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SENSATIONAL CAGE FIGHT CARD
SATURDAY, NOV. 10 AT AMERICAN BANK CENTER
ARENA
Live on SHOWTIME, 10 p.m. ET/PT
From Corpus Christi , Texas
Nick Diaz, KJ Noons Fight For EliteXC 160-pound World Title;
>From Street To Elite -- Legendary Internet Fighter Kimbo Slice Makes
EliteXC Debut;
Jake Shields Faces Mike Pyle; The Doctor, Seth Kleinbeck Meets Kyle Noke,
“Big Foot’’ Silva Returns Versus Wiezorek In ‘Renegade’ On SHOWTIME
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 6, 2007) -- The America Bank Center Arena in Corpus
Christi, Tex., will rock like it never has before when Gary Shaw
Productions, LLC, presents “EliteXC: Renegade’’ this Saturday, Nov. 10,
on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
“We’re all very excited about doing our first show in Corpus Christi ,’’
Shaw said. “I hope fans are ready for ‘Renegade’ because this is going
to be a tremendous event.
“One great thing about EliteXC fights is that you just can’t point to
one corner or the other beforehand and say, ‘this guy is going to win.’
My fighters know they all have to fight and they are all going to have
to fight to win on Saturday.
“ Texas fans in attendance and those watching on SHOWTIME are in for a
real exciting night of fights in the cage.’’
What will be an emotional, memorable, hotly contested main event will
feature an EliteXC world title fight in a new weight class – 160 pounds
-- between talented, crowd-pleasing Nick Diaz (15-6) of Stockton,
Calif., and exciting, hard-hitting KJ Noons (4-1) of San Diego.
In an eagerly awaited match on the undercard, Kimbo Slice will make his
EliteXC debut. A legendary underground bare-knuckle fighter, Kimbo
became an overnight pop-culture sensation when his fighting videos were
posted on various video sites throughout the Internet. His videos have
been downloaded in excess of 10 million times – and counting -- on
YouTube.
Kimbo (1-0), of Miami , Fla. , will be opposed by Bo “Redrum’’ Cantrell
(10-10) of Citrus Heights , Calif. (10-10). Cantrell is a replacement
for Mike Bourke, who broke his clavicle during training and withdrew. In
March 2006, Cantrell scored a 1:05, first-round TKO over Bourke.
“What I really love about Kimbo is his work ethic and his attitude,’’
Shaw said. “He has the mentality of a real fighter. He doesn’t care who
he fights. He doesn’t care about weight, height, if they’re southpaw or
orthodox, he’s here to fight.
“I do believe Kimbo has the ability to be the heavyweight world champion
in boxing, as I do believe he has the ability under (trainer) Bas (Rutten)
to be the world champion in MMA in probably several weight classes.’’
A compelling co-feature Saturday will match a Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
against an Xtreme Couture fighter when streaking, world-ranked
welterweight, Jake Shields (19-4-1), of San Francisco , faces the
always-dangerous Mike “Quicksand” Pyle (14-4-1), of Dresden , Tenn.
Shields is trained by Gracie; Pyle is coached by Couture.
In other SHOWTIME-televised fights, Kyle “KO’’ Noke (13-3-1), the
bodyguard of the late “Crocodile Hunter’’ Steve Irwin, will make his
EliteXC debut in a 185-pound fight against “Doctor” Seth “Mass
Destruction’’ Kleinbeck (8-3) of Ozark, Ark., and Brazil’s Antonio “Big
Foot’’ Silva (8-1) returns to the cage for the first time in nine months
against Jonathan Wiezorek (11-1).
Saturday’s scheduled non-televised, undercard fights that will be
available on ProElite.com the week of Nov. 12 include: Geoff Bumstead
(2-1) of Corpus Christi vs. Robert Ruiz (1-0) of Corpus Christi, at 265
pounds; Yves Edwards (29-13-1) of Woodlands, Tex., vs. Nick Gonzalez
(13-5) of Austin, Tex., at 160 pounds; Jon Kirk (10-1) of Houston vs.
Matt Lucas (7-0) at 185 pounds; Ralph Kelly (6-1) of San Antonio vs.
Brett Rogers (5-0) at 265 pounds; and Jae Sok Lim (7-2) vs. Lane
Yarbrough (6-4) of Huntsville, Tex., at 170 pounds.
With the exception of Diaz-Noon, which is scheduled for five, 5-minute
rounds, the fights are three, 5-minute rounds. The event will begin at 7
p.m. CT. Doors open at 6 o’clock.
Tickets in all price ranges, starting at $25, are available at the
American Bank Center Box Office and all TicketMaster locations. They
also may be obtained at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (361)
881-8499. Any ticket buyer may purchase a $50 VIP Package Upgrade, which
includes VIP parking and post-fight party at the American Bank Center .
The talented, well-schooled Diaz (nickdiaz.proelite.com) has phenomenal
Jiu-Jitsu and cardio. A major player in MMA and one of its most
recognizable and popular figures, the wily Diaz, 24, always enters the
ring in exceptional condition and makes for exciting scraps.
Diaz is making his second consecutive start on SHOWTIME and first since
signing a long-term contract extension with EliteXC.
A Brazilian black belt and loyal student of Cesar Gracie, Diaz made his
EliteXC debut on “Uprising” Sept. 15, 2007, in Hawaii . In an
exhausting, bloody, give-and-take slugfest, he scored a thrilling,
three-round split decision over hard-trying Mike Aina.
A fierce, confident competitor, the six-foot southpaw Diaz survived an
early knockdown and a cut right eye to outpoint the local favorite by
the scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 28-29.
Shortly after his first start in six months, Diaz flew to Las Vegas to
watch his brother, Nate, fight. Nick barely had made off the plane
before he was taken to a hospital where he would spend a week for a
severe staph infection that he contacted a few days before the bout with
Aina.
“I felt pretty crappy in my match in Hawaii , but I figured I was
suffering from jet lag or from something I had eaten the night before,’’
Diaz said. “When I left Hawaii , I was getting chills and had to be
covered with several blankets on the plane. I kept having cold sweats.
“By the time I got to Vegas, the infection had ballooned up so I went to
a hospital and was admitted right away. I started getting my strength
back the last few days in the hospital.
“But I definitely won that fight with Aina and people that think
otherwise; well, I do not know what they were watching. If we ever fight
again, I will tap him out.’’
The outspoken, brutally honest Diaz recuperated quickly enough to
compete in a triathlon for a second consecutive year. “I ended up taking
second place,’’ he said. “I lost first by seven minutes due to a poor
swim. I couldn’t get much swim practice because I was in the hospital.’’
Diaz has fought some of the sport's biggest names in an illustrious
six-year career. In perhaps his most unforgettable performance, a
battered, bruised and bloodied Diaz rallied from the brink of defeat to
score an impressive, legendary gogoplata submission victory over
then-consensus No. 1 lightweight contender, Takanori Gomi (takanorigomi.proelite.com),
in a 2007 Fight of the Year candidate that wound up going into the books
as a no contest.
“I am looking forward to getting back in the cage on Saturday,’’ Diaz
said.
