January 8th Proving Grounds Fight Card
12/18/10 (Cleveland, OH): The second installment of NAAFS proving grounds takes place January 8th at the Saddle Ridge Center in Cleveland. Doors will open at 6PM with the first bell scheduled for 7PM. Presale Tickets will start at just $20 for general admission and $40 for VIP cage-side table seating.
National semi-finalist Bhrandon Poindexter returns to action on January 8th as he returns to 145 lbs where he won five of his first six fights. One of the most exciting fighters in the division, BP as he’s known to teammates, will look to return to form and re-establish himself as a force in the NAAFS.
Nationally ranked Francis Healy will look to rebound from his first career loss to the newly crowned NAAFS national champion Justin Steave. Healy won his first five career fights until losing to Steave by decision at during the 2010 national semis.
The tentative fight card is as follows:
145 lbs – Bhrandon Poindexter 6-4 (Evolve MMA) vs TBA
145 lbs – Francis Healy 5-1 (Mad Dog Fight Team) vs TBA
170 lbs – Dave Spadell Jr 2-1 (Team Independent) vs Dave Graf 2-2 (Evolve MMA)
185 lbs – Mike Schimek 3-1 (Western NY Self Defense) vs TBA
155 lbs – Dave Prologo 2-1 (Kim’s Martial Arts) vs TBA
125 lbs – Tristian Goehring 1-0 (Evolve MMA) vs Jamie Fleck (AMS)
185 lbs – Dustin Wentz 0-0 (Team Independent) vs Jerome Black 1-0 (KOM Arts)
170 lbs – Nick Spishock Jr 0-2 (Team Independent) vs Ben Yoder 0-1 (Hill MMA)
225 lbs – Chris Mihalic 0-1 (H20 MMA) vs TBA
135 lbs – Bryan Burham 1-2 (Air Gad-fly) vs Joel Vincent 0-3 (American Muscle MMA)
205 lbs – Rick Keyser 0-0 (Air Gad-fly) vs TBA
145 lbs – Stephan Hanawalt (KOM Arts) 0-0 vs Matt Poodiack 0-1 (Western NY Self Defense)
160 lbs – Travis Milliman 0-1 (Western NY Self Defense) vs Justin Reynolds 0-1 (American Muscle MMA)
205 lbs – Jeremy Chupp 0-0 (Independent) vs Mike Herhold 0-0 (Independent)
155 lbs – Emma O’Conner 0-0 (Team Pitfighter) vs TBA
* All Bouts Subject to Change
Tickets can be purchased by calling 330-280-8442 or by CLICKING HERE. Ticket will also be available for this event at all NE Ohio Discount Drug Mart Locations starting on December 26th.
December 18th, 2010 at 3:18 am
umm poindexter vs healey?
December 18th, 2010 at 7:02 am
That matchup is to early in the series
December 18th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
not really if you lose there is always the super fight at the end of the year
December 18th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
you gotta love how conceded healy is by putting his wannabe training video on the NAAFS website
December 18th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
no super title there not from strong style. O wait but evolve is kinda the same.
December 19th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
hey sissy, greg kalikas put healys training video on the site, not francis. have you ever made it to the semis and fought the number 1 featherweight after only fighting 11 months? of course not, you probably dont even fight…..and if you do and your close to 145 lets set it up in march or april BITCH.
December 19th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
nobody should get upset by YOUR NAMES comments, hes an annoyance that constantly trolls this site and tries to get ppl to react to his asinine posts. Healy making it to the semis in 11 months is a pretty big deal, his fight with justin steave shouldve been in the finals, NOT the semis. YOUR NAME should ask Steave what he thinks of Francis wannabe training seeing as they train at TEAM IMPACT on the regular Saturdays.
December 19th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
your name and healy should fight, id pay to see it……are you reading this your name?
December 19th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
I agree with “Your Name” I think Healey is a slimy “concieted” (spelled the right way) piece of crap! and I hope “Your Name” takes him on and beats him down,,,the nerve of this guy,,yeah and did I mention he’s a punk too,,yeah a punk and a sissy,,,so in conclusion I dont like Francis Healey (i dont know why I dont,,i just dont) but unlike my friend “your name” I don’t mind him knowing who I am,,,,,,,,that is all bedo.
