Tom Moreau isn't the only fighter making his long-awaited return to the octagon on Friday night at Combat Zone 37. Nate Kittredge will also be fighting for the first time in more than a year when he takes on Mike Mennsezo in the 185-pound weight class.
Kittredge's last fight was a win over Matt Masterson in March of 2010. That was the fifth win in a row for Kittredge, who is 10-1 and whose only loss was due to illegal elbow strikes. That was against Ron Wuest back in February of 2008.
The fight between Kittredge and Mennsezo will be just before the main event between David Huelett and Tom Moreau of Derry, who hasn't fought in about seven months. They are two of 15 bouts scheduled for the action scheduled to start at 8 p.m. at Rockingham Park.
Despite the long layoff, Kittredge is still the top ranked fighter locally at 185 pounds. His last three wins have all been by decision.
An up-and-coming fighter to watch for on Friday night is Will Santiago of Lawrence, who will take on Perry Filkins of Hooksett at 185 pounds. Santiago is 2-0 since joining the pro ranks, both knockouts that took less than a minute.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Ready to rock at The Rock
I had a chat with Tom Moreau on Monday and one thing is for certain, this guy can't wait to fight again.
It's been nearly seven months since his last bout and on Friday he will make his long-awaited return to the cage when he fights David Hulett in the main event of Combat Zone 37 at Rockingham Park.
Moreau's last fight was a win over Dennis Olson by TKO (punches) on Sept. 17 during GFL 9 at the Whittemore Center. He has had three fights fall through since then and now the 170-pounder is itching for his next opportunity.
I got the sense from Moreau that he is frustrated. He feels local fighters are dodging him and organizers are having trouble finding people who want to get into the cage with him. That may be for good reason since Moreau was ranked No. 1 locally in the 170-pound weight class in the most recent Northeast MMA poll.
His original opponent for Friday, Chandler Holderness, is a scratch because of a knee injury. Moreau didn't seem to believe that when I spoke with him.
He said he has been having problems like that with local fighters for a while now. Several of his fights have had last-minute changes, which he feels is because people don't want to fight him.
He also seemed upset about the way he was treated during the application process for the UFC reality show The Ultimate Fighter. Moreau said he was in contact with a UFC representative, and they told him they were impressed with his resume and highlights, but he was listed as an alternate.
The reason he feels he wasn't selected wasn't because of his skill, which he feels he has more of than anybody on the show, but because of his personality. He feels the UFC wants charasmatic fighters, people who will walk around the house naked and act like idiots. It makes for better television.
Anybody who knows Moreau knows that's not him. He is a very down-to-earth and reserved guy. He is responsible and mature, which doesn't neccesarily make for good entertainment. So, instead, people like Ramses Nijem and Chuck O'Neil, who Moreau is ranked ahead of in the region, were chosen ahead of him.
It might not be on TV or a production of the UFC, but on Friday night Moreau will be fighting once again, this time with a chip on his shoulder to prove just how good of a fighter he is.
Friday, March 18, 2011
MacDonald gets the call
Kevin MacDonald felt snubbed when he wasn't chosen to be a part of UFC 118 last summer in Boston -- and with good reason.
For more than a decade, MacDonald has been at the forefront of promoting mixed martial arts in the area.
Rare is the MMA event in New England that doesn't include him in one way or another.
Yet last August MacDonald was a spectator at Boston's TD Garden as people with whom he'd come of age training and officiating entered the cage for the first UFC event in Massachusetts.
MacDonald swallowed his pride and took great joy in seeing the sport he loves flourish in his hometown. He went on officiating matches in New England, and in January got the call he had long awaited.
On the phone was Nick Lembo, legal counsel for the New Jersey Athletic Control Board and a legend in MMA. He asked MacDonald if he'd be interested in being a part of UFC 128 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and MacDonald happily said yes.
"When I didn't get called for the Boston show, I think some people noticed," MacDonald said. "I moved on. Things happen, and things happen for a reason."
MacDonald, a fixture at MMA events here in New Hampshire, will officiate two bouts and do the ring inspections for three others at the pay-per-view event on Saturday. He will be the ref for fights featuring Ricardo Almeida against Mike Pyle and Dan Miller against Nick Catone.
