AFO Summer Brawl June 17th in Mansfield, MA

Posted on | May 27, 2011 | No Comments

For Tickets, Visit www.AFOMMA.com or call 401-286-3413

The American Fighting Organization returns to its home base in Mansfield, MA on June 17^th for “AFO Summer Brawl”, a mixed martial arts event featuring four fights worthy of main event status.

Heavyweights will take center stage as the undefeated Tyler King (3-0, 2 KO’s, 1 submission) challenges for the vacant AFO heavyweight championship against Bellator veteran Randy “The Wolf” Smith (11-9-1, 5 KO’s, 5 submissions).

King, a former defensive standout for the Uconn Huskies and an NFL Veteran, will be fighting for his first professional MMA title. Smith, from Cortland, New York, is a well traveled mixed martial artist who has fought all over the northeast due to his home state being one of the few remaining jurisdictions not to regulate MMA.

AFO welterweight champion Paddy “Thunder Kitten” Thompson (10-3, 5 KO’s, 5 submissions) will also be in action as he makes his 2^ndtitle defense of his 2^nd title reign against Townsend, Massachusetts’ Jason Sarbacker (2-1, 1 KO, 1 submission).

Thompson, known for his fan friendly fighting style & unique choice of entrance music, will be participating in a record 6^th consecutive AFO title fight actoss two welterweight championship reigns. He first won the AFO welterweight belt over Maurice McNeil in August 2009 and made two successful title defenses before losing to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Tim O’Connell in February 2010. He would avenge that defeat and regain the title in an immediate rematch last October and most recently defended the championship successfully with a 1^stround submission over the previously undefeated Steve Dunn.

Jason Sarbacker, who trains with the well respected Team Sityodtong, most recently competed in the AFO this past March with a 2^ndround submission over Luis Torres.

In a grudge match, the AFO featherweight title will be at stake when Brockton’s Lionel Young (5-6, 1 KO, 3 submissions) defends his title against Rhode Island’s Ruben Rey (5-2, 5 KO’s) in a rematch of their controversial fight this past April.

In that bout, Young defeated Rey via first round submission via rear naked choke just 1:41 into the fight to win the championship. However, Rey weighed in for the 145 title fight at 148 pounds the day before the bout at the official weigh in casting a shadow over his title winning effort.

“It was a decision we made to allow Lionel Young to fight for the title despite weighing in a few pounds over. However, it’s really an interim title due to the circumstances of his title win. We’re having this immediate rematch to allow both fighters to erase any doubts that may linger from the first first fight.” AFO President Pete Dilorenzo said.

“If Lionel Young weighs in any more than 145 pounds for this featherweight title fight, he’ll be stripped of his championship status immediately. We want a true 145 pound champ to be crowned.” Dilorenzo continued.

Also in action will be nationally recognized female flyweight Katie Merrill (2-1) against an opponent to be named. Tickets can be purchased at www.AFOMMA.com or by calling 401-286-3413.