An Event Five Years in the Making
(PRESS RELEASE) -- For the past four years, Fight Nite in the Flats
has been one of the most anticipated events in all of mixed martial
arts and this year's edition will no doubt continue that tradition
of excellence. Featuring the top athletes in the region, Fight Nite
in the Flats has taken on a life of its own. This one event has
become such an institution that fighters in both the Pro and
National Amateur Series consider it to be a great honor just to
compete on the card. On Saturday June 6th, Nautica Pavilion will
once again play host to this great event, which for the past four
years has featured some of the sport's greatest fighters, ready to
break through to the cusp of greatness.
The original Fight Nite in the Flats held on September 17th, 2005 set the standard right out the gate. The main event featured future IFL star & top heavyweight prospect Ben Rothwell taking on Alan Weickart in a heavyweight battle. Another interesting fight on the card saw Jason "Dynamite" Dent defeat Josh Souder, both of whom can be seen on the upcoming season of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter. In fact, Fight Nite in the Flats featured one of only two amateur fights in the career of future UFC star "The Immortal" Matt Brown. While it was the fights who drew in the crowd, the list of special guest dignitaries in the house that night included former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich "Ace" Franklin, UFC Hall of Famer & former Heavyweight Champion Mark "The Hammer" Coleman, UFC Veteran Jorge Gurgel, World Kickboxing Legend Duke Roufus, WWE Tough Enough Champion & future StrikeForce star Daniel Puder, amongst others. The standard had been set and the bar was only going to become higher with each passing year.
Held on June 10th, 2006; Fight Nite in the Flats II was headlined by no less than four professional title fights. In the main event, former UFC & Pride veteran and Cleveland's own Dan "The Bull" Bobish defeated Eric "Fort" Knox. A new Gladiator Fights Heavyweight Champion was crowned when future UFC veteran Josh "Heavy" Hendricks defeated Patrick Barrentine. Future UFC veteran Jeff "The Grinder" Cox walked out with championship gold by defeating Chris Meyers. Fight Nite in the Flats 2 also played host to the 2006 NAAFS Fight of the Year, as "Smokin" Joe Heiland defeated Josh McBride in a back and forth battle. This event also saw the MMA debut of future UFC veteran Ryan "The Lion" Madigan, where he defeated Clint Zeedyk by TKO. Special guests in attendance included Ultimate Fighter Season One Champion Stephan Bonnar, UFC veteran Brandon Lee Hinkle, and women's MMA phenom Lana Stefanac.
Fight Nite in the Flats III was held on June 9th, 2007 and continued the tradition established by events years prior. The event would see two future NAAFS National Amateur champions in action, namely Josh Stansbury and Joe "The Giant Killer" Lewis; amongst many others. In a National Amateur Middleweight showdown, Chuck Ellison defeated Chris Green in one of the greatest fights in NAAFS history. The Pro Series started to take form at this event, as more talent was introduced to the series. Two-time UFC veteran Sean Salmon debuted in the organization, defeating Jason "Freebird" Freeman. Plus future Elite XC & Dream star Dave "Pee Wee" Herman put himself on the map at Fight Nite in the Flats III, where he defeated fellow prospect Andre Mussi. One of the most anticipated fights at the show was the pro debut of 2006 Fighter of the Year "Smokin" Joe Heiland, as he defeated Jacob Eaton in a fight that was chronicled in the movie Don't Blink (www.DontBlinkMovie.com). In fact, Fight Nite in the Flats III was a central theme in the making of the film.
The original Fight Nite in the Flats held on September 17th, 2005 set the standard right out the gate. The main event featured future IFL star & top heavyweight prospect Ben Rothwell taking on Alan Weickart in a heavyweight battle. Another interesting fight on the card saw Jason "Dynamite" Dent defeat Josh Souder, both of whom can be seen on the upcoming season of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter. In fact, Fight Nite in the Flats featured one of only two amateur fights in the career of future UFC star "The Immortal" Matt Brown. While it was the fights who drew in the crowd, the list of special guest dignitaries in the house that night included former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich "Ace" Franklin, UFC Hall of Famer & former Heavyweight Champion Mark "The Hammer" Coleman, UFC Veteran Jorge Gurgel, World Kickboxing Legend Duke Roufus, WWE Tough Enough Champion & future StrikeForce star Daniel Puder, amongst others. The standard had been set and the bar was only going to become higher with each passing year.
Held on June 10th, 2006; Fight Nite in the Flats II was headlined by no less than four professional title fights. In the main event, former UFC & Pride veteran and Cleveland's own Dan "The Bull" Bobish defeated Eric "Fort" Knox. A new Gladiator Fights Heavyweight Champion was crowned when future UFC veteran Josh "Heavy" Hendricks defeated Patrick Barrentine. Future UFC veteran Jeff "The Grinder" Cox walked out with championship gold by defeating Chris Meyers. Fight Nite in the Flats 2 also played host to the 2006 NAAFS Fight of the Year, as "Smokin" Joe Heiland defeated Josh McBride in a back and forth battle. This event also saw the MMA debut of future UFC veteran Ryan "The Lion" Madigan, where he defeated Clint Zeedyk by TKO. Special guests in attendance included Ultimate Fighter Season One Champion Stephan Bonnar, UFC veteran Brandon Lee Hinkle, and women's MMA phenom Lana Stefanac.
Fight Nite in the Flats III was held on June 9th, 2007 and continued the tradition established by events years prior. The event would see two future NAAFS National Amateur champions in action, namely Josh Stansbury and Joe "The Giant Killer" Lewis; amongst many others. In a National Amateur Middleweight showdown, Chuck Ellison defeated Chris Green in one of the greatest fights in NAAFS history. The Pro Series started to take form at this event, as more talent was introduced to the series. Two-time UFC veteran Sean Salmon debuted in the organization, defeating Jason "Freebird" Freeman. Plus future Elite XC & Dream star Dave "Pee Wee" Herman put himself on the map at Fight Nite in the Flats III, where he defeated fellow prospect Andre Mussi. One of the most anticipated fights at the show was the pro debut of 2006 Fighter of the Year "Smokin" Joe Heiland, as he defeated Jacob Eaton in a fight that was chronicled in the movie Don't Blink (www.DontBlinkMovie.com). In fact, Fight Nite in the Flats III was a central theme in the making of the film.
