20 Pennsylvania Fighters You Should Know
Pennsylvania has a tradition of having some superstars in MMA. You probably already know of Pennsylvania fighters like former Lock Haven wrestler & TUF1 competitor Josh Koscheck, former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Brian Stann, UFC Middleweight contender Tim Boetsch, UFC Featherweight Jimy Hettes just to name a few, but this is a list of up-and-coming fighters or veterans that if you haven't heard of them already, I believe you soon will. Some have fought for promotions like Bellator, Strikeforce, King of the Cage, and even the UFC... and others have only fought for local promotions as they try to make it to the larger promotions. This list is far from complete, but I feel this is a good representation of fighters from Pennsylvania to watch, because (as I said above) if you don't know them already, you probably will very soon.
Do yourself a favor and go see local Pennsylvania promotions when they are in your area putting on an event. It is by supporting promotions like
Complete Devastation,
Gladiators of the Cage,
XFE Cage Wars,
Pinnacle Fighting Championships,
World Cagefighting Championships,
Cage Fury Fighting Championships that the stars of tomorrow can be seen. Catch them when they come to your area, because it shouldn't be long before the only way you can see them will be when they fight on networks like NBC Sports, AXS TV, Fox Sports 1, Spike TV, or on Pay-Per-View.
This list isn't in order, because it would be too hard to rank all of these fighters. This is just a guide of some of the many Pennsylvania MMA fighters you need to be checking out, before they make it BIG!
#SupportLocalMMA #SupportPennsylvaniaMMA
1. Scott Heckman
Scott "The Animal" Heckman is 15 - 4 and fights out of Nazareth, Pa.
Heckman's last fight was a loss to Terrell at XFE 24 in the Featherweight (145 pro) division. Prior to that loss
Scott Heckman had been on a 7 fight win streak, and I feel he will get back to his winning ways very soon & that the UFC will come calling before 2014 is over. Follow him at
The_Animal27 and check out his page at
http://www.teamheckman.com/
2. Mark Cherico
Mark Cherico (a.k.a. "The Pride Of Bloomfield") is an Featherweight fighter (145 pro) out of Bloomfield, Pa.
Cherico is currently 5 - 0 as a professional (14 - 0 overall) and his last fight was a 2nd round TKO win over Donny Walker at Pinnacle Fighting Championships "Pittsburgh Challenge Series 3" to become the PFC Featherweight (pro) champion. I would love to see a fight between
Mark Cherico and Scott Heckman, but since they fight for competing promotions this is unlikely until both fighters make it to the next level and fight for a national/regional promotion. You can follow him at
MarkChericoMMA.
3. Paul Felder
Paul Felder is a Lightweight fighter (155lb pro) fighting out of the Philadelphia area. He is 5 - 0 as a pro (8 - 1 overall) and
Felder's last fight was a win over Corey Bleaken at CFFC 24. As a pro
Felder has fought for promotions like CFFC, XFE & PFC, and with his exciting style and history of winning by TKO/KO I expect a regional/national promotion to sign him very soon.
4. George Sullivan
George Sullivan is technically a New Jersey fighter, but he fights for CFFC & Ring of Combat, so I include him in the Pennsylvania fighter category.
Sullivan is the current CFFC Welterweight (170lb pro) champion.
Sullivan is 14 - 3 as a professional and recently defended his title against a very tough Jesus Martinez at CFFC 26. George is a beast at 170 and I expect to see him in a major promotion by mid 2014.
5. Cody Karlheim
Cody "Lenny" Karlheim is one of the many Dignan/Brumbaugh MMA fighters that is shaking things up in Central Pennsylvania MMA.
Karlheim is called the "King of the Altoona Amateurs" by
Cage Nation TV co-host
Albert Cameron. "Lenny" is 3 - 1 as an Featherweight (145lb ammy) fighter fighting out of Ebensburg, Pa. His last fight was a win over Derek Hayes at CDMMA 7 but
Karlheim is currently recovering from knee surgery to repair damage to the ACL of his knee. Karlheim had been in line to fight for the Complete Devastation Featherweight (ammy) title, and hopefully he is able to compete on the CDMMA 9 fight card for November 2013, possibly against current champion Rich Cantolina. Recently Cody was awarded his BJJ Purple Belt from coach Jason Dignan of Dignan/Brumbaugh MMA. You can follow him at
youngLeonard621.
