Ahmad Douglas v Tobiaus Taylor at FNF 10

Ahmad Douglas climbs in the cage for the 4th time in less than a year this time to face off with Tobiaus Taylor, the younger brother of former NAAFS Lightweight Champion Torrance Taylor.  Ahmad has kept a busy schedule.  Running his record to 3-0 since his MMA debut last October, he’s also managed to squeeze in a couple of wrestling tournaments and a smoker or two (and he doesn’t miss classes).  One of the youngest members of the GR Amateur Fight Team (he’s actually still under some age restrictions), Ahmad, faces different challenges from his older team members.  Aside from a full study schedule at Lakeland Community College, Ahmad puts in long hours at his family’s restaurant.

What: Fight Night in the Flats 10
Date: June 7, 2014
Where: Jacobs Pavilion, 2014 Sycamore St Cleveland OH 44113
When: Doors Open at 5 PM, Event Starts at 6 PM
Tickets: Contact Ahmad Douglas through GriffonRawl or on Facebook HERE

Ahmad’s opponent is Tobiaus Taylor, a 4-1 lightweight out of the very tough Rising Dragon camp.  A striker like his older brother Torrance, Tobiaus likes to grind out the wins, working a careful and technical game.  Three of his wins are Unanimous Decisions, the other being a 2nd round TKO.  His sole loss was a late 3rd round armbar to the much more experienced RJ Buck (11-4 at the time).  This will be a very competitive fight.

GR always sends a strong contingent to Fight Night in the Flats.  We’ve been the main event there more than once.  Be sure to contact Ahmad either at GR or on his Facebook page for tickets

Intimidation Clothing will sponsor Ahmad for this fight:



Written by: Bob Donaghy

Where There's Smoke There's Fire

GriffonRawl will host it’s first Open Sparring Night on Friday, May 30th at GriffonRawl Academy.  Jason has invited teams from Vanyo’s Martial Arts, Evolve, World Kickboxing Academy, Marvin William's Fearless All Stars and Rockhard MMA.  He’s already received confirmation on some of the participants and made matchups with GR members.  Check out the event page on Facebook for updates.

Public Open Sparring Night HERE

What: GriffonRawl Open Sparring Night
Date: Friday May 30, .2014
Where: GriffonRawl MMA Academy 6090 Pinecone Dr, Mentor OH
When: 8 pm to Whenever
Tickets: It’s FREE!

What, exactly, is a Smoker?

Ask ten people and get ten answers, but the one that matters most in Ohio (and for our purposes) is what the Ohio Athletic Commission says.  To them, a Smoker (can’t be called a Smoker!) is a competitive exhibition
of skills conducted for the entertainment of the public within the rules of a specific combat sport as overseen by a qualified representative of the Commission.  In practical terms, the gym owner has to inform the commission of the Smoker, can’t call it a Smoker when advertising it, must provide a qualified referee, though the referee must not declare a ‘winner’ in any of the competitions, and the gym owner may not charge admission to the public.

For the rest of us non-combatants a Smoker (known from now on as  “Public Open Sparring Night”), is a fun evening out.  For the fighters the results of the fights are not recorded and do not appear on their record.  Since these aren't official fights, it is not necessary for a participant to be a member of a formal fight team.  It is, however, full contact fighting in front of an audience, making it excellent experience for a novice fighter to get used to public performance without the pressure of full event preparation.  More experienced fighters use Open Sparring Nights to stave off ring rust in the long lags between fights.  It’s also a great way to get exposure to other fighters and other skills.  It’s too easy to become complacent when you spar with only your friends week in and week out.

Fearless All Stars

Written by: Bob Donaghy

Thai Boxing Association Level 1 Testing and Training Clinic

GriffonRawl’s seminar program keeps on growing.  Saturday, May 10th sees the start of formal clinics provided by the Thai Boxing Association.  This clinic provides instruction leading to certification as a Level 1 boxer.  In the next few months a follow up clinic will feature testing for the certification.

What: Thai Boxing Association Level 1 Testing and Training Clinic

Date: Saturday, May 10, 2014 

Where: GriffonRawl Academy, 6090 Pinecone Drive Mentor, OH 44060

When: 1 pm to 3 pm

Tickets: $20 at the door, or Free to anyone already certified at Level 1 or a member of the GR Professional Fight Team

All of GR's Professional Fighters are URGED to attend. This seminar/clinic will improve your attention to detail and polish up your already lethal abilities so please be there. Sign Ups have started at the counter for this Level 1 training clinic. 

One of our many long term goals is to have Master Ajarn Chai at the GriffonRawl MMA Academy annually to conduct a seminar for us. Lucky for us here at GR our very own Kru Aaron Juice Veverka has been working his way up the ranks for years by training, traveling, and studying up under Master Chai and this can very well become a reality. 

This seminar is sponsored by:

Intimidation Clothing

View Larger Map

Written by: Bob Donaghy

Friday Night is Alright for Fighting

May 30th GR will host its first ever Boxing/Muay Thai open sparring night. This event is open to the public at no charge. The matches will be in our full size Mixed Martial Arts cage and some of the areas best gyms will show up to throwdown.  We expect a full house and this event will be a great experience for both the participants and spectators.

What: GriffonRawl  Public Open Sparring Night
Date: Friday, May 30, 2014
When: 6 pm to 11 pm
Where: GriffonRawl MMA Academy, 6090 Pinecone Dr, Mentor OH
How Much: It’s FREE

The evening will consist of both Boxing & Muay Thai match ups.  With 4 matches set, we need 6 more.  Professional photographer Jack Jones will shoot the event, and New Life Church will set up a table to sell pizza and soft drinks.  It will be an action packed night of intense sparring and fun.

