Mahwah Trainer Pleads Guilty To Forging Medical Documents For MMA Fighters
Owner of Advanced Fighting Systems admitted to falsifying required medical and consent forms from 2007-2011, Attorney General said
A Mahwah trainer has admitted to lying so that his fighters could compete in mixed martial arts contests without undergoing mandatory physical exams and medical tests, Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced in a release Monday.
Philip Dunlap, 49, of Mahwah admitted to submitting false documents to the State Athletic Control Board, the release said. Dunlap, who owns and operatesAdvanced Fighting Systems on Franklin Turnpike, pleaded guilty to tampering with public records or information, a third-degree crime, Chiesa said.
From 2007 through 2011, Dunlap falsified and forged medical and “consent to fight” forms to the SACB for some of the fighters he trained, the release said. The medical forms certified that a doctor had examined the fighters and cleared them to participate in mixed martial arts contests.
An investigation by the SACB and the Division of Criminal Justice revealed the documents were fraudulent, the release said. Dunlap, who according to his website was an MMA fighter before opening the training gym, has no prior record, the release said.
According to Chiesa, the state will recommend a penalty that includes probation, 200 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine. Dunlap’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Mixed martial arts, which the release said allows both “striking and grappling techniques,” is regulated by the state.
“The State Athletic Control Board’s main concern will always be the health and safety of the combative sport competitor, and the integrity of the contest,” SACB Commissioner Aaron Davis said in the release. “Every trainer investigated and arrested for this type of crime enables us to further uphold the integrity of the sport.”
Advanced Fighting Systems trains fighters and enters them into competitions. According to its website, the company has trained at least four professional and a few dozen amateur fighters.
According to Deputy Attorney General Nick Lembo, about 15 amateur fighters who were students of Dunlap have been suspended for 365 days from combat sports, and banned from amateur combat sports in New Jersey. After the year suspension is up, the fighters will need to reapply for a professional license, Lembo said.
However, Attorney General’s Office spokesperson Peter Aseltine said the office does not “anticipate any criminal charges against the fighters.”
Dunlap’s licenses with the SACB “are all expired,” Lembo said. In order to be relicensed, Dunlap would need to reapply.
Mixed martial arts was popularized in the mid-to-late-90s with the meteoric rise of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which was founded in 1993.
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rodney van dunk
5:24 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
this guy is a joke i took him to court a couple of years ago he kick me out of school because i was from hillburn and a part of the ramapo indian tribe i lost because he had a bunch of cops who go to his school lie he trains people in his basment they should shut him down ther are way to many schools out there better then his and the mahwah police who go ther should stop this guy is no good and more is going to come out
Glenn Murphy
10:22 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Did YOU FILE a "Complaint" with the State of New Jersey Division of Civil Rights about that?
Also If "it's True about what your saying" about "Some of the Cops", Why didn't you Write a Letter to the "State Of New Jersey" about this matter...
Eric "Baby Jesus"
11:29 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Basically the story goes like this because I was there.......This guy came in to train and said he had 300 underground fights. He got his a#$ handed to him like all people who claim they are so bad ass do. Then he proceeded to start problems with one of the police officers who trained at afs. "not exposing him btw." Very nice guy.
Then Phil told him to leave because we don't act like morons, and we are a family. Then this guy decided to go to the police and claim that phil was a racist..etc...The best part is that he wanted to set up a professional fight with phil. I can only imagine what would have happened. By the way, Phil is the most caring trainer, and one of the greatest "true friends I have ever had." In addition, I don't believe he has ever kicked anybody out in all the years I have been there. What does that tell you? Did he do something he should not have? obviously he knows that. Am I gonna keep going back. Hell yeah for life!!! I refuse to fight for anybody else and have know phil going on five years.
tracyw
6:35 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Maybe he kicked you out due to your PUNCTUATION !!! can anyone say..ruuuuuunnnnnonnnnnnsentance.
tracyw
6:37 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Btw..did the cops lie about you being in a "tribe" ?? I am sure there is more to this story than you say. Please.....enlighten us
Sam Taylor
10:58 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Unbelievable - you did file a complaint and there was a lawsuit and you LOST. Don't go slandering Phil Dunlap who was just trying to help his guys get a chance to fight without having to pay a ton of money getting physicals every 6 weeks.
