Las Vegas, Nev. – The legendary Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC) Octagon® is set to ride into Milwaukee’s BMO Harris Bradley Center for the Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary celebration, giving fans of the two all-American heavyweight brands an opportunity to witness one of the hardest-hitting live events of the year – UFC® 164 Harley-Davidson Hometown Throwdown.

The organization formally announced today that undisputed UFC® lightweight champion “Smooth” Benson Henderson will defend his title against dangerous Canadian No. 1 contender TJ Grant in the main event of UFC 164 on August 31.

“We’re celebrating the Harley Davidson 110th anniversary in Milwaukee with the lightweight title fight between champion Benson Henderson and TJ Grant, who’s won five straight fights,” UFC President Dana White said. “Plus, we have two former UFC heavyweight champions squaring off when Frank Mir takes on Josh Barnett. It’s going to be a big week in Milwaukee for Harley-Davidson and the UFC!”

Having bested Frankie Edgar (twice), Donald Cerrone (twice), Gilbert Melendez and Nate Diaz, Henderson (18-2) looks to extend his perfect record inside the Octagon and further cement his status as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best. After a successful run in the UFC welterweight division, Grant (21-5) made the move to lightweight in 2011 and has found his rhythm to the tune of five consecutive wins over top competition. After knocking out heavily favored Gray Maynard at UFC 160 in May, Grant has no problem assuming the underdog role yet again as he attempts to dethrone the lightweight king.

In addition to the Henderson-Grant showdown, Frank Mir (16-7, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) meets “The Warmaster” Josh Barnett (32-6, fighting out of Fullerton, Calif.) in a battle of former UFC heavyweight champions that fans have been dreaming of for nearly a decade.

Tickets for UFC®164 HARLEY-DAVIDSON HOMETOWN THROWDOWN: HENDERSON vs. GRANT, go on sale Friday, June 21 at 10 a.m. CT and are priced at $400, $300, $200, $150, $90 and $60. Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster locations. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC®164: HENDERSON vs. GRANT will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change. Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary celebration ticket packages are available at www.h-d.com/110tickets.
About the Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary Celebration
The Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary is a year-long, global celebration connecting millions of Harley-Davidson fans united by a common bond and shared passion for freedom, self-expression and epic adventure. Included in the official 110th Anniversary calendar are 12 different 110th Anniversary experiences that Harley-Davidson will bring to existing motorcycle events in global markets through September 2013. The events span 11 countries on six continents and are capped by two main celebration events in Rome, Italy, in June 2013 and Milwaukee during Labor Day weekend.

Harley-Davidson fans are invited to learn more about the 110th Anniversary and join the celebration online where they can share videos, images and experiences on Facebook, Twitter with the hashtag #HD110, and at www.h-d.com/110.

Plan Your Visit to the Harley-Davidson Museum
Timed ticketing reservations for the Harley-Davidson Museum are required during the 110th Anniversary Celebration and are available exclusively at www.H-DMuseum.com beginning April 29 for Museum members and May 6 for the general public.

There are many activities planned at the Museum including the AMD Invitational Custom Bike Show, H-D Museum Custom Bike Show, Museum Members-Only Lounge, new product displays, a JUMPSTART® Rider Experience featuring 2014 motorcycles, a limited number of small wedding ceremony packages, custom culture artisans, outdoor concessions and live music. All outdoor activities are free.

About Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson® motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson’s website at www.harley-davidson.com.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which airs on FX.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.6 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club™ affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

Kansas City, MO (USA): Rising mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion Global Warrior Challenge (GWC) is thrilled to announce its inaugural MMA event, “THE BRITISH INVASION: U.S. vs. U.K.,” which will take over the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday, June 29th. The twelve action-packed fights scheduled feature some of the best fighters from the United States and the United Kingdom who will battle each other in a country versus country format. The first in a series of country versus country events put on by GWC, the main event of this fight card will feature former UFC® Heavyweight Champion Ricco “Suave” Rodriguez, who will try to stop the young and powerful rising star Marcin Lazarz. In the co-main event, 12-year fight veteran Jimmy Ambriz will face off with the likes of UFC® vet Oli Thompson.

There are many other well-known MMA stars competing on this incredible fight card, including Kendall Grove, Drew Fickett, Ivan Salaverry, Jake Heun, L.C. Davis, and many more.

The official press conference and weigh-ins for this event will be held at the Pepper Mill & Co. Restaurant, located in Atchison, Kansas. VIP tickets will be available for those that wish to meet the fighters. This will be a community event for all ages, and open to the public, with tons of food and fun.

“THE BRITISH INVASION: U.S. VS. U.K.” will take place on Saturday, June 29th, live at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Doors will open at 7 PM, and the first bout is scheduled for 7:30 PM. Tickets for this electrifying event are on sale right now through www.SprintCenter.com, charge-by-phone at (888) 929-7849, or in-person at the Sprint Center Box Office. Ticket prices are $37, $52, $62, $77, $92, and $102.

This highly-anticipated MMA showdown will be beamed on Pay Per View on cable and satellite in the United States and Canada. The event will be in High Definition, and it will be available in both English and Spanish (where available). “THE BRITISH INVASION: U.S. VS. U.K.” will be distributed live on Pay Per View beginning at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST by Multi Vision Media, Inc. The suggested retail price is $29.95. It will be available in over 80 million households via IN DEMAND, Avail-TVN, DIRECTV, and DISH Network. The Executive Producer of the event is Brian Ricco.

“This rivalry harkens back to the original ringed sport of bareknuckle fighting, and the legends created by its popularity,” commented Ricco. “The fact that the U.S. is facing the U.K. on the fortnight of Independence Day is both a tribute and a challenge to the U.S. We will not only capture these terrific athletes defending their country’s honor, but we will document the first of what will be an incredible television series for generations to enjoy. There is no greater rivalry in sports than the one created over 200 years ago.

“The ability to document this great rivalry is one of great challenge and anticipation,” continued Ricco. “We don’t expect anyone to take a step back. We will be prepared at the opening bell for any quick stoppage or knockout. The rivalry is that fierce.”

Robert Beené, President of GWC Fights, stated, “I am elated to be bringing such a quality MMA show to Kansas City. This inaugural event for GWC Fights has been a lifelong dream. These guys are warriors, and are going to put on one of the best, most competitive and incredible night of fights you have ever witnessed. I am so honored to be the promoter of what I am sure will be an evening of masterful MMA performances.”

Ricco “Suave” Rodriguez (50-19), who recently claimed his 50th MMA victory, brings a wealth of talent and experience to the cage with him. A former UFC® Heavyweight Champion, Rodriguez has battled many of MMA’s top combatants, including Andrei Arlovski, Jeff Monson, Randy Couture (who he beat for the UFC® belt), Tim Sylvia, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Ben Rothwell, Antonio Silva, and Glover Teixeira, amongst others. In addition, “Suave” is a world-renowned grappler, having won the ADCC world championships. Standing across the cage from Rodriguez will be rising Polish star Marcin Lazarz (5-1), who lives and trains in England. Before a recent setback, Lazarz had opened his career with five straight wins, including three stoppages. Now, the powerful Pole has a shot at cementing his place amongst the very best in MMA’s light heavyweight division.

Jimmy “The Titan” Ambriz (17-18) is a fighter’s fighter. Known for his large size and raw power, Ambriz has fought all over the world, competing in well-known organizations such as India’s Super Fight League, DREAM, King of the Cage, and the WEC®, amongst others. During his career, “The Titan” has held the KOTC Super-Heavyweight belt, and holds victories over Dan “The Bull” Bobish, Ruben “Warpath” Villareal, and Eric Prindle. In 36 career bouts, he’s only been to a decision once. In short, he brings excitement to the cage few can match. At “BRITISH INVASION,” Ambriz will face a tall task in fellow UFC® vet Oli Thompson (10-5). A strong finisher, Thompson has stopped his opponent in nine of his ten victories in the cage, and with the opportunity to claim a world-traveled and well-known fighter like Jimmy Ambriz as a victim he will surely lay it all on the line in pursuit of victory.

Also populating the fight card for this exciting event will be several other notable fights, including scraps between former UFC® fighters Drew Fickett (42-19) and Andre Winner (14-7), MMA pioneer Ivan Salaverry (13-9) and English star Jack Marshman (11-2), and former TUF winner Kendall Grove (17-12) and British star on the rise Valentio Petrescu (12-3).

Drew Fickett is one of the most experienced fighters amongst the lighter weights of MMA, with over sixty professional fights. He holds victories over well-known fighters such as Josh Koscheck, Kurt Pellegrino, Carlo Prater, Dennis Hallman, Josh Neer, and Kenny Florian.

A six-time veteran of the UFC®, Andre Winner compiled a 2-4 record in the Octagon®. Since being released from the promotion, the Brit has rebounded, winning two of his last three fights, and will look to continue his surge.

Another multi-time veteran of the UFC®, Ivan Salaverry made his debut in 1999. Over the last 14 years, the 42 year-old has faced the likes of Akihiro Gono, Andrei Semenov, Matt Lindland, Tony Fryklund, Joe Riggs, Nate Marquardt, Terry Martin, and Rousimar Palhares.

Veteran British fighter Jack “Hammer” Marshman is another scrapper from across the pond who is known for finishing foes. With 10 stoppages in his 11 victories, Marshman is a danger wherever the fight goes, and at 23 years old, he will look to show his opponent that youth conquers experience.

“Da Spyda” Kendall Grove grew up in Hawaii, and the 6’6” middleweight has carved out a name for himself for participating in exciting fights. He won the 3rd season of the UFC® reality show The Ultimate Fighter, and became a mainstay with the promotion. The 13-time UFC® vet defeated fighters such as Ed Herman, Alan Belcher, Evan Tanner, Jake Rosholt, and Goran Reljic while with the promotion, and is looking to climb his way back to the top of the fight world.

Valentino Petrescu is another ultra-tough English warrior who is looking to make a splash on the global MMA scene. He’s finished his opponents in nine of his 12 wins, and will look to add Kendall Grove to his list of victims.

Other well-known fighters competing at this event include recent TUF competitor Jake Heun (5-2), former UFC® fighter Curt Warburton (12-3), undefeated prospect Max “Power” Nunes (10-0), Bellator®/Strikeforce® vet Mike “300” Hayes, and former WEC® competitor L.C. Davis (19-5).

For all the latest excitement on “THE BRITISH INVASION: U.S. VS. U.K.” from Global Warrior Challenge, please head to http://www.gwcfights.com/.

Lafayette, CA – UFC GYM® is pleased to announce the opening of its signature gym in Long Island, N.Y. The much-anticipated 24-hour full-service gym is located at 2020 Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park. UFC GYM invites new members and guests to stop by for complimentary club tours, free classes, one-on-one fitness assessments, retail and Arm Bar Café specials, food, prizes and more on Saturday, June 15th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Members joining during the Community Day will receive special membership offers.

The New Hyde Park’s 37,000 square foot location offers a TRAIN DIFFERENT® approach as an alternative to the traditional workout. The gym fuses together martial arts with cutting-edge equipment and conventional fitness.

“UFC GYM is the ultimate fitness destination! We can’t wait to show our TRAIN DIFFERENT® style to the residents of Long Island with our first 24-hour full-service facility on the East Coast,” said Senior Vice President of UFC GYM Adam Sedlack “With the opening of our Long Island site, UFC GYM will have 11 locations on the East Coast and is continuing to revolutionize the world of fitness and training. Our gyms are destinations for men, women and kids of all ages and fitness levels who want a welcoming place to work out, get results and stay motivated in a high energy atmosphere.”

Membership includes unlimited functional fitness and hardcore conditioning classes. Members can also train like world-class UFC athletes while maximizing results by participating in UFC GYMs signature mixed martial arts inspired Ultimate Classes including Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, hot hula, shock yoga, women’s self-defense, performance cycling, POUND – Rockout Workout™ and other technique-driven fitness classes. Kids can access a UFC KIDS GYM with a private training area offering youth fitness, athletic performance and mixed martial arts classes.

Expert coaches and certified personal trainers are available to help members of all fitness levels. Individual coaching is offered and team-oriented sessions including a proprietary Daily Ultimate Training™ (DUT™) program where members benefit from intense functional workouts. DUT™ combines every aspect of resistance training, body awareness drills and cardio respiratory endurance. Each class is different, competitive and aimed at improving overall athletic ability. Members can also TRAIN DIFFERENT® with a variety of tools including a 32-foot Octagon®, an indoor turf area, free weights, cardio machines and the latest in strength and conditioning equipment. Additional amenities include a UFC GYM store, an Arm Bar Café and video wall of twenty 40-inch TV screens, plus a member lounge with free Wi-Fi service.

UFC GYM continues to grow following its acquisition of LA Boxing® earlier this year and is expected to expand to more than 100 gyms in over 23 states in the U.S. by the end of the year. UFC GYM is franchising a new model of boutique clubs driven by group fitness and personal training. Franchisees have the unique opportunity to own and operate the new UFC GYM franchise model across the U.S. and the world. For franchise information, visit www.ufcgym.com/franchising.

