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Northcoast Showdown - Breakdown
September 16th, 2006
Euclid, OH

9/18/06: This past weekends NAAFS event may have been the most memorable show yet for several reasons both positive and not so positive. On the positive end, fans were treated to a number of outstanding fights including what is surely a candidate for NAAFS fight of the year with Frank Carabello’s come from behind win over DJ Jacobucci… but more on that one later. In addition to the anticipated featured bouts, several new NAAFS fighters made emphatic debuts this weekend and had an immediate impact on the soon to be released updated 2006 rankings, while others looked to solidify their stance in hopes of earning one of two spots in each weight class during this December’s NAAFS finals in Cleveland.

The night opened with a lightweight bout pitting Team DNA’s Dan Balon against newcomer Walter Shwanbeck of Warren, PA. After negating several take down attempts from Shwanbeck, Balon established position and worked his way to the back of his opponent securing a fight ending rear naked choke midway thru the opening round. Balon, who normally fights at 145lbs improved to 3-0 and could have something to say in the lightweight division before the year is out.

Balon sinks in choke

The newly founded Team Playland’s Dan Jones was next up as he took on NAAFS veteran Brodie Arnold in another exciting lightweight clash. In what was a very entertaining fight (which nearly featured the NAAFS’ first ever pile driver) it was Jones getting the best of Arnold with a rear naked choke near the end of round one.

Jones gets arm raised in by Doug Patterson after his win

With both fighters coming in with wins during their first NAAFS bouts, Milan Wesley of Cleveland and New York’s Nick Golembieski knew that each needed an almost flawless performance to get by the other. On this night it was Wesley who worked his game plan to near perfection and showed the rest of the NAAFS middleweights that he is in fact for real. With UFC bound Jason Dent in his corner, Wesley avoided danger and several submission attempts from Golembieski while pounding his way to a second round KO. Both fighters dropped down from light heavyweight for this fight and it appeared to be the right move for each particularly Wesley.

Golembieski looks to secure triangle

Mike Nesto improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the NAAFS with his latest win over Jay Wadsworth. In yet another intense battle, Nesto got an early takedown and never looked back while pushing the action for much of the fight. Wadsworth was more then game and had his moments in the fight testing Nesto’s chin on one occasion in the first round, however is was the aggressiveness of Nesto that has made him a fighter on the rise and one of the most versatile on the lightweight class.

Nesto (top) works for position

Next up was Griffon-Rawl’s Chuck Schilling taking on Team DNA’s Adam Swift who was a late fill in for the injured Carl Miller. In another back and forth bout it was Schilling who imposed his will on Swift while pinning his opponent against the cage and doing most of his damage on his feet. Swift came out aggressive in rounds two and three but could never establish a consistent attack of his own. Schilling worked his way to a finishing rear naked choke midway through round three.

Schilling in the guard of Swift

Our thoughts and prayers are with Carl Miller who was involved in a car accident while driving to the show from his home in Michigan. PKW has learned that Miller suffered no serious injuries and plans on returning to action in the not too distant future.

In a super heavyweight clash, Cleveland’s Bobby Favors took advantage of a nearly 80 pound weight difference and wasted little time in finishing Anthony Holder of Warren, PA. Favors came out swinging and things quickly went to the ground. From there it was all Favors who ended the fight via rear naked choke in under a minute.

Favors finishes Holder with RNC

The final preliminary bout may still have fans buzzing after the display put on by Rising Dragon’s Frank Carabello and Team Griffon-Rawl’s DJ Jacobucci in a middleweight showdown. Jacobucci won the first round with an aggressive attack and a right hand that seemingly rocked the iron jawed Carabello several times, however Carabello would survive and turn the tide in round two with his own fire power which Jacobucci would not have an answer for. The second round started with Jacobucci on the early attack and another overhand right that would momentarily back up his opponent but then came the punch of the night from Carabello, a clean uppercut that stunned Jacobucci and began to turn momentum in Carabello's favor. Several more punches were then thrown by both fighters with Carabello clearly getting the better of the exchange and his confidence growing with each shot landed. A final combo from the Italian slugger would down Jacobucci who would not be able to continue earning Carabello his first NAAFS win. Keep an eye on both of these fighters in the future….wow!