Jason Dent is limiting GR participation to members with experience in Smokers/Thai Fights/MMA Fights.  We are setting this limit for our inaugural event but we will open it up more when we do the second one.

We have 4 matches set so far:

• Thai match - Dave Osborne vs. Dave Awbrey
• Thai match - Brad Bukovics vs. Billy Callabrase
• Boxing match - Tim Stafford vs. Billy Freedson
• Boxing match - Annie Payne vs. Briana Coubrough

Four girls face off

Exhibition Bouts - not official of who is matched with who but the four girls are - Brooke Da Burr, Mariah Maynard, Masda Diaz and Kaylee Maynard

Matches will be refereed by the very experienced Mark Feaks who has done events for both Evolve MMA and the World Kickboxing Academy!

We are looking for match ups for Matt Hopkins 170lbs, Cody Lewis 145lbs, Allan Turner Heavyweight, Nikolai Gionti 135lbs, George Comer 155lbs, Jim Payne Heavyweight, etc, etc.

If anyone with with Muay Thai, Boxing, or MMA experience out there wants to get in some heavy sparring in front of a pretty BIG live audience to add some much need experience to their game please contact Jason Dent as he is handling the matchmaking for this event.

Keep up with updates to this event on its Facebook page HERE

Written by: Bob Donaghy

GR to Host Krav Maga Self Defense Seminar

GriffonRawl will host a practical self defense seminar on April 4th.  It will be a two hour introduction to the street fighting tactics and techniques of Krav Maga by the owner & operator of Cleveland's Fight Fit Krav Maga, Sarah Fox.

Take advantage of this opportunity to add some of the street tested techniques of this great art to your arsenal taught by one to the regions best instructors

This seminar is sponsored by Action Automotive

What: Krav Maga Seminar (ages 10 and up only please)
Date: Friday, April 4, 2014
Where: GriffonRawl Academy
When: 6 pm to 8 pm
Tickets: Members: $20, non-members: $30 (add $10 if you buy at the door)
Call: 440-358-9371 for tickets

Fight Fit Krav Maga Website

Written by: Bob Donaghy

Three GR Fighters Gear Up for the April NAAFS Fight Show

GR members Josh Belle, Brad Buckovics and Jeff Offak look to extend the gym’s impressive winning streak on the April 26th NAAFS card in Akron, OH.  Josh and Brad have already won under the GR banner and are full GR Team Fighters.  Jeff was left “standing at the altar” at Combat Challenge 25 when his opponent withdrew, so this will be his MMA debut fighting for the gym.

• Josh Belle v Eric Rundquist 2-2 independent at 170 
• Jeff Offak v Joe Pinental 0-0 at 125
• Brad Buckovics v TBA at 170

Click on the names (in yellow) for the full fight record for each fighter

What: Combat Challenge 27
Date: Saturday April 26, 2014
Where: Chapparell’s Community Center 2418 S. Arlington Rd Akron OH 44319
When: Doors Open at 5:00 PM Event Starts at 6:30 PM
Tickets: Contact Jason Dent, Josh, Jeff or Brad at GR

Intimidation Clothing will be sponsoring Josh, Brad and Jeff

Written by: Bob Donaghy

Comer Fights for Driven MMA

On March 1st, George Comer charges back into the cage for the first time since his July win over Brian Camozzi at Fight Night in the Flats.  This time George heads to Canton for Driven MMA’s inaugural event.  Drive MMA is the rebranded Pro division of NAAFS, so it’s not totally unfamiliar territory.  While this is George’s first fight ‘out of town’,  at 70 miles, Canton isn’t far enough to keep George’s rabid fans from making the trip.

George Comer is a wrestling machine.  With a total fight record of 12-1, 9 of his wins were grinding decisions.  He’s been mixing it up since turning pro (3-1) with half of his wins via submission.  His opponent, Anthony Morgan, who started his career as a 185# and didn't really settle in as a 155 until the start of 2013, carries a 12-5 overall record, and is undefeated as a pro (3-0).   With 4 wins by tko, 4 by sub, and 3 by decision (his losses are a mixed bag as well) Morgan is a well balanced fighter.  They have one opponent in common: Stephen Singleton.  Comer beat Singleton last March by Arm Triangle Choke at 1:37 of round 2.  Morgan beat Singleton in October by Guillotine Choke at 2:28 of round 1.

As usual George will be sporting Intimidation Clothing gear to the cage.

What: Driven MMA One
Date: Saturday March 1, 2014
Where: Canton Civic Center 1101 Market Ave N. , Canton OH 44702
When: Doors Open at 5:30 PM, Event Starts at 7:00 PM
Tickets: Contact George Comer or Jason Dent at GR

Here is the full card:
265lbs Curt Lemmon 1-0 vs Ryan Walls 2-0
170lbs Reggie Parks 2-1 vs Kenny Booker 2-1
145lbs Louis Johnson 2-0 vs Wes Hanson 1-0
135lbs Summer Bradshaw 0-0 vs Jessica Zomcik 0-0-0
155lbs Anthony Morgan 3-0 vs George Comer 3-1
265lbs William Penn 7-3 vs John Hawk 8-5
145lbs Kyle Rozewski 3-3 vs Dustin Kempf 6-6
135lbs Charles Stanford 4-1 vs Isaiah Chapman 4-1
145lbs Ricky Musgrave 11-4 vs Frank Caraballo 12-6
145lbs Wes Lane 3-2 vs Antonio Castillo Jr 7-4
205lbs Rodney Wallace 19-7-1vs Max Grishin 13-6
175lbs Dominique Steele 10-4 (Vision MMA) vs Dan Hornbuckle 20-7 (ATT WarHawks)


View Larger Map

Written by: Bob Donaghy