Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Joe Ray Added to M-1 Challenge 62

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (September 17, 2015) – Former M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky will take on “The” Joe Ray in the second full fight announced for M-1 Challenge 62, October 10,at The Ice Cube Curling Center in Sochi, Russia.

Headlining M-1 Challenge 62 is a Super Fight between M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger (29-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 16 SUB) and former M-1 Challenge lightweight titlist Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui (12-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 7 SUB).

M-1 Challenge 62 will be streamed live from Sochi, Russia in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
Vasilevsky has top position here vs. Emeev in their 2014 title fight

Vasilevsky (26-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), fighting out of Russia, captured the M-1 Challenge middleweight title September 7, 2014, stopping Ramazan Emeev on punches in the fourth round at M-1 Challenge 51. This past April 10th at M-1 Challenge 56, Vasilevsky lost his first title defense being choked out in the opening round, snapping this three-year win streak, to Emeev.

Joe Ray celebrates

An American MMA fighter from Florida, Lee (13-4-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) has been living in Thailand in order to help improve his Muay Thai skills. Lee will be making his M-1 Global debut versus Vasilevsky. Lee’s most notable victory, perhaps, is a knockout of M-1 Global veteran Luigi Fioravanti.

Also fighting on the card against an opponent to be determined is undefeated Russian light heavyweight Adam “Beard” Yandiev (8-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), a rising MMA star who is a judo specialist. In his last fight at M-1 Challenge 58, Yandiev defeated previously undefeated (7-0-0) Valdas Pocevicius in the first round via a choke hold.

Fights and fighters are subject to challenge. Additional bouts will soon be announced.

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 62 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Upcoming Event: M-1 Challenge 61, September 19, 2015 in Ingushetia, Russia.

Information

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www.mixfight.ru
www.wmmaa.org

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ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 160 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2015 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fueled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.

ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TV: Enjoy MMA action now in high definition brought to you by M-1Global.tv, offering only the best fights from M-1 Global and other MMA organizations. M-1Global.tv is a great platform developed specifically to bring together the most exhaustive fight video database. It also provides an easy and intuitive interface, helping everyone to start using the platform in no time while avoiding any spoilers. Besides watching the past fights on demand at any time convenient to the customer, viewers are able to enjoy the action LIVE, all available to M-1Global.tv users through a low-priced month to month digital subscription. Your world of action. Anytime!




IGOR SVIRID TO DEFEND ONE MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AGAINST VITALY BIGDASH IN MAIN EVENT OF ONE: TIGERS OF ASIA

17 September 2015 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), in partnership with Alienware Malaysia, is set to deliver fans in Kuala Lumpur another exhilarating night of world-class mixed martial arts action on 9 October, featuring the absolute best in local and international talent. ONE Middleweight World Champion Igor “Lionheart” Svirid will now headline the spectacular fight card in Kuala Lumpur as he defends his title against Vitaly Bigdash. ONE: TIGERS OF ASIA will also feature three Malaysia Super Fights as Ann Osman takes on Irina Mazepa, Ev Ting battles Honorio Banario and Peter Davis duels Adrian Pang.

CEO of ONE Championship™, Victor Cui, stated, “You can always count on ONE Championship’s dedication to the city of Kuala Lumpur. We’ve prepared a memorable night of adrenaline-pumping thrills for fans here and all across the world headlined by an explosive world championship title fight! Witness all the action live as the best local and international MMA fighters compete inside the ONE Cage. Fans will not want to miss what goes down on 9 October!”

In the Malaysia Super Fights, Malaysia’s fighting belle, Ann “Athena” Osman, is back and ready to rock Kuala Lumpur once again in her highly-anticipated return to the ONE Cage. Working to constantly improve her overall MMA game, Osman has been deep in training on the coastal locale of Kota Kinabalu. She will get the chance to show off her new moves against Russian kickboxer, Irina Mazepa.

Irina Mazepa is making her debut inside the ONE Cage a memorable one by taking on one of the female flyweight division’s best fighters. A six-time Wushu world champion and a K1 world champion kickboxer, Mazepa’s devastating striking skills will be put to the test against Ann “Athena” Osman.

Ev “E.T.” Ting’s most recent fight was against tough Russian foe Marat Gafurov, in one of the most valuable learning experiences for the 26-year old Auckland MMA product. Ting is currently 3-1 inside the ONE Cage and will now look to get back in the winner’s circle in front of his hometown crowd with a victory over Filipino stalwart, Honorio Banario.

Honorio Banario of the famed Team Lakay in Baguio City, Philippines, is back and ready to show fans exactly what he’s been working on in the past few months since his last fight. An expert in Wushu, Banario will showcase his lightning quick strikes against Malaysia’s own, Ev Ting, in a featherweight showdown that promises to electrify the arena.

Always a mainstay in Kuala Lumpur fight cards, lightweight standout Peter Davis is unbeaten in ONE Championship when fighting in Malaysia’s capital city. Davis is currently on an incredible four-fight win streak which includes one submission and three straight TKO wins. His next test is certainly one that will push him to the limit as he takes on the veteran from Queensland, Australia, Adrian “The Hunter” Pang.