Noons (kjnoons.proelite.com), who is also a professional boxer, is
coming off a smashing third-round knockout over Edson Berto on July 27,
2007, at Santa Ynez , Calif. Despite fracturing his left hand in the
opening minutes, Noons would go on to mostly dominate the favored Berto.
In a scintillating finish to a thrilling encounter on ShoXC: The Elite
Challenger Series on SHOWTIME, Noons wore down Berto, then dropped him
with a devastating right knee to the face. Noons followed the knockdown
with a right hand and right elbow to the face before the referee stepped
in and halted the proceedings 45 seconds into the round.
The victory was monumental for Noons, who had been knocked out by “Krazy
Horse’’ Charles Bennett in his outing before last (Feb. 10, 2007, the
debut telecast of EliteXC on SHOWTIME).
“I had to prove I was better, which is why I put in so much time and
sweat and blood preparing for Berto,” Noons said. “It wasn’t easy, but I
made it look easy. It definitely helped me put the ‘Krazy Horse’ fight
behind me. I got a lot off my shoulders with that fight.’’
The victory earned Noons a berth in the initial EliteXC lightweight
championship fight. “The thing about EliteXC is I knew if I was winning,
I would eventually get a title shot,” Noons said. “In EliteXC, the
people who fight actually earn (the right).’’
A fighter who has never turned down a challenge, Noons is confident of
an upset. “This is for a world title,’’ he said. “I’ll be ready. I
wasn’t impressed with Nick’s last performance. This is a good match-up.
He’s the No. 1 guy in the world; he beat Gomi. I’m just glad to have the
opportunity to have a chance to be fighting someone of his caliber.
“I have nothing to lose, everything to gain. He’s great on the ground.
I’m not, but I work hard at the ground game. I don’t plan on trying for
a submission. I’ll just be trying to stop him.
“Nick is probably going to try and stand and then take it to the ground
to finish it. I want to make it a fight. The way I fight, every fight is
exciting and a war. I’m going in to win. I won’t be letting down. It’s
going to be head-to-head. I think fighting at 160 is good for both of
us.’’
Kimbo (kimboslice.proelite.com), aka Kevin Ferguson, is a big,
scary-looking, intimidating heavyweight who developed an astonishing
following on the Internet due to his famous “unsanctioned” backyard
fights.
Lest you think he is not serious about MMA, however, forget it.
“I am totally committed,’’ Kimbo said. “I’m for real at this and not
short term, but long term. I am not a novelty act. I mean business. I am
coming to bring the noise. I work extremely hard. There are critics who
don’t think I can do this, but I am going to prove them all wrong.”
Kimbo, who possesses pretty solid standup, defeated former world boxing
heavyweight champion “Merciless’’ Ray Mercer via guillotine submission
in his MMA debut June 23, 3007.
One individual who liked what he saw was Rutten, an MMA legend and one
of the sport’s all-time great trainers.
“I was way more than impressed with his fight,’’ Rutten said. “He did
his homework and worked the game plan to perfection. I write game plans.
I told Kimbo, ‘these are the things you have to focus on. If you do,
you’re not going to be in trouble, but you have to hit every point.’
“Normally, guys go for something then forget it. Kimbo took the game
plan, kept it and kept working on the points. He’s a sponge and wants to
learn. He comes in on time and doesn’t complain. He’ll do everything you
say. Things you teach him today, he remembers tomorrow.’’
Kimbo, who weighed 239 ½ pounds, a weight much lower than he had
anticipated, shot in early on Mercer. After a barrage of elbow, Muay
Thai knees and combination punches, Kimbo was able to tap out Mercer at
1:10.
Fans and critics alike were impressed – and shocked -- by the brawler’s
ability to pull off such a skillful submission technique
“I’ve worked really hard on my wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu.’’ Kimbo said.
“It hasn’t been easy. I’ve never trained as hard. Training has never
been as intense. I don't think any other trainers can match what Bas
puts us through. But I couldn't ask for better guys to work with.
“They push me to the limit. When I feel like quitting, they literally
beat me down and it's hard to get a person that's willing to beat me
down. I have more respect for them than anything.
“I get frustrated, but it’s frustration that drives me. I'm determined.
I will not be denied.’’
Since converting to the cage, Kimbo’s universe has been altered
dramatically. “My life’s definitely changed, but it has all been for the
better -- mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually,’’ he said.
“I’m more patient and dedicated to things that are more important.’’
Regarding his premium television debut, Kimbo said, “With EliteXC on
SHOWTIME, everyone's got a chance to watch. SHOWTIME is a household
deal. Anybody who has a TV should have SHOWTIME. They're going to see
what hard work, sacrifice and dedication will do for you.’’
On his incredible fan base, Kimbo said, “I love the fans. They respect
me and I respect them. They show me love and I show love back. I know
what they want and I'm going to give them what they want. They want to
see me come in and bang and I'm coming in to bang.
“The fans know that anyone that comes my way, they better be prepared to
bring it.’’
The six-foot-one-inch Cantrell is a former Marine and five-time
Gladiator Challenge heavyweight titlist. The hard-hitting Cantrell is
not accustomed to putting in a full night’s work. His last eight fights
have ended in the first round, and 11 of his last 13 have ended inside
two.
Cantrell will be making his second start on SHOWTIME. In his debut, he
lost to Tim Persey on EliteXC’s “Destiny” on Feb. 10, 2007.
Like Kimbo, Cantrell is no stranger to underground fights. “I had my
share of them in Oregon before getting a shot at the real shows,’’
Cantrell said.
Despite the short notice, Cantrell (bocantrell.proelite.com) is coming
to win. “To beat Kimbo would give my career a gigantic boost,’’ he said.
Shields, 28, has won eight straight and nine of 10. Unbeaten since
December 2004, he has defeated the likes of current UFC middleweight
contender Yushin Okami, former UFC middleweight champion Dave Menne and
current WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit.
Known for technical grappling and amazing cardio, the lifelong
vegetarian captured the Shooto Championship in 2004 and won the Rumble
on the Rock Grand Prix Tournament in ‘05.
In his last start, Shields (jakeshields.proelite.com) scored a
surprisingly easy first-round knockout over BJ Penn’s Renato “Charuto’’
Verissimo on “Uprising.’’ The referee stopped the fight at 4:00 with
Shields on top of Verissimo and landing a series of unanswered punches.
“That fight went pretty good,’’ the highly regarded Shields said. “I
came in and threw a couple kicks, a couple punches and ended up getting
in the clinch. He ended up tripping me and taking me down but I didn’t
want to be on bottom so I bounced right back up
“From there we were in the clinch and I took him down, opened up his
guard and passed, got mount, and started raining down punches on him.’’
A beast at welterweight, Shields has a lot of respect for Pyle.
“Mike is really good,’’ Shields said. “I’ve been watching his tapes and
he is really well rounded. He has good standup, a good ground game and
cardio, but I think I’m going to be too much for him. I think it will
take a little longer to wear him down, but eventually I’ll break him.’’