Neither fight will be part of the pay-per-view portion of the event. The Almeida/Pyle bout will be broadcast on Facebook. MacDonald will, however, do the ring inspection for at least one pay-per-view fight.
"Which is the way I like it," he said. "I don't need to jump right into the deep end of the pool."
He began his career in the sport as a fighter, but when MacDonald got "too fat" he decided to take up officiating. Almost 15 years later, he has refereed nearly 1,300 bouts and trained many local officials. He often works Combat Zone and Global Fight League events.
The next time MacDonald will be in New Hampshire will be for Combat Zone 37 on April 29 at Rockingham Park. Dave George, owner of Combat Zone, almost always uses MacDonald when he's available.
"Kevin is the best ref there is around," George said. "He makes good calls for the safety of the fighters, and he's fair."
Back in 2006, MacDonald was the ref for one of Tom Moreau's first fights. Moreau, who lives in Derry, has since become one of the most well-rounded fighters in New England, compiling a record of 7-2. The owner of Team Valor, he will be the headliner at Combat Zone 37 when he takes on Chandler Holderness.
If MacDonald is in the cage, Moreau said, you know it's going to be a well-officiated fight.
"He's definitely the most well-rounded (ref)," Moreau said. "And he's very attentive to the fighter's safety. He'll get down there on his hands and knees."
Moreau said MacDonald knows how to walk the fine line between stopping a fight and letting one go on. That can be particularly hard in a contact sport such as MMA -- refs are usually criticized for stopping fights -- but Moreau feels MacDonald has very good judgment.
"He goes the extra mile," Moreau said.
With a sellout crowd of nearly 18,000 expected next month, UFC 128 will be the largest event MacDonald has worked, though he has officiated televised events before; last summer he was an official at the God of Martial Arts put on by Moosin at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. And, in addition to UFC 128, he has on his agenda the Bellator Fighting Championships at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut on April 2 (to be aired on MTV 2).
MacDonald said he has prepared for the upcoming UFC show by refereeing some bouts in Atlantic City, N.J., and going through special training in North Carolina.
Now, after nearly a decade in the cage and more than 1,000 fights, he will have his chance to fulfill his dream on the biggest stage the sport has to offer.
"I'm over the top," MacDonald said. "It's something I've wanted for so long."
For more than a decade, MacDonald has been at the forefront of promoting mixed martial arts in the area.
Rare is the MMA event in New England that doesn't include him in one way or another.
Yet last August MacDonald was a spectator at Boston's TD Garden as people with whom he'd come of age training and officiating entered the cage for the first UFC event in Massachusetts.
MacDonald swallowed his pride and took great joy in seeing the sport he loves flourish in his hometown. He went on officiating matches in New England, and in January got the call he had long awaited.
On the phone was Nick Lembo, legal counsel for the New Jersey Athletic Control Board and a legend in MMA. He asked MacDonald if he'd be interested in being a part of UFC 128 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and MacDonald happily said yes.
"When I didn't get called for the Boston show, I think some people noticed," MacDonald said. "I moved on. Things happen, and things happen for a reason."
MacDonald, a fixture at MMA events here in New Hampshire, will officiate two bouts and do the ring inspections for three others at the pay-per-view event on Saturday. He will be the ref for fights featuring Ricardo Almeida against Mike Pyle and Dan Miller against Nick Catone.
Neither fight will be part of the pay-per-view portion of the event. The Almeida/Pyle bout will be broadcast on Facebook. MacDonald will, however, do the ring inspection for at least one pay-per-view fight.
"Which is the way I like it," he said. "I don't need to jump right into the deep end of the pool."
He began his career in the sport as a fighter, but when MacDonald got "too fat" he decided to take up officiating. Almost 15 years later, he has refereed nearly 1,300 bouts and trained many local officials. He often works Combat Zone and Global Fight League events.
The next time MacDonald will be in New Hampshire will be for Combat Zone 37 on April 29 at Rockingham Park. Dave George, owner of Combat Zone, almost always uses MacDonald when he's available.
"Kevin is the best ref there is around," George said. "He makes good calls for the safety of the fighters, and he's fair."