December 20th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
we interviewed justin steave for our site this past saturday, and he picked healy to win the whole thing in 2011. exclusive interview will be up this week at:
http://WWW.STANDTHEMUP.ORG
December 21st, 2010 at 11:55 am
that cuz justin didnt know i was fighting in the series this year
December 21st, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@ Yomama, in all defense of Justin none of us knew you were in it for 2011, but now that we know we’d be absolute fools to even consider Healey a factor, I’m with “yo mama” because I hate healy too,,,,,I still don’t know why,,,but I do. and if yomama says he can whoop him,,well gatdamnit healey better run for the hills,,,besides who cares what Justin Steave thinks!! it’s not as if he has expierence fighting these guys,,,oh wait he does,,,well it’s not like he beat these other guys,,oh wait he did that too,,in order to be an authority he would have had to win the 2010 featherweight title,,,,hmmm,,,,,,,,,,to hell with Justin Steave he gets on my nerves worse than healey, so Yo mama whoop him down too just for GP
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:30 am
You know i think it is hilarious how everybody gets so butt hurt over this shit. I wouldent even waste my time in a training camp to fight that wanna be healy. I just thought it was hilarious how they put up a video of a 145lb sparring a 185lb.Trying to make healy look like a bad ass.Ill tell you what, when healy wins a title ill drop to 145lb and kick his ass.I wouldent have any satisfaction kicking his ass now because he is not worth it. So go on and keep talking smack,but all it shows on how much time you are not focused on training for your next fight. GO BP
December 22nd, 2010 at 1:51 pm
where is the justin steave interview at
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Also, Ill be servicing any studs that want to ride my “mechanical bull” at saddle ridge, I cant get enough of you young studs…Its the whole reason Im involved in this sport, I just use mma to camoflauge my rabid homosexuality.
December 24th, 2010 at 1:59 am
I think your name trains at Evolve……I hear its a real circle jerk over there
December 24th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Healy has the best double leg at 145, and no ones been able to stop his shot(including Justin Steave). Pity the non wrestlers he fights in 2011
December 25th, 2010 at 8:38 am
steave didnt stop healy from takin him down? i must have watched a differnt fight until the end of the second rd i dont remember healy scoring 1 td
December 26th, 2010 at 8:48 am
And if im correct Steave is far from a wrestler and healy couldnt take him down….WATCH OUT NON WRESTLERS!!!!
December 26th, 2010 at 8:55 am
I think it’s not fair to say Steave is far from a wrestler. When he has outstanding wrestlers on his team like Cardillo, and Morsetti.
December 26th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
“circle jerk” at evolve?
That’s funny.
I should put that on the schedule.
December 26th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
All these softies want to keep hating on Evolve. Come on down we will show you a circle jerk. Half of you are just wannabes and would piss down your leg with your little 2 inch dicks. Step up and get dropped on your neck!!!!
December 27th, 2010 at 9:49 am
steave is just used to great wrestling training partners he will never fight someone better at wrestling then he deals with on a daily basis
December 27th, 2010 at 9:49 am
i bet if you put in on the schedule cook your gym would have twice as many “fighters”
December 27th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
you guys make me laugh……all this wannabe macho posturing behind FAKE SCREEN NAMES, if there are really some fighters posting on here that think they can beat this person or that person, reveal yourself and ask the matchmaker at NAAFS to set you up with a fight with whatever “wannabe” you think you can beat or whatever. If you actually fight the person(s) you have a beef with and win, then you have the right to talk shit…..otherwise SHUT THE FUCK UP! for a bunch of so-called “fighters” you guys would probably be better off competing in the professional gossip circuit, what a bunch of little girls.
As far as Evolve goes, John Cook runs a tight ship and has a solid gym and team, people like to hate on those that are more successful. Its unfortunately part of this business.
December 27th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
in case anyone is wondering yomomma is john saxton
December 28th, 2010 at 7:41 am
how did you gather this info anonymous?