Pyle, 21, who trains out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas , will be
seeking his third consecutive victory. In his last outing, Pyle recorded
an impressive, unanimous decision over Aaron Wetherspoon on the June 22
“Shamrock vs. Baroni” undercard at San Jose , Calif.
In his start before last, Pyle registered a 1:55, first-round submission
(rear naked choke hold) over Ross Ebanez on the historic EliteXC
“DESTINY’’ undercard on Feb. 10, 2007.
Pyle (mikepyle.proelite.com), who has experience in Tae Kwon Do, judo,
karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has been in against tough, risky
opposition and is back to fighting at 170 pounds (down from 185). The
drop in weight has proven to be an excellent move.
“A fight with Shields has been talked about for months, and now that it
is here, I am really looking forward to it,’’ Pyle said. “I think my
striking is a bit sharper than his and I feel I’m a physically stronger
athlete, but he might possibly have an edge on me with the wrestling.’’
A five-month layoff is not a concern. “My preparation has been
excellent,” said Pyle, who’s defeated the likes of welterweight star Jon
Fitch and Shonie Carter. “The inactivity didn’t bother me. It gave me
some time off to work on my game. I don’t suffer from ring rust because
I train with top athletes.
“Five months off is nothing for me. I always come back just as strong if
not better. Beating Jake will be a good step for me. This is going to be
a good show.’’
At first glance, Kleinbeck, of Stuttgart , Ark. , seems like an average,
easy-going young man. He has been married 16 years, has two children and
is a licensed physician who practices emergency and family medicine in
his home state and has family offices in Ozark and Waldron.
Kleinbeck, 34, is anything but typical, however. The most well educated
man in MMA, he is “Dr. Kleinbeck’’ to his patients but he’s “Mass
Destruction” to MMA fans. No, Kleinbeck is not known for his bedside
manner inside the cage, which may be a shock to his patients.
The exciting, aggressive-minded Kleinbeck possesses solid striking
power, comes to win and produces excellent scraps. Along with carrying
plenty of strength and a devastating punch, Kleinbeck boasts a sharp
kick attack that sends many of his opponents limping to the mat.
All his victories have ended inside the distance. In his SHOWTIME debut,
Kleinbeck (sethkleinbeck.proelite.com) knocked out Jaime Jara (16-6) in
the second round with a picture-perfect left-right combination at 4:59
in Vicksburg , Miss. , on July 27, 2007.
“There was no doubt the fight was over,” said Kleinbeck after dealing
Jara -- a champion at one time or another in four Gladiator Challenge
weight classes -- his first loss in three years. “I caught him
perfectly. This is probably my best win and I’m obviously happy.
“I was surprised he tried to box for as long as he did. I figured he
would be trying to take me down. I kicked him so hard I think I might
have broken my left foot.”
Kleinbeck graduated from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine
with a MD in 2001. But don't let the higher education fool you. A
fighter skilled in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling
and wrestling, he is dedicated to becoming a MMA star.
The mauling medic has a 1,200 square foot gym by his house. “It's at the
end of my driveway,’’ he said. “I’ve got weight and cardio equipment and
a 15x20 matted grappling area.’’
Kleinbeck, who started his MMA training during his last year of medical
school, has experience and a successful record but, aside from Jara, has
faced mostly lesser competition.
A doctor knows his body though and Kleinbeck sees good days ahead. “If
you’ve got a young body and you haven’t had a lot of injuries you could
fight deep into your 30s,” he said. “I’d hate to get out of fighting
without getting in the ring with somebody in the top 10.”
Kleinbeck, who has been known to assist commissions in administrating
pre-fight physicals (he once gave a physical to his opponent), knows he
cannot afford to overlook any foe.
“Every fight is important,’’ he said. “I want to step up to the next
level, but I have to beat who they put in front of me first. Noke has
fought a couple tough guys. He is a well-rounded fighter who does
everything really good. There is no way I look past him or anybody.’’
Noke (kylenoke.proelite.com), of Queensland , Australia , by way of
Sydney , trains at the Australian Zoo, which was started by Irvin. The
Irwin family built an MMA cage for him so he could train while working
at the Zoo as a security guard.
Considered by some to be one of the best pound-for-pound mixed martial
artists in Australia , the well-conditioned, six-foot-two-inch
27-year-old has won titles in multiple weight classes since getting
involved in MMA at the age of 22.
A well-rounded fighter who does not have any glaring weaknesses, Noke is
5-1-1 in his last seven starts. In his most recent outing and lone
effort in 2007, he fought to a three-round draw with top Judoka and
former PRIDE fighter Hector Lombard on July 28, 2007.
Noke, who may be most effective when he can counter, has fought the
majority of his fights at 170 pounds. But his last three outings have
been at 185.
Silva, who is six-feet-four and has weighed upwards of 300 pounds, is
hard to miss. But do not blink once he enters the cage. All but one of
his victories has come by knockout. None of his fights have gone one
full round.
One of the most talked-about and feared up-and-comers in MMA, Silva’s
freakish size is matched with brute strength and surprising speed,
brutal ground and pound striking skills. Factor in that he also is
surprisingly nimble-footed and effectively combines Shotokan Karate and
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and you seemingly have all of the ingredients of a
future superstar
Nicknamed “Bigfoot’’ for his huge, intimidating stature, Silva scored a
3:49, first-round TKO (strikes) over Wesley “Cabbage” Correira on Feb.
10, 2007, on SHOWTIME.
The victory came in his first start since suffering his only pro loss on
a controversial first-round TKO to Eric Pele on Dec. 12, 2006. “I don’t
know what the referee was thinking when he stopped the fight,’’ Silva
said. “I was doing fine, biding my time, waiting for the moment Pele
would slow down because I knew he was getting tired. But the referee
decided to call the fight.’’
Silva (antoniosilva.proelite.com), who is dropping down in weight, is
looking to continue his rise, but he understands it won’t be easy.
“Wiezorek is a good fighter who wants to take the fight to the mat
because he’s good at submissions,’’ he said. “But I’m training very well
and have a good strategy that will surprise him if he goes to take me
down.
“Physically, I am great. I don’t have to worry about him. He has to
worry about me. It has been eight months since I last fought. I am very
hungry for a victory.’’
A winner of five straight, Wiezorek will be fighting for the first time
since registering a second-round TKO (strikes) over Tim Persey on June
2, 2007, at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
“That was a great experience for me,” Wiezorek (jonathanwiezorek.proelite.com)
said.
The six-foot-three-inch Wiezorek came out working Persey with punches
and knees, trying to force him down. A grappler, Wiezorek’s strength
lies on the mat, where he tries to get all his opponents. “If I could
get a guy to the ground, I have a great chance to win the fight.”
Wiezorek put down Persey for good early in the second, got his back and
threw punches until the ref stepped in. It was his eighth submission
victory. Also a master of avoiding damage, Wiezorek’s victories have
mostly come in the first round by various chokes.
Mauro Ranallo will call the cageside action with former wrestling
superstar Bill Goldberg and Stephen Quadros, The Fight Professor,
serving as color analysts. The executive producer of the telecast is
David Dinkins, Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.
