Maple City Cage Fighting Debuts In Fine Form
More than 500 people packed the Chatham Banquet Hall & Conference Centre for the debut of Maple City Cage Fighting on Saturday night | Photo from Mark Ruddick Photography – www.markruddick.com
Maple City Cage Fighting debuted to a sold-out crowd inside the Chatham Banquet Hall and Conference Centre on Saturday night.
More than 500 local fight fans supported the event, showcasing some of the area’s top amateur mixed martial artists. Fighters represented local schools and dojos across Southwestern Ontario, including Gracie Barra Chatham and Chatham Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Thomas Armstrong, the organizer of the event said he and his team were very happy with the debut event and appreciate all of the local support.
“The event went very well. Everything came together really nicely,” said Armstrong, the owner of Gracie Barra Chatham. “We had great support. Attendance was great and we have some companies like DAS Drywall who have supported us in our ventures and fighters over the last 8 years. Everyone seemed very happy the event was available in our area.”
Amateur Fight Night was a 10-fight card highlighted by 3 co-main events: the first ever women’s division contest between Tia Biason and Chatham’s Katie Sutherland and two semi-final match-ups to crown the first ever 155-pound champion.
Biason impressed local fans with a fiery approach and a dominant display in the first ladies 120 lbs division fight, utilizing her Jiu Jitsu background to quickly pound and then ground Katie Sutherland, winning by armbar in the first round.
The first 155 lbs semi-final fight say Hamilton’s Bradley Dimic defeat Mase Ferguson by TKO (undefended strikes) in the first round.
Chatham BJJ’s Steve Eldridge defeated Gracie Barra Chatham’s John Jacobs Jr to advance to the finals of the MCCF 155-pound Title Tournament | Photo from Mark Ruddick Photography -www.markruddick.com
The final contest of the night was a hometown showdown between Chatham BJJ’s Steve Eldridge and Gracie Barra Chatham’s John Jacobs Jr. The fight went back and forth as both young competitors proved to be at the top of the local amateur game. Jacobs, an OFSSA gold-medal wrestler, cut 40 pounds for the fight, and seemed to have things leaning his way in the first round. With the local crowd on their feet, appreciating the evening’s showcase, Eldridge was able to gain an unexpected advantage on the ground mid-way through round two. After a flurry of fisticuffs and back control, the referee stopped the contest at 2:38 of the second, awarding Eldridge a trip to the finals by rule of undefended strikes.
The next Maple City Cage Fighting event is scheduled for February 27th at the Chatham Banquet Hall and Conference Centre. The card will include the 155 lbs tournament finals, with Chatham’s Steve Eldridge and Hamilton’s Bradley Dimic fighting for the 155-pound championship – the first title to ever be awarded from MCCF. MCCF will also open a 135-pound title tournament; with Chatham’s Matt ‘The Pitbull’ Dawson in the picture following an explosive display on Saturday night against Colin Dunne; and a 120-pound Woman’s Title tournament featuring Tia Biason.
MCC1 Results:
- Joel Elliot (Gracie Barra Chatham) def Etienne Desaulniers by unanimous decision (full 3 rounds)
- Hoang Nguyen def Brian Martin (Gracie Barra Chatham) by RNC in 3rd round
- Scott Lamont def Ted Wuerch by Undefended Strikes in 1st round
- Shane Melo def Steven Rivard (Gracie Barra Chatham) by Rear Naked Choke in 1st round
- Zad Mangat def Adam Gladue (Chatham BJJ) by Undefended Strikes in 1st round
- Anton Potocki def Alex Hill (Gracie Barra Chatham) by Armbar in 1st round
- Matt Dawson (Chatham – Independent) def Colin Dunne by Armbar in 1st round
- Ladies 120 lbs Division: Tia Ardemia Biason def Katie Clark Sutherland (Gracie Barra Chatham) by Armbar in 1st round
- 155 lbs Title Semi-Final: Bradley Dimic def Mase Ferguson by Undefended Strikes in 1st round
- 155 lbs Title Semi-Final: Steve Eldridge (Chatham BJJ) def John Jacobs (Gracie Barra Chatham) by Undefended Strikes in 2nd round