December 28th, 2010 at 10:23 am
mango vs healy goin to be good
December 28th, 2010 at 11:29 am
let us all collectively agree to hate Healey and Justin Steave and be done with it,,,,,,can’t we all juz git along?????
December 28th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
In case anyone was wondering Your name is Renzo Gracie
December 28th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
I hate everyone so it doesnt matter, why dont you quit suckin francis balls so he can get in the gym and do some more training
December 28th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
I was doing some research on francis healey and his opponents were a unbelievable 11-17 heading into the justin steave fight….with only one of those guys actually having a winning record and that guy is 1-1 against mango….Mango is goin to be a tough test for healey wish i could be there to see this go down……………………………………..Any opponent for Bhrandon i almost died tryin to make 135 Poindexter?
December 29th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I wonder what was DREW Shields record was when he beat that other black guy? hahahaha!!! and how much “ball suckin” factored into that loss, hmmmmmmm? Lol
December 29th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
ok i have no idea where you are getting im John Saxton cuz im far from him. Saxton is a good guy who would never say anything bad about anyone.And I saw the Saxton fight it would be hard for him to suck drews balls while drew humped his leg for 10 minutes. I dont know why you think people hate Francis, speaking for myself I just say shit about him because you guys get so butt hurt if someone doesnt think he is the next silva. In all honesty I respect every MMA fighter out there cause it takes major balls just to get in there, which im sure you know nothing about(and yes i have fought before you try turning that around).
December 29th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Well yomamma just reveal yourself, come to evolve and ill show how we get down at Evolve but as it goes for 135, I walk around at 165 so you tell me how you wouldve did it…CHUMP, Oh yeah on a two weeks notice!!!!
December 29th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
HAHA damn you must be related to Bedo. All i did was state a fact that you almost died making weight. Another thing that most likely is a fact is you prob didnt even make weight that night…After your failed attempts of putting sox and sweat pants under the scale
December 30th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Naw friend you got it all wrong,,,,I tell you sincerly I meant no animosity toward you or anyone, I took the whole thing as good ol fun spirited trash talking amongst us, and after all that is done, Francis still has to get in there and win or lose on his merit and desire, I just support and back my man both as a team member and a friend, at whatever the cost,,,even if the cost is some nameless tough guy assuming that my actions amount to jock ridin,,,”I can buy that” but I don’t want you or anyone to establish the opinion that I’m that kind of Guy,,,ask around I’m a real cool dude, p.s I’m sorry let me take you out for ice cream sometime.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Yo momma like you must be some tough guy talking behind a screen name! For one I was just stating the fact before you talk shit or make remarks, you should know the facts…If you do know them great, your still a COWARD! Oh yea like I said anytime come down to Evolve and check us out…or I’ll come to your gym and get it in, doesn’t matter. You know Bhrandon Poindexter as the fighter, you don’t really know me dude…but would be nice if I knew you BUT we don’t and when I do, I assure you will be the joke of my year starting early in 2011…….LATER HATER
December 30th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAH….Bedo where we gettin ice cream?
December 30th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
not to interrupt the love fest, lol but do any of you guys know if there are any ammy fighters fighting for the naafs who have black belts in bjj or judo? im just courious.
December 31st, 2010 at 9:11 am
good question mtc……..ima go out on a limb and say no, cuz quite honestly im not even sure if naafs has any pros compete for them who were black belts in either.
December 31st, 2010 at 11:21 am
It was more of a whine fest your breaking up….but that is a great question. Could very well be wrong but im going to say that there are no ammys that fought for naafs with black belts…maybe greg could confirm but im not even sure if there has ever been a black belt pro compete in the naafs
December 31st, 2010 at 11:23 am
oops double post the first one wasnt up when i checked back on here
December 31st, 2010 at 12:37 pm
@ “yomomma” I fully respect your opinions but your wrong about “major balls” being a prerequisite to getting in the cage,,,,that’s bull$#!t a bunch of these guys are in their trying to prove something to other people, parents, friends, girls,,or trying to erase some emotional stain left from the days when jocks used to chase em home from school, Yeah there is an element of risk, to health and well being that goes with cagefighting, but at the same time when you have the option of conceding at any moment,by tapping,asking or just not coming out for the next round, lets be honest how courageous do you really have to be? It has’nt done anything toward helping your testicles drop yet, I learned long ago that the most cowardice of men, congregate in gyms, boxing,wrestling,lifting weights, doing everything they can to escape that unrelenting feeling of inadequacy,insecurity, and butterflies,,and it fools some folks but not me,,”everybody doing this ain’t monsters son,,,and I’ve seen a few monsters before and they was’nt in no octagon.