About ProElite, Inc.
ProElite Inc. [PELE.PK] delivers the most exciting entertainment
experience in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live
arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming on
Showtime Networks and community-driven interactive broadband
entertainment via the Internet. ProElite embraces MMA with the highest
levels of honor, integrity, discipline and self-esteem all the while
remaining inclusive for fighters, fans and schools. ProElite’s live
fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that
showcase the world’s top fighters [elitexc.com]. ProElite’s interactive
business, ProElite.com, capitalizes on the growing popularity of the
sport of mixed martial arts by building a community of mixed martial
arts enthusiasts. In addition to streaming the most exciting live fights
to the web, ProElite expands the fan base of the sport by providing a
comprehensive set of online social networking tools for fans, fighters
and organizations. ProElite.com – Empowering the Fight Community TM
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS
Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks
SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex
channels SHOWTIME® TOO™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME
BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC
XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON
DEMAND™ and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced
sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI is also an owner and manager of
SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI.
SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and
the Smithsonian Institution. SNI markets and distributes sports and
entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view
basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.
ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTS
UFC 80: RAPID FIRE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2008LIVE FROM METRO
ARENA, NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND
UFC WORLD LIGHTWEIGHT INTERIM TITLE “THE
PRODIGY” BJ PENN vs. JOE “DADDY” STEVENSON ALSO: HEAVYWEIGHT
FEATURE GABRIEL “NAPAO” GONZAGA vs. FABRICIO WERDUM
Tickets Go on Sale
Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 10am GMT
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Hawaiian superstar
BJ Penn has waited six years
for another shot at the lightweight title that eluded him in 2002. On
January 19, 2008, at the Metro Arena in Newcastle, England, “The
Prodigy” finally gets his chance for redemption when he challenges Joe
“Daddy” Stevenson for the Interim World Lightweight Championship at UFC
80: RAPID FIRE. Also featured on this star-studded card, which was made
official today by the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®)
organization, is a heavyweight showdown between top contenders Gabriel
“Napao” Gonzaga and Fabricio Werdum.
“BJ Penn and Joe Stevenson are two of the top lightweights in the
world,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Penn is the former world
welterweight champion and Stevenson is unbeaten in the UFC as a
lightweight. Both of these guys are known for their ground
games and their will to win, so
not only will it be a great fight, but the winner will become the
interim world lightweight champion.”
Tickets for UFC 80: RAPID FIRE will go on public sale Saturday, Nov. 10
at 10am GMT and will be priced at £35, £50, £100, £150 and £200. Tickets
will be available through ticketmaster.co.uk and
www.metroradioarena.co.uk.
UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets
to this event Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 10am GMT via the website www.ufc.com.
A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter
subscribers Friday, Nov. 9 starting at 10am GMT. To access this presale,
users must register for the UFC newsletter through www.ufc.com.
One of the most gifted fighters to ever grace the UFC Octagon™, hence
his nickname, “The Prodigy”, BJ Penn (12-4-1) has amazed fight fans
throughout his career with a blend of stellar ground work, knockout
power, and a warrior’s heart. In 2002, he challenged for the lightweight
title against Jens Pulver but fell short in a five round war. Two years
later though, he shocked the world when he won the welterweight title by
submitting Matt Hughes at UFC 46. In 2007 though, Penn returned to the
division where he first made his mark and he began on his road to the
155-pound title by avenging his first defeat with a submission win over
Pulver at The Ultimate Fighter® season five finale on June 23rd. He will
come full circle on January 19 if he can defeat Stevenson for the
interim lightweight title.
“I’m very excited to be fighting for the UFC lightweight interim title
and to be matched up against Stevenson,” said Penn. “Our styles are very
similar, and we both want the interim title, so I think it will be a
good fight and an excellent fight for the fans.”
A pro fighter since the age of 16, Joe “Daddy” Stevenson (33-7) has more
experience than most fighters twice his age, and his time in the
trenches of the fight
game has prepared him for his
first world title shot. First arriving on the UFC scene as a
welterweight with a win on season two of The Ultimate Fighter, Stevenson
soon determined that his true fortunes lay in the lightweight division,
and since moving to 155 pounds, he has been unstoppable, stopping Yves
Edwards, submitting Dokonjonosuke Mishima and Melvin Guillard, and
decisioning Kurt Pellegrino en route to his meeting with Penn in
Newcastle.
“I’m really excited to fight BJ, and I’m happy to have the chance to
fight for the interim title,” said Stevenson. “I think BJ is an awesome
fighter. He has a dangerous ground game, but I don’t think it will be
too big of a factor. And he’s not going to knock me out, so I’m
confident that it will be my hand that’s raised at the end of the
night.”
Also featured on the UFC 80 card is the
heavyweight feature Gonzaga
vs.Werdum.
One of the most dangerous heavyweights on the planet, with the ability
to end a fight via submission or with a devastating knockout, Rio De
Janeiro native Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga (8-2) captured the imagination of
UFC fans in April when he knocked out the feared striker
Mirko Cro Cop with a single
head kick at UFC 70. And though Gonzaga fell short in his subsequent
shot at Randy Couture’s heavyweight crown in August, the 28-year old
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt is eager to get back in line for a title
shot, something that will be made easier with a win over the only other
man to beat him, Fabricio Werdum.
A highly-regarded veteran who made his name in the PRIDE® organization,
Porto Alegre, Brazil’s Fabricio Werdum (9-3-1) lost a hard-fought
decision to former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in his UFC debut
in April, but he plans on evening his record on January 19 by repeating
his 2003 TKO win over Gabriel Gonzaga. To do that, the highly decorated
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt will have to use the tools that led him
to PRIDE wins over Alistair Overeem and Aleksander Emelianenko and which
have led many to dub him the best kept secret in the heavyweight
division
Also confirmed for UFC 80 is a welterweight battle of the adoptive Brits
as Irish-American Marcus Davis clashes with Anglo-Frenchman Jess Liaudin.
Former pro boxer Davis is on an incredible 10 fight winning streak and
is coming off two hugely impressive wins in Belfast and London.
Likewise, the London-based Liaudin, a 19 fight MMA veteran, is in the
form of his life and has won both his previous UFC fights in the very
first round.
The remaining bouts for UFC 80: RAPID FIRE will be announced in the near
future. All bouts live and subject to change. For further information on
the UFC visit www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or www.ufcespanol.com.
About The Ultimate Fighting
Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand is the world’s leading
professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier
series of MMA
sports events. Owned and
operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the UFC®
organization produces approximately twelve to fourteen live pay-per-view
events annually that are distributed through cable and satellite
providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution, UFC fight programs are
distributed throughout the world including broadcast on MAIN EVENT in
Australia, Globosat in Brazil and Bravo and Setanta Sports in the United
Kingdom. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit
www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or www.ufcespanol.com.
Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate
Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the
eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks,
trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC
in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced
herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.