Lightweight veteran Adrian Pang was impressive in his ONE Championship debut last December against Vincent Latoel. His submission via Guillotine Choke showcased his ability to grind against a tough opponent and come through with a technical victory. Pang continues his stellar career against one of Malaysia’s most popular stars in and out of the cage, Peter Davis.

Top featherweight Eric “The Natural” Kelly of the Philippines will make his much awaited return to the ONE Cage after a year off from competition. His last bout was an unforgettable scrap against Rob Lisita, one that resulted in Kelly taking home the first ever ONE Warrior Bonus in a masterful performance. Standing in Kelly’s way on his road back to the top is Hiroshige Tanaka.

Japanese MMA standout Hiroshige Tanaka made his ONE Championship debut last year against Herbert Burns. He is 10-2 in MMA and has been working on improving his game for the past year. Tanaka gets a chance to showcase his explosive progress against one of the division’s finest in Eric Kelly.

Japanese MMA wildcard Riku Shibuya won the hearts of fans in his battle with ONE Flyweight World Champion, Adriano Moraes, just a few months ago. Shibuya’s unorthodox style and powerful combinations were on full display, and now, fans in Kuala Lumpur will get to see Shibuya once again as he takes on the equally unpredictable Eugene Toquero of the Philippines.

Eugene Toquero is one of the most exciting fighters to come out of Manila and has impressed with a solid 7-1 MMA record. The former celebrity MMA trainer’s only loss came against fellow countryman Geje Eustaquio, but he’s been unstoppable since. Toquero’s time inside the ONE Cage has been memorable, as he’s delighted fans with impeccable striking and flashy combinations. His flyweight clash against Riku Shibuya should be one for the books.

Dae Hwan Kim challenged for the ONE Bantamweight World Championship in his last fight, but came up short against reigning champion Bibiano Fernandes. Despite the setback, Kim gave the champ all he could handle and delighted fans with his fast-paced, high volume attack. Kim’s striking prowess is virtually unmatched in the division, and it will be interesting to see how effective he’ll be against one of China’s top MMA prospects, Teng Li Ge in Kuala Lumpur.

Fighting out of Xian, China, Teng Li Ge has a background in Sanda. Born in Inner Mongolia, he embodies what being a true warrior is all about. He has the heart, will and possesses the tenacity to overcome obstacles and claim victory. Teng Li Ge will be making is ONE debut in Kuala Lumpur and he is prepared to show the world that he can beat the highly regarded Dae Hwan Kim.

22-year old prospect Gianni Subba has gotten some great wins under his belt, and has scored two stoppages in his most recent bouts — one by submission and one by impressive KO. Subba is one of the most promising young fighters on ONE Championship’s roster and will look to continue his win streak against Evolve MMA grappler Marcos Ratinho.

Despite just recently debuting as a professional mixed martial artist earlier this year, Evolve MMA instructor Marcos Ratinho is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion and has all the tools necessary to be a force inside the ONE Cage. He’ll have to dig deep into his bag of tricks however if he wants to upset rising star Gianni Subba.

Popular Malaysian fighter Saiful “The Vampire” Merican is 2-2 inside the ONE Cage and has proven his mettle early in his career by figuring in some tough bouts against worthy competitors. The young flyweight has good all-around skills that will be put to the test against fellow Malaysian warrior, Melvin Yeoh.

Melvin Yeoh is proving to be a fixture in action-packed bouts in his home country. The veteran Malaysian athlete is showing off his consistency as a complete fighter featuring fast-paced striking and technical grappling. Yeoh is never in a boring fight and he will get the chance to electrify the crowd once more against Saiful Merican.

In a flyweight battle, Ruel Catalan of the Philippines takes on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and member of the Evolve MMA Fight Team, Almiro Barros, in a classic striker versus grappler matchup. The 27-year-old Filipino fighter is looking to get back on track with a victory against an opponent with a knack for submissions.

20-year-old Agilan “Alligator” Thani of Kuala Lumpur will take on Egyptian Top Team’s Hisham Hiba in a clash of welterweights. Thani, who is known for his solid ground skills will look to submit his kickboxer opponent in a collision between a striker versus grappler.

Malaysia’s Keanu Subba, the Featherweight Champion of the Malaysian Invasion Mixed Martial Arts (MIMMA) amateur series will make his professional debut when he goes head to head with Florian Garel of France in a three-round featherweight matchup to kick off ONE: TIGERS OF ASIA.

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

About ONE Championship (ONE)
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.




Fight Network Presents Combate Americas 1 LIVE from Las Vegas this Thurs., Sept. 17 at 11 p.m. ET

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live broadcast of Combate Americas 1: Road to the Championship, the first U.S. Hispanic mixed martial arts sports franchise in history, this Thursday, Sep. 17 at 11 p.m. ET from the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Fight Network’s live broadcast of Combate Americas 1 will air nationwide in Canada and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The domestic U.S. broadcast airs on NBC Universo.