June 15th is the final day for special opening rates. For more information visit www.ufcgym.com or call 516-784-4072.

About UFC GYM®: UFC GYM® is the first major brand extension of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the world leader in the sport of mixed martial arts. In alliance with New Evolution Ventures® (NeV), developers of many of the world’s most successful fitness brands, the UFC Gym brand gives UFC enthusiasts and fitness seekers of all ages the opportunity to practice the training techniques of famed UFC athletes. Offering a full-range of group fitness classes, private MMA training, personal and group dynamic training, plus MMA style youth programming, UFC GYM creates something for all ages and fitness levels. As the first to combine the world of mixed martial arts and fitness, UFC GYM has developed an atmosphere where members can see immediate results. UFC GYM is the ultimate fitness experience. The brand is not what you expect, and more than you can imagine, aiming to continue revolutionizing the fitness industry. For more information, please visit www.ufcgym.com.

About New Evolution Ventures® (NeV): Based in Northern California, New Evolution Ventures® (NeV) has a two-decade plus record of success in delivering superior returns on investment, specializing in the acquisition, development and operations management of both domestic and international fitness endeavors. Founded in 2008 by Mark Mastrov, Jim Rowley and Mike Feeney and following a strategic partnership with Vision Capital in 2011, the current team of NeV professionals is setting industry-wide standards one brand at a time. Operations have spanned over 20 countries worldwide and included hundreds of facilities. Our team’s industry experience has positioned NeV as a global leader in its field, expanding and reinventing the vision of fitness. For more information, visit www.nev.com.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto, Beijing and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 35 live events annually. The UFC is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world with events distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group for live events and thousands of hours of programming including the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, moving to FOX Sports 1 in September 2013.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.5 million followers on Twitter. UFC businesses also include over 90 UFC GYM® locations in 28 US states, UFC FIT™, an in-home fitness and nutrition program, UFC 360, the internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new videogame franchise in development with EA, best-selling DVDs, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, branded apparel and trading cards.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 11, 2013) – A leg injury has forced reigning Invicta Fighting Championships World Strawweight (115 pounds) Champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (9-2) of Redondo Beach, Calif. to withdraw from her scheduled title defense against undefeated JEWELS champion Ayaka Hamasaki (9-0) of Tokyo, Japan at the highly-anticipated Invicta Fighting Championships women’s world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City on Saturday, July 13.

Replacing the injured Esparza against Hamasaki in the Invicta FC 6 co-main event will be undefeated sensation Claudia Gadelha (9-0) of Mossoro, Rio Grande Do Norte Brazil.

Gadelha’s original Invicta FC 6 opponent, undefeated, fast-rising star Joanne Calderwood (6-0) of Glasgow, Scotland has been matched with a new strawweight opponent, Sarah “White Tiger” Schneider (6-6) of Raytown, Mo.

The 24-year-old Gadelha’s start will be her first under the Invicta FC banner. In her last start, she notched a unanimous decision win over Herica Tiburcio on May 11, 2013.

Hamasaki, a 31-year-old submission specialist, has been an unsolvable puzzle in action, thus far. After reeling off victories in her first seven stars in Japan, she made her debut in the U.S. at Invicta FC 2 last July 28, submitting Lacey Schuckman in the third round (4:45) of action with an armbar. Hamasaki recorded her latest conquest in on Dec. 15, a unanimous decision over Emi Fujino in a JEWELS-promoted contest in Japan.

The 32-year-old Schneider holds an overall 1-1 record in the Invicta FC cage. Five of her six-career professional victories have come by way of submission, including her start against Sally Krumdiack at the inaugural Invicta FC event on April 28, 2012, which Schneider won by way of armbar in the first round (3:01).

Tickets priced from $35, for the highly-anticipated Invicta Fighting Championships women’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world championship doubleheader event at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City on Saturday, July 13, are on sale online at TicketFly.com.

In the main event of the stacked 13-bout card, ferocious KO artist and pound-for-pound sensation Cris Cyborg (11-1, 1 NC) of Curitiba, Brazil will face off with fellow superstar and submission ace Marloes Coenen (21-5) of The Netherlands in the first-ever Invicta FC world featherweight (145 pounds) championship bout.

The showdown between rivals Cyborg and Coenen marks a highly-anticipated rematch to their explosive, barnburner first fight in Sunrise, Fla. on Jan 30, 2010 in which Cyborg emerged victorious by way of TKO (punches) in the third and final scheduled round (3:40) of action.

In other action on the Invicta FC 6 main card, three-time Invicta FC fight winner Sarah D’Alelio (7-3) of San Jose, Calif. will take on undefeated upstart Lauren Taylor (6-0) of Anchorage, Alaska at bantamweight (135 pounds).

After her second Invicta FC “Fight of the Night” performance, prolific striker Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (5-3-1) of Pleasant Hill, Calif. will drop from bantamweight to flyweight and face off with Jennifer Maia (7-2) of Curitiba, Parana Brazil. Maia is coming off her second consecutive win, a unanimous decision over superstar Zoila Frausto Gurgel, at Invicta FC 5 on April 5.

Former Invicta FC world atomweight (105 pounds) champion Jessica Penne (10-2) of Huntington Beach, Calif. will look to rebound from her hard-fought defeat at the hands of Michelle Waterson in the main event of Invicta FC 5 when she squares off with battle-tested road warrior Nicdali “The Night Queen” Riveral-Calanoc (8-6) of Tulsa, Okla.

Submission ace Ediane “India” Gomes (10-2) of Sao Paulo, Brazil will battle hard-punching Julia “The Jewel” Budd (5-2) in a featherweight (145 pounds) tilt.

Crowd-pleasing finisher “Rowdy” Bec Hyatt (5-2) of Brisbane, Queensland Australia will look to notch her second straight victory under the Invicta FC banner in a strawweight showdown with JEWELS star Mizuki Inoue (5-1) of Nagoya, Aichi Japan. Inoue has won all five her professional stars to date by way of submission inside of two rounds of action.

Hard-hitting Muay Thai stylist Miriam Nakamoto (1-0) of Dublin, Calif. will square off with Duda “Diamond” Yankovich (1-1) of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in a bantamweight bout.

A four-bout preliminary card will be highlighted by a strawweight collision between unbeaten upstarts Rose Namajunas (2-0) of St. Paul, Minn. and Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres (2-0) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Namajunas captured the attention of the entire MMA fight world when she scored a stunning, 12-second submission on Kathina Catron at Invicta FC 5.

Ashley “Smashley” Cummins (3-1) of St. Louis, Miss. will face Emily Kagan (2-1) of Albuquerque, N.M. at strawweight.

Power striker Veronica “The Heartbreaker” Rothenhausler (1-0) of Sacramento, Calif. will collide with Mollie Estes (1-2) of Oceola, Miss. in a featherweight scrap.

Cassie Robb (0-1) of Casper, Wyo. will meet Livia Von Plettenberg (1-1) of Vienna, Wien Austria in the event’s opening strawweight bout.

About Invicta Fighting Championships:

Invicta Fighting Championships (www.invictafc.com) is a world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp and sports aficionado Janet Martin, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible matchups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport.

About Ameristar Kansas City

Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City is owned and operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ-GS: ASCA), and is a premier property characterized by a state-of-the-art casino floor and outstanding dining, lodging and entertainment options. The property features the largest casino and the most games in the Kansas City area, as well as one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest. Ameristar offers nine diverse dining venues — The Horizon Buffet, The Falcon Bakery, Pearl’s Oyster Bar, Great Plains Cattle Co., Amerisports Brew Pub, Casino Deli, Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, Burger King and Sbarro The Italian Eatery, as well as the Star Club, a private players’ lounge. Entertainment amenities include the Star Pavilion, featuring national headliners; Depot #9, with popular regional and local acts; the Regal Cinema’s Kansas City 18 Theater; Hi-Vi video arcade; and Kids Quest, a supervised child-care facility. The property also includes a 184-room hotel. The property was awarded “Favorite Casino” for the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association’s 2012 Visitor Choice Awards. Best Casino in 2012 Ingram’s Magazine “Best of Business Awards;” in the 2003, 2005, 2007 – 2009, 2011 Kansas City Magazine’s “Best of Kansas City” readers’ poll and 2011 Best Casino in Home in the Northland Magazine’s readers’ poll. Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City also was awarded Best Steakhouse, Best Buffet, Best Live Poker and Best Tournaments in the 2012 Casino Player Magazine’s “Best of Gaming” awards.

Visit Ameristar Casinos’ website at www.ameristar.com

(which shall not be deemed to be incorporated in or a part of this news release).

Tacoma, WA (June 11, 2013) – Training camps are alive and well as the Northwest’s premier fighters start to gear up for Halquist Productions’ CageSport XXV , set for July 6th, at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA. Headlining the electrifying ten bout card will be CageSport featherweight champion, Drew Brokenshire (7-2), defending his title for the second time against grizzly veteran, “Shorty” Weikel (9-3). In the semi-main event, Julian Erosa (10-1) will take on Lee Morrison (8-3) in what has turned into one of the most anticipated matchups in CageSport history.

Tickets for CageSport XXV, set for Saturday, July 6th, are still available and can be purchased at the Emerald Queen Casino box office or through Ticketmaster. Prices are $35, $55, and $100.

After defeating Julian Erosa for the CageSport featherweight title late last year and then defending the title for the first time in February against Enoch Wilson, Brokenshire made his professional boxing debut on June 1st and came out victorious with a unanimous decision victory. He’ll have his hands full when he attempts to defend his title once again against Oregon’s submission specialist, Shorty Weikel, who has won eight of his nine victories by that fashion.

The semi-main event between Yakima MMA’s Julian Erosa and Okanogan’s Lee Morrison has been a matchup that CageSport fans have been wanting for over a year now. With the already established rivalry, the stakes are even higher as the winner of this fight will get to take on the winner of the Brokenshire/Weikel fight for the CageSport featherweight title at the next CageSport in October.

Erosa became the first ever featherweight champion for CageSport when he defeated Ryan Mulvihill in April of last year with a fourth round arm bar. In his first chance to defend the title, he took on Brokenshire in what is still remembered as one of the most thrilling fights in CageSport history that resulted in a unanimous decision victory for Brokenshire who has held on to the title ever since. The real intrigue behind this is that Lee Morrison defeated Brokenshire at a King of the Cage event last August, leaving to question who the best featherweight in the region truly is.

“We have four of the best featherweights stepping up for their chance to fight for a title. Drew’s been such a tough and exciting fighter on our shows which has given him the opportunity to defend his title for a second time,” said promoter, Brian Halquist. “Erosa vs. Morrison is a fight that everyone has wanted for a long time and we’re giving it to them. With these fights we’ll be able to finally determine who the true featherweight champion really is.”

An undercard featuring eight other three round bouts full of the best Northwest fighters will also take place on July 6th. A preliminary card can be seen on the official CageSport Facebook page in the “CageSport XXV” event. An official announcement of the full fight card will be made during fight week.

Halquist Productions’ CageSport continues to be the premier MMA promotion in the northwest featuring the only all pro card in the region. CageSport has been a place for fighters such as: Miesha Tate, Bryan Caraway, John Albert, Sam Sicilia, and Michael Chiesa to showcase their talents and eventually sign on with the UFC. For more information about CageSport XXV and all other Halquist Production events, please visit www.halquistproductions.com and the official Facebook and Twitter pages of Halquist Productions, CageSport MMA, and Battle at the Boat

Las Vegas, Nev. – Former interim UFC® welterweight champion Carlos Condit (28-7, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) returns to the Octagon® to face top contender Martin Kampmann (20-6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) on Wednesday, August 28 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The two previously met in 2009, with Kampmann earning a razor-thin split decision. Now the two meet again to settle the score in the UFC’s first event in Indianapolis since UFC 119 in 2010.

“Two of the top-ranked welterweights in the division will collide when former interim UFC champion Carlos Condit meets Martin Kampmann in Indianapolis,” UFC President Dana White said. “Both of these guys love finishing fights, so this is gonna be a war!”

Also, fan favorite and 6th ranked lightweight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (20-5, 1 NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) faces resurgent Brazilian Rafael Dos Anjos (19-6) in a battle that’s an early candidate for Fight of the Night honors. While Cerrone has long sat near the top of the divisional rankings, his recent showing against former Strikeforce® standout KJ Noons brought him one step closer to a coveted shot at the title. Riding a four-fight win streak that includes notable victories over Evan Dunham and Mark Bocek, the 10th ranked Dos Anjos plans to derail “Cowboy’s” title train.

Additional bouts:
· Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (7-0, fighting out of Gaffney, N.C.) brings her unblemished record into the Octagon against former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman (16-2, fighting out of Victoria, BC, Canada).

· The Ultimate Fighter®: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen winner Kelvin Gastelum (7-0, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.) squares off against longtime UFC welterweight Paulo Thiago (15-5, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil).

