Steven’s team mate at SSF Thomas Campbell was also on the card but his match up dropped out of the fight a few days before the fight.

SSF’s Michael Graham is scheduled to fight June 22, 2012 in Nashville TN for XFC.  This will be Michael’s pro debut.

There is no denying  that SSF is the leading MMA school in Clarksville TN.  No other gym can match the skills and talents of the fighters and coaching staff at SSF.

Anyone interested in training with the only gym in Clarksville TN with a proven track record give Ron Dayley a call at 931-249-6598 or stop by SSF Submission Academy, 812 College St. Clarksville TN 37040

I definitely expected a hard three round battle but I snagged the triangle early which was great, I just kept thinking Wow, Im about to win! says Durr. When asked if he was concerned about Hursts guillotine attempt, Durr smiled, A guillotine? I have a good neck, thats not to say that I cant be caught, but I worry a little less about chokes then most fighters I think, I could feel it, he had it in, but it just doesnt faze me, I never felt in danger, just stayed focused on working. The January 7th, 2011 Strikeforce card at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN was the culmination of three years of hard work for Durr and his coach, Ron Dayley. The Strikeforce card was divided into three sections with the preliminary Pro undercard fighting first followed by the amateur card culminating in the main event card which was aired live on Showtime. Its really exciting to see a young fighter truly begin the climb, Steven was on the undercard and as an amateur but its a great experience for him to fight on a show this size, and to win at an event like Strikeforce against a strong opponent like Hurst bodes well for his future, says Dayley.

Just a little over three years ago, Durr began his MMA training under Dayley at SSF Submission Academy and since then has gone on to win numerous titles. He currently holds the ISKA TN State 145 Title, recently defeating state ranked Chris Hall of Integrated Martial Arts in Lebanon, TN to attain the title. Hall is ranked number two in the state of TN and is the former state title holder. Durr is also The ABA 145 Champion, The SSF Invitational 145 Champion and the XMMA 145 Champion. Durr is currently ranked as the number one 145 amateur fighter in TN and KY by Around The Octagon. When Durr came to SSF three years ago, he had absolutely no fight training, not even a wrestling background. Hes a testament to what hard work and discipline can lead to when you commit, says Dayley.

The 18-4 record is impressive but upon further examination makes clear why this young fighter has gained a reputation for finishing opponents. Winning thirteen of his matches with submissions, three by TKO, and one by KO, only one win came by decision. All of his losses were by decision with the exception of one TKO when he stepped up to fill in for a teammate and fought at 170lbs in February 2009.

Durr plans to turn Pro soon, possibly within the next couple of months. But first he plans to defend his ISKA State title in Kingsport, TN on Cage Brawl Fighting Championships much anticipated card. Information on seeing Durr defend his state title is available at www.cagebrawlfights.com.

For further results from the January 7th 2011 Strikeforce Challengers event please visit http://strikeforce.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWVUM40HAMQ

The First ATO Top 10 TN Amateur MMA Rankings (www.aroundtheoctagon.com)

135

1. Brandon McMahan 8-3 Hard Knox Combat Club/Knoxville, TN
2. Chris Reeves 11-0 Team Joey Brassell
3. Len Cook 6-0 Absolute JJ/Bristol, TN
4. Thomas Vazquez 12-3 Bang Fight Gym/Southhaven, MS
5. Brian Hall 9-2 - Memphis Judo and Jiu-Jitsu/Memphis, TN
6. Landon Rhodes 19-4 Max Bishop MMA/Trenton, TN
7. Jarrett Weston 9-4 SSF
8. Matt Keller 2-0 Chattanooga Fight Factory/Chattanooga, TN
9. Adam Smothers 9-4 Team Rock
10. Cody Lane 9-4 – Brickhouse MMA/Paragould, AR

145

1. Steven Durr 14-4 SSF
2. Chris Hall 4-2 ISKA champ IMA
3. Eli McNamara 15-1 Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu
4. Jason Kilgore 6-1 Pinnacle MMA/Knoxville, TN
5. Casey Kerr 5-1 Cleveland MMA/Cleveland, TN
6. Alex Anderson 4-1 Guardian MMA
7. Corey Robison 2-0 Nashville MMA
8. Shawn Allen 5-3 High Velocity
9. Chris Wolfe 4-1 KMAA/Knoxville, TN
10. Buddy Hooker 10-6 Chilcutt’s Premier MA/Artlington, TN

155

1. Ricky Bouck 9-1 Absolute JJ/Bristol, TN
2. Jesse Grissom 10-0 Team Truth/Cleveland, TN
3. Chris Camacho 4-0 Nashville MMA
4. Tripp Carter 5-0 – CTO/West Memphis, AR
5. Zack Hicks 7-2 SSF
6. Jonathan Burdine 10-5 – Paragon MMA/Tupelo, MS
7. Billy Mullins 7-3 Mt. Empire MMA/Bristol, VA
8. Josh Booher 7-3 Mt. Empire MMA/Bristol, VA
9. Charles Costello 5-2 SSF
10. Chantein Waison 4-1 21st Century/West Memphis, AR