December 31st, 2010 at 2:53 pm
your right bedo and ive never thought of it that way….i can remember seein guys get hit turn there back and fall down….i guess that doesnt take much balls….im still wanting that ice cream im tryin to bulk up to 145
December 31st, 2010 at 2:59 pm
I think Kuhner may have been a black belt in Judo. Not sure though.
December 31st, 2010 at 3:58 pm
hey point dexter, how about you show me how evolve “gets down” after i fight isaiah. lets get matched up.
December 31st, 2010 at 4:31 pm
when and where are you fighting chapman tyler? i would love to see that
December 31st, 2010 at 4:51 pm
feb 26th. its official. the same venue as the night of champions was held, i cant wait.
December 31st, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Feb 26th. its official. the same venue that the night of champions was held, i cant wait. i think its in cleveland and its on a proam card.
December 31st, 2010 at 5:45 pm
could saltsman be the poster Your Name?? best of luck to you this will be a tru test.
December 31st, 2010 at 8:15 pm
thank you. and we’ll see how tough the poindexter is.
December 31st, 2010 at 8:17 pm
win or lose, ill put on a show. come watch.
January 1st, 2011 at 1:44 pm
hahhaha Brandon that’s funny i’m related to an Evolve fighter and these people don’t even understand what Evolve is about. family, heart, and respect and that is what MMA is about, and if you don’t know , you’re gonna know. you go BP!
January 1st, 2011 at 8:31 pm
Tyler your a joke too kid! For one who have you fought to talk like your some monster? Your a PA wrestler with just that in MMA…You have no stand up or jits and have watched you fight, not impressive…Isiah is on nice streak and you have no chance…I have a fight next week and not worried about anything but that! So sit back train hard work on your stand up, jits and see around!
January 1st, 2011 at 10:58 pm
if thats the way you feel perhaps we’ll have no problem in scheduling a fight in the near future.
January 2nd, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Tyler like Bp said you have no chance against Isaiah he is a fucking beast and he will toy with you take you down let you up then knock your ass out. You better jump on some superman shit if you think you have a chance. As far as you beating Bp you will get knocked out once again. I know both of them very well and train with both. As far as me I may of only had 1 fight so far and I lost by cutting lots of weight but I assure you I will take that loss with a high head and you will see something very soon. I train with the best at EVOLVE!!!! Have a good day buddy
January 2nd, 2011 at 5:21 pm
I am sure both of them feel very honored for you wanting to fight the best but don’t get your little jollies excited so fast. Do yourself a favor and just sit on your couch get some popcorn and watch Bp and Dave Graf dominate this Saturday. And if you got something to say to me you can come up to 155 and talk cause I walk at 175 TIGHT SKIRT
January 2nd, 2011 at 5:34 pm
January 5th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
While id have to say if I was a betting man I prob would take chapman over saltsman….But bp may have the worst td defence in the series saltsman would win an easy UD
January 5th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
lol at chris hahn callin out a 135
January 5th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
yomomma where did you see saltsman fight? i dont know its going to be close, ive seen them both fight and i honestly dont see chapman submitting saltsman or knocking him out although it could happen. i see saltsman winning a decision. haha and bp is no match for either of them. who is chris hahn? hes 0-1 and picking a fight with a 135lber who could probably beat him lol.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
I saw saltsman on two occasions. He has great wrestling and control from the top position. I see him and Chapman being a good fight but I just dont know if he can take down champman the whole fight, and if youve seen chapman you cant deny his standup is alot better than tyler. Id love to be there to see that fight tho, im suprised that chapman is still an ammy to be honest.
January 5th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
saltsman sucks. chapman is bigger faster stronger a better wrestler a better striker. saltsman wont even make it out of the first round. and if he does its because isaiah is playing with him just for fun. if you disagree you are retarded. saltsman will get his ass kicked, i cant wait to see it.