Back in 2006, MacDonald was the ref for one of Tom Moreau's first fights. Moreau, who lives in Derry, has since become one of the most well-rounded fighters in New England, compiling a record of 7-2. The owner of Team Valor, he will be the headliner at Combat Zone 37 when he takes on Chandler Holderness.
If MacDonald is in the cage, Moreau said, you know it's going to be a well-officiated fight.
"He's definitely the most well-rounded (ref)," Moreau said. "And he's very attentive to the fighter's safety. He'll get down there on his hands and knees."
Moreau said MacDonald knows how to walk the fine line between stopping a fight and letting one go on. That can be particularly hard in a contact sport such as MMA -- refs are usually criticized for stopping fights -- but Moreau feels MacDonald has very good judgment.
"He goes the extra mile," Moreau said.
With a sellout crowd of nearly 18,000 expected next month, UFC 128 will be the largest event MacDonald has worked, though he has officiated televised events before; last summer he was an official at the God of Martial Arts put on by Moosin at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. And, in addition to UFC 128, he has on his agenda the Bellator Fighting Championships at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut on April 2 (to be aired on MTV 2).
MacDonald said he has prepared for the upcoming UFC show by refereeing some bouts in Atlantic City, N.J., and going through special training in North Carolina.
Now, after nearly a decade in the cage and more than 1,000 fights, he will have his chance to fulfill his dream on the biggest stage the sport has to offer.
"I'm over the top," MacDonald said. "It's something I've wanted for so long."
Monday, March 7, 2011
Local ref at UFC 128
There will be a familiar face at UFC 128 in Newark, N.J., on March 19.
Kevin MacDonald, a.k.a. Kevin the Ref, of Watertown, Mass., has been selected to ref two bouts and will handle the cage entrance inspections for three other fights at the Prudential Center.
MacDonald has been involved with mixed martial arts since 1996 both as a fighter and ref. He has officiated more than 1,000 bouts, many here in New Hampshire, over the past 12 years. He is a regular with local production companies such as Combat Zone and Global Fight League.
UFC 128 will take place on March 19 and is headlined by UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua taking on Jone Jones.
Kevin MacDonald, a.k.a. Kevin the Ref, of Watertown, Mass., has been selected to ref two bouts and will handle the cage entrance inspections for three other fights at the Prudential Center.
MacDonald has been involved with mixed martial arts since 1996 both as a fighter and ref. He has officiated more than 1,000 bouts, many here in New Hampshire, over the past 12 years. He is a regular with local production companies such as Combat Zone and Global Fight League.
UFC 128 will take place on March 19 and is headlined by UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua taking on Jone Jones.
Friday, February 25, 2011
NH fighters in action tonight
Anybody in the Providence, R.I., area looking for something to do tonight might want to check out "Rhode Rage" at the Twin River Event Center.
As usual, the card features some great talent from the Granite State, including Tom Moreau of Derry, who will make his first trip to the cage since knocking out Dennis Olson at GFL 9 in September.
Moreau (6-2) is one of the most complete fighters in the area and will take on Keith Jeffrey (5-2-1) in the welterweight class.
Another local fighter making his return for the first time since September tonight is Woody Weatherby (8-4) of Nashua. Weatherby's last fight was a loss to Luigi Fioravanti at the M-1 Selection show on Sept. 18. He will take on Todd Chattelle (6-6) in the middleweight class.
The main event has Mike Campbell (8-3) taking on Mike Medrano (8-7) in the lightweight class.
Granite Staters looking to get their fix of mixed martial arts action might want to consider making the trip, because they'll have to wait a while to go to an event in their own back yard. The next MMA event scheduled in New Hampshire isn't until April 29 when Combat Zone will have an event at Rockingham Park.
There haven't been a ton of bookings this year in the state. The next event on the state's boxing and wrestling commission calendar after the CZ production is a GFL show set for July 15.
As usual, the card features some great talent from the Granite State, including Tom Moreau of Derry, who will make his first trip to the cage since knocking out Dennis Olson at GFL 9 in September.
Moreau (6-2) is one of the most complete fighters in the area and will take on Keith Jeffrey (5-2-1) in the welterweight class.