170

1. Drew Kennedy 7-2 ISKA Champ Pinnacle MMA/Knoxville, TN
2. Daniel Crockett 10-1 Absolute JJ/Bristol, TN
3. Doug Larson 6-0 – Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu/Memphis, TN
4. Joel Cooper 9-2-1 The Bull Pit/Jackson, TN
5. Yannick Jones 7-3 SSF
6. Kyle Kohler 10-3 Brawler University/Kingston, TN
7. Dan Schropell 7-0 – Germantown BJJ/Germantown, TN
8. Shane Hill 8-3 KMAA/Knoxville, TN
9. Travis Robertson 7-3 – Hostile MMA/Memphis, TN
10. Matt Hickman 3-0 IMA

185

1. Jesse Grun 10-3 ISKA Southeast Region Champ Chattanooga Fight Factory/Chattanooga, TN
2. Tyler Minton 8-1 ISKA State champ Team Oxendine/Johnson City, TN
3. Erick Jordan 8-1 Team Oxendine/Johnson City, TN
4. Mike Thompson 12-4 Clarksville MMA
5. Mike Houston 3-1 – Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu/Memphis, TN
6. Justin Fisher 7-0 KMAA/Knoxville, TN
7. John Davis 5-0 Chattanooga Fight Factory/Chattanooga, TN
8. Cody Shuffield 9-1 – Shuffield Kickboxing/ Water Valley, MS
9. Zack Woltz 8-0 IMA
10. Dante Lawson 5-1 Nashville MMA

205

1. Stephen Westbeld 9-1 ISKA champ IMA
2. Carlton Little 7-3 – Team Hostile/Memphis, TN
3. Murice Tunstall 5-0 SSF
4.Jaden Booth 4-1 – The Fight Clinic/Olive Branch, MS
5. Earl Medley 3-0 Guardian MMA
6. Gary Johnson 6-1 SSF
7. Matt Barker 4-1 SSF
8. Mark Inge 4-1 Team Oxedine
9. Jake Fine 2-0 Hard Knox Combat Club/Knoxville, TN
10. Jamie Houston 2-1 – The Fight Clinic/Olive Branch, MS

235

1. Walt Harris 6-1 ISKA State Champ Champions Freestyle MMA/Birmingham, AL
2. Nick Breeden 5-1 Wolf Clan/Knoxville, TN
3. Marlone Smith 7-1 Team Ground Control/Dayton, TN
4. Mikey Braden 8-1 Brawler University/Kingston, TN
5. Daniel Crosby 5-1 IMA
6. Houston Lantrip 4-0 – The Fight Clinic/Olive Branch, MS
7. Tyrone Jackson 5-3 Mt. Empire MMA/Bristol, VA
8. Del Merritt 3-2 IMA
9. Eugene Parris 2-1 Nashville MMA
10. Nate Shearon 2-0 Nashville MMA

Check back next month for July’s rankings.

Top 5 Pro rankings for TN by ATO.

135
1. Chris Wright 4-0-1 KMAA
2. Dustin Ortiz 4-0 Nashville MMA
3. Matt Hamilton 9-7 Westside MMA
4. Jeremy Wallace 2-4 Team R.O.C.K.
5. Corey Alexander 2-3 Wildside145
1. Jason Wood 4-1 Striketeam
2. Tim Galluzzi 3-0 The Fight Clinic
3. Chris Coggins 3-1 Wildside
4. Cody Floyd 1-0 Tupelo BJJ
5. Thomas Campbell 0-1 SSF

155
1. Rafaello Oliveira 9-3 Premier/KMMA
2. Matt Traylor 5-0 KMAA
3. Nate Jolly 7-1 Team Oxendine
4. Zach Underwood 6-2 Relentless
5. JD Shackleford 4-3 The Fight Clinic/Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu

170
1. Tim Stout 12-9 Team Oxendine
2. Chatt Lavender 9-7 Chattanooga Fight Factory
3. Gerric Hayes 4-4 Armbar MMA
4. Jesse Beal 2-1 Ironclad MMA
5. Dustin West 2-3 Nashville MMA

185
1. Andy Uhrich 5-0 Team Vortex
2. Shane Primm 6-3 Guardian
3. Anthony Stevens 3-0 SSF
4. Stoney Hale 4-1 Team Oxendine
5. Devan Plaisance 5-5 Hard Knox Combat Club

205
1. O’Vince St. Preux 7-4 KMAA
2. Josh Shockman 6-3 Nashville MMA
3. Jacob Noe 2-1 Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu
4. Chris Hawk 3-5 Team Hostile
5. Anthony Boyd 1-0 Team Oxendine