Tickets for UFC® ON FOX SPORTS 1: CONDIT VS. KAMPMANN 2 go on sale Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $200.00, $125.00, $90.00, $60.00, and $40.00. Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster locations. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.bankerslifefieldhouse.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, June 12 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, June 13 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto, Beijing and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 35 live events annually. The UFC is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group for live events and thousands of hours of programming including the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, moving to FOX Sports 1 in September 2013.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.5 million followers on Twitter. UFC businesses also include over 90 UFC GYM® locations in 28 US states, UFC FIT™, an in-home fitness and nutrition program, UFC 360, the internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new videogame franchise in development with EA, best-selling DVDs, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, branded apparel and trading cards.

LINCOLN, R.I. (June 7th, 2013) – After doing his best to avoid the constant questions for the past few months, John “Doomsday” Howard made his intentions clear after yet another dominant win Friday night at Twin River Casino.

“I might piss some people off, but I want to fight for the [Ultimate Fighting Championships],” said the former UFC veteran from Boston. “I’ll fight for free on the Boston card [in August].”

Howard (20-7, 9 KOs) might get his chance after another knockout win in the main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “New Blood” show Friday night. Howard made quick work of veteran Georgia middleweight Chris Woodall (12-4), scoring the knockout win with a series of unanswered strikes at the 2-minute, 14-second mark of the opening round. The win was the sixth in a row for Howard and fifth consecutive win by knockout since the UFC released him two years ago.

“John is the man in this weight class,” Woodall said. “When he gets back to the UFC, he’s going to dominate.”

The co-main event featured what might’ve been the final fight for Providence light heavyweight Greg “Ribz” Rebello (15-5), who suffered a tough, split-decision loss to Williamsport, Pa., native Lewis Rumsey (9-8), 27-30, 29-28, 28-29, and announced it would be his final fight after a stellar career in which he won 11 consecutive fights between 2011 and 2012.

“This is a young’s man game,” Rebello said. “I’ve got a baby daughter and a family at home. This is my last fight.”

Neither Rumsey or Rebello did much in terms of striking, but Rumsey earned the win by stuffing most of Rebello’s takedown attempts and preventing Rebello from establishing his presence. Fatigue was also a factor.

“I just hit a wall,” Rebello said. “I felt a little over-trained. At some point in the first round, I felt that adrenaline dump.”

On the undercard, Woonsocket, R.I., bantamweight Andre Soukhamthath improved to 5-1 and won his fifth consecutive fight in his toughest test to date, defeating Branford, Conn., veteran Blair Tugman (5-5) by unanimous decision, 30-27, 29-27, 29-28. Tugman tweaked Soukhamthath leading up to the fight by calling his opponent a “big fish in a small pond,” but Soukhamthath kept Tugman from taking the fight to the ground and dominated with his hands to win the fight easily despite a late surge by Tugman.

East Providence, R.I., lightweight Nate “The Snake” Andrews (5-0) also stepped up the level of competition, facing the tough veteran Jeff Anderson (11-8) of Lincoln, and won convincingly, choking out Anderson via rear-naked choke at 1:41 opening round while former UFC vet Chuck O’Neil (11-5) shook off an early scare from last-minute replacement Ralph Johnson (5-6) of Worcester, Mass., absorbing a big right hand to the start the fight, and eventually finished Johnson at the 1:30 mark of the opening round with a rear-naked choke. The Bridgewater, Mass., welterweight has now won back-to-back fights at Twin River after beating Keith Jeffrey in December.

Trained by veteran Scott Rehm, amateur welterweight standout Brian Sparrow (1-0) of Sandwich, Mass., put on an impressive performance in his professional debut, submitting fellow newcomer Ruben Ortiz (0-1) of Providence fifty-nine seconds into the third round via rear-naked choke. Ortiz, who trains out of former boxer Gary Balletto’s gym in Providence, hung in through two rounds with Sparrow, but Sparrow’s dominant reach – he entered the fight with a six-inch reach advantage – proved to be the difference, keeping Ortiz from using his boxing background to his advantage. Sparrow sunk in the choke early in the third and applied the pressure before Ortiz tapped.

Entering Friday having lost six consecutive fights, Williamsport, Pa., bantamweight Joshua Aarons (2-6) earned a huge win against hometown favorite Joe Reverdes (1-3) of Providence, submitting Reverdes via the guillotine at the 1:39 mark of the third round following two back-and-forth rounds. Aarons had youth on his side (27 years old, compared to Reverdes, who entered the cage at 39), but had a tough time dealing with Reverdes’ stand-up game until he took the fight to the canvas in the third round.

Making his highly-anticipated debut after a celebrated amateur career, bantamweight Sophanarith Am (1-0) of Braintree, Mass., rallied brilliantly against the gritty Carlos Hernandez (1-1) of Lynn, Mass., finishing Hernandez via rear-naked choke at the 2:25 mark of the third round. Hernandez looked strong in the first two rounds, but Am rebounded to earn the finish with his back against the wall in the third. Bombsquad veteran Ahsan Abdullah (4-3, 1 KO) of Cortland, N.Y., stopped Coventry, R.I., featherweight Shaun Marmas (5-5) at the 4:01 mark of the second round and Providence welterweight Eric Spicely (2-0) remained unbeaten after submitting newcomer Tundee Odumosu (0-1) of Johnston, R.I., via rear-naked choke at 1:41 of Round 1.

Fortaleza, Brazil – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® and the Government of the State of Ceara today participated in a ceremonial tree planting as part of an initiative that will make THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® BRASIL 2 FINALE: NOGUEIRA vs. WERDUM 100% carbon neutral. The UFC® marked its participation in the Government’s carbon offset action initiative, known as Ceara Carbono Zero, on the heels of World Environment Day, June 5, 2013, at Cocó Park in Fortaleza.

In 2011 the Ceara State Government began a carbon emissions policy under the guidelines of the Ceara Carbono Zero strategy. The strategy emphasizes support to renewable energy investments (specifically solar and wind power), the protection of the biodiversity of the Caatinga (a semi-arid scrub forest situated in the northeast of Brazil), the implementation of the solid waste policy, as well as a set of overall efforts to mitigate and compensate emissions.

The State Government laid out a set of actions aimed to offset carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at important events set to take place in Ceara throughout the next several years, such as the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Confederation Cup and Saturday’s UFC event. The Government will work with the Federal University of Ceará to calculate the carbon emissions stemming from the UFC event.

The State Government’s carbon offset action develops an inventory of all carbon emission from transportation and operation of an event, including travel by the public to the event venue, the calculation of total greenhouse gas emissions – using the United Nations approved Greenhouse Gas Protocol, adjusted to local environmental conditions – and the compensation of emissions through the planting of trees, using native species to protect and preserve the local ecosystem.

“As a global leader in sports, the UFC is thrilled that its event can serve as a platform for bringing awareness and further helping the State Government’s environmentally conscious initiative,” said UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta. “With athletes and fans from all over the world, we are proud to do our part in reducing the carbon footprint of UFC’s live event this week in Fortaleza.”

UFC Brazil Head of Operations, Grace Tourinho, UFC No.4 light heavyweight Glover Teixeira, UFC No.5 welterweight Demian Maia and UFC Octagon Girl™ Camila Oliveira participated in the ceremonial planting of native tree species alongside Mr. Paulo Lustosa, President of the environmental council of the Ceara State Government and Mr. Gony Arruda, Secretary of State of the Ceara State Government, at Cocó Park. They planted the following selection of trees: Tecoma stans – Ipê-Amarelo-de-jardim, Pithecellobium diversifolium – Jurema-Branca and Piptadenia moniliformis – Catanduva. The remaining tress will be planted in an environmentally sensitive area defined by the State of Ceara.

“It means a lot to me to be a part of this historic initiative in my home country,” said Teixeira. “I’m a country guy, I love nature. I’ve worked in the farms and fields of Brazil and I know how important the environment, and everything that it produces, is to families and communities. I wish the whole country could create projects like Ceara Carbono Zero and involve all the other major sports events.”

Camila Oliveira, Demian Maia, Gony Arruda, Paulo Lustosa, Glover Teixeira, Grace Tourinho and Sergio Mello – IMX Vice President of Operations and Special Events

Sergio Mello, Glover Teixeira, Paulo Lustosa, Gony Arruda, Demian Maia, Camila Oliveira and Grace Tourinho

Glover Teixeira and local students at Cocó Park in Fortaleza.
About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually. The UFC is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world with events distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, moving to FOX Sports 1 in September 2013.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.4 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, UFC FIT®, an in-home fitness and nutrition program, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

LINCOLN, R.I. (June 6th, 2013) – Listed below are final weights for all the participants in Friday night’s professional mixed martial arts event, “New Blood,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports on June 7th, 2013.

JOHN HOWARD

Boston, Mass.

19-7, 8 KOs

184

CHRIS WOODALL

Cumming, Ga.

12-3, 5 KOs

182

GREG REBELLO

Pawtucket, R.I.

15-4, 8 KOs

207

LEWIS RUMSEY

Williamsport, Pa.

8-8, 4 KOs

206 ½

RALPH JOHNSON

Worcester, Mass.

6-5, 5 KOs

175

CHUCK O’NEIL

Bridgewater, Mass.

10-5, 2 KOs

176

BLAIR TUGMAN

Brandford, Conn.

5-4

135 ½

ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATH

Woonsocket, R.I.

4-1, 3 KOs

136

NATE ANDREWS

East Providence, R.I.

4-0, 2 KOs

155 ½

JEFF ANDERSON

Lincoln, R.I.

11-7, 2 KOs

157

TUNDEE ODUMOSU

Johnston, R.I.

Pro debut

171

ERIC SPICELY

Providence, R.I.

1-0

175

CARLOS HERNANDEZ

Lynn, Mass.

1-0

140 ½

SOPHANARITH AM

Braintree, Mass.

Pro debut

140 ½

SHAUN MARMAS

Coventry, R.I.

5-4, 1 KO

150

AHSAN ABDULLAH

Cortland, N.Y.

3-3

130 ½

JOE REVERDES

Providence, R.I.

1-2

130 ½

JOSHUA AARONS

Williamsport, Pa.

1-6

131

BRIAN SPARROW

Sandwich, Mass.

Pro debut

172

RUBEN ORTIZ

Providence, R.I.

Pro debut

171

Las Vegas – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) and Las Vegas team up for UFC Fight Week™, presented by Ultimate Poker®, beginning July 3 and culminating with one of the biggest sporting events of the year, UFC® 162: SILVA vs. WEIDMAN, at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, July 6.

The second annual UFC Fight Week™ will be the ultimate week-long experience for UFC fans. The celebration will feature the largest gathering of fighters and unprecedented access to UFC stars, the biggest UFC Fan Expo® to date, an Ultimate Poker® tournament, UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a free Three Days Grace concert presented by Bud Light®, Tuff-N-Uff MMA tournament, an exclusive UFC fan party, autograph signings, weigh-ins and UFC® 162.

Ultimate Poker®, the exclusive online gaming partner of the UFC, is making history as the first company in the United States to offer legal and secure online poker. During UFC Fight Week™, fans will have the opportunity to participate in exclusive UltimatePoker.com tournaments with special UFC guests and prizes. Details about the tournament will be announced shortly at UltimatePoker.com and UFC.com/FightWeek.

Several of the hottest locations in Las Vegas will host UFC themed events such as MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, The Palazzo Las Vegas, Golden Nugget Las Vegas, Fremont Street Experience, The D Las Vegas, Golden Gate Casino, El Cortez Hotel & Casino, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, and more.

“The UFC has always done a big Vegas show around Fourth of July weekend. Fans from all over the country, tons of people from Brazil and Canada, and as far away as Japan and Australia, are coming to Vegas to see UFC 162 and take part in Fight Week,” said Dana White, UFC president. “Las Vegas is the UFC’s hometown, it’s the fight capital of the world, and we’re proud to contribute to the local economy. The annual Fight Week event in Vegas is the ultimate week-long celebration for UFC fans around the world!”

“Two of the world’s most recognizable brands, UFC and Las Vegas, have developed a strong and successful partnership that delivers unrivaled excitement to millions of loyal fans around the world,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Fight Week provides fans with unprecedented access to UFC stars and no destination matches the passion and energy like Las Vegas.”

Events for UFC Fight Week™ are included in the attached poster. Highlights are listed below.

Wednesday, July 3
· UFC Community Day:
o UFC fighters will participate in events to support local Las Vegas charities
Thursday, July 4
· UFC Downtown
o Meet-and-greets and autograph signings with UFC fighters at select locations at Fremont Street Experience at Golden Nugget Las Vegas, The D Las Vegas, Golden Gate Casino, El Cortez Hotel & Casino
· Free Three Days Grace Concert at Fremont Street Experience, presented by Bud Light
Friday, July 5
· UFC Fan Expo from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mandalay Bay
o Autograph and Q&A sessions, meet-and-greets, grappling tournaments, seminars, UFC FIT demonstrations™, more than 150 exhibitors and more
· UFC® 162 Weigh-Ins at 4 p.m. at MGM Grand Garden Arena
· UFC Exclusive Party at Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo Las Vegas at 8 p.m.
o UFC party for fans with DJ, food, beverages and special appearances by UFC fighters
· Tuff-N-Uff: Future Stars of MMA Tournament at South Point Casino
Saturday, July 6
· UFC® 162: SILVA vs. WEIDMAN at MGM Grand Garden Arena
· UFC Fan Expo from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Mandalay Bay

*All times PST

UFC Fight Club® members will enjoy exclusive members-only benefits during UFC Fight Week™ including VIP access at select events, discount offers on UFC Fan Expo® tickets, UFC®162 pre-sale offers and more. For more information on becoming a UFC Fight Club® member visit www.ufcfightclub.com.