SHO SPORTS
PRESENTS TO AIR NIGHTLY ON SHOWTIME 2
SHOWTIME To
Offer Fight Fans Daily Dose
Of World Class
Boxing And Mixed Martial Arts Action
NEW YORK
(Nov. 1, 2007) – SHO Sports Presents, a nightly series
featuring the best of SHOWTIME boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA)
programming, will premiere tonight, Thursday, Nov. 1, and air every
weeknight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME® 2, it was announced today
by Ken Hershman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Sports and
Event Programming for Showtime Networks.
SHOWTIME® 2, the
network’s primary multiplex channel, is available in 95 percent of all
SHOWTIME homes.
SHO Sports Presents
will air replays of live SHOWTIME Sports series including the flagship
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING franchise and the
newest sports television phenomenon EliteXC mixed martial arts.
In addition, classic telecasts from the acclaimed series ShoBox:
The New Generation, and the new MMA platform ShoXC: Elite
Challenger Series will air regularly on SHO Sports
Presents.
“Thrilling boxing
events and explosive mixed martial arts telecasts from SHOWTIME Sports
have been a consistent ratings generator for the network,” said Hershman.
“We have been dedicated to televising the hardest hitting and most
compelling match ups in both boxing and MMA on a regular basis.
SHO Sports Presents is further proof of our commitment to
deliver a steady diet of great programming to fight fans.”
In addition to opening
the doors of the vast boxing library that dates back to the premiere of
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING in 1986, SHO Sports Presents
will keep the loyal fan base up to date with promotions, documentaries
and updates on upcoming live events.
“Our subscribers have
demonstrated a demand for our sports franchises and this daily platform
is an ideal way to keep them in tune with our greatest hits of yesterday
and with upcoming live events,” Hershman added.
The first installment
of SHO Sports Presents will be a replay of SHOWTIME
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Rocky Juarez vs. Jason Pires from Feb. 1, 2003.
(Juarez is set to face one of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters
in Juan Manuel Marquez, live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on
Saturday, Nov. 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast.)
About SHOWTIME
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
In March 1986,
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING was born when
“Marvelous” Marvin Hagler defeated John “The Beast” Mugabi in a
spectacular and unforgettable 11th-round knockout in Las
Vegas. Since that time, the network has aired some of the most
historic and significant events in the sport including both Evander
Holyfield-Mike Tyson bouts.
About ShoBox:
The New Generation
Since its inception in
July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox:
The New Generation has featured young talented fighters matched
tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise crowd-pleasing and
competitive fights while providing a proving ground for willing
prospects determined to fight for a world title. The growing list of
fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world
titles includes Leonard Dorin, Scott Harrison, Juan Diaz, Jeff Lacy,
Ricky Hatton, Joan Guzman, Juan Urango, David Diaz and Robert Guerrero.
Kelly Pavlik became the 22nd fighter who has fought on
ShoBox to win a world title with his victory over Jermain Taylor on
Sept. 29, 2007.
About EliteXC
ProElite, Inc., the
parent company of EliteXC, delivers the most exciting entertainment
experience in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live
arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming on
Showtime Networks Inc. and community-driven interactive broadband
entertainment via the Internet. ProElite embraces MMA with the highest
levels of honor, integrity, discipline and self-esteem, all the while
remaining inclusive for fighters, fans and schools. ProElite's live
fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that
showcase the world's top fighters [elitexc.com]. ProElite's interactive
business, ProElite.com, capitalizes on the growing popularity of the
sport of mixed martial arts by building a community of mixed martial
arts enthusiasts. In addition to streaming the most exciting live fights
to the web, ProElite expands the fan base of the sport by providing a
comprehensive set of online social networking tools for fans, fighters
and organizations. ProElite.com - Empowering the Fight CommunityTM.
For the complete
November schedule of SHO Sports Presents, see below.
CONTACTS:
Chris DeBlasio
Ivy Moon
Director, Sports
Communications Manager, Sports Communications
Showtime Networks
Inc. Showtime Networks Inc.
(212)
708-1633 (212) 708-7319
Chris.DeBlasio@Showtime.net
Ivy.Moon@Showtime.net
SHO Sports
Presents
November 2007
DATE
EVENT
CHANNEL TIME
Thurs., Nov.
1 SCB: Juarez vs. Pires
SHO2 10 p.m.
Fri., Nov.
2 SCB: J.M. Marquez vs. Jandaeng
SHO2 10 p.m.
Sat., Nov.
3 SCB: Live Juan Manuel Marquez
Vs. Rocky
Juarez SHO 10 p.m.
Mon., Nov.
5 EliteXC: Shamrock vs. Baroni
SHO2 10 p.m.
Tues., Nov.
6 SCB: J.M. Marquez vs. Juarez
SHO2 10 p.m.
Wed., Nov.
7 EliteXC: Rua vs. Lawler
SHO2 10 p.m.
Thurs., Nov.
8 EliteXC: Shamrock vs. Baroni
SHO2 10 p.m.
Fri., Nov.
9 EliteXC: Rua vs. Lawler
SHO2 10 p.m.
Sat. Nov.
10 EliteXC: Live Diaz Vs. Noons SHO
10 p.m.
Mon., Nov.
12 Vargas-Mayorga:
Countdown To The
Brawl
SHO2
10 p.m.
Tues., Nov.
13 EliteXC: Diaz vs. Noons
SHO2 10 p.m.
Wed., Nov.,
14 Vargas-Mayorga:
Countdown To The
Brawl
SHO2
10 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 15
ShoBox: Arreola vs. Tann
SHO2 10 p.m.
Fri., Nov.
16 Vargas-Mayorga:
Countdown To The
Brawl
SHO2
10 p.m.
Mon., Nov.
19 Vargas-Mayorga:
Countdown To The
Brawl
SHO2 10 p.m.
Tues., Nov.
20 Vargas-Mayorga:
Countdown To The
Brawl
SHO2 10 p.m.
Wed., Nov.
21 Vargas-Mayorga:
Countdown To The
Brawl
SHO2 10 p.m.
Thurs., Nov.
22 ShoBox: Arreola vs. Oruh
Fri., Nov.
23 Vargas-Mayorga:
Countdown To The Brawl
SHO2 10 p.m.
Fri., Nov.
23 Vargas vs. Mayorga: The Brawl SHOPPV
10 pm ET/7 pm PT
Live on SHO PPV
Mon., Nov.
26 SCB: N. Donaire vs Darchinyan
SHO2 10 p.m.
Tues., Nov.
27 SCB: Tarver vs. Muriqi
SHO2 10 p.m.
Wed., Nov.
28 EliteXC: Shamrock vs. Baroni
SHO2 10 p.m.
Thurs., Nov.
29 SCB: Dawson vs. Adamek
SHO2 10 p.m.
Fri., Nov.
30 SCB: Tarver vs. Muriqi /
SHO2 10 p.m.
Dawson vs. Ruiz
For complete listings
on all SHOWTIME® programming, please visit
www.SHO.com/schedule.
ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP ANNOUNCES CHUCK LIDDELL vs. WANDERLEI
SILVA
UFC 79: NEMESIS
SATURDAY, DEC. 29 LIVE FROM MANDALAY BAY
EVENTS CENTER
Tickets on Sale Now
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – For
years, UFC® fight fans have speculated about the outcome of a historic
dream matchup between two legendary figures in the
sport of mixed martial arts,
Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. Tonight, on Spike TV’s 2007 Scream
Awards, UFC President Dana White announced that this dream will finally
become a reality when UFC and PRIDE former champions Chuck “The Iceman”
Liddell and “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva face each other at UFC
79: NEMESIS live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, December
29, 2007.
“Chuck and Wanderlei – two legends in the sport – will
face off in the most important match of their careers at
UFC 79,” said Dana White, UFC
President. “Chuck and Wanderlei have both wanted this fight for as long
as they can remember, and this is definitely the fight that fans have
waited for years to see. Finally, PRIDE’s most dangerous striker will
face the UFC’s most dangerous striker, and the world will know after
years of speculation who will win and who will lose this fight.”
Tickets for UFC 79: NEMESIS are on sale now and are priced at $1,000,
$750, $500, $300, $200 and $100. Tickets are available through any
Mandalay Bay box office and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select
Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall and
Ritmo Latino). To charge by
phone with a major credit card,
call the Mandalay Bay box office at (702) 632-7580 or Ticketmaster at
(702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at
www.ufc.com,
www.mandalaybay.com or
www.ticketmaster.com.
A special Internet ticket pre-sale is
available now to UFC newsletter subscribers. To access this presale,
users must register for the UFC newsletter through
www.ufc.com.
There also will be a special auction for
Octagon-side floor seats available only through
www.ticketmaster.com starting
Wednesday, October 24 and ending Monday, November 5.
UFC 79: NEMESIS is available live on
pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH
Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice
Canada for a suggested retail price of $39.95 ($39.99 CAD) and $49.95
for HD where available.
Liddell (20-5), considered by many to be
the greatest light heavyweight fighter of all time, reigned as the
205-pound UFC champion for over three years. He knocked out seven
opponents in seven consecutive fights, including Randy Couture (twice),
Vernon White, Jeremy Horn, Renato “Babalu” Sobral and Tito Ortiz
(twice), before he was defeated by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 71
in May. Chuck now returns to the Octagon to face the fighter he has
wanted to fight for years – Wanderlei Silva.
“I’m excited this fight with Wanderlei is
finally happening,” said Liddell. “I’ve been saying for a long time
that, given the chance, I would knock Wanderlei Silva out. I think this
will be a great fight for the fans, and one that lives up to their
expectations, because I’m going to hit him until he falls down and stays
down.”
The 31-year old Silva (31-7-1), known by
fight fans as “The Axe Murderer” for his ultra-aggressive style and
finishing ability, began his career almost 11 years ago in his native
Brazil, fighting in Vale Tudo bouts that pushed him to the limit as he
honed the skills that would soon make him one of the most feared
fighters on the planet. He met great success by winning the PRIDE
organization’s middleweight championship and defeating the likes of
current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson (twice), Dan
Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba (three times), Ricardo Arona, Hidehiko
Yoshida, and Kazuyuki Fujita, while engaging in some of the most
memorable fights in MMA history. Well-rested after his February PRIDE
fight against Dan Henderson, Silva is ready to take on Liddell and
secure the most important victory of his mixed martial arts career.
“I’ve wanted to fight Chuck for a long
time,” said Silva. “I think about this fight a lot, our styles are very
similar – we are both great strikers. I’m training very hard, because I
want to give my next victory to my fans. After I beat Chuck, then I want
to fight the champion.”
In addition to Liddell vs. Silva, UFC 79
features the main event welterweight championship matchup between UFC
champion Matt Serra (16-4) and former UFC champion Matt Hughes (43-5).
Current UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, fresh off
his knockout victory over Georges St-Pierre in April, looks to defend
his title for the first time against the legendary Hughes and secure his
own legacy in the UFC 170-pound division. Hughes, a two-time UFC
champion with seven combined title defenses to his name, has a deadly
ground game that has earned him wins over St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Chris
Lytle,
Royce Gracie, and Frank Trigg
(twice).
For more information about UFC 78,
The Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale,
UFC 79 or any upcoming UFC event, visit
www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.
About The Ultimate Fighting Championship
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship®
brand is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts
organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned
and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the
UFC® organization produces approximately twelve live pay-per-view events
annually that are distributed through cable and satellite providers. In
addition to its U.S. distribution, UFC fight programs are distributed
throughout the world including broadcast on MAIN EVENT in Australia,
Globosat in Brazil and Bravo and Setanta PPV in the United Kingdom. For
more information, or current UFC fight news, visit
www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or
www.ufcespanol.com.
Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate
Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It
Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage
design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service
marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other
jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of
Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.
Athletes Come From Far and Wide for IFL Draft 2008 in New York
MAMARONECK, N.Y., October 20, 2007
-- Nearly 150 mixed martial athletes residing in 20 U.S. states –
hailing from at least 10 other countries – came to the L.A. Boxing gym
in Mamaroneck, N.Y. today, looking for spots on International Fight
League teams at the IFL 2008 Draft.
It’s likely that none of those had a more
rewarding trip to the New York suburb than Levon Maynard,
a civilian Air Force computer technician who drove all night from
Norfolk, Va., sleeping in his car before standing out among the more
than 30 welterweights with an impressive showing in all phases that
earned him a spot among the pool of 18 athletes selected by the coaches.
“I would have done anything for this
opportunity,” said Maynard, who was joined by his girlfriend on the
eight-hour one-way excursion. “Getting to see where my skills are
against a lot of other guys in my weight class with my own level of
skill and experience was the best part.”
Under
the watchful eye of IFL Commissioner
Kurt Otto, “IFL Battleground” host
Bas Rutten and Toronto Dragons coach
Carlos Newton, each athlete participated in a preliminary
session which included takedowns, jiu-jitsu and sparring/kick boxing,
contested on mats.
About 50 moved on to the final round of
MMA sparring in the ring. Current IFL athletes
Deividas Taurosevicius of the Pitbulls and
Shane Ott of the Scorpions served as referees.
The 18 athletes selected join a pool of
potential IFL competitors. They may serve as full team members,
alternates, training partners, or potential replacement or Superfight
performers as well.
While a quick look at the parking lot
outside L.A. Boxing revealed license plates from states as far away as
Ohio, Maryland and even Indiana, the crowd of supporters inside the
facility was decidedly in the corner of several local athletes, notably
Dennis Racanello, 35, of Larchmont, N.Y., and
Dyrell Walker, 26, of New Rochelle, N.Y. Racanello, a faculty
member at nearby Iona College, trains at the Mamaroneck L.A. Boxing gym,
and his early success in drills and jiu-jitsu produced the loudest
cheers. Walker, a Western Connecticut State University grad who was
born in Jamaica but grew up in New Rochelle, went one step further,
showing quick moves in the drills and strong sparring skills to impress
the coaches.
“There
was a great energy in the building today,” said Otto. “There were some
very spirited sparring sessions and I think guys really fed off the
energy.”
