Notes on Central Pennsylvania Warrior Challenge 8
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On Friday morning, I hyped the show on WOYK 1350 and 1600 at 7:20 a.m. on the M and M Show, discussing some of the key match-ups. Tune each week at 7:20 a.m. Mondays and 8:20 a.m. Fridays as I give my MMA report.
 
Got to the Toyota Arena about an hour early, settled in at my cageside sea. Brandt DeLorenzo, who recently sold his web site, mmaopinion.com, but still runs mmaprints.com, was there as the official CPWC photographer. Also saw Brent Colflesh, one of the judges.
 
Last minute changes: Hanover Academy of MMA's Ryan Harder was ready to make his pro debut, when his opponent, Preston Marks, withdrew from the fight at the last minute. Rumors were flying around that it had something to do with not being aware that he needed his medicals prior to the fight.
 
Gracious move on promoter Mark Jovich's part - inviting some of the more well-known fighters into the cage to introduce them before the fights got underway. Josh Aarons, Lewis Rumsey, Justin Scott and Chad Strawbridge have fought on past CPWC cards, and most likely will in the future. They were not on this card, but it was good to recognize them for all of their achievements thus far and to keep them in the fans' minds.
 
Lots of great teams from around the state and the east coast were there, including Team Vicious, CNY MMA, Central Pennsylvania Martial Arts Academy, Hanover Academy of MMA, Backwoods MMA, Team Chamber, Team Hammer, and Pender & Genesis MMA.
 
Got to see Jimi "Shrapnel" Chappell of York's Academy of Combative Arts. He was showing off his new baby boy, plus he talked about his recent neck/back surgery. Best of luck to Jimi in a full recovery and a return to the fight game.
 
Eric Steppe and Adam Dull met a few months back, and the fight ended in about :30, with Dull submitting Steppe with an armbar. On Saturday, Steppe returned the favor, submitting Dull with a guillotine in the first round.
 
In one of the quickest KOs I've ever seen, Spencer Richard knocked out Wyatt Elrod in just :16. Elrod, his face bloody, was definitely on "dream street," as he stumbled before being helped to a chair so the doc could examine him. Hopefully Elrod is OK and can return to training and fighting soon; as for Richard, can't wait to see what he does next.
 
In a fight I thought would be an all-out slugfest, Steve Dobisesky took Tom Anderton down repeatedly and kept the pressure on, so that Anderton could not fire off too many of his bombs. Dobisesky came away with the UD win, but it got me thinking - how come Dobisesky didn't want to fight Anderton on the feet? Anderton answered on his fb page: "Thanks to everybody for the kind comments and support, im a bit down on myself at the moment about the loss but it was only points, also when i talked to him after he told me he was scared to trade with me and that i was close to tapping him with the triangle at the end of the 3rd, i have no idea how i did it as bad as my knee is, when the adrenaline is flowing i guess you dont feel as much plus i didnt want to lose." Not to worry, Mate, you'll bounce back. Hope to see you fight again soon.
 
Chase Mcgowan, now 2-1, and Eric Albright, now 2-0, scored some impressive wins on Saturday and look to be a couple of promising young guns in the central PA region.
 
There were a couple more fights that ended quick: John Flock tapped out Chris Mynes at :23, and Mark Mangiardi TKO'ed Thomas Reimiller in :30.
 
Good to see vendors like Larry Novak of Tattoo Fightwear, Marc Slomske of Next Legend Fightwear and Drea of BoneBreakerz.
 
All in all, another great event by Mark Jovich. For more on the PWC,