In the welterweight main event, fast-rising star Ozzie Alvarez (6-2) will square off with undefeated finisher Justin “The Tactician” Patterson (5-0).

Other featured bouts include a 140-pound catchweight affair between John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda (7-2) and former U.S. Marine Justin “The Therapist” Governale (5-2), a bantamweight tussle between undefeated professional boxer Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (3-1) and Benji “The Brawler” Gomez (4-4), a featherweight clash between Urijah Faber protégé Erick Sanchez (4-2) and Guatemala native “Ruthless” Rudy Morales (3-2), a featured women’s strawweight bout between Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc (8-8) and power puncher Kyra Batara (2-3), plus unbeaten prospect Irvin Veloz (3-0) will meet fellow rising star Jay Pressley (4-1) in a 128-pound catchweight contest.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit www.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.




THREE ADDITIONAL BOUTS ANNOUNCED FOR ONE: ODYSSEY OF CHAMPIONS IN JAKARTA THIS SEPTEMBER 27

16 September 2015 – Jakarta: Asia’s largest sports media property, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just intensified its highly-anticipated return to Jakarta, Indonesia with the announcement of three exciting new bouts. ONE: ODYSSEY OF CHAMPIONS, which takes place at the Istora Senayan indoor arena on 27 September will now see a lightweight clash between Roger Huerta and Koji Ando, a bantamweight battle between Sotir Kichukov and Yusup Saadulaev, and a female strawweight bout between Angela Lee and Elena Pashnina.

CEO of ONE Championship, Victor Cui, stated, “ONE Championship’s return to Jakarta will be incredible, as we have prepared an amazing lineup of fights for fans eager to witness world-class MMA live. These three additional bouts are guaranteed to satisfy fans hungry for action as we pull out all the stops in our spectacular return to the heart of Indonesia.”

Roger “El Matador” Huerta will return to the ONE cage a year after winning his fight against Christian Holley last August 2014. Huerta is an MMA veteran and has faced the biggest names in the sport. He now lives and trains in Thailand and will look to outdo Japanese stalwart Koji Ando who is fresh off challenging division champion Shinya Aoki for the title.

Koji Ando is one of Japan’s fiercest competitors and is never in a boring fight. He has defeated some solid competition over the course of his professional career and is looking to climb his way up the rankings. With an array of diverse striking skills coupled with solid submission grappling credentials, Ando is ready to claim victory against Roger Huerta.

At just 19 years of age, Angela Lee is one of the most promising young fighters on ONE Championship’s growing roster. She scored an impressive victory over Aya Saber in her ONE Championship debut last May, submitting her opponent in the first round with an Armbar. Lee is poised to dominate the women’s strawweight division and looks to impress fans once again as she battles Elena Pashnina.

Russian female fighter Elena Pashnina is based in Chengdu, China and holds a black belt in Sanda. The young 20-year-old is fresh off her first test inside the ONE cage last July against Jenny Huang. Her lightning quick strikes and well-rounded mat skills were on full display. Next up, Pashnina takes on Singapore’s MMA darling, Angela Lee.

Yusup Saadulaev’s consistent greatness is remarkable, owning victories over worthy opponents in his time inside the ONE Cage. Saadulaev is the only man to have defeated reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Adriano Moraes, is ready for another run at the title. The Russian grappler aims to work his way back into contention, but will have to get past another stiff challenge in Sotir Kichukov.

Bulgarian fighter Sotir Kichukov steps in to replace Andrew Leone to take on Yusup Saadulaev. With a record of 13-3, Kichukov will make his debut in ONE and is looking to outdo Saadulaev in the cage for a chance to challenge current ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes for the title

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.

About MNC Group
PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk, or MNC, operates 4 of Indonesia’s 11 free-to-air (FTA) TV stations and has additional core businesses in television content production and delivery. The Company was established on June 17, 1997, and has been listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) since June 22, 2007. The Company’s IDX ticker symbol is ‘MNCN’. The MNC’s content library include over 200,000 hours of programming, with a further 15,000 hours being added every year. MNC’s four FTA stations – RCTI, MNCTV, Global TV and INews – are complemented by a further 19 pay-TV MNC Channels. MNC also owns radio, print media, talent management and TV production companies, whose operations support MNC’s core business, focus.

About AQUA home appliances
Haier, the parent company of AQUA home appliances, was founded in 1984, and it is a multinational consumer electronics and home appliances company. With 10.2 percent retail volume market share in major appliances and white goods as of 2014, making it the market leader for the sixth straight year. Haier formally acquired Sanyo Electrics’ businesses across Asia in 2012 and developed and launched the new Japanese brand, AQUA.

About Key Power International
Key Power International is a Singapore based company established in 2006, for the distribution and retailing of performance sporting goods. Founded by avid runners and triathletes, Key Power International believes in the products it represents strongly. Key Power International represents high-profile sporting goods brands and has gained strong presence in 3 key regional markets – Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia. With a distribution network of more than 200 partners, Key Power International believes in finding the right partners to represent it’s brands. Key Power Sports – a leading retailer in performance sporting goods in Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia. Key Power Sports with 7 outlets in its region, aims to help consumers pursue an active lifestyle, with the best shoes and apparel. From running shoes to performance apparels, Key Power International represents 18 brands, which consists of some renowned brands like 2XU, NEWTON, BROOKS, LORNA JANE.