Another pairing of note was the light
heavyweight finals matchup between Armin Mrkanovic, a
native of Bosnia who made the Chicago Red Bears roster at the beginning
of 2007 but was injured before he could compete for Coach Igor
Zinoviev’s squad, and Constantinos Phillipou,
another area product who brought an extended contingent of training
partners and friends to support him. Mrkanovic and Phillipou battled it
out in an entertaining sparring session which ultimately resulted in
both athletes being selected for the pool.
Heavyweights Lenard Terrence
of Akwesasne, N.Y. and A.J. Xhudo of Yonkers, N.Y. gave
their all in their matchup as well, earning loud applause and spots in
the both the qualifier pool and the hearts of the coaches.
“The
light heavies and heavies really showed us something today,” said
Newton. “I look for heart. I want to see how they react when they’re
hit. These guys were ready to go to battle to win us over, and they
did.”
The last of three IFL 2008 Draft sessions is set for next Saturday,
October 27, in Schaumburg, Illinois. Last week, more than 250 athletes
competed at the session in Costa Mesa, Calif., at which 27 were selected
for the athlete pool.
Here are the qualifiers as selected by the
coaches in Mamaroneck:
Lightweights:
James "Binky" Jones
Matt Lee
Torrance Taylor
Mike Willus
James Bova
Al Iaquinta
Anthony Leate
Welterweights:
Tom Gallicchio
Dyrell Walker
Matthew Brown
Tiawan Howard
Levon Maynard
Middleweights:
Danilo Villefort
Armin Mrkanovic
Light
heavyweights:
Constantinos Phillipou
Reginald Higgins
Heavyweights:
Lenard Terrence
A.J. Xhudo
By: Ann Dain, ColoradoFightEvents.com
The World Combat League (WCL) is launching their
second season at the Denver Coliseum Friday night, October 19 th.
This is not just another fight. This is a league founded and
launched by Chuck Norris - world famous film and television star --
who has been practicing martial arts since before many of us were
born!
Those of us who are drawn to the fast-paced action
of Cobat Sports and want to witness the highest knockout rates in
the sport won't want to miss the World Combat League's only stop in
Colorado this season.
"We're very excited to be introducing the WCL to
the Denver market," said the league's founder and martial arts icon,
Chuck Norris. "We think we have the most exciting product in all of
Combat Sports. Last year our bouts featured a 33-percent knockout
rate - by far the highest such rate in any contact sport. Combine
this with our short bouts (each individual fight lasts no longer
than three minutes) and the sheer number of bouts we fit into our
team concept, and the entire evening un spools like a You Tube
highlight video."
The event being held at the Coliseum will be
televised on the VERSUS network.
There are several Colorado web-sites that cover
local martial arts events and we have the role of being the primary
cheerleaders behind what is now the fastest growing sport in the
nation for both men and women. The popularity of this sport is now
nearly evenly divided between men and women. Anthony Dion of The
Daily Washington, wrote in late April 2007 that: "Women presently
make up 40% of the spectators at events featuring full contact
sports. This is attributed to MMA becoming a popular sports trend, a
means of self-defense and a great body-conditioning and exercise
workout". He went on to say that "41% of all viewing households show
an annual income in excess of $75,000 making combative sports
spectators some of the most affluent of all sports enthusiasts".
As I was doing research on our demographics, I
also discovered statistics from an independent research group that
consumer-to-consumer pass along advertising (such as what we do
through our web-sites) drives the value of the marketing target as
we elevate the visibility of our local promoters and in this case,
the World Combat League.
THAT PASS-ALONG PROMOTION IS WHAT WE DO
- the ColoradoFightEvents.com, MartialArtsRadio.com,
MMABuzz.com, totalmma.com, futuremmastars.com and
mmaweekly.com (forgive me if I left anyone out) sites where
the founders spend their weekend and evenings developing their
websites to share news and opinions with others of like interest.
So, now we have a huge Nationwide event kicking
off their 2007 season in Denver and we are the conduit - along with
our supporting YourHub.com editors -- to let the fans know that this
is a fight not to be missed.
This is a different structure than what we see at
most MMA events.
-
There is no cage or ring. The fight takes place
on a circular, color-coded mat (blue is in-bounds, yellow is
caution and red is out-of-bounds) with raised edges so the
fighters can tell when they are stepping into danger.
-
Penalty points will be levied when:
-
-
The out-of-bounds fighter doesn't fight was
way back into the circle in a timely manner
-
If a fighter attempts to slow the pace by
grabbing, holding, clinching or in anyway trying to avoid the
action
-
Only punching is allowed although "punching"
can be inflicted with hands, knees and feet
-
A clinch is allowed only long enough to
inflict a knee shot and then the hold must be released
-
Although Norris' ultimate goal is worldwide
competition, there are currently 8 teams across the United States.
Denver's own Steve Alley of the Kick Down fight promotion
and principal instructor of the House of Martial Arts is the coach
for the Denver Fury, an expansion team making its' debut in 2007.
-
Each team is made up of 6 fighters plus an
Alternate in different weight classes including one female fighter
pair within each team
-
The competitors have two one-round fights in a
given night against the same opponent, separated by a long
halftime break. If the first half fight ends in a KO or TKO, the
alternative fighter from the losing team takes on the victorious
opponent in the second half. As I understand it, a coach can also
make strategic replacements in the second half as part of his game
plan.
Friday night, we will experience the Denver Fury
battling the Texas Dragons and the Oklahoma Destroyers taking on the
Los Angeles Stars.
Steve Alley, coach of the Denver Fury told me:
"You know how strong the natural competition is between Colorado and
Texas? We're going to make sure that we beat them!" Steve said that
even though the Fury was the last team selected and he was the last
coach selected, he anticipates winning the whole show! He is excited
about the entire card but is especially pumped about Jack Johnson
and Colby Snyder - although he waxed individually about every
fighter on his card. Jack Johnson became the ISKA World Champion in
modified Muay Thai Kick Boxing only 3 years and 3 months after
entering the sport. Dan Magnie and I of Coloradofightevents.com have
watched Jack train at Mahany's gym when visiting Steve Alley. Jack's
kick slaps on his sparring partner's training pads resonate like a
canon! I have never seen him fight but am very eager to do so.
Jack's alternate is Tom Johnson who is absolutely an All-Star in his
own right and a Krav Maga expert. These are two top notch
professional fighters.
Colby Snyder, a 4-time WCL veteran in the 164 lb.
division is a force not to be missed and Steve referred to his
alternate, Jesse Miles, as a phe-nom.
There is not one fighter on the card that Steve
did not describe with great passion in terms of their
accomplishments and potential.
So - again - I am amazed that the draw for this
event is primarily word-of-mouth amongst us enthusiasts. The
promoter of the event is offering a $10-off coupon that is attached
to this site because he understands the value of social network
recommendations. Also, the weigh-in, which is open to the public,
will be on Thursday, October 18th at ESPN Zone Restaurant at 1187
16th Street; Denver (303-595-3776). Chuck Norris, the fighters and
the coaches of the World Combat League will all be on hand.