6. Ricky Nuno
Ricky "El Numero Uno" Nuno is a Lightweight (155lb pro) fighter out of Bensalem, Pa.
Nuno is 2 - 1 as a pro (6 - 2 overall) and his most recent fight was a win over Greg Wolfe at XFE 24.
Nuno is scheduled to face Christian Leonard at CFFC 27 September 21st.
7. Dominic Mazzotta
Dominic "The Honey Badger" Mazzotta is a Featherweight (145 pro) fighter out of Lower Burrell, Pa.
Mazzotta is 2 - 0 as a pro (9 - 1 - 1 overall) and was the former NAAFS Featherweight (ammy) champion before turning pro.
Mazzotta's most recent fight was a devastating 1st round KO head kick against Jeremiah Yeager for Gladiators of the Cage.
8. Clark Young
Clark Young is a Heavyweight (265lb ammy) fighter out of Washington, Pa.
Young is 4 - 2 as an amateur and his most recent fight was a win over OJ Vickers for Gladiators of the Cage. The next fight for
Young is scheduled to be against Chris Pierce at PFC's Pittsburgh Challenge Series 4 on August 24th. You can follow him at
clark_young_85.
9. Jessica Richman
Jessica Richman is a Bantamweight (135lb ammy) fighting out of the Philadelphia area.
Richman is 2 - 0 as an amateur and her most recent fight was a Unanimous Decision win over Jamie Chesney for Gladiators of the Cage. The next scheduled fight for
Richman is supposed to be against tough South Carolina fighter Alexa Conners.
10.Shawn Downs
Shawn Downs is a Lightweight (155lb ammy) fighter fighting out of West Mifflin, Pa.
Downs is 5 - 0 as an ammy and his most recent fight was a win against Sean Diehl to win the World Cagefighting Championships Lightweight (ammy) title. The next scheduled fight for
Downs is against Travis List for the Gladiators of the Cage Lightweight (ammy) title on September 7th.
11.Brett Shoenfelt
Brett "Showtime" Shoenfelt is a Welterweight (170lb pro) fighting out of Hollidaysburg, Pa.
Shoenfelt is 5 - 3 as a pro (11 - 5 overall) and his most recent fight was a win over Billy Ward at Complete Devastation 8. Shoenfelt was set to fight at VFL 42, but due to his opponent coming in way over weight the fight was cancelled. "Showtime" has expressed interest in wanting to fight his former High School teacher & assistant wrestling coach Charlie "The Spaniard" Brenneman, but Brenneman has since dropped from Welterweight (170lbs) to Lightweight (155lbs).
Shoenfelt has made connections with both XFE Cage Wars & Gladiators of the Cage, so hopefully he will be fighting again soon. Brett has shown support for his old High School by working with the wrestling boosters as well as sponsoring a dirt track race car driver.
12.Jesus Martinez
Jesus "Chavo" Martinez is a Welterweight (170lb pro) fighting out of Philadelphia, Pa.
Martinez is 8 - 4 as a pro (12 - 5 overall) and his last fight was a loss to George Sullivan as he tried to win the CFFC Welterweight title at CFFC 26.
Martinez has fought for Bellator, XFE Cage Wars, CFFC, & King of the Cage and is always a tough competitor. He is one of the main instructors at Martinez BJJ in Philadelphia.
13.Darrell Horcher
Darrell "The Saint" Horcher is a Lightweight (155lb pro) fighter out of Shermansdale, Pa.
Horcher is 7 - 1 as a pro (11 - 2 overall) and his most recent fight was a loss to Phillipe Nover at Bellator 95.
Horcher is known to Central Pennsylvania MMA fans for his amazing head kick KO of tough fighter George "Lights Out" Sheppard at Complete Devastation 5. He has fought in Bellator three times and was on a 7 fight win streak before his loss to Nover. I expect for Horcher to get back in the win column again - if not for Bellator, then for another big promotion. Horcher is the current Complete Devastation Lightweight (pro) champion.
14.Shane Valko
Shane Valko is a Bantamweight (135lb ammy) fighter out of Johnstown, Pa.
Valko is 6 - 1 as an ammy and his last fight was a loss to Jerrell Hodge for the NAAFS Lightweight (ammy) title at Night of Champions 2012.