WSOF 23: “GAETHJE VS. PALOMINO II” PRELIMINARY BOUT CARD RECEIVES TWO NEW PROSPECTS IN PLACE OF INJURED ISAAC VALLIE-FLAGG AND KELVIN TILLER

LAS VEGAS (September 14, 2015) – Two Tucson, Ariz.-based fighting prospects – Kamuela Kirk and Brian Grinnell – have been given the shot of a lifetime after injuries have rendered Isaac Vallie-Flagg and Kelvin Tiller ineligible to compete in their respective “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” preliminary card bout commitments at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz. on Friday, Sept. 18.

Kirk (4-1) will replace Vallie-Flagg, who sustained an elbow injury, in the scheduled lightweight (155 pounds) contest against Estevan Payan (16-8) of Tempe, Ariz., and Grinnell (8-6) will fill in for Tiller in the scheduled middleweight (185 pounds) matchup against undefeated Vagab Vagabov (19-0) of Dagestan, Russia.

The 21-year-old Kirk, who will make his fourth start of 2015, is coming off of a powerful performance on July 19, when he scored a first round (3:17) TKO on Edgar Escarrega with a barrage of knee strikes.

Kirk produced submission victories in each of his first three starts. His only defeat, thus far, came via split decision in February.

Originally from Shawnee, Okla., the 27-year-old Grinnell (8-6) is an expert on the mat who has claimed 6 of his 8 professional career wins by way of submission. In his latest effort, a July 24 matchup against Levi Queen, Grinnell forced Queen to tap out in the first round (2:59) of battle.

The WSOF 23 seven-bout preliminary card will stream live on an embeddable video player on WSOF.com.

Priced from just $39.99, tickets for “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” are on sale at the Comerica Theatre box office and online at WSOF.com and Ticketmaster.com.

In the main event, undefeated, reigning World Series of Fighting Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (14-0) will collide for the second time with hard-hitting rival Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-10), after the two engaged in an all-out war, which has already been touted as a “Fight of the Year” candidate, in the main event of WSOF 19 at Comerica Theatre.

In the co-main event and inaugural World Series of Fighting light heavyweight (205 pounds) championship bout, David Branch (16-3), the promotion’s reigning world middleweight (185 pounds) champion, will attempt to become the first two-division kingpin in World Series of Fighting history, when he faces off with Cinderella story Teddy Holder (9-1), whose nine career wins have all come by way (T)KO or submission.

The live, five-fight NBCSN telecast of “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Doors at Comerica Theatre will open at 3 p.m. MT and the first preliminary bout will begin at 3:45 p.m.

MAIN CARD (Live on NBCSN)

World Series of Fighting Lightweight Championship Main Event:
Justin Gaethje (Champion) vs. Luis Palomino (Challenger)

World Series of Fighting Light Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event:
David Branch vs. Teddy Holder

Bantamweight: Timur Valiev vs. Tito Jones
Catchweight (160 pounds): Phoenix Jones vs. Roberto Yong
Lightweight: Brian Foster vs. LaRue Burley

PRELIMINARY CARD (Live on WSOF.com)

Middleweight: Vagab Vagabov vs. Brian Grinnell
Middleweight: Clifford Starks vs. Krasimir Mladenov
Lightweight: Estevan Payan vs. Kamuela Kirk
Welterweight: Matthew Frincu vs. Danny Davis, Jr.
Bantamweight: Andres Ponce vs. David Nuzzo
Bantamweight: Randy Steinke vs. Joey Miolla
Lightweight: Benny Madrid vs. Jeff Fletcher

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.
ABOUT NBCSN

NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL) – including two games of the Stanley Cup Final — NASCAR, Premier League, Formula One, IndyCar, Tour de France, and America’s Cup. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Ironman, the Dew Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk, The Dan Patrick Show, and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.




Bellator MMA Returns to ESPN Deportes

ESPN Deportes will be the exclusive Spanish-language home of Bellator MMA in the United States. Having been the first network to carry the series in 2009, the network announced today the multiyear, multiplatform agreement with six action-packed events slated for the remainder of the calendar year.

The series kicks off on September 19, 2015 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes with “Dynamite 1,” featuring Mexican-American superstar fighter Tito Ortiz against the undefeated titleholder Liam McGeary for the Light Heavyweight Championship as the main event. The card will also showcase a one-night, four-man tournament to determine the no. 1 contender in the light heavyweight division between Phil Davis, Emanuel Newton, Linton Vassel and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. In addition, for the first time in history, this event will feature a Bellator MMA cage as well as a Glory Kickboxing ring for the added attraction of three major kickboxing matches.

ESPN will be streaming preliminary matches in Spanish starting at 7 p.m. on ESPN3 and ESPNDeportes+. As part of the deal, archival fights will also be made available to ESPN Deportes.