For more information or to purchase tickets to a Fight Week event visit www. lasvegas.com/ufc or www.ufc.com/fightweek. Stay connected with Fight Week news on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/UFC) and Twitter (@UFC) using #UFCFightWeek.

Tickets for UFC®162: SILVA vs. WEIDMAN, presented by BUD LIGHT®, are on sale now and are priced at $1,200, $850, $600, $400, $250 and $125. Tickets are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

About The UFC Fan Expo®
The UFC Fan Expo® returns to Las Vegas on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Fans will have the chance to meet their favorite stars during autograph sessions, meet-and-greets, interactive Q&A sessions, grappling tournaments, training and development seminars, and much more. Over 50 UFC stars are scheduled to appear and more than 150 exhibitors will also be on hand, giving fans the opportunity to purchase and experience some of the best sports and lifestyle products on the market today. A special UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony will also take place. Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now at www.ufcfanexpo.com.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, moving to FOX Sports 1 in September 2013.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.4 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs, an in-home fitness and nutrition program, UFC FIT™, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC 360, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, over 90 UFC GYM® locations in 28 states, UFC Fight Club® affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

About The LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With more than 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and 10.7 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA’s mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to LVCVA.com or LasVegas.com.

LINCOLN, R.I. (June 4th, 2013) — On Friday night, Providence native Greg “Ribz” Rebello will enter the cage in front of his hometown fans at Twin River Casino, which, as strange as it seems, will be a welcome change.

The last time he fought back in February, Rebello (15-4, 8 KOs) was the “bad guy,” so to speak, fighting in Maine against an opponent (Jesse Peterson) from nearby Rumford. Rebello silenced the crowd and knocked out the fan-favorite in the second round for his third win in his last four fights.

With two weeks to go before his 31st birthday, Rebello is trying to strike while the iron’s hot. As he prepares to face Williamsport, Pa., veteran Lewis Rumsey (8-8, 4 KOs) on the undercard of Friday’s show, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Rebello is aiming for his fourth win in five fights, which could put him on the brink of a lucrative payday on MMA’s biggest stage.

“My window is starting to close,” Rebello said. “This is pretty much my last run. I’m not one of those old guys who wants to hang out in night clubs when he’s 40. If it’s time to hang it up, I’ll hang it up. This is a young man’s sport, and if I don’t keep winning – and finishing – it’s over.”

The key is “finishing.” Major promotions such as the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) don’t just want successful fighters; they want exciting, TV-friendly fighters who can finish their opponents via knockout or submission. At the height of his career between 2006 and 2010, Rebello won 11 consecutive fights, but went the distance six times during that stretch.

“That does nothing for me,” Rebello said. “The bigger companies want guys who dominate on the local level, because when you get to the next level, everyone is good. It’s like playing junior hockey. The competition is much stronger. That’s why you need to dominate.”

Rebello will have his hands full with Rumsey, a former high school wrestler who has won seven out of 10 fights since changing his training regimen three years ago.

“I feel like I’m on a 10-fight winning streak,” Rumsey said. “I’ve had my ups and downs, but I feel confident.”

After losing five of his first six fights, Rumsey began traveling throughout the country training at different gyms, including Greg Jackson’s facility in Albuquerque, N.M., where we worked with UFC vets Carlos Condit and Jon Jones, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion.

“I like to pick up little things from everybody,” Rumsey said. “The most important thing I’ve learned is to stay relaxed. I can’t go into every fight balls to the wall. I have to act like it’s a training session. That’s what they told me [in New Mexico] – just stay relaxed and have fun.”

Since then, Rumsey has scored four knockout wins in the last two years and appeared on the Bellator Fighting Championships, but Rebello is unimpressed with his opponent’s resume.

“He’s a tough guy, but he hasn’t fought anybody,” Rebello said. “He goes on interviews saying he can fight the best in the world, but he’s 8-8. He has a weird style, so a lot of people don’t know what to do when they face him. He throws these wild Jeet Kune Do [JKD] kicks. I know how to fight guys like that because I train with a lot of them. Most people who beat him take him to the ground.”

Asked about Rumsey’s wrestling background – he wrestled at the high-school level and stopped before he enrolled in college – Rebello said, “That’s not a wrestling background. I just have to try to avoid getting hit by one of those kicks.”

The biggest change for Rebello this time around will be fighting in front of his home crowd, though, in some ways, Rebello doesn’t mind being the enemy on the road.

“In that last fight, the thing was this guy had everyone cheering for him, so all the pressure was on him,” Rebello said. “Either way, I’ve had so many fights in my career, so it doesn’t affect me. I’m not here to impress my friends or sell T-shirts. I’m not in it for that.

“This is pretty much it for me,” he added. “I’m trying to get to the UFC or Bellator. It’s now or never.”

Tickets for “New Blood” are $36.00, $56.00, $101.00 and $126.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

The undercard includes several regional matchups and intra-state showdowns, including the return of Bridgewater, Mass., welterweight and former The Ultimate Fighter reality television series standout Chuck “Cold Steel” O’Neil (10-5, 2 KOs), who will look to build off his win over Rhode Island’s Keith Jeffrey in December when he faces Andrew Osborn (6-5, 1 KO) of Fayetteville, N.C.

One of the best intra-state showdowns will take place between East Providence, R.I., lightweight Nate “The Snake” Andrews (4-0, 2 KOs) and Lincoln veteran Jeff “Candyman” Anderson (11-7, 2 KOs). Andrews has risen considerably in the past year with wins in each of his first four fights, but has yet to face anyone as experienced and as tough as Anderson; known for fighting the best opposition in the northeast, Anderson has wins over Damien Trites, John Ortolani and Pete Jeffrey on his resume, but has lost three consecutive bouts, albeit against Mike Campbell, Matt Bessette and Saul Almeida, who have combined for 36 wins.

“New Blood” also features four exciting bantamweight bouts, highlighted by the showdown between Andre Soukhamthath (4-1, 3 KOs) of Woonsocket, R.I., and Blair Tugman (5-4) of Branford, Conn. Soukhamthath has won four consecutive fights since losing his debut while Tugman is returning to the cage for the first time since April of 2011, when he lost to John McLaughlin at the Bellator Fighting Championships.

Also in the bantamweight division, highly-touted amateur Sophanarith Am will make his professional debut Carlos Hernandez of Lynn, Mass., and Providence veteran Joe Reverdes (1-2) – fighting for the first time since August – will fight Williamsport’s Joshua Aarons (1-6). In what could be one of the best fights on the undercard, veterans Pedro Gonzalez (7-5) of Rockport, Mass., and Sidemar Honario (8-3, 2 KOs) will square off in a three-round bantamweight bout.

Providence welterweight Ruben Ortiz will make his highly-anticipated debut against fellow newcomer Brian Sparrow of Sandwich, Mass., and Eric Spicely (1-0) of Providence will take on newcomer Tundee Oduyingho of Johnston, R.I., in a welterweight bout. Coventry, R.I., featherweight Shaun Marmas (5-4) will also be featured in a separate bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “New Blood.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance).

Las Vegas – June 3, 2013 It’ll be some good, old-fashioned home cooking for Cleveland’s Tiawan “The Iron Dragon” Howard when he competes in his home state of Ohio against Quinton McCottrell in the main event of Rocktagon XXVII “Way of the Warrior.”

The backdrop for this bout is like something made out of a Hollywood movie.

Howard, who is coming off a loss, has a rare opportunity to bounce back in the featured spot of an important fight card in front of his family and friends. McCottrell, on the other hand, looks to play the lone ranger who spoils the homecoming.

Despite past inconsistencies, Howard has shown promise throughout his MMA tenure, and it would be foolish to assume he couldn’t rise to the occasion once more. A fight in familiar stomping grounds in Ohio may be just what the doctor ordered for this Bellator and ShoXC veteran.

It won’t be easy dealing with the red-hot McCottrell, who was riding a two-fight win streak, including a highly impressive submission win over Kevin Morris at King of the Cage in April, before losing a decision last week in Indiana.

Like Howard, McCottrell has shown the ability to finish the fight anywhere. Fans can expect a well-rounded battle between two savvy veterans looking to put on an exciting show and climb the MMA ranks.

Rocktagon XXVII “Way of the Warrior” comes to you live on June 15 at the UAW Event Center (#1005), located at 5615 Chevrolet Blvd in Cleveland, Ohio. Doors open at 6:00 pm with fights starting at 7:00 pm. Tickets starting at $35 are available online at www.RocktagonMMA.com, or in person at participating Discount Drug Mart locations. Limited VIP tables are also available by calling 440-934-4MMA.

Founded in mid-2010, Rocktagon MMA has successfully completed 26 events on two coasts and is the only promotion able to offer four types of shows to meet the needs of various markets: all Amateur, all Professional, Pro-Am, and Rock-n-Rage. Rock-n-Rages are premium events combining the cage of mixed martial arts with a stage featuring live musical performances by well-known artists. All Rocktagon MMA events are streamed live globally and filmed to air on multiple networks throughout North America, including Comcast, Comcast SportsNet, and the Fight Network.

Rocktagon XXVI is the promotion’s last pro-am event before the launch of their all-pro national tour.

To find out more about Rocktagon MMA, please visit www.RocktagonMMA.com or text MMA to 36000. Fans may also follow Rocktagon MMA on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Las Vegas – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) announced more than 50 UFC® stars scheduled to appear at the UFC Fan Expo®, presented by FOX Sports 1, on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The largest collection of the sport’s biggest names ever assembled will be featured under one roof in July at the can’t-miss fan event of the year.

Fans will have the chance to meet their favorite stars during meet and greets and autograph sessions, grappling tournaments, Q&A presentations, training and development seminars, and much more. The UFC Fan Expo will feature over 300,000 square feet of activities for UFC fans. More than 150 exhibitors will also be on hand, giving fans the opportunity to purchase and experience some of the best sports and lifestyle products on the market today. This marks the fourth UFC Fan Expo held in Las Vegas since its inception in 2009, with additional UFC Fan Expos being held in Boston, London, Toronto and Houston.

Also during the UFC Fan Expo, Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar will team up once again for another moment in UFC history. The duo will be inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame. Griffin (19-7), who announced his retirement following UFC® 160, captured the UFC light heavyweight championship and won Fight of the Night honors on five occasions. Bonnar (17-8) met Griffin in an epic clash as finalists of The Ultimate Fighter® (TUF™) Season 1. Griffin and Bonnar will be the tenth and eleventh individuals to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. They will join current honorees Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Randy Couture, Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Charles “Mask” Lewis, Matt Hughes, and Tito Ortiz.

UFC fighters scheduled to appear at the UFC Fan Expo include*:
Georges St-Pierre, UFC welterweight champion
Jon Jones, UFC light heavyweight champion
Ronda Rousey, UFC women’s bantamweight champion
Cain Velasquez, UFC heavyweight champion
Dominick Cruz, UFC bantamweight champion
Benson Henderson, UFC lightweight champion
Demetrious Johnson, UFC flyweight champion
Chuck Liddell, former UFC light heavyweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer
Matt Hughes, former UFC welterweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer
Forrest Griffin, former UFC light heavyweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer
Stephan Bonnar, UFC Hall of Famer
Carlos Condit, UFC welterweight
Daniel Cormier, UFC heavyweight
Urijah Faber, UFC bantamweight
Rich Franklin, UFC middleweight
Cung Le, UFC middleweight
Gilbert Melendez, UFC lightweight
BJ Penn, UFC welterweight
Luke Rockhold, UFC middleweight
Ryan Bader, UFC light heavyweight
Pat Barry, UFC heavyweight
Joseph Benavidez, UFC flyweight
Michael Bisping, UFC middleweight
Travis Browne, UFC heavyweight
Donald Cerrone, UFC lightweight
Phil Davis, UFC light heavyweight
TJ Dillashaw, UFC bantamweight
Kelvin Gastelum, UFC middleweight
Clay Guida, UFC featherweight
Martin Kampmann, UFC welterweight
Gray Maynard, UFC lightweight
Michael McDonald, UFC bantamweight
Chad Mendes, UFC featherweight
Erik Perez, UFC bantamweight
Anthony Pettis, UFC featherweight
Mike Pyle, UFC welterweight
Sean Sherk, UFC lightweight
Chael Sonnen, UFC light heavyweight
Miesha Tate, UFC women’s bantamweight
Josh Thomson, UFC lightweight
Eddie Wineland, UFC bantamweight
Tyron Woodley, UFC welterweight

*Fighters and personalities subject to change. Additional fighters may be added in the coming weeks.

In addition, UFC Octagon Girls®ARIANNY CELESTE, BRITTNEY PALMER, CHRISSY BLAIR and VANESSA HANSON will appear, as well as Best of PRIDE® host KENDA PEREZ. UFC commentators MIKE GOLDBERG, JOE ROGAN and JON ANIK will also make appearances, along with RACHELLE LEAH and Octagon® announcer BRUCE BUFFER.