Carabello (left) sqaures up with Jacobucci in a great fight

Kicking off the main card was Carabello’s team mate and Rising Dragon captain Taiwon Howard who was looking for his third straight win against backyard rival Ben Parks of Team Griffon-Rawl. In a battle of two former kickboxers, this fight stayed standing and lived up to its expectations with Howard avoiding an early Parks flurry and turing the table in a very fast paced fight. A right hand down the pipe set up a barrage of Howard strikes that would end things for Parks in the just over a minute in to the fight. Howard will now likely be on the top of the 185 lbs class when the new NAAFS rankings are released and sent a message to the rest of the division at the same time with the win.

Parks gets one off in the early moments of the fight

In a featured lightweight battle Cody “The Wolverine” Stevens improved to 4-0 as he took out very tough Jay Morris. Stevens, who came out ultra aggressive, never gave Morris a chance to really get into the fight while showing off a very well rounded attack. Stevens went on to win the fight via ref stoppage late in round two.

Morris lands a knee on the Wolverine

Top ranked NAAFS light heavyweight Dan Spohn suffered his first career loss to the hands of Chuck Ellison who evened his record at 1-1. Ellison came out firing while stunning Spohn in the opening seconds with a barrage of punches which Spohn could never recover from. With the win, Ellison has vaulted his way to the top five of the light heavyweight class.

Dan Spohn (left) and Chuck Ellison ready for battle

In a featured heavyweight bout, John “The Showstopper” Hedges wasted little time in defeating newcomer Bill Streller by TKO in the opening minute of the fight. Streller did all he could to avoid the take down but the “Showstopper” would not be denied and coasted to his second straight win. Streller has vowed to return and fight again while Hedges will now set his sights on his next opponent and a possible top three ranking.

The Showstopper looks to pass and mount Streller

In what ended up being the nights main event, John “The Mongoose” Myers defeated Ryan Miller in another highly anticipated yet controversial fight. A great early exchange got things started with Miller gaining the fights first takedown and control early. The mongoose in typical mongoose fashion then reversed position and shortly their after got things standing where he could make a move. From there things got interesting as Myers applied a standing guillotine which prompted referee Doug Patterson to stop the fight giving the win to Myers. A very vocal and unpleased Miller did not agree with the call and felt he was in no serious trouble and the fight should have been allowed to continue. In the end it was Myers walking out with a win and solidifying his spot near the top of the lightweight division while Miller will be forced to regroup and make another run.

The Mongoose (top) on the attack with Miller defending

And then came the not so positive. After getting the news nearly a week ago that his first scheduled opponent (Josh Stansbury) was forced to withdraw due to an injury, Dominic Qurazzo was next slated to face Toledo’s Clark Baker (now 3-2) in the night’s main event but that’s where things apparently went wrong. Baker allegedly weighed in and then left the premises never to return forcing Qurazzo to win by disqualification. Needless to say Qurazzo’s disappointment was evident as he took center stage and addressed his loyal fans who came out to witness his NAAFS debut. A gracious and thankful Qurazzo assured fans that he would make this up to them with his next fight while warning future opponents of his intentions the next time he steps into the cage. It is not clear when Qurazzo will fight again however fans can expect an official announcement from the Qurazzo camp in the weeks to come on PKW.

NAAFS HW Dominic Qurazzo

Even with the disappointing end to an otherwise very competitive and entertaining card, the fifth round of the 2006 series will go down as a memorable one with a night of amazing amateur action.

All of us at the NAAFS want to thank the fans, fighters, trainers, sponsors, staff and everyone involved for their continued support and for making the NAAFS the nation’s undisputed leader in amateur MMA. We can honestly say that the best is yet to come……see you in November!

The lovely NAAFS Ring Girls courtesy of 2XL Sports Gear