235
1. Dave Herman 16-2 Nashville MMA
2. Johnathan Ivey 29-42 SSF
3. Jeremy Holm 1-0 Team R.H.E.K
4. Chris Miller 1-0 Relentless
5. Goldman Butler 1-3 Tupelo BJJ

ATO KY top 10 Amateur rankings;

135
1. Jeremy Myers 10-2 Walker MMA
2. Cornelius Godfrey 10-2 Ground Zero
3. Bobby Swakhamer 8-1 Jackhammer Jiu Jitsu
4. Rob Smith 10-4 Team Ironman
5. Jason Hayden 3-0 Nice Guy Submission Fighting
6. Paul Tipton 7-3 Etown Beatdown
7. Jarrett Weston 9-4 SSF
8. Justin O’Neal 4-0 Louisville MMA
9. Cody Kessinger4-2 Highlander MMA
10.James Douglass 5-2 4 Seasons

145
1. Brett Ewing 8-0 Team Krullty
2. Steven Durr 14-4 SSF
3. Phil White 7-2 Louisville MMA
4. Jon Rigdon 6-1 Bowling Green Beatdown
5. Joe Maiani 7-3 System MMA
6. Brian Horton 8-3
7. Robert Podgorski 4-0 Four Seasons
8. Brandon Shelton 4-1 Team Wildside
9. Robert Robello 5-3 Team Wildside
10. Jeremey Philpot 15-14 Middlesboro MMA

155
1. Zach Sanders 10-0 Four Seasons
2. Brandon Suber 10-2 Walker MMA
3. Kyle Lingg 7-0 Team Prodigy
4. David Suter 7-1 Four Seasons
5. Yannick Jones 7-3 SSF
6. Tyler Young 4-0 Bowling Green Beatdown
7. Matthew DiMarcantonio 6-1
8. Wesley Ipock 3-0 Monster Squad
9. Shawn Woodyard 2-1 Reaction MMA
10. Brandon Demastas 3-2 On Point Athletics

170
1. Matt Metts 5-0 Reaction MMA
2. David Gray 5-0 Etown Beatdown
3. AJ Jenkins 7-3 Louisville MMA
4. Brian Brooks 7-2
5. Rich James 7-4 Team Prodigy
6. Steve Osmun 5-1 Etown Beatdown
7. Ben Sergent 5-0 Team Cruz
8. Scott Rendos 4-0
9. Kevan Avery 3-0
10. Ortez Tompkins 4-1 Four Seasons

185
1. Brad Hutcheison 8-1 Team Caveman
2. Justin Gamble 7-2 Team Animal
3. Marcus Finch 7-3 Cincy MMA
4. Ashcon Karbasi 5-1 Bowling Green Beatdown
5. Matt Holthaus 4-0 Derby City MMA
6. Vic Simms 3-1
7. Brandon Nalley 3-0 Derby City MMA
8. Jerry McClain 3-0 System MMA
9. Kenny Warrix 8-5 Team Prodigy
10. David Smith 6-4 Independent

205
1. Marcus Mayes 6-0 Team Haycraft
2. Tyler Beckley 9-2 Demolition Fight Team
3. Josh Blanchard 8-3 Louisville MMA
4. Tanen Roe 3-0 Independent
5. Aaron Webb 5-2 System MMA
6. Chad Deener 6-1 Etown Beatdown
7. JP Felty 8-3 Monster Squad
8. Shaun Asher 4-2 Son of Siam
9. Keith Goggins 4-1 Four Seasons
10. James Brasfield 5-6 Etown Beatdown

Heavy
1. Greg Taylor 8-2 Louisville MMA
2. Derek Grace 11-3 SSF
3. Chris Smith 4-0 Team Vision
4. Daniel Crosby 5-1 IMA
5. Gary Jordan 3-0
6. Eric Spalding 3-2 Springfield MMA
7. Michael PK Parker 3-2 Campbellsville MMA
8. Clifford Hicks 2-1 Louisville Elite Combat
9. Lawrence Lay 2-0 System MMA
10. Josh Franklin 4-7-1 Team Hunter

MMA Frauds and Fakes.

Everyone  knows that Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Judo and Jiu-jitsu all have belt rankings but did you know that Sambo, Muay Thai and MMA do not.  There are some gyms right here in clarksville (CMMAA and CFC)  trying to pull the wool over the uneducated customers by advertising that their owner John Renken is a black belt in Sambo and Muay Thai.  What’s wrong with that you might ask, well it’s a total lie.  John Renken knows very well that he is lying to his students in order to make himself sound better but to the educated and trained fighters he is a joke and a liar.  John Renken isn’t the only person in Clarksville TN to lie about have a belt in Sambo, Mike Merriman who owns a fight club in town claims to be a Sambo brown belt, at least he had the decency to lie a little smaller then John Renken.  The bottom line is you have to research your instructors and their gyms.