“ESPN Deportes has a long history of carrying premier sporting events, relevant to our Hispanic sports fans,” said Lino Garcia, general manager of ESPN Deportes. “We recognized the changes and growth of Bellator over the past year and, we are thrilled to see the world-class mixed martial arts organization return to its original television home.”

Bellator President Scott Coker: “We are thrilled to deepen our connection with our growing Hispanic audience with this strategic partnership with ESPN Deportes.”

ESPN Deportes’ complete coverage will be led by seasoned Bellator announcers George X – who returns to the network having previously served as a commentator in the X Games – and Manny Rodríguez who will be calling all the action available across ESPN Deportes TV, ESPN Deportes+ and WatchESPN.

Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz will be appearing live on tonight’s episode of A Los Golpes at 6 p.m. ET to discuss his world title fight and the new ESPN deal.

Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization, featuring many of the best fighters in the world. The 2015 line-up will feature several “tent pole’ events, which include renowned fighters such as Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, Daniel Straus, Will Brooks, Marcin Held, Michael Chandler, Bobby Lashley, Michael “Venom” Page, Josh Koscheck, Fernando Gonzalez, Henry Corrales and Brennan Ward, among others.

2015 Schedule:

September 19 – San Jose, CA (Tent Pole)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Tito Ortiz (18-11) vs. © Liam McGeary (10-0)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Final: Winner of Davis/Newton vs. winner of Vassel-Lawal
Glory Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Saulo Cavalari (31-2) vs. Zack Mwekassa (13-2)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Thomson (20-8) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (18-8-1)
Glory Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (37-13-2 MMA/20-3 Kickboxing) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (24-13/1-2 Kickboxing)
Glory Bantamweight Feature Fight: Kerri-Anne Taylor Melendez (2-1) vs. Hadley Griffith (Debut)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Phil Davis (13-3) vs. Emanuel Newton (25-8-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Linton Vassell (15-4-1) vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (15-4, 1 NC)

September 25 – Hidalgo, TX

Bantamweight Fight: Joe Warren vs L.C. Davis

(Co-feature includes Mexican-American Joey “The Mexecutioner” Beltran)

October 23 – Mohegan Sun Casino, CT

Bantamweight World Title: Marcos Galvão vs Eduardo Dantas II

Vacant Middleweight World Title: Brandon Halsey vs Rafael Carvalho

(Welterweight stars Michael “Venom” Page and Brennan Ward also to appear)

November 6 – St. Louis, MO (Tent Pole)

Featherweight World Title: Patricio “Pitbull” Freire vs Daniel Straus
Lightweight World Title: Will Brooks vs Marcin Held

(Lightweight Michael Chandler and former WWE star Bobby Lashley to appear)

November 20 – Winstar Casino, OK

Middleweight Fight: Hisaki Kato vs Melvin Manhoef

December 11 – Fresno, CA

TBD




Alberto Del Rio Joins Combate Americas and NBC Universo as Announcer

NEW YORK (September 14, 2015) – Combate Americas (www.CombateAmericas.com), the first U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise in history, announced today that it has brought former, four-time WWE champion and MMA star Alberto El Patron a.k.a. Alberto Del Rio on board to serve as a color commentator for its highly-anticipated “Road To The Championship” live event series, sponsored by Yaveo, that kicks off on NBC Universo on Thursday, September 17 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT from the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

El Patron, whose real name is Jose Alberto Rodriguez, will call the action inside the Combate Americas cage, or “La Jaula,” on each Thursday night, two-hour, live NBC Universo telecast produced by Combate Americas, as part of its new, multi-year agreement with the NBC sports and entertainment cable television network for Latinos in the U.S.

“I am thrilled to be a part of Combate Americas and bring MMA to a new group of fans – Hispanics,” said El Patron, who remains the only wrestler to win the WWE’s coveted Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank contests in the same year (2011).

“We are excited to have Alberto El Patron, one of the premier athletes and most charismatic personalities in the sport of professional wrestling, as well as a proven MMA competitor, with us on television for this historic live fight series,” said Combate Americas CEO and UFC co-founder Campbell McLaren.

“As a premier Mexican figure in the world of sports entertainment,” continued McLaren, “Alberto is the consummate voice for Combate Americas, which was created to serve fans with an authentic Hispanic MMA product, on television and other media platforms around the world.”

The son of famed Luchador “Dos Caras,” El Patron, a native of San Luis Potosi, Mexico who resides in San Antonio, Texas, is a former member of the Mexican national Greco-Roman wrestling team and a medalist at the Pan American Games.

During his four-year tenure with the WWE, El Patron tussled with a host of rival name competitors and champions include CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, Big Show, The Miz, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and Matt Hardy.

As an MMA fighter, El Patron holds a career record of 9-5, with all of his victories having come by way of (T)KO or submission.

Priced from just $14.99, tickets for the Combate Americas “Road To The Championship” kick-off event, which will take place during Mexican Independence Day celebration week, are available for purchase by phone: 800-745-3000, and online at Ticketmaster.com.

In the welterweight (170 pounds) main event, fast-rising star Ozzie Alvarez (6-2) of Huntington Beach, Calif. will square-off with undefeated, finisher Justin “The Tactician” Patterson (5-0) of Dallas, Texas.