Another local fighter making his return for the first time since September tonight is Woody Weatherby (8-4) of Nashua. Weatherby's last fight was a loss to Luigi Fioravanti at the M-1 Selection show on Sept. 18. He will take on Todd Chattelle (6-6) in the middleweight class.
The main event has Mike Campbell (8-3) taking on Mike Medrano (8-7) in the lightweight class.
Granite Staters looking to get their fix of mixed martial arts action might want to consider making the trip, because they'll have to wait a while to go to an event in their own back yard. The next MMA event scheduled in New Hampshire isn't until April 29 when Combat Zone will have an event at Rockingham Park.
There haven't been a ton of bookings this year in the state. The next event on the state's boxing and wrestling commission calendar after the CZ production is a GFL show set for July 15.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
GFL stepping to the plate
The Global Fight League is emerging as the top promotions company in the area not only because of its show planned for the Tsongas Center, but the organization has also announced it will put on a show at the Portland Expo Center in Portland, Maine.
The GFL is being very ambitious with its venues and I like it. Last fall, the league hosted an event at the Whittemore Center on the campus of the University of New Hampshire and in April it will host one at the Tsongas Center on the campus of UMass-Lowell. Both of those venues seat more than 7,000 people.
Now the GFL is booking a large venue in Maine. The main event at the Expo, which can accomodate more than 6,000 people, will be Pedro Gonzalez against Portland's Paul Gorman.
The GFL is being very ambitious with its venues and I like it. Last fall, the league hosted an event at the Whittemore Center on the campus of the University of New Hampshire and in April it will host one at the Tsongas Center on the campus of UMass-Lowell. Both of those venues seat more than 7,000 people.
Now the GFL is booking a large venue in Maine. The main event at the Expo, which can accomodate more than 6,000 people, will be Pedro Gonzalez against Portland's Paul Gorman.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Go big or go home
Global Fight League is pushing the limitis once again. On April 15, the local MMA promotions company will host an event at the 7,800-seat Tsongas Center on the campus of UMass-Lowell.
Last fall, GFL made history by promoting a show at the Whittemore Center on the campus of the University of New Hampshire, the biggest venue to ever host an MMA in the state. The April show is a little more ambitious for the GFL, which is teaming up with Triumph Promotions. The Tsongas holds about 400 more people than the 7,381 seat Whitt.
The show at the Whitt attracted about 4,000 people. It's good GFL is keeping this show on a college campus because that is a big audience for MMA. And it's also a good location in northern Massachusetts, where the sport is exploding right now.
The main event comes in the 155-pound weight class where John Benoit (11-2) takes on Matt Bessette (6-2). Benoit is ranked fifth locally in the weight class and Bessette is ninth.
Another big fight features Matt Lee (12-9-1) against Chip Pollard (6-2) at 170 pounds. Lee is No. 6 and Pollard is fifth in that weight class.
The only other fight set for now is John Ortolanis against Joe Manzello. Dennis Olson. a Triumph regular, will likely get a fight and I would love to see a showdown between Tom Moreau and Nate LaMotte. Both have big followings in southern New Hampshire/northern Massachusetts and it would be the perfect venue for such a big fight.
Last fall, GFL made history by promoting a show at the Whittemore Center on the campus of the University of New Hampshire, the biggest venue to ever host an MMA in the state. The April show is a little more ambitious for the GFL, which is teaming up with Triumph Promotions. The Tsongas holds about 400 more people than the 7,381 seat Whitt.
The show at the Whitt attracted about 4,000 people. It's good GFL is keeping this show on a college campus because that is a big audience for MMA. And it's also a good location in northern Massachusetts, where the sport is exploding right now.
The main event comes in the 155-pound weight class where John Benoit (11-2) takes on Matt Bessette (6-2). Benoit is ranked fifth locally in the weight class and Bessette is ninth.
Another big fight features Matt Lee (12-9-1) against Chip Pollard (6-2) at 170 pounds. Lee is No. 6 and Pollard is fifth in that weight class.
The only other fight set for now is John Ortolanis against Joe Manzello. Dennis Olson. a Triumph regular, will likely get a fight and I would love to see a showdown between Tom Moreau and Nate LaMotte. Both have big followings in southern New Hampshire/northern Massachusetts and it would be the perfect venue for such a big fight.
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