By Josh Nason
Regional MMA continues to grow in North America and tonight in Massachusetts, I’m going to finally try my first sample of the local scene by checking out World Championship Fighting.
The event – set for the Shriner’s Auditorium in Wilmington, MA, with a bell time of 7:30 pm – will feature a slate of fights involving local talent at every level of the game, headlined by Mike Campbell vs. Marc Stevens and Rick Hawn vs. Tom Gallicchio.
Hawn (5-0) brings an impressive judo background into the ring (not cage, think Pride) with a top 10 finish at the 2004 Summer Olympics and four national titles to his credit. Gallicchio is a submission machine and has won seven of his last eight fights going into Friday.
Friday will be the ninth event for owner Joe Cavallero, who I talked to last week for almost an hour. It wasn’t an official fact-finding interview but really just getting to know the guy who is trying to bring a quality MMA product to the area. According to the numbers and buzz, he’s succeeding.
After getting off the phone, I was convinced. Cavallero is a guy that is confident in his product, but very humble about how he got here, his background in the sport and what he’s trying to do for local fans. He’s brought in top talent for appearances and autograph signings and is a long-time friend of UFC President Dana White. He’s instantly likable and in today’s fight game, that can go a long way.
But back to the show itself, an 11-fight event headlined by Campbell and Stevens. Campbell (6-2) has competed in the WEC twice but returned to the local scene to get some more seasoning before giving it another go. Campbell is coming off a September 1st round KO of Mike Medrano at WCF 8 and win or lose, won’t be in there long. He’s never gone past the first round in his career.
Stevens (12-4) is looking to keep an undefeated 2009 rolling with his first fight of 2010. A top ranked lightweight in New England, Stevens has been at the fight game since April 2006 and will be looking at making a big statement with a win over Campbell. This should be an entertaining match to see unfold.
Also on the show is a battle of undefeateds when Jamie Campbell and Colin Schrader go to toe-to-toe. Campbell has been off for quite some time (WCF 3 was his last event), while Schrader will be making his WCF debut after winning his first two fights by submission.
For a look at John Benoit as he prepares for his fight against Noah Weisman, here’s a Q/A done by Bryan Levick. Tickets are still available for the show by going to the group’s website. For more info, check them out on Facebook.
Is there a regional promotion we should take a look at for Friday Night Fights? Let us know by hitting us up at Twitter or stopping by our Facebook page!