Tickets for the UFC Fan Expo® are on sale NOW at www.ufcfanexpo.com. Tickets for Friday, July 5 are priced at $40, while tickets for Saturday, July 6 are priced at $45. A two-day pass is also available and is priced at $60. Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets now and save because ticket prices are higher at the door.

Tickets for UFC®162: SILVA vs. WEIDMAN, presented by BUD LIGHT®,are on sale now and are priced at $1,200, $850, $600, $400, $250 and $125. Tickets are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

About UFC Fight Week™
The UFC and Las Vegas bring the 2nd annual UFC Fight Week to the Fight Capital of the World. Celebrate the UFC and meet UFC fighters at events around Las Vegas including UFC Downtown, a free Three Days Grace concert presented by Bud Light, Tuff-N-Uff tournament, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Weigh-Ins, and, of course, UFC® 162: SILVA vs. WEIDMAN! Book travel now! For more information or to purchase tickets visit www. lasvegas.com/ufc or www.ufc.com/fightweek. #UFCFightWeek

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto, Beijing and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 35 live events annually. The UFC is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world with events distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group for live events and thousands of hours of programming including the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, moving to FOX Sports 1 in September 2013.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.5 million followers on Twitter. UFC businesses also include best-selling DVDs, UFC FIT™, an in-home fitness and nutrition program, UFC 360 the internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new videogame franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, branded apparel and trading cards.

31 May 2013 – Manila: ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC), Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization, wowed the sold-out crowd in attendance at Mall of Asia Arena with ONE FC: RISE TO POWER. The event was ONE FC’s largest event in history and 20,000 fans were treated to a night of unforgettable action as ONE FC kingpins battled inside the famed ONE FC cage.

Visit the official ONE FC: RISE TO POWER photo gallery by clicking: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ogw4tb66e3467d5/JtQIQiN8uQ

The main event featured Honorio Banario defending his title for the first time. The first round was a back-and-forth slugfest that put the packed crowd on its feet. In the second stanza, Oishi landed a right hook that dropped Banario and silenced the crowd. Oishi instinctively jumped on his foe and finished the fight with several punches. The crowd went wild as Oishi was crowned the new ONE FC Featherweight World Champion.

In the co-main event of the night, Bibiano Fernandes was crowned ONE FC Interim Bantamweight World Champion by defeating Koetsu Okazaki via unanimous decision. Fernandes utilized his clinch takedowns and superior grappling to remain in control of his opponent for most of the fight. The victory adds another title to Fernandes’ already impressive list of accolades and extends his winning streak to six.

The fans in attendance at MOA Arena also witnessed history as Masakatsu Ueda was crowned the first ever ONE FC Bantamweight Grand Prix champion. The bout featured back-and-forth action that earned it fight-of-the-night honors. Ueda nearly finished Belingon in both the first and second round with submission attempts, and imposed his superior grappling skills against the explosive Belingon in all three rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory.

Official results for ONE FC: RISE TO POWER:

Main event
Koji Oishi defeats Honorio Banario by knockout at 1:45 minutes of round 2

Main card
Bibiano Fernandes defeats Koetsu Okazaki by unanimous decision at 5:00 minutes of round 3
Masakatsu Ueda defeats Kevin Belingon by unanimous decision at 5:00 minutes of round 3
Yasuhiro Urushitani defeats Rey Docyogen by split decision at 5:00 minutes of round 3
Nobutatsu Suzuki defeats Phil Baroni by knockout at 4:17 minutes of round 1
Kamal Shalorus defeats Eduard Folayang by unanimous decision at 5:00 minutes of round 3
Andrew Leone defeats Geje Eustaquio by unanimous decision at 5:00 minutes of round 3

Undercard
Yusup Saadulaev defeats Ryan Diaz by anaconda submission at 2:57 minutes of round 2
Lowen Tynanes defeats Felipe Enomoto by TKO due to referee stoppage at 2:41 minutes of round 1 Tony Johnson defeats Tim Slyvia at 3:25 minutes by TKO due to doctor stoppage of round 2

In case you missed the action log on to ONEFC.LIVESPORT.TV for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.

For more updates on ONE Fighting Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow on Twitter @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.

About ONE Fighting Championship™
Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Fighting Championship™ (http://www.onefc.com) is Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization. ONE Fighting Championship™ hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Fighting Championship™ has partnered with STAR Sports, the number one leader in sports content, for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans across70+ countries in Asia.

LINCOLN, R.I. (May 30th, 2013) — By now, John “Doomsday” Howard has heard every rumbling, every question and every inquiry since the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) released him from its promotion two years ago.

“Everyone always asks if and when I’m going back to the UFC,” said the Boston middleweight, who’s won his last five fights, including four by knockout. “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I’m just taking it one fight at a time.”

The UFC is returning to Boston in August in what would be perfect timing for a “Doomsday” revival, but Howard (19-7, 8 KOs) can’t afford to look that far ahead, not with another difficult fight looming on the horizon. On Friday, June 7th, 2013, Howard will face the dangerous Chris Woodall (12-3, 5 KOS) of Cummings, Ga., in the main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “New Blood” mixed martial arts event at Twin River Casino.

“I definitely want to be on that card,” Howard said of UFC’s return to Boston later this summer, “and I hope I get the chance, but we’ll see what happens.

“I can’t look past this guy.”

Woodall, who’ll turn 40 on June 1st and refers to himself as “Cappi,” a nickname given to him by his grandmother, hasn’t fought on U.S. soil since 2006, but he’s made a decent living over the past seven years fighting overseas, including bouts in the Ukraine and Latvia, where the rulebook is a little smaller, similar to the Pankration-style fighting where UFC legends such as Ken Shamrock and Bas Rutten got their start. Pankration is a form of martial arts from the ancient Greek Olympics characterized as a cross between boxing and wrestling with limited rules.

“The competition is very technical,” said Woodall, a natural welterweight who’s gaining an additional 15 pounds to fight Howard next week. “The Russian athletes are some of the best in the world. They’re more prepared than any other athlete I’ve competed against, even Americans and Brazilians.

“Their mindset is destruction. If they get a hold of an arm bar, they’re not waiting for you to tap; they’re waiting to hear that snap.”

Woodall’s versatility and experience will be a challenge for Howard, who has finally settled back into his normal training routine following the Boston Marathon bombings, which struck his hometown in early April. One of the bombing suspects, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was unexpectedly linked to Howard’s gym, Wai Kru, in Allston, Mass.; when it was discovered Tsarnaev was a former standout amateur boxer who had trained with a handful of local fighters in the Boston area, including Howard. Wai Kru soon became a focal point of the ensuing investigation, causing an unwanted distraction for Howard, who recalled sparring with Tsarnaev and breaking the suspect’s nose.

“I felt terrible about [the bombings]. That’s my home,” Howard said. “It’s too bad he trained at our gym and people associated us with that because that’s not who we are. People tried to link us to that, but that’s not what Wai Kru is about.

“It just feels good to be back on track,” he continued. “Now I’m just concentrating on making weight. I’m ready for this fight.”

While Howard is hoping to punch his ticket back to the UFC with a win next Friday, Woodall is making his return to U.S. mixed martial arts in an attempt to revive the sport in his home state of Georgia, where he opened his own training facility two years ago.

“I’m trying to build,” he said. “I want the fans in this area to remember who I am so my academy can regrow. And I like to fight. I was born to fight. I don’t do this for the paycheck. I have enough in the bank. I just do this for fun.”

Plus, with the foreign organizations in Russia and other countries adapting to the unified rules of mixed martial arts, there are now fewer outlets for the self-proclaimed “old-school” fighters such as Woodall. Spanning the globe has become less attractive, even with those promotions willing to pay top dollar to American fighters.

“The unified rules are safer,” Woodall acknowledged, “but I don’t like rounds and I don’t like time limits.

“I’m old-school, and I don’t mind saying that. When I started fighting, it was no-holds barred, long before the rise of the UFC in 2005. I came up when there were no rules except no eye-gouging and no fish-hooking. When I fought overseas, they still had rules – no 12-to-6 elbows, for example – but you could throw kicks to a downed opponent. It had a lot of the same techniques as original, extreme fighting; you fought until someone won.”

The trip from Georgia to Rhode Island next week will be Woodall’s shortest commute in quite some time, plus he won’t have to adapt to a different time zone or the bitter cold of a Ukrainian winter.

“I used to have to fly out a week ahead of time to avoid jetlag,” he recalled.

And with everything he’s been through in his career, including a two-day, 16-man Pankration tournament 13 years ago in which he won six fights in 48 hours to earn the title in his weight class, Woodall won’t get caught up in the moment next Friday, even if he’s fighting the reigning CES MMA middleweight champion.

“John is an awesome athlete,” Woodall said. “I’m really looking forward to fighting him. It’s a great challenge. I don’t want to fight tomato cans. If I lose, I know I’ve gone against someone at the top of his weight class. He’s the 185-pound champion.

“I like testing my abilities and testing myself to see if I can be the best fighter that night.”

Tickets for “New Blood” are $36.00, $56.00, $101.00 and $126.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

The undercard includes several regional matchups and intra-state showdowns, including the return of Providence light heavyweight Greg “Ribz” Rebello (15-4, 8 KOs) and Bridgewater, Mass., welterweight and former The Ultimate Fighter reality television series standout Chuck “Cold Steel” O’Neil (10-5, 2 KOs). After knocking out hometown favorite Jesse Peterson in Maine in February, Rebello will face Williamsport, Pa., veteran Lewis Rumsey (8-8, 4 KOs) next Friday while O’Neil will look to build off his win over Rhode Island’s Keith Jeffrey in December.

One of the best intra-state showdowns will take place between East Providence, R.I., lightweight Nate “The Snake” Andrews (4-0, 2 KOs) and Lincoln veteran Jeff “Candyman” Anderson (11-7, 2 KOs). Andrews has risen considerably in the past year with wins in each of his first four fights, but has yet to face anyone as experienced and as tough as Anderson; known for fighting the best opposition in the northeast, Anderson has wins over Damien Trites, John Ortolani and Pete Jeffrey on his resume, but has lost three consecutive bouts, albeit against Mike Campbell, Matt Bessette and Saul Almeida, who have combined for 36 wins.

“New Blood” also features four exciting bantamweight bouts, highlighted by the showdown between Andre Soukhamthath (4-1, 3 KOs) of Woonsocket, R.I., and Blair Tugman (5-4) of Branford, Conn. Soukhamthath has won four consecutive fights since losing his debut while Tugman is returning to the cage for the first time since April of 2011, when he lost to John McLaughlin at the Bellator Fighting Championships.

Also in the bantamweight division, highly-touted amateur Sophanarith Am will make his professional debut Carlos Hernandez of Lynn, Mass., and Providence veteran Joe Reverdes (1-2) – fighting for the first time since August – will fight Williamsport’s Joshua Aarons (1-6). In what could be one of the best fights on the undercard, veterans Pedro Gonzalez (7-5) of Rockport, Mass., and Sidemar Honario (8-3, 2 KOs) will square off in a three-round bantamweight bout.

After beating Thomas Evans in April, Coventry, R.I., featherweight Shaun Marmas (5-4) will step up to face undefeated Boston native Sergio Cabrera (2-0-1) in what will be Marmas’ toughest test to date. Providence welterweight Ruben Ortiz will make his highly-anticipated debut against fellow newcomer Brian Sparrow of Sandwich, Mass., and Eric Spicely (1-0) of Providence will take on newcomer Tundee Oduyingho of Johnston, R.I., in a welterweight bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “New Blood.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance).

México D.F., May 29th, 2013 – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) and Televisa Networks today announced an exclusive distribution agreement to air UFC programming in 20 Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, and have set to launch a 24 hour, 7 day a week UFC channel featuring the world’s best mixed martial arts programming including premiere live UFC events. The new subscription network will be available late 2013.

Viewers all across Latin America, except Brazil, will have access to Championship fights and over 35 live events per year as well as the opportunity to experience legendary fights from the UFC, PRIDE® FC, WEC® and Strikeforce®; equaling more than 20,000 hours of content. The UFC Channel will also feature original programming such as reality series, all broadcast in Spanish.

“The launch of the UFC Channel is a game changer for our sport and its fans throughout Latin America. We are giving millions of fans across the region complete access to all our live events and programming for the first time,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, owner and co-founder of Zuffa LLC, parent entity of the UFC. “UFC is the fastest growing sports organization in history and with the strength of Latin America’s premier media group Televisa, the UFC Channel will become the fastest growing sports network in television history,” added.

Bruce Boren, General Manager of Televisa Networks said: “The new UFC Channel occupies a coveted position in both sports entertainment and lifestyle ecosystems. Through live fights, UFC classic bouts, Strikeforce, Pride, and other related content for the mixed martial arts fans, this 24/7 channel further strengthens Televisa Networks’ offering “.

