The North American Allied Fight Series returned to Chapparells Community Center in Akron, Ohio tonight for NAAFS: “Midwest Combat Challenge 19.” The amateur fight card was headlined by an all-Ohio welterweight battle between unbeaten prospects Joshua Lasich and Dave Lastafka.
Tonight’s event also featured a total of five women’s bouts. In 120-pound main card action, Rebecca “Trainwrecka” Gruitza faced Ashley Delk, while “Rowdy” Ronda Gale took on Ricardo Almeida understudy Rachel Sazoff at 115. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for tonight’s NAAFS card.
Joshua John “The Ox” Lasich vs Dave Lastafka
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Jerry Krzys. Lasich scored an early takedown and flurried with power punches from the top, but Lastafka used an ankle pick to reverse. He took top position, but Lasich immediately latched onto an achilles lock and rolled over. He adjusted his grip on the hold and Lastafka tapped out in obvious pain. Very impressive win for the still-unbeaten Lasich.
Winner: Joshua John Lasich by Submission (Achilles Lock) at 0:31 of round one. He improves to 4-0-0 as an amateur.
Rachel “The Black Widow” Sazoff vs “Rowdy” Ronda Gale
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Chad Trukovich. Both women were aggressive with punches right away and Sazoff backed Gale up to the cage. She took her down and moved to side control, then to North-South. Both fighters attempted inverted triangle chokes at the same time and scrambled to their feet seconds later. Gale worked for a standing guillotine choke, but Sazoff slammed her down before the bell. 10-9 Sazoff.
Round 2:
Another exchange of punches opened round two and Sazoff drove in for a takedown. She got Gale down and landed in side control. Gale rolled and Sazoff took her back, but she got too high and Gale tried to escape out the back. Sazoff did well to stay on Gale’s back, but Gale eventually spun into Sazoff’s guard. Both fighters landed punches on the ground in the final 30 seconds. 10-9 Sazoff.
Round 3:
The fighters stayed on their feet for much of the opening minute of round three and exchanged punches until Sazoff clinched against the cage. She took Gale down and moved to half-guard. Sazoff used punches to set up a move to mount and she flurried with more strikes once she got there. Gale tried to set up a modified gogoplata from the bottom, but Sazoff easily avoided the submission attempt and landed more punches as the fight came to an end. 10-9 Sazoff.
Winner: Rachel Sazoff by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds.
Wayne Lanum vs Tony Hodges
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Jerry Krzys. The fighters circled for the opening minute until Lanum backed Hodges up to the cage. He landed knees to the body and tried for a takedown. Lanum got Hodges down to the mat and landed a handful of short punches, but little transpired on the ground and the fighters were stood up just before the end of the round. 10-9 Lanum.
Round 2:
Lanum landed a hard one-two and a leg kick in the second round. He clinched and pressed Hodges up against the fence. Hodges reversed and tried for a takedown, but it was Lanum who slammed Hodges down to the ground. Lanum moved to half-guard and scored with punches in the final ten seconds. 10-9 Lanum.
Round 3:
Lanum punched his way into a clinch and took Hodges down early in the final round. He moved to half-guard and looked to set up a shoulder choke, but Hodges escaped. Lanum stayed on top and landed punches with his free hand. Hodges scrambled to his knees and the fighters were stood up. Lanum landed a leg kick in an otherwise uneventful final 20 seconds. 10-9 Lanum.
Winner: Wayne Lanum by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds.
Dominic “The Honey Badger” Mazzotta vs Austin “A.J.” Carl
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Chad Trukovich. Leg kicks were exchanged early on and Mazzotta landed a nice right cross. He stuffed a takedown and took Carl’s back. Mazzotta used punches to set up a rear-naked choke and eventually got it. A dejected Carl was forced to submit.
Winner: Dominic Mazzotta by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:42 of round one.
Shane Holbert vs Chad Catri
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Jerry Krzys. An exchange of body kicks opened the fight and Holbert countered a right hand with a big left hook. Catri stumbled backwards, but recovered and the fighters traded more kicks. Catri tried for a takedown and managed to get Holbert down. Holbert attempted an armbar and ate a series of hammerfists. The fighters scrambled up and Holbert landed a huge left hook that sent Catri crashing to the canvas. Catri was down for some time before eventually getting to his feet under his own power. Brutal knockout.
Winner: Shane Holbert by KO (Punch) at 2:26 of round one.
Rebecca “Trainwrecka” Gruitza vs Ashley Delk
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Chad Trukovich. Gruitza flurried with punches right away, but Delk took her down. Gruitza worked for a triangle choke from the bottom and punched with her right hand. Delk could not escape, but she did not appear to be in danger from the choke. Gruitza adjusted her position late in the round and attempted a triangle straight armbar, but time expired. 10-9 Gruitza.
Round 2:
Delk swarmed with punches in round two and Gruitza pulled guard. She tried briefly for a gogoplata from the bottom before switching to a modified triangle choke. Gruitz switched her legs into a traditional triangle and then transitioned to an armbar. Delk was in all sorts of trouble as she stood up, but refused to tap. Gruitz dragged her back down and rolled through, then switched to a straight armbar. Delk’s arm bent backwards at an awkward angle and she finally tapped out.
Winner: Rebecca Gruitza by Submission (Straight Armbar) at 2:21 of round two.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)