In a 140 pound catchweight co-main event featuring two ferocious talents, John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda (7-2) of Mankato, Minn. will battle former U.S. Marine Justin “The Therapist” Governale (5-2) of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

Also on the fight card that night will be Combate Americas reality series star and unbeaten professional boxer Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (3-1) of Mission, Texas, who will face Benji “The Brawler” Gomez (4-4) of Ventura, Calif. in a bantamweight (135 pounds) matchup.
Urijah Faber-protégé Erick Sanchez (4-2) of Sacramento, Calif. will collide with Guatemala native “Ruthless” Rudy Morales (3-2) of Las Vegas at featherweight.

In a featured women’s strawweight (115 pounds) bout, Invicta FC veteran Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc (8-8) of Tulsa, Okla. will collide with power puncher Kyra Batara (2-3) of Las Vegas.

Unbeaten prospect Irvin Veloz (3-0) of Boca Raton, Fla. will meet fellow rising star Jay Pressley (4-1) of Milwaukee, Wis. in a 128 pound catchweight contest.

A three-bout preliminary card featuring several Las Vegas and Southern Calif. prospects will precede the live, five-bout NBC Universo telecast, and will stream live on Yaveo, the Spanish-language over-the-top streaming entertainment service from DIRECTV, now part of the AT&T family, that is also the title sponsor of the Combate Americas “Road To The Championship” live event series.

Consumers located anywhere in the U.S. can subscribe to the OTT service for a monthly charge of $7.99. The Yaveo platform is accessible on Yaveo.com, as well as via the Yaveo app for iPhone and iPad, Android devices, Xbox 360 and Roku.

Doors at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center will open at 6 p.m. PT, and the first preliminary bout will begin at 7 p.m.

ABOUT COMBATE AMERICAS
Combate Americas, LLC. (www.CombateAmericas.com) is the first U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise in history, designed to build Latino fighting champions and serve Hispanic fans, one of the world’s most avid groups of prize fighting enthusiasts. The Combate Americas franchise includes reality TV programming, live events and mobile programming. The company’s CEO, Campbell McLaren, is universally recognized as the co-founder/co-creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). New York Magazine described McLaren as “the marketing genius behind the UFC” and Yahoo! Sports proclaimed that he “knows more about the sport than just about anyone in it today.” With an unprecedented product and a blue-chip ownership and management team, Combate Americas is poised to break new ground and bring about a new era in world championship level MMA competition.

About NBC UNIVERSO:
NBC UNIVERSO (www.nbcuniverso.com) is a modern sports and entertainment cable channel for Latinos, bringing the world’s top sports franchises and edgy programming to more than 40 million households in the U.S. As one of the most widely available modern cable channels for U.S. Latinos, NBC UNIVERSO delivers a thrilling mix of exclusive sports action – including FIFA World Cup™, Liga MX, Premier League, NASCAR Mexico Series, NFL and The 2016 Rio Olympics – along with signature series, blockbuster movies, music, must-see live events and strategic acquisitions, on TV, online and mobile devices. NBC UNIVERSO is part of Hispanic Enterprises and Content, a division of NBCUniversal (www.nbcuniversal.com), one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (www.comcastcorporation.com). To find the NBC UNIVERSO channel number in your area, please visit www.nbcuniverso.com/encuentralo.

About Downtown Las Vegas Events Center

Located at the corner of Third St. and Carson Ave. across from the D Las Vegas, the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center can accommodate up to 11,000 guests and features state-of-the-art stage, sound and lighting. The open-air design is inviting to both tourists and locals and offers the perfect spot for concerts, conventions and other large-scale events. Embracing the uninhibited spirit of Downtown Las Vegas, the new venue plays host to a line-up of curated events including premier concerts, food festivals and more. The venue is also the first entertainment arena in Las Vegas to accept Bitcoin as currency. For more information, visit www.dlvec.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @DLVEC.




Video: Jamie Abdallah Puts Opponent To Sleep With NASTY Uppercut!




Video: Invicta FC 14: Official Weigh-In




KIMBO SLICE TO JOIN THE FIGHT WEEK FESTIVITIES FOR ‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 1’ ON SEPT. 19 AT THE SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE

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“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” ticketholders will now be able to grab a signature from one of the sport’s most recognizable stars in front of the SAP Center Box Office next Saturday at 3 p.m. PT local time, as they enter the arena. Kimbo Slice, who scored a knockout victory over MMA legend Ken Shamrock in his Bellator debut this past June, will be on site signing autographs and taking photos with fans before taking in the explosive action at the “Dynamite 1” event.

For the first time ever, “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” will feature both a Bellator MMA cage and a Glory kickboxing ring on one arena floor at the same time. In the evening’s main event, Tito Ortiz (18-11) will challenge the undefeated Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion, Liam McGeary (10-0) for the title.

The revolutionary event airs live and free on Spike at 9/8c. Tickets for the historic event start at just $30 and are on sale now at the SAP Center box office and are also available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com, as well as Bellator.com.