The UFC is growing in popularity at a rate never-before-seen in the professional sports world; its television programming is already available in over 800 million homes in more than 145 countries, in 28 different languages. The partnership between these two leaders -Televisa and the UFC, is in response to fan demand throughout Latin America. Today, in Mexico alone, the UFC fan base exceeds 33.4 Million people[1].

Before the dedicated UFC Subscription Channel launch, Televisa has the rights to air UFC content in 20 countries in Latin America, excluding Brazil, starting June 2013. Fans can watch UFC programming on TDN in Mexico and Golden Channel in Latin America, including four live events broadcast on Televisa free-to-air Channel 5 in Mexico and other Free-to-Air networks in Latin America, annually.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®

Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces 35 live events annually. The UFC is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world with events distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group for live events and thousands of hours of programming including the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, moving to FOX Sports 1 in September 2013.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. International broadcasters include Globo TV and Globosat (Brazil), Sony (India), BT (United Kingdom/Ireland), RTL9 (France), OSN (Middle East/North Africa), Guangdong TV (China), WOWOW (Japan), Fox Sports (Australia) and more.

UFC content is distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.5 million followers on Twitter. UFC businesses also include best-selling DVDs, UFC FIT®, an in-home fitness and nutrition program, UFC 360 the internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new videogame franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fan Expo®, branded apparel and trading cards.

About Televisa Networks?

Televisa Networks is a subsidiary of Grupo Televisa that specializes in the design, production, programming and distribution of over 17 channel brands and more than 45 feeds in the Pay Television market. Our coverage spans the globe, reaching Mexico, US, Latin America, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific. Our highly talented artists, quality productions, and wide variety of brands, satisfy the entertainment and informational needs of our diverse audience. Televisa Networks produces a award winning content; which enables us to offer a wide variety of services to our advertisers that go beyond the traditional 30 second spot. www.televisanetworks.com

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (May 30, 2013) — Fresquez Productions has negotiated an aggressive four-fight deal with Legacy Fighting Championship in order to further develop the mixed-martial-arts career of 14-time, three-division world boxing champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm.

Holm is scheduled to make her Legacy debut on July 19, live on AXS TV, from Houston Arena Theater in Houston, Texas.

“After speaking with all MMA companies,” Holm’s promoter Lenny Fresquez announced, “we have selected Legacy because of its commitment to help prepare Holly for a Super Fight, as well as getting her the right television exposure.”

“We are extremely excited to have someone as talented and of such strong character as Holly,” Legacy Fighting Championship president Mike Maynard added. “We believe she embodies what Legacy is all about.”

Arguably the greatest woman boxer of all-time, Holm retired from the “Sweet Science” this past May 11 after her dominant 10-round win by unanimous decision over Mary McGee (20-2, 11 KOs).

During her illustrious 12 ½ year professional boxing career, Holm registered an imposing 33-2-3 (9 KOs) record, including an incredible 15-1-1 in fights against other world champions, ranging from the light welterweight (140 lbs.) through light middleweight (154 lbs.) divisions.

The 31-year-old Holm has already had three MMA fights, winning all three by technical knockout, and she is a member of the famed Team Jackson-Wink, which boasts UFC superstar Jon “Bones” Jones and Frank Mir, among its more notables.

“I’m excited for Holly and Legacy,” Holm’s longtime manager/head trainer Mike Winkeljohn commented. “Holly Holm will dominate the world of women’s MMA and strike its fans with a fistful of awe.”

For more information about Holly Holm go online to www.FresquezProductions.com or www.LegacyFights.tv. Follow Legacy Fights on Twitter @legacyfightsor visit Legacy Fights on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/#!/legacyfights?__user=502980360

LINCOLN, R.I. (May 29th, 2013) — In what has been a long stretch of “must-win” fights for John “Doomsday” Howard since his release from the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), another tough test looms on the horizon next Friday at Twin River Casino.

The pressure is greater than ever as the Boston native Howard (19-7, 8 KOs) prepares for his main-event showdown with veteran Chris Woodall (12-3, 5 KOS) of Cummings, Ga., which will highlight Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “New Blood” mixed martial arts event scheduled for Friday, June 7th, 2013.

Tickets for “New Blood” are $36.00, $56.00, $101.00 and $126.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

Since the UFC released him in 2011, Howard has won five consecutive fights, including the last four by knockout, putting him on the precipice of a possible return to the UFC. As fate would have it, the UFC is coming to Howard’s backyard in August at the TD Garden in an event that will air as the centerpiece of the launch of FOX Sports’ new 24-hour network, FOX Sports 1.

UFC or no UFC, next Friday’s battle against Woodall is another big fight for Howard, not only to keep his win streak alive, but also to keep him at the head of the class among middleweights in the northeast. The 39-year-old Woodall brings plenty of experience to the table; next Friday, he’ll end a seven-year layoff, returning to the cage for the first time since August of 2006.

While next Friday’s event could serve as the final sendoff for Howard on his route back to the UFC, the undercard is loaded with tremendous regional matchups and intra-state showdowns, including the return of Providence light heavyweight Greg “Ribz” Rebello (15-4, 8 KOs) and Bridgewater, Mass., welterweight and former The Ultimate Fighter reality television series standout Chuck “Cold Steel” O’Neil (10-5, 2 KOs).

After knocking out hometown favorite Jesse Peterson in Maine in February, Rebello will face Williamsport, Pa., veteran Lewis Rumsey (8-8, 4 KOs) next Friday while O’Neil, fresh off his win over Rhode Island’s Keith Jeffrey in December, will face Andrew Osborne (6-5, 1 KO) of Fayetteville, N.C.

One of the best intra-state showdowns will take place between East Providence, R.I., lightweight Nate “The Snake” Andrews (4-0, 2 KOs) and Lincoln veteran Jeff “Candyman” Anderson (11-7, 2 KOs). Andrews has risen considerably in the past year with wins in each of his first four fights, but has yet to face anyone as experienced and as tough as Anderson; known for fighting the best opposition in the northeast, Anderson has wins over Damien Trites, John Ortolani and Pete Jeffrey on his resume, but has lost three consecutive bouts, albeit against Mike Campbell, Matt Bessette and Saul Almeida, who have combined for 36 wins.

“New Blood” also features four exciting bantamweight bouts, highlighted by the showdown between Andre Soukhamthath (4-1, 3 KOs) of Woonsocket, R.I., and Blair Tugman (5-4) of Branford, Conn. Soukhamthath has won four consecutive fights since losing his debut while Tugman is returning to the cage for the first time since April of 2011, when he lost to John McLaughlin at the Bellator Fighting Championships.

Also in the bantamweight division, highly-touted amateur Sophanarith Am will make his professional debut Carlos Hernandez of Lynn, Mass., and Providence veteran Joe Reverdes (1-2) – fighting for the first time since August – will fight Williamsport’s Joshua Aarons (1-6). In what could be one of the best fights on the undercard, veterans Pedro Gonzalez (7-5) of Rockport, Mass., and Sidemar Honario (8-3, 2 KOs) will square off in a three-round bantamweight bout.

After beating Thomas Evans in April, Coventry, R.I., featherweight Shaun Marmas (5-4) will step up to face undefeated Boston native Sergio Cabrera (2-0-1) in what will be Marmas’ toughest test to date. Providence welterweight Ruben Ortiz will make his highly-anticipated debut against fellow newcomer Brian Sparrow of Sandwich, Mass., and Eric Spicely (1-0) of Providence will take on newcomer Tundee Oduyingho of Johnston, R.I., in a welterweight bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “New Blood.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance).

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (May 29, 2013) – Streaking 25 year-old featherweight (145 pounds) rising star Jeff Smith (10-1) of Harrisburg, Pa. will replace injured Chris Gruetzemacher against Jerrod Sanders (11-1) of Oklahoma City, Okla. in a World Series of Fighting Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) preliminary card bout at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, June 14.

The red-hot Smith has won 10 consecutive bouts – 7 by way of submission – since suffering a lone defeat in his professional debut on Aug. 21, 2009. In his last start on July 14, 2012, Smith earned a unanimous decision over D’Juan Owens.

Born in Sarasota, Fla., Smith is a lifelong athlete who competed in both wrestling and football before turning down several offers from NCAA Division II schools that would allow him to continue his football career.

In 2007, Smith turned shifted his focus exclusively to MMA with dreams of becoming a champion. After amassing a 5-1 record under amateur status, he turned pro and hasn’t look back since.

Smith’s opponent, Sanders, will put a nine-fight win streak on the line. The 33-year-old has finished his last three opponents – two by way of submission and the third via TKO.

Tickets for the star-studded, 10-bout World Series of Fighting event, priced from $29 (plus applicable service fees), are on sale at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000.

The four-bout main card will air live on NBC Sports Network, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

In the welterweight (170 pounds) main event and a long-awaited rematch, Jon Fitch (24-5) of Fort Wayne, Ind., will square off with fellow superstar Josh “The People’s Warrior” Burkman (25-9) of Salt Lake City, Utah.

The second meeting between the 35-year-old Fitch, a member of San Jose, Calif.-based Team AKA, and the 32-year-old Burkman, a winner of four consecutive fights, comes slightly more than seven years after Fitch submitted Burkman with a rear-naked choke in the second round (4:57) of their initial encounter that, coincidentally, also took place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

In the co-main event, streaking stars and fearsome submission aces Tyson “Man of” Steele (10-1) of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada and Steve Carl (19-3) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa will face off at welterweight.

Also slated for battle on the main card is heavyweight rising star and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Rolles Gracie (8-1) of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, who will face off with hard-hitting KO artist Dave Huckaba (20-5) of Sacramento, Calif. All 8 of Gracie’s career victories have come by way of submission and 16 of Huckaba’s 20 career wins have come by way of (T)KO.

Undefeated prospect Justin Gaethje (8-0) of Denver, Colo. will collide with Brian Cobb (20-7) of Bakersfield, Calif., in a lightweight (155 pounds) contest and the first televised main card bout of the night.

In preliminary card action, battle-tested submission specialist John Gunderson (34-14) of Houston, Tex. will be pitted against Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (16-4) of Bridgewater, Mass. in another lightweight tilt. All 16 of Lauzon’s professional career victories have come by way of (T)KO or submission.

Grappling wizards Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm (21-2) of Spokane, Wash. and Jacob Volkmann (15-4) of White Bear Lake, Minn. will meet at lightweight.

Carson “Little Juggernaut” Beebe (13-2) of Schaumburg, Ill. will face undefeated submission ace Joe Murphy (6-0) of Huntington Beach, Calif. in a bantamweight (135 pounds) tilt.

Fellow undefeated prospects Krasimir Mladenov (9-0) of Borica, Bulgaria and Kendrick Miree (5-0) of Atlanta, Ga., will square off at middleweight (185 pounds).

Brenson Hansen (4-1) of Las Vegas will battle Josh Montalvo (2-1) of San Benito, Texas in a featherweight matchup.

Doors at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will open at 4:30 p.m. PT and the first preliminary card bout will begin at 5:30 p.m.

ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING
Based in Las Vegas, Nev., the fight capital of the world, World Series of Fighting is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering an incredible, action-packed entertainment experience for fight fans by producing the best possible matchups between elite fighters from around the globe. For more information please visit www.WSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

About The Joint
The Joint is a 4,000-person capacity venue that serves as a sophisticated, intimate and unparalleled entertainment destination. The Joint features seven Luxury Suites, a VIP Studio Level, state-of-the-art sound system, superior video system and a production package tailor-made for artist comfort. It has received numerous accolades including “Best Concert Venue” in Las Vegas Review – Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” awards 2010 – 2012, “Best Music Venue” in 2012 Las Vegas Weekly Awards, “No. 1 Hottest Club in America” award by Billboard Magazine in 2011, “Best Live Music Venue in Las Vegas” by MetroWize.com in 2011, “Best New Major Concert Venue” at the 2010 Pollstar Awards, and “Best Live Music Venue” in AOL City’s Best 2010 awards. The Joint delivers unforgettable live music experiences with performances by both legendary and ground-breaking artists including Paul McCartney, The Killers, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Arcade Fire, Avenged Sevenfold, Rise Against, Paramore, Muse, Drake and No Doubt. The venue created the successful concept of rock ‘n’ roll residencies with Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits, Mötley Crüe in Sin City, Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Democracy and Def Leppard VIVA Hysteria! as well as Tiësto In Concert, featuring the world’s No. 1 electronic DJ and producer Tiësto. For additional information, visit www.thejointlasvegas.comor call 702.693.5583 or 702.693.5000.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS NETWORK

NBC Sports Network, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 80 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France and the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2013, the Premier League and Formula One. In addition, NBC Sports Network features college football, college basketball, college hockey, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, The Crossover, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk and The Dan Patrick Show. NBC Sports Network is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (May 28, 2013) – Unbeaten inspiration “Notorious” Nick Newell (9-0) of Springfield, Mass. has signed a multi-fight contract to compete for premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion World Series of Fighting, it was announced today.

Newell is expected to make his debut for World Series of Fighting, live on NBC Sports Network, on a summer date to be announced soon.

Born with only one arm, the 27-year-old, 5-foot-10 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and skilled Muay Thai-based striker has defied all odds throughout his life, winning over 300 career high school and collegiate wrestling matches before transitioning to MMA.