Valko is also training in BJJ at Dignan/Brumbaugh MMA at the Gallitzin facility as well as training at other gyms in Cambria County. Previous to that loss to Hodge Valko was on a 6 fight win streak, and I expect him to get back in the win column very soon. Shane had been talking about being ready to make his pro debut, and was hoping to do so at an event near his Johnstown home.
15.Brandon Lux
Brandon Lux is a Middleweight (185lb ammy) fighter out of Johnstown, Pa. Lux is 2 - 0 as an amateur and his last fight was a win over Scott Athey at VFL 40 in Altoona.
Lux was scheduled to fight Roman Swaner at VFL 42, but Swaner came in way under the 185lb limit and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission wouldn't sanction the fight. Brandon is a tough fighter out of Johnstown's "Damage Inc." gym.
16.Caleb Dobosh
Caleb "Costa" Dobosh is a Middleweight (185lb ammy) fighter out of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dobosh is 2 - 1 as an ammy and his last fight was a win over Jarod Newbraugh at PFC's Pittsburgh Challenge Series 3.
Dobosh's next scheduled fight is against Mark Mangiardi at PFC's Pittsburgh Challenge Series 4. You can follow him at
CalebDobosh.
17.Paul McAleer
Paul "P-Mac" McAleer is a Bantamweight (135lb ammy) fighting out of Altoona, Pa.
McAleer is 2 - 0 as an amateur and his most recent fight was a win against Jonathan Coffman at World Cagefighting Championships 6 in Greensburg.
McAleer is a member of Dignan/Brumbaugh MMA and his fans have been called the "P-Mac-A-Maniacs".
18.Eli Garshnick
Eli Garshnick is a Middleweight (185lb pro) fighter out of Blairsville, Pa.
Garshnick is 9 - 5 as a pro (15 - 6 overall) and his most recent fight was a win over Donald Crawford at VFL 40 in Altoona.
Garshnick is the current WCC & VFL Middleweight (pro) champion, and is a member of the Cold Steel MMA & Wrestling team.
19.LaRon Williams
LaRon Williams is a Welterweight (170lb ammy) fighter out of Johnstown, Pa.
Williams is 3 - 0 as an amateur and his most recent fight was an Armbar submission win over Robert Best at Complete Devastation 3 in Johnstown. Although it has been awhile since
Williams has fought inside the cage, he has been keeping up with his BJJ & MMA training at Dignan/Brumbaugh MMA in Gallitzin as well as training at Cambria County Martial Arts. Williams has been a training partner for former UFC fighter Charlie Brenneman when he trains in Cambria County. Hopefully LaRon will return to the cage soon, because he truly is an exciting fighter to see in action.
20.Charlie Brenneman
Charlie "The Spaniard" Brenneman is a Lightweight (155lb pro) from Hollidaysburg, Pa.
Brenneman is 18 - 5 as a professional (23 - 5 overall) and his most recent fight was a Unanimous Decision win over Gemiyale Adkins at CFFC 25.
Brenneman was supposed to fight Ronnie "Bam Bam" Rogers for the CFFC Lightweight (pro) Title at CFFC 26 back on August 17th but after a successful weigh-in & face-off Rogers suffered from severe dehydration and had to go to the E.R. - the doctor wouldn't allow the fight to continue even after Rogers received fluids and his condition improved. "The Spaniard" is a former UFC Welterweight fighter who fought 8 times (4 - 4) before being released after some disappointing losses. Since being released from the UFC Brenneman dropped to Lightweight and is on a 3 fight win streak. Had the Rogers fight happened & Brenneman won impressively, he could have found himself back in the UFC again - this time as a Lightweight. I expect Charlie to get back to the UFC some time early in 2014. You can follow him at
SpaniardMMA.
Honorable Mention:
Cody Garbrandt, Anton Berzin, Tim Williams, Khama Worthy, Ethan Goss, Jeff Smith, Ryan Cafaro, Rich Cantolina, Doug Haupt, Justin Bonitatis, Jonathan Coffman, Jason Willett, Jason Royer, Mike Wilkins, Devon Estes, Nicholas Willey, Maggie O'Neill, Jonas Rubiano, Shawn McMahon, Zach Shultz, Chris Dempsey, Blaine Shutt, Jamie Chesney, Bassil Hafez, Daniel Coffman, Mitchell Killeen, and Brad Mountain.
