This past weekend, as part of the Reality Fighting circuit, Plymouth State University graduate Nate Kittredge fought at the Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester, New Hampshire. The former All-Conference wrester left the arena with a solid victory and a 2-0 record.
A 2005 graduate of PSU, Kittredge taught Physical Education in Pike, N.H. and coached the Plymouth wresting team for a year. Due to an unfortunate accident on the job, his father was paralyzed from the waist down. After the accident, Nate was forced to return to his home in Vergennes, Vermont and take over the family business as a carpenter.
Kittredge’s fight was the second of his career, and according to coach Chris Oliverio, his second dominant victory. Having only started training for Reality Fighting four months ago, Nate was not at the top of the fight card. However, his victory provided one of the more exciting moments of the evening.
Early in the fight, Kittredge’s opponent, Mark Hoxie, took a knee in the face. However, because Hoxie’s knee was on the ground, Kittredge’s maneuver was deemed illegal. After a mandatory two-minute rest period to recover, Hoxie was back on his feet and ready to continue.
Unfortunately for Hoxie, so was Nate. After only 34 seconds, Kittredge had his victory. Hoxie was not choked out, submitted, or even knocked out. Instead, as he lay face down attempting to recover from a brutal onslaught of punches and knees, he tapped out. The referee immediately stepped in, preventing the PSU alum from dropping what would have been a fight-ending blow.
After the fight, Oliverio spoke of how Kittredge won his last fight, partially due to a body slam of his opponent. When asked what his goals were in regards to potentially entering the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Nate was nonchalant, but it seems that this skilled fighter is headed for great heights.
Soon after Kittredge won, hometown favorite and PSU student Nate LaMotte fought Justin Hammerstrom for the New England welterweight title. After nearly overwhelming his opponent in the first two minutes of the fight, LaMotte was caught in a rear-naked choke and forced to tap out to the more patient fighter only 15 seconds later. His record, a spotless 3-0 before Saturday, is still a very impressive 3-1. Unfortunately, LaMotte was unavailable for comment after the fight card ended.
Reality Fighting entered New Hampshire on January 22, 2006. The first event of its kind to legally take place in the state, it has soared to great popularity. The next in-state Reality Fighting match will take place in April 2007 in Manchester.