January 6th, 2011 at 8:59 am
bossman i would agree with your whole post other than Chapman being a better wrestler. wether you like him or not saltsman was a 4x state champ granite it wasnt in ohio but a 4x state champ anywhere is a pretty prestigous honor. did chapman ever place in ohio states?
January 6th, 2011 at 9:00 am
and id like to call out jordan mcdonald, although i have a 50lb weight advantage i think i could hang with her
January 6th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
lets not forget saltsman started for penn state and was a match away from freestyle all american in akron ohio as a sophomore. placed at world trials in vegas for 21 and under and beat a couple guys ranked in the top 20 for division 1… that to me is more impressive than a 4x state champ. chapman is not bigger or stronger either, saltsman easily has that edge, the kid is stacked.
January 8th, 2011 at 11:14 am
I dont think Tyler started for Penn State and to confirm,
Clint Musser, who did start for Penn State and was a 2X All American there did not know Tyler through wrestling and only came to know him through his MMA career. Tyler was red shirted as a Freshman and went 3-2 in open tournaments. He was not given the opportunity he thought he deserved to become a starter at 133 so he left the team to pursue a career in MMA. That does not change the fact that he is a dominant wrestler at this weight and continues to improve his stand up every fight. I watched him fight a very tough kid from Fight Farm at Proving Grounds 1. He was very impressive with his takedowns and controlled the entire fight on the ground. His kickboxing looked much improved but still not the caliber of Bhrandon Poindexter. I do not know what his submission game is or his jits but as we can all admit, elite level wrestlers usually improve in this areas very quickly. Tyler is a very powerful and explosive athlete and just because of the factors listed above will make a tough opponent for anyone at his weight class. Evolve would welcome a match up between Tyler and BP but this bout will have to wait. BP will be competing as an ammy for 2-3 more fights and then will be turning pro.
January 9th, 2011 at 9:45 am
Francis made that look like he was fighting my 12 year old sister….All we do is Evolve baby!!
January 9th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Saltsman was the starter for penn state. he won his wrestle off against bryan pearsal and wrestled in the sprawl and brawl duals after his red shit season. he also represnented penn state at the world team trials and university free style nationals. He medaled at one of them, I cant remmeber. I do know he was better than 3-2 his redshirt season because he placed 2nd at the edinboro open and wrestled in other tournaments besides that one (clearly more than 5 matches). i always liked him because i tohught he was an extremely talented young kid and i was upset when he left so i have been following his mma career along with former penn state wrestlers eric bradley and phil davis. hes a tough kid and was as good as anybody in that penn state wrestling room.
January 9th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
saltsman quit because when the new coaching staff came (cael sanderson) was wrestling his guy half the time taking away from saltsman’s starts even though saltsman won the wrestle off and posted a better record but because cael’s guy was younger he was getting matches that should have been saltsman’s. Tyler told the reporters he did not like training full time and was only able to wrestle half the matches so he wanted to pursue mma and now he is with the penn state boxing team. The wrestling team rumored to have wanted him back but saltsman said he really liked mma and decided to stick with it.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
cook dont you think BP would knock saltsman out?
January 10th, 2011 at 10:25 am
im sure cook thinks that. but he also thought bp was goin to run thru healey
January 16th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
I am in favor of the top level wrestler in any fight. BP did have a nasty leg cramp but even if he did not that doesn’t mean he would have won the fight. Healey is very tough and anything can happen. If your gonna beat salesman at this level you better be good off your back. Cuz that’s where your gonna be. I don’t think Tyler is going to stand and bang for too long right now. It’s about winning as a new ammy. He can put on a show later. So to answer the question I did not think BP was going to run through Francis. I did of course think he had the stand up and jits advantage. If Tyler kickboxed against BP my guy wins hands down. But this ain’t kickboxing. Remember, we have only been around 2 years. Griffon Rawls is into 10 years and strong style longer than that. Give us a few more years and everything will be in place and we will have a solid pool of pro fighters and a ton of kids in the feeder system. We celebrated our 2 year anniversary In august.