As a lightweight (155 pounds) competitor, Newell has finished eight of his nine career professional MMA opponents – six by submission and one by KO. All but one of his victories came inside of the first round of action.

“Nick Newell is an incredible individual who exemplifies the sheer strength of the human spirit and the kind of courage and determination that martial arts embodies, so we are naturally thrilled to welcome him to the World Series of Fighting roster, and look forward to having him compete and, hopefully inspire, our national audience on NBC Sports Network,” said World Series of Fighting President, six-time world kickboxing champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.

Newell, a two-time wrestling team captain for Western New England University, also holds the Connecticut state record for most wins (53) in a season of high school wrestling.

On June 20, 2009, Newell made his professional MMA debut, scoring a monstrous first round (4:20) TKO on Daniel Ford with a barrage of punches in Plymouth, Mass. In his last start on Dec. 7, Newell made quick work of Eric Reynolds, submitting Reynolds with a rear-naked choke in the first round (1:22) of their matchup in Nashville, Tenn.

Newell was honored with the 2011 Boston Herald Submission of the Year award after he forced Denis Hernandez to tap out from a splendid heel hook in the first round (1:11) of their bout in Tampa, Fla.

ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING
Based in Las Vegas, Nev., the fight capital of the world, World Series of Fighting is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering an incredible, action-packed entertainment experience for fight fans by producing the best possible matchups between elite fighters from around the globe. For more information please visit www.WSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

Los Angeles, Calif. (May 28, 2013) – The Metamoris Pro Jiu Jitsu Invitational II, taking place June 9, live from L.A.’s historic Pauley Pavilion, is proud to announce Emmy nominated actor and Gracie jiu jitsu black belt Ed O’Neill as a member of the Metamoris II commentary team alongside Gracie Academy head instructor Rener Gracie.

“I began studying Gracie Jiu Jitsu over 20 years ago,” says O’Neill. “I was actually very hesitant to start, but a 10-minute session with Rorion Gracie was enough to get me hooked. For me, studying jiu jitsu has been an amazing experience. In a way it’s given me a second family. I am honored to serve as a commentator on the Metamoris II card with Rener.”

O’Neill first rose to fame through his role as Al Bundy on Married with Children. He has starred in several television productions including Dragnet, The West Wing, and John From Cincinnati. He currently plays the role of Jay Pritchett on the hit comedy Modern Family.

A longtime athlete, O’Neill played linebacker in college at Ohio State and Youngstown State University. He was briefly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers where, according to O’Neill, “I stayed for about a minute.” Working as an actor in Hollywood, O’Neill discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu through a friend and was awarded his black belt in 2007.

Metamoris Pro Jiu Jitsu Invitational II will be broadcast live via pay-per-view for $19.95 through metamoris.com.

Tickets are available now for purchase through Ticketmaster.

Official Card*:
Shinya Aoki vs. Kron Gracie
Braulio Estima vs. Rodolfo Vieira
Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu vs. Brendan Schaub
Mackenzie Dern vs. Michelle Nicolini
Andre Galvao vs. Rafael Lovato Jr.
Bill “The Grill” Cooper vs. Victor Estima

*Fight card subject to change

Doors open at 3 pm PST
Royce Gracie autograph signing from 3-4 pm PST
Broadcast begins at 4 pm PST

For more information go to www.metamoris.com.

——————————————————————————–

About Metamoris

Founded in 2012 by Ralek Gracie, Metamoris celebrates, honors and preserves the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu through promoting tournaments featuring the world’s elite practitioners competing in a unique format that encourages submissions instead of points. Metamoris produces a live event atmosphere and pay- per-view experience without peer in the world of grappling tournaments.

www.metamoris.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 28, 2013) – Tickets priced from $35, for the highly-anticipated Invicta Fighting Championships women’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world championship doubleheader event at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City on Saturday, July 13, are on sale online at TicketFly.com.

In the main event of the stacked 13-bout card, ferocious KO artist and pound-for-pound sensation Cris Cyborg (11-1, 1 NC) of Curitiba, Brazil will face off with fellow superstar and submission ace Marloes Coenen (21-5) of The Netherlands in the first-ever Invicta FC world featherweight (145 pounds) championship bout.

The showdown between rivals Cyborg and Coenen marks a highly-anticipated rematch to their explosive, barnburner first fight in Sunrise, Fla. on Jan 30, 2010 in which Cyborg emerged victorious by way of TKO (punches) in the third and final scheduled round (3:40) of action.

In the co-main event, reigning Invicta FC world strawweight (115 pounds) champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (9-2) of Redondo Beach, Calif. will put her title on the line against undefeated JEWELS champion Ayaka Hamasaki (9-0) of Tokyo, Japan.

The 25-year-old Esparza, a winner of four consecutive bouts, became the first strawweight champion in Invicta FC history by stopping Lynn Alvarez with a barrage of punches in the first round (2:53) of their matchup in Kansas City, Kan. on Oct. 6, 2012. Esparza, who has claimed six of her nine professional career victories by way of (T)KO or submission, is unbeaten in her three Invicta FC starts to date.

Hamasaki, a 31-year-old submission specialist, has been an unsolvable puzzle in action, thus far. After reeling off victories in her first seven stars in Japan, she made her debut in the U.S. at Invicta FC 2 last July 28, submitting Lacey Schuckman in the third round (4:45) of action with an armbar. Hamasaki recorded her latest conquest in on Dec. 15, a unanimous decision over Emi Fujino in a JEWELS-promoted contest in Japan.

In other action on the Invicta FC 6 main card, three-time Invicta FC fight winner Sarah D’Alelio (7-3) of San Jose, Calif. will take on undefeated upstart Lauren Taylor (6-0) of Anchorage, Alaska at bantamweight (135 pounds).

After her second Invicta FC “Fight of the Night” performance, prolific striker Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (5-3-1) of Pleasant Hill, Calif. will drop from bantamweight to flyweight and face off with Jennifer Maia (7-2) of Curitiba, Parana Brazil. Maia is coming off her second consecutive win, a unanimous decision over superstar Zoila Frausto Gurgel, at Invicta FC 5 on April 5.

Former Invicta FC world atomweight (105 pounds) champion Jessica Penne (10-2) of Huntington Beach, Calif. will look to rebound from her hard-fought defeat at the hands of Michelle Waterson in the main event of Invicta FC 5 when she squares off with battle-tested road warrior Nicdali “The Night Queen” Riveral-Calanoc (8-6) of Tulsa, Okla.

Undefeated, fast-rising stars Joanne Calderwood (6-0) of Glasgow, Scotland and Claudia Gadelha (9-0) of Mossoro, Rio Grande Do Norte Brazil will put their perfect records on the line against each other in a flyweight (125 pounds) bout.

Submission ace Ediane “India” Gomes (10-2) of Sao Paulo, Brazil will battle hard-punching Julia “The Jewel” Budd (5-2) in a featherweight (145 pounds) tilt.

Crowd-pleasing finisher “Rowdy” Bec Hyatt (5-2) of Brisbane, Queensland Australia will look to notch her second straight victory under the Invicta FC banner in a strawweight showdown with JEWELS star Mizuki Inoue (5-1) of Nagoya, Aichi Japan. Inoue has won all five her professional stars to date by way of submission inside of two rounds of action.

Hard-hitting Muay Thai stylist Miriam Nakamoto (1-0) of Dublin, Calif. will square off with Duda “Diamond” Yankovich (1-1) of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in a bantamweight bout.

A four-bout preliminary card will be highlighted by a strawweight collision between unbeaten upstarts Rose Namajunas (2-0) of St. Paul, Minn. and Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres (2-0) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Namajunas captured the attention of the entire MMA fight world when she scored a stunning, 12-second submission on Kathina Catron at Invicta FC 5.

Ashley “Smashley” Cummins (3-1) of St. Louis, Miss. will face Emily Kagan (2-1) of Albuquerque, N.M. at strawweight.

Power striker Veronica “The Heartbreaker” Rothenhausler (1-0) of Sacramento, Calif. will collide with Mollie Estes (1-2) of Oceola, Miss. in a featherweight scrap.

Cassie Robb (0-1) of Casper, Wyo. will meet Livia Von Plettenberg (1-1) of Vienna, Wien Austria in the event’s opening strawweight bout.

About Invicta Fighting Championships:

Invicta Fighting Championships (www.invictafc.com) is a world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp and sports aficionado Janet Martin, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible matchups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport.

About Ameristar Kansas City

Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City is owned and operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ-GS: ASCA), and is a premier property characterized by a state-of-the-art casino floor and outstanding dining, lodging and entertainment options. The property features the largest casino and the most games in the Kansas City area, as well as one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest. Ameristar offers nine diverse dining venues — The Horizon Buffet, The Falcon Bakery, Pearl’s Oyster Bar, Great Plains Cattle Co., Amerisports Brew Pub, Casino Deli, Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, Burger King and Sbarro The Italian Eatery, as well as the Star Club, a private players’ lounge. Entertainment amenities include the Star Pavilion, featuring national headliners; Depot #9, with popular regional and local acts; the Regal Cinema’s Kansas City 18 Theater; Hi-Vi video arcade; and Kids Quest, a supervised child-care facility. The property also includes a 184-room hotel. The property was awarded “Favorite Casino” for the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association’s 2012 Visitor Choice Awards. Best Casino in 2012 Ingram’s Magazine “Best of Business Awards;” in the 2003, 2005, 2007 – 2009, 2011 Kansas City Magazine’s “Best of Kansas City” readers’ poll and 2011 Best Casino in Home in the Northland Magazine’s readers’ poll. Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City also was awarded Best Steakhouse, Best Buffet, Best Live Poker and Best Tournaments in the 2012 Casino Player Magazine’s “Best of Gaming” awards.

Visit Ameristar Casinos’ website at www.ameristar.com

(which shall not be deemed to be incorporated in or a part of this news release).

Promoters Hani Darwish and Wally Darwish of The Darwish Brothers wish to congratulate all the participants and give their sincere thanks to everyone involved in putting together this Saturday, May 18, “The Darwish Brothers Presents: “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA” event in the Xanadu Theater at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and for helping make it such a success.

“First we want to thank all the fans for attending the event. We are happy it was such a great event and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did,” said Hani Darwish. “we again want to thank the tremendous staff at Trump Taj Mahal for their cooperation and support.”

The Darwish Brothers also wish to thank all the fighters who made it such an unforgettable evening, especially their main event participants, new Light Heavyweight Champion Christopher Vallaro and Monster Mohammed. “It was the Fight of the Night and we have those two to thank for showing up with so much heart and determination to win.”

“We also want to thank all our sponsors; Diving Horse, PromaUSA, Dr. Zibdie, SportsCare, Hooters, PizzaCity and our own Team EFC staff for their excellent work: Suzan Dee, Michael McEnerney, Simona Latino, Gabe Ruiz, Miguel Camacho, Wayne Mazzitelle, Greg Farkas, Gil Isabel, Ashure Elbanna, Rob Stepnowski, Kevin Wuchter, Harald Kemp, Andre Courtemanche, as well as our wives and kids and all the young Darwish’s who help out at all EFC events.

Thanks also to Mike Straka, Kurt Pellegrino, for their work on the broadcast, Dean Stone for his superb ring announcing, and all the coaches and fight camps who participated. And lastly Nick Lembo and all the NJ State Officials for doing such a well-organized job of officiating.

EFC will return later this year on August 24 at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey and November 30 Further details TBA.

Faced with a near sellout for his Saturday, May 18, “The Darwish Brothers Presents: “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA”” event in the Xanadu Theater at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, event co-promoter Hani Darwish has made available an additional 300 seats for purchase.

Headlined by “Monster” Mohammad vs. Christopher Vallaro for the EFC Light Heavyweight Championship, MMA MANIA was coming dangerously close to selling out a few days before the show.

Tickets for “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA” are priced at $46, $67, $100 and $125 Cageside and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, at the EFC website: www.efcmma.com, or at the Trump Taj Mahal box office on fight night.

“We had to do something,” explained Hani Darwish. “We have a lot of people who drive in from all over the area and they wouldn’t have been happy to find out they can’t get in. Fortunately, we were able to open up another section of the theater for purchase.”

The MMA event of the year thus far in Atlantic City, anticipation for MMA MANIA has caught fire in the area.

“We want as many people as possible to see this show. The action in the cage, the production will all be fantastic. It’s going to be the one show to see this year in New Jersey. We’re very proud to be able to put it on.”

Tickets for “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA” are priced at $46, $67, $100 and $125 Cageside and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, at the EFC website: www.efcmma.com, or at the Trump Taj Mahal box office on fight night.

Philadelphia, PA – May 16, 2013 – At Cage Fury Fighting Championships 24 this past Saturday night, though the main card featured two title fights, it was the undercard showdown between Brazen Boxing & MMA’s Paul Felder out of Philadelphia and the highly acclaimed AMA Fight Club’s top prospect, Corey Bleaken, that stole the show.