Additionally, the previously announced fight card features a Glory kickboxing title fight featuring Zack Mwekassa (13-2, 12 KO) and Saulo Cavalari (31-2, 19 KO) for the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship, as well as Bellator MMA competitors Paul “Semtex” Daley (37-13-2) and Fernando “The Menifee Maniac” Gonzalez (24-13) also competing in Glory action, when they trade-in the MMA gloves for kickboxing gloves. Finally, recently signed Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez (2-1) will compete in kickboxing action against Hadley Griffith.

On the mixed martial arts side, Bellator MMA will also conduct a four-man, one-night light heavyweight tournament to determine the No. 1 contender in the division that features Phil Davis (13-3) taking on Emanuel Newton (25-8-1) and Linton Vassell (15-4-1) facing Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (15-4, 1 NC). Newly signed lightweight standout Josh “The Punk” Thomson (20-8, 1 NC) is also in action, when he makes his Bellator MMA debut against Mike “The Greek Assassin” Bronzoulis (18-8-1).

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” – Saturday, September 19 – SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.

Main Card:
Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Tito Ortiz (18-11) vs. © Liam McGeary (10-0)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD
Glory Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Saulo Cavalari (31-2) vs. Zack Mwekassa (13-2)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Thomson (20-8) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (18-8-1)
Glory Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (37-13-2 MMA/20-3 Kickboxing) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (24-13/1-2 Kickboxing)
Glory Bantamweight Feature Fight: Kerri-Anne Taylor Melendez (2-1) vs. Hadley Griffith (Debut)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Phil Davis (13-3) vs. Emanuel Newton (25-8-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Linton Vassell (15-4-1) vs. Muhammed Lawal (15-4, 1 NC)

Preliminary Card:
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Victor Jones (Debut) vs. David Blanco (1-0) *
Bellator Flyweight Amateur Fight: Gloria Telles (Debut) vs. Alysia Cortez (Debut) *
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Nick Pica (4-0) vs. Mauricio Alonso (10-5)
Glory Lightweight Feature Fight: Jose Palacios (7-7) vs. TJ Arcengal (4-1) *
Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Brandon Hester (1-0) vs. DeMarco Villalona (1-0) *
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Israel Delgado (0-1) vs. JJ Okanovich (0-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: James Terry (15-8) vs. Carlos Rocha (9-3)
Bellator Flyweight Feature Fight: Matt Ramirez (1-1) vs. Josh Paiva (5-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Gabe Carrasco (5-0) vs. Joe Neal (5-0)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Adam Piccolotti (5-0) vs. Marlen Magee (3-3)
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Thomas Diagne (5-4) vs. Mike Malott (4-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Alternate Bout: Francis Carmont (23-10) vs. Roy Boughton (12-5)

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About GLORY:
Founded in 2012, GLORY is owned and operated by GLORY Sports International (GSI), a professional martial arts organization and television content provider that maintains offices in New York, Denver, London, Amsterdam, and Singapore. GLORY programming is seen in over 170 territories. GLORY kickboxing rules are comprised of a mix of several combat disciplines including Karate, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do and traditional Boxing. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @GLORY_WS, and visit us online at gloryworldseries.com.

About SAP Center in San Jose
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SAP Center at San Jose is the premier sports and entertainment venue in Northern California. Each year, SAP Center hosts approximately 175 events featuring professional and amateur athletes, Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners, international recording artists, and a variety of performers who appeal to children and families alike. SAP Center at San Jose is home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League as well as the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. For more information about SAP Center at San Jose and for a list of upcoming events, visit the SAP Center home page at www.sapcenter.com.




UFC® KICKS OFF TICKET SALES FOR UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM WITH PRESS CONFERENCE AT HOTEL HABITA IN MONTERREY, MEXICO

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Monterrey, Mexico– After two successful event sell-outs in Mexico City for UFC® 180 and UFC® 188, UFC® conquers new territory with UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM, scheduled for November 21 in Arena Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico.

Kelvin Gastelum, Ricardo Lamas, Diego Sanchez, Erik Perez, Leandro Silva, Efrain Escudero, Hector Urbina and Henry Cejudo were present at the press conference, which took place today at Hotel Habita in Monterrey, Mexico.

Headlining the November card is the five-round main event featuring UFC® welterweights Matt “The Immortal” Brown (22-13, fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio), and Kelvin Gastelum (12-1, fighting out of Yuma, Ariz.). UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM will mark Mexico’s second event of 2015 as well as the season finale of The Ultimate Fighter® Latin America 2, where two fighters from the famous reality show will be crowned champions.

In addition, Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas (14-4, fighting out of Chicago, Ill.) goes up against Diego “The Dream” Sanchez (27-7, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) in a featherweight showdown. Lamas, who challenged for the 145lb. belt in 2014 against Jose Aldo, will bring his black belt jiu-jitsu skills to the Octagon® against The Ultimate Fighter® season one winner and 21 fight UFC® veteran Sanchez.

