur Women’s Division. A former co-host of NAAFS Radio, Eye made multiple media appearances to promote the importance of not only women’s MMA, but the sport in general. Eye defeated Amy Kurrelmeyer and Marcia May early in the first round of both those fights and at Night of Champions, she completed her odyssey by defeating perennial rival Marie Colangelo to become the 2009 National Amateur Women’s Champion.

Second Runner  Up - Reggie Parks (60 votes)

Reggie Parks entered the NAAFS in early 2009 after very impressive showings in smaller organizations. He brought that level of intensity to the National Amateur Welterweight division, providing fans with many memorable moments in 2009. Parks defeated Chris Melillo  at Midwest Combat Challenge 7, then lost to Graham Governor by Majority Decision in a Fight of the Year contender at July’s War on the Shore 3 event. When an injury forced Governor out his scheduled fight at NAAFS Rock N Rumble, Parks stepped in and stepped up, defeating the previously unbeaten Huey Contreras by KO in under a minute.  At Caged Fury 7, Parks graciously stepped aside and allowed his teammate Bryon McCroskey to take his place and compete in the National Amateur Semi Finals. Parks was rewarded with a slot in the National Amateur Welterweight Finals and when he was joined their by McCroskey, both men elected not to fight each other and were declared Co-Champions. It was classy way to cap off the year for a classy fighter.  

Others Receiving VoteS: George Comer (44 votes), Doug Kulbis (43 votes), Rick Day (33 votes), Kevin Zalac (33 votes), Bryon McCroskey (28 votes), JP Jaranowksi (20 votes)

 

Pro Fighter of the Year - Chris Lozano
(231 votes)

Some would argue that 2009 could simply be called “The Year of Lozano!” The Pro Series Middleweight Champion has brought home his third NAAFS Achievement Award this year, as you fans have voted him Pro Fighter of the Year. Chris Lozano began the year finishing off his amateur career with a win over Rashad Pearson at Midwest Combat Challenge 7, before making the jump to the pros. He made a successful pro debut at Fight Nite in the Flats V against Marcus Kuch, winning by KO in the first round. Lozano would follow that up with a win over John “The Bullet” Fields with what would eventually be voted as the 2009 Knockout of the Year at the 3rd Annual NAAFS Rock N Rumble. Finally at Night of Champions, Lozano defeated reigning champion Allan Weickert to capture the Pro Series Middleweight Title. In 2009, Lozano went from being a young prospect in the amateurs to the man to beat in the Pro Series Middleweight division, an accomplishment that has been justly rewarded as he takes his place amongst the NAAFS’ all time best by winning 2009 Pro Fighter of the Year honors.

First Runner Up - Forrest Petz (181 votes)

When word broke that 5 time UFC veteran Forrest Petz was coming to the NAAFS , the fans were eager with anticipation. Despite being recognized as one of the best fighters to come out of the Northeast Ohio region, Petz had never competed in the NAAFS until Fight Nite in the Flats V. Petz defeated fellow Clevelander Tiawan “The Iron Dragon” Howard in the main event of one of the NAAFS’ showcase events of the year. He followed that up by winning the Pro Series Welterweight title from Brendan Seguin in the 2009 Fight of the Year at the other NAAFS showcase event Night of Champions. Petz now enters 2010 as the top dog of the Pro Series Welterweight division, a welcome addition to a career filled with great accomplishments.

Second Runner Up - John Hawk (162 votes)

The 2008 NAAFS National Amateur Co-Heavyweight Champion proved this year that he is just as much of a force in the pro division as he was in the amateurs. Hawk began the year finishing off his amateur career with a win over Pete Hunter at Caged Fury 6, before setting his sights on the Pro Series. He made a successful transition at Fight Nite in the Flats V with a submission victory over 2007 National Amateur Heavyweight Champion Josh “Sandman” Stansbury. At Night of Champions, Hawk silenced any critics with a win over Thad Schlichter in one of the bloodiest fights ever seen in the NAAFS. Now he sets his sights on “Cujo” Joe McCall and the vacant Pro Series Heavyweight Title at Caged Fury 9, looking to make 2010 an even bigger year for the Akron, OH native.

Others Receiving Votes: Nick Duell (146 votes), AJ Aeschlimann (91 votes), Frank Caraballo (51 votes)

 

Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year- Jessica Eye

In 2008, the NAAFS established the Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year Award. This award is named by the NAAFS Rankings Committee Members, as opposed to be voted on by the NAAFS Nation. The winner is the fighter that has displayed an overall level of character both inside the cage and outside as well. The NAAFS is pleased to announce this year’s winner is Jessica Eye. The  first-ever National Amateur Women’s Champion pioneered an entire division, while still taking time to serve the needs of others. Outside the cage, Eye serves as a personal trainer, a physical education teacher, and as a manager of the Strong Style Fitness Center. Loved or hated, Eye will be forever be respected for her contributions in establishing a National Amateur Women’s division and has been rewarded for her dedication with the 2009 Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year award.