tracyw
11:25 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Mr Taylor...please don't sound so ...hmmm...dumb... this guy submitted fake info on people's health .. shame on him. It's illegal....yes...I agree...Mr vamdunk is just as ..hmm...dumb....but please don't rationalize illegal actions. F.y.I....I am in no way calling you dumb...just your comment was ...in my opinion.
rodney van dunk
7:28 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
wow tracy where do you live a couple of years ago we had and unarmed tribal member get shot and killed and the park ranger was found not guilty. were almost back in the 60s around here so cops cant lie. any day i will sit down with you and tell you about the racism around here so keep making fun of my spelling if that what turns you on
TS
10:16 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Rodney,
I remember that whole incident. I believe the "unarmed person" was trying to run the ranger down with an ATV. In that case the "weapon" was the ATV. The ranger had responded to calls of these individuals trespassing on park land with the ATVs.
Why don't you include the whole story and all the facts instead of making it sound like the ranger went up to this individual and shot him in cold blood.
Andy Schmidt
12:40 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
TS - here the account on the events of that day:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/crime_courts_news/Jury_finds.html
TS
2:30 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Thanks for the clarification Andy. Either way, this was not an innocent bystander as Rodney would lead everyone to believe.
dave dovermann
11:17 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
who heads up the MMA and hired this guy?
TS
10:12 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Dave,
MMA in this case stands for Mixed Martial Arts. It is a style of fighting, not an organization.
ryan
9:55 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Mr. Van Dunk, I looked up your case against Mr. Dunlap and Advanced Fighting Systems online. I read the document and it stated that your allegations had no substance. That is why you lost your case. There was no conspiracy. I also saw that you personally had problems with the police dept. From my experience, police do not create problems, they react to them. You should stop playing the victim and you will find out that the world is not against you.
If anyone chooses to see the truth about Rodney's case, it can be found online:
http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20090312_0000206.SNY.htm/qx
Andy Schmidt
11:42 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
George J. Cotz, Esq - the attorney representing the plaintiff:
http://www.cjnj.org/html/documents/1499051.pdf
http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/george-cotz-921701.html
Attorney making some other constitutional claim:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/62021667.html?page=all
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/rich_bum_who_sues_for_living_KJ2hdopah6aNp3fIX4WH1K
Hank
2:41 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
A++++
Great stuff Mr. Andy
rodney van dunk
9:12 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
first of all baby Jesus get your facts right i never had my ass handed to me in my life time get a life jesus keep training with phil and see how far you get. i was going to fight phil in AC a main event fight in which you would never see a main event fight in your life time. i was training and broke my femur and the fight never happen and phil was to old. so keep training with a person who is not mma fighter and never had a mma fight in his life read the article so i dont mind if you hate me get in line
rodney van dunk
9:19 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
this is my last comment ryan i dont know what world you live in there are good cops and there are bad cops and less your a person of color in which your not keep your little comments to your self and stop being racist because you see i am a van dunk and it turns you on to say something stupid so put your suit on and go to work
Afs for life
10:13 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
I am one of the fighters that was suspended and want to clear a few things up. While Phil issued a statement on his face book page acknowledging that his actions were wrong he was only trying to help his fighters who could not afford a new physical within 6 weeks of a fight. All of the fighters involved are adults as Phil doesn’t teach children. Every fighter gets a physical by the state doctor on the day of the fight in many states this suffices in NJ it does not. I know Phil had my best interest at heart and stand behind him completely and that my health was never in jeopardy.
As to Rodney if you read the article it means he has no criminal record a quick Google search of his name pulls up video of a Professional MMA fight from over a decade ago. Phil threw you out of the school because you wanted to beat up Police officers, you sued him and lost. The only reason there was interest in you fighting Phil was because a promoter wanted to sell tickets based on Phil’s following you couldn’t get approved to fight as a Pro in NJ because you have never fought before and no coach would sign off that you were ready.
In closing yes Phil may have been wrong but those of us who know and train with him support him 100%.
rodney van dunk
11:11 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
afs for life your wrong get your facts right it is what it is. its so funny how everyone defends this guy but just be lucky no one died because he lied about there health. i have been going to a real MMA school for the past 6 years i dont fight anymore do to injury but we teach young kids how to fight and to be good people in this world the past is the past so hate all you want