The back story between these two camps goes back to CFFC 20, when Paul Felder quickly and dominantly put away the brash Rick Nuno (also from AMA) in a mere three minutes and fifteen seconds. Internet chatter and excuses ensued as much of the AMA faithful believed Felder’s destruction of Nuno to be a fluke. Yet, having earned a record of 4-0 at that point, with four KO/TKOs to his credit, one wonders how any educated fight fan could doubt Felder’s abilities.

Enter Corey Bleaken. Bleaken is an accomplished amateur wrestler who, like Rick Nuno, boasted a strong amateur MMA record and a 1-0 professional record when each of them faced Felder. Also like Nuno, Bleaken had never beaten a fighter with a winning record at either the amateur or professional level. It seemed a bit ambitious for AMA to believe taking on a 4-0 Felder would be the time that trend would end. But believe it they did, as Bleaken stated in interviews leading up to the bout that he planned on “destroying” Felder and avenging the quick, yet substantial, beating given to his teammate. Beliefs aside, the night belonged to Felder.

On paper the Felder/Bleaken fight appeared to be a classic striker versus grappler contest, but someone forgot to tell that to Felder and Bleaken. Both showed the fighting public that they could learn and use each other’s dominant skill-set as they put together performances that were both skilled and well rounded.

Almost as impressive as Felder’s newfound wrestling ability was Bleaken’s aggressive and effective striking against one of the most polished young 155 pound strikers in the region. The fight was truly a great display of skill, aggression, and determination from both combatants. Most casual fans in the audience (at least in my section) believed rounds 1 and 3 were all Felder and that a close second round belonged to Bleaken. In the end all three judges (as did I) scored the fight for Felder. But take nothing away from Bleaken, as I believe he was easily the second best 155 pound fighter on the entire card.

A matchup between Bleaken and CFFC poster boy, Bobby Fabrizi, would certainly be interesting, as Fabrizi has yet to post a victory against any fighter with a professional win. His wins come against opponents with a combined record of 0-5, so Bleaken would be a substantial test to clean up a cluttered CFFC 155 pound division.

The obvious question: where does the impressive Felder go from here? A CFFC title maybe? Word from CFFC Champion Sean Santella is that Corey Bleaken pushes around the Miller brothers. If that’s true, then… how good is Paul Felder? My guess is that the talented young Felder will be amongst the UFC’s most talent rich division in the next year or two.

Christopher Vallaro (5-2) says he’s not treating his upcoming fight as anything special, but it’s not easy to rattle a tough Italian from Brooklyn who’s earned the nickname “The Neighborhood Legend”.

Vallaro is set to face Paterson, New Jersey’s “Monster” Mohammad for the EFC Light Heavyweight Championship in the main event of The Darwish Brothers Presents: “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA” on Saturday, May 18, in the Xanadu Theater at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City

Tickets for “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA” are priced at $46, $67, $100 and $125 Cageside and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, at the EFC website: www.efcmma.com, or at the Trump Taj Mahal box office on fight night.

“A fight is a fight, that’s how I see it,” revealed Vallaro, “but this one is a little sweeter because after I win, I will get a pretty belt for doing it. The belt is more for spectators to understand that I’m the top fighter in this league at the weight though.”

The confident and intelligent Vallaro studied Health Science in college and is the general manager and a certified personal trainer/strength coach at a fitness facility. Between work and twice-daily training sessions at Ardon Sweet Science Gym in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, he even helps out his training partners.

“I help a lot of my teammates with their conditioning plans. Besides being well-rounded, my biggest strength as a fighter is my overall conditioning. I always outshine my opponent in conditioning and that’s usually the deciding factor in the fight. I’m a pressure fighter. I put pressure on my opponents and eventually they break.”

So what does he think of facing a “monster” this Saturday?

“I know he’s an MMA guy by trade,” said Vallaro of Mohammad. “That means he doesn’t have a speciality. From watching his fights, I’m not impressed with him, but every fighter gets better with every fight, so I can’t go in like a madman. I see the fight going down with me being victorious. There are a lot of ways I’ll be able to win. I just have to do what I normally do and fight how I normally fight. The first mental or physical mistake he makes, I’m capitalizing on it. And it’ll be a very tough time for him to get back on his feet.”

Event promoter Hani Darwish says Vallaro may be playing it cool a bit on the fight.

“This fight is a toss-up. Both these guys are hugely popular for a reason. This is a true New Jersey super fight. They’re both tough, tough guys who can fight hard. They’re both always in great fights. I’m expecting an all-action war in there and the winner will be who wants it more.”

Vallaro says he earned his nickname by taking on older men, feared by others, in the streets of Brooklyn until “neighborhood politics” voted him a local legend.

He found his way to the cage in the same way as so many others.

“When I was a kid, my cousin and I would rent martial arts movies. I was always a fan. Then I saw UFC 2 and realized they were the best fighters in the world. I love competition. I said to myself if this is the sport with the best fighters in the world, then I want to compete and prove myself.”

Las Vegas, Nevada – The secrets of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®’s elite athletes are finally revealed in UFC FIT™ – the UFC’s first ever in-home fitness and nutrition program. Developed with renowned strength and conditioning coach Mike Dolce, UFC FIT is a lifestyle program based on the same methods the world’s greatest athletes use to prepare for the OctagonTM.

A celebrated training coach and former mixed martial artist, Dolce has earned his reputation as the greatest conditioning and nutrition expert in the sport, helping top contenders including Johny Hendricks, Gray Maynard, Michael Bisping and Thiago Alves prepare for competition. Now, for the first time, Mike Dolce shares the knowledge and techniques that have turned athletes into champions in this in-home training program.
UFC president Dana White said: “What makes UFC FIT different from every other workout is Mike Dolce. The UFC doesn’t cut corners or do anything halfway, so when we decided to create UFC FIT, we knew we had to work with Mike. He’s someone we respect, someone we believe in and someone we know gets results. To compete in the UFC, you have to be proficient in five Olympic sports including boxing, wrestling, taekwondo and judo on top of having world class strength and cardio. And Mike Dolce take these guys level to another level – just imagine what he can do for you.”

Dolce said: “The methods you’ll see in UFC FIT are the same ones I’ve used with the top stars in the UFC, but I actually developed them for men and women of all ages. I used to weigh 280 lbs, I had elevated blood pressure, my cholesterol was high and I had sleep apnea. Using the principals I share in UFC FIT, I dropped 100 lbs and now am down to five percent body fat. UFC FIT is a fun, challenging program developed for everyone and every fitness level. We all deserve to be lean, to feel confident and to be healthy.”

UFC FIT includes:

• 12 dynamic workout DVDs
• Plus 3-Day Shred, a jumpstart to weight loss
• 12-week Workout Tracker
• 132-page Lifestyle & Nutrition Manual, complete with training tips, a grocery list, meal plans and healthy, delicious recipes
• And for when you are on the go, Xyience® Ulti-Bar™ and Ulti-Meal™ Replacement Protein Shake, created exclusively for UFC FIT

UFC FIT is available now at UFCFIT.com. Additional merchandise is also available including an official UFC FIT Octagon® Mat, water bottle and fitness apparel.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which airs on FX.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.4 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

About UFC FIT™
UFC FIT is the first in-home training and nutrition program from the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the world leader in the sport of mixed martial arts, in partnership with New Evolution Ventures™ (NeV), developers of many of the world’s most successful fitness brands. UFC FIT continues the expansion of UFC and NeV’s partnership into the fitness and lifestyle category, which began in 2008 with the creation of UFC GYM®. By the end of 2013, UFC GYM will have over 100 locations including the recently acquired the LA Boxing® franchises which are currently being rebranded.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (May 15, 2013) – Surging KO artist Chris “Gritz” Gruetzemacher (11-1) of Glendale, Ariz. will square off with fellow fast-rising star Jerrod Sanders (11-1) of Oklahoma City, Okla. in a World Series of Fighting featherweight (145 pounds) preliminary card bout at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, June 14.

A bantamweight (135 pounds) contest between emerging force Carson “Little Juggernaut” Beebe (13-2) of Schaumburg, Ill. and undefeated submission ace Joe Murphy (6-0) of Huntington Beach, Calif. has been added to the preliminary card as well, World Series of Fighting announced today.

“We are excited to add another pair of matchups to our preliminary card that will showcase a collection of the sport’s brightest up and coming athletes and future champions,” said World Series of Fighting President and six-time world kickboxing champion Ray Sefo. “Since we launched our promotion last year, World Series of Fighting has made a commitment to building a roster of its own stars, so fighting as many potential future stars at our live events is critical in order to ensure that these athletes gain the necessary competitive experience to take their careers to the next level.”

The 26-year-old Gruetzemacher has been on fire since 2009, winning his last 10 fights. He has defeated each of his last seven opponents by way of (T)KO or submission, including four consecutive (T)KO victories.

Likewise, Sanders has notched nine straight wins. The 33-year-old has finished his last three opponents – two by way of submission and the third via TKO.

Beebe, the 24-year-old younger brother of bantamweight submission specialist Chase Beebe, is looking to return to the win column after he dropped a unanimous decision to Rolando Velasco in his last effort on Nov. 15, 2012. Prior to that, Beebe had reeled off seven consecutive victories.

The 25-year-old Murphy has been unstoppable since he made his professional debut with a first round (2:01) submission (armbar) victory over Orlando Aspericueta on May 1, 2009. Five of Murphy’s six wins to date have come by way of submission, including his last bout, an April 14, 2012 matchup with Tyler Weathers that Murphy won by way of armbar in the second round (2:56).

Tickets for the World Series of Fighting event, priced from $29 (plus applicable service fees), are on sale at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000.

The four-bout main card will air live on NBC Sports Network, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

In the welterweight (170 pounds) main event and a long-awaited rematch, Jon Fitch (24-5) of Fort Wayne, Ind., will square off with fellow superstar Josh “The People’s Warrior” Burkman (25-9) of Salt Lake City, Utah.

The second meeting between the 35-year-old Fitch, a member of San Jose, Calif.-based Team AKA, and the 32-year-old Burkman, a winner of four consecutive fights, comes slightly more than seven years after Fitch submitted Burkman with a rear-naked choke in the second round (4:57) of their initial encounter that, coincidentally, also took place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

In the co-main event, streaking stars and fearsome submission aces Tyson “Man of” Steele (10-1) of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada and Steve Carl (19-3) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa will face off at welterweight (170 pounds).

Also slated for battle on the main card is heavyweight rising star and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Rolles Gracie (8-1) of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, who will face off with Dave Huckaba (21-4) of Sacramento, Calif.

Undefeated prospect Justin Gaethje (8-0) of Denver, Colo. will collide with Brian Cobb (20-7) of Bakersfield, Calif., in a lightweight (155 pounds) contest and the first televised main card bout of the night.

In preliminary card action, battle-tested submission specialist John Gunderson (34-14) of Houston, Tex. will be pitted against Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (16-4) of Bridgewater, Mass. in another lightweight tilt. All 16 of Lauzon’s professional career victories have come by way of (T)KO or submission.

Grappling wizards Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm (21-2) of Spokane, Wash. and Jacob Volkmann (15-4) of White Bear Lake, Minn. will meet at lightweight.

Fellow undefeated prospects Krasimir Mladenov (9-0) of Borica, Bulgaria and Kendrick Miree (5-0) of Atlanta, Ga., will square off at middleweight (185 pounds).

Doors at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will open at 4:30 p.m. PT and the first preliminary card bout will begin at 5:30 p.m.

ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING
Based in Las Vegas, Nev., the fight capital of the world, World Series of Fighting is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering an incredible, action-packed entertainment experience for fight fans by producing the best possible matchups between elite fighters from around the globe. For more information please visit www.WSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

About The Joint
The Joint is a 4,000-person capacity venue that serves as a sophisticated, intimate and unparalleled entertainment destination. The Joint features seven Luxury Suites, a VIP Studio Level, state-of-the-art sound system, superior video system and a production package tailor-made for artist comfort. It has received numerous accolades including “Best Concert Venue” in Las Vegas Review – Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” awards 2010 – 2012, “Best Music Venue” in 2012 Las Vegas Weekly Awards, “No. 1 Hottest Club in America” award by Billboard Magazine in 2011, “Best Live Music Venue in Las Vegas” by MetroWize.com in 2011, “Best New Major Concert Venue” at the 2010 Pollstar Awards, and “Best Live Music Venue” in AOL City’s Best 2010 awards. The Joint delivers unforgettable live music experiences with performances by both legendary and ground-breaking artists including Paul McCartney, The Killers, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Arcade Fire, Avenged Sevenfold, Rise Against, Paramore, Muse, Drake and No Doubt. The venue created the successful concept of rock ‘n’ roll residencies with Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits, Mötley Crüe in Sin City, Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Democracy and Def Leppard VIVA Hysteria! as well as Tiësto In Concert, featuring the world’s No. 1 electronic DJ and producer Tiësto. For additional information, visit www.thejointlasvegas.comor call 702.693.5583 or 702.693.5000.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS NETWORK

NBC Sports Network, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 80 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France and the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2013, the Premier League and Formula One. In addition, NBC Sports Network features college football, college basketball, college hockey, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, The Crossover, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk and The Dan Patrick Show. NBC Sports Network is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.