All of us are trying to raise the level of
excitement for these fabulous fight shows brought to us by local
promoters and those that find Denver a ripe venue to launch their
programs. Let's show them how right they are by supporting these
athletes while experiencing fabulous entertainment for ourselves!!
ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® PRESENTS UFC 79: NEMESIS SATURDAY,
DEC. 29 LIVE FROM MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER
UFC® WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MATT “THE TERROR” SERRA vs. MATT HUGHES
Tickets Go on
Sale Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 10am PT
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – For a sixth straight
season, millions of UFC® fans around the world watched competitors on
The Ultimate Fighter® do battle in an attempt to become one of the
newest stars in the UFC organization. But fans are also watching another
battle rage, this one between the two coaches, UFC welterweight champion
Matt “The Terror” Serra and former UFC champion Matt Hughes. Now, the
coaches will have their chance to face off inside the Octagon™, with the
world welterweight title at stake. The Ultimate Fighting Championship®
presents UFC 79: NEMESIS live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center
Saturday, December 29, 2007.
“Matt Hughes and Matt Serra did an awesome job as coaches on The
Ultimate Fighter and now they are set to fight for Serra’s UFC
Welterweight World Championship,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Serra
wants to hold on to his title and Hughes wants it back. The show left
little doubt about the dislike these two have for each other, and I
think this is going to be an explosive fight.”
Tickets for UFC 79: NEMESIS go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 10am PST
and are priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300, $200 and $100. Tickets will
be sold at any Mandalay Bay box office and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster
locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the
Fashion Show Mall and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major
credit card, call the Mandalay Bay box office at (702) 632-7580 or
Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase
at www.ufc.com, www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets
to this event Sunday, Oct. 21 at 10am PT via the website www.ufc.com. A
special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter
subscribers Tuesday, Oct. 23 starting at 10am PT. To access this
presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through www.ufc.com.
There also will be a special auction for Octagon-side floor seats
available only through www.ticketmaster.com starting Wednesday, October
24 and ending Monday, November 5.
UFC 79: NEMESIS is available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m.

PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network,
TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for
a suggested retail price of $39.95 ($39.99 CAD) and $49.95 for HD where
available.
Current UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra (16-4) is proof that The
Ultimate Fighter not only produces top contenders in the UFC, it
produces champions. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 4, Serra
plowed his way through the reality show to win a “comeback” shot for the
170-pound title against then champion Georges St-Pierre. In what turned
out to be an upset win of epic proportions for Serra, the Long Island
native overwhelmed “Rush” with a barrage of strikes and stopped him cold
at 3:25 of the first round. Now Serra looks to defend his title against
the legendary Hughes and secure his own legacy in the UFC 170-pound
division.
“I think this is going to be a tough fight. As a person, I can’t stand
Matt Hughes, I don’t like him at all, but I respect him as a fighter,”
said Serra. “You can’t deny what he has accomplished as a fighter, but
he basically thinks my last fight was a fluke, like I don’t belong in
there with him. I believe there’s one way Matt Hughes can beat me, but I
can beat him several different ways, and I plan on beating him on all
fronts.”
Hughes (43-5), a two-time UFC champion with seven combined title
defenses to his name, has a deadly ground game that has earned him wins
over St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Chris Lytle, Royce Gracie, and Frank Trigg
(twice). After giving up his title to St-Pierre at UFC 65, Hughes
returned to the Octagon at UFC 68 in March to take on The Ultimate
Fighter Season 4 finalist Chris Lytle. He won via unanimous decision,
and ever since then, he has waited for the opportunity to fight for the
title and he wants to prove that he is not only the best 170-pounder in
the division today, but that he is the greatest 170-pound fighter ever
to fight in the UFC.
“To me, Serra is just another opponent,” said Hughes. “He’s just another
guy that likes to run his mouth. I think nine out of 10 times he loses
to GSP, so Serra did get lucky once, maybe. I think I have a lot more
ways to win this fight than he does – I just need to watch out for those
looping punches.”
For more information about UFC 77, UFC 78, The Ultimate Fighter 6
Finale, UFC 79 or any upcoming UFC event, visit www.ufc.com or
uk.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.
WCL Kicks Off the 2007
Season in Denver
24 Fights 4
Teams 1 Night
October 19,
2007
Denver
Coliseum, Denver, CO
The highly anticipated 2007 kicks off at the Denver Coliseum in
Denver, CO on October 19th.
The league's newest team the Denver Fury will be taking on the Texas
Dragons.
The Los Angeles Stars will be battling the Oklahoma Destroyers as well.
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Denver vs. Texas is the kind of “you pick’em” match up that
could be easily argued either way. They both have similar
fighting styles and are very tough in several positions. This
one might be decided by coaching strategy; knowing which
athletes to start and which to hold in reserve for the second
half. Or it could be decided by which team best adapts to the
WCL’s pace, in this the first event of the season. Even if
you’ve fought in WCL before it is very difficult to be prepared
for the toughest three minutes in sports. One thing is for sure,
the action and drama that this match-up will create makes our
fans the ultimate winners. |
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Angel Valerio
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vs.
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Sherif Ghaly
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Colby Snyder
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vs.
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Charles Wilson
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Ronnie
Copeland
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vs.
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Lawson Baker
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Katie Meehan
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vs.
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Marily Martin
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Matt Callahan
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vs.
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Damion Caldwell
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Jack Johnson
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vs.
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Nick Gonzalez
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HALF TIME
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Angel Valerio
Scott Clark
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vs.
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Sherif Ghaly
Chico Mendez
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Colby Snyder
Jesse Miles
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vs.
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Charles Wilson
Matt Foshee
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Ronnie Copeland
Damond Clark
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vs.
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Lawson Baker
Galen Flemons
|
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Katie Meehan
Kornelija Numic
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vs.
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Marily Martin
Gia Wilson
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Matt Callahan
London Pray
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vs.
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Damion Caldwell
Antoine Mcrae
|
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Jack Johnson
Tom Johnson
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vs.
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Nick Gonzalez
Shannon Hudson
|
|
Oklahoma vs. Los Angeles is a match up of two extraordinary
teams. They both have great talent, heart and experience in the
combat zone. Victory will go to the team that can impose their
style of fighting on their opponent. If Oklahoma stands back and
tries to trade blows at a distance with LA it’s going to be a
long and disappointing night for the Destroyers. On the other
hand, if Oklahoma comes out brawling, meaning that they are
willing to be hit on the way in, in an effort to land bombs and
combinations then they could walk away with a decisive victory
(remember a KO scores 15-0). Los Angeles will fight like Los
Angeles fights (at least their big three will). They’ll
sharp-shoot with great speed and accuracy in an effort to set up
a series of spectacular KO’s. |
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Jack Felton
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vs.
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Thomas Longacre
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Dan Evensen
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vs.
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Alex Beck
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Alicia
Ashley
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vs.
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Jeri Sitzes
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Jason Bourelly
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vs.
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Anthony Njokuani
|
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Joe Schilling
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vs.
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Jesse Lawrence
|
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Raymond Daniels
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vs.
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Ryan Madigan
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HALF TIME
|
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Jack Felton
Royce Tankston
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vs.< |