Other bouts for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM include:
· Third-ranked, Jussier Formiga, (13-8, fighting out of Natal, Brazil) and no. 5 and Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (9-0, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.) will collide in a flyweight battle
· Leandro “Buscape” Silva (18-2-1, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) will meet The Ultimate Fighter® Latin America 2 coach, Efrain “Hecho en Mexico” Escudero (25-9, fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.) in a lightweight bout
· Monterrey native, Erik “Goyito” Perez (14-6, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M., by way of Monterrey, Mexico) and Damian “Webster” Stasiak (9-2, fighting out Lodz, Poland) will compete in a bantamweight match
· Valmir “Bidu”Lazaro (13-3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will face his Brazilian counterpart Michel “Tractor” Prazeres (18-2, fighting out of Belem, Para, Brazil) in a lightweight fight
· Hector “El Toro” Urbina (25-8, fighting out of Muncie, Ind. by the way of Monterrey, Mexico) will challenge Bartosz “The Butcher” Fabinski (12-2, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) in a welterweight bout

Tickets for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: BROWN vs GASTELUM go on sale Friday, September 10 and are priced at zone Diamante (orange) $5,000.00, zone Platino (green) $3,500.00, zone Barrera Platino (blue) $2,500, zone Barrera Oro (yellow) $1,850, zone Preferente (red) $1,580, zone Butaca (light green) $1,222, zone Luneta Especial (brown) $1,059, zone Luneta (purple) $896, zone Balcón Especial (grey) $651, zone Balcón (pink) $350, Bar ‘n Grill & Super Palco $2,500 (prices listed in Mexican pesos and include taxes). Tickets can be purchased starting September 11 through www.superboletos.com. To order by phone with a credit card, call +52 (81) 15154100. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. The ticket price does not include applicable service charges.

Get your VIP package today! The UFC VIP Experience packages together your tickets with behind-the-scenes access to the official weigh-ins, backstage tours, meet and greet and autograph signings with top UFC stars, Q&A sessions, and photo opportunities, access to an in-arena VIP party room, a chance to hold the championship belt inside the Octagon® and more.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.
Follow us on Twitter: @UFC and Facebook/UFC

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About UFC®

UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 158 countries and territories to over 1 billion TV households worldwide in 21 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service that is available throughout the world with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

About the Arena Monterrey

Zignia Live is part of Avalanz Group and is one of the main companies promoting shows in Mexico and Latin America, ranking in the “Top 20” as most active promoters in the world. Live Zignia is aprovider for venues in Mexico City, Puebla, Guadalajara, Torreon, Tampico, Monterrey and offers unique and memorable experiences through the presentation of live world-class performances.




M-1 Challenge 61 Super Fight Featherweight champion Ivan Buchinger vs. Ex-lightweight champion Mansour Barnaoui Oct. 10 in Sochi, Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (September 10, 2015) – M-1 Global has announced a Super Fight between M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger and M-1 Challenge lightweight titlist Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui will headline M-1 Challenge 62, October 10,at The Ice Cube Curling Centerin Sochi, Russia.

M-1 Challenge 62 will be streamed live from Sochi, Russia in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.

Buchinger strikes Tural Ragimov in their 2014 title fight

Buchinger (29-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 16 SUB), unbeaten in M-1 fights with a perfect 4-0-0 record, will be making the second defense of the M-1 Challenge title he captured October 17, 2014 at M-1 Challenge 52, when he stopped Tural Ragimov in the fourth round in their “Fight of the Night.”

Fighting out of Gabcikovo, Slovakia, Buchinger is riding an eight-right win streak, last losing nearly three years to Conor McGregor. “Buki” successfully defended his crown this past April at M-1 Challenge 56, punching out Aliyar Sarkerov in two rounds.

Barnaoui celebrates his title-winning victory over Maxim Divnich

Barnaoui (12-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), fighting out of Paris, won the M-1 Challenge lightweight championship in his last fight, knocking out Maxim Divnich in the opening round this past May at M-1 Challenge 57. Barnaoui, who has vacated his lightweight title, has won his last four fights.

Also fighting on the card against an opponent to be determined is undefeated Russian light heavyweight Adam “Beard” Yandiev (8-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), a rising MMA star who is a judo specialist. In his last fight at M-1 Challenge 58, Yandiev defeated previously undefeated (7-0-0) Valdas Pocevicius in the first round via a choke hold.

Yandiev’s hand is raised in victory at his last fight vs. Pocevicius

Fights and fighters are subject to challenge. Additional bouts will soon be announced.

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 62 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Upcoming Event: M-1 Challenge 61, September 19, 2015 in Ingushetia, Russia.

Information

www.M1Global.tv
www.mixfight.ru
www.wmmaa.org

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/pages/M-1-GlobalNews
ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 160 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2015 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fueled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.

ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TV: Enjoy MMA action now in high definition brought to you by M-1Global.tv, offering only the best fights from M-1 Global and other MMA organizations. M-1Global.tv is a great platform developed specifically to bring together the most exhaustive fight video database. It also provides an easy and intuitive interface, helping everyone to start using the platform in no time while avoiding any spoilers. Besides watching the past fights on demand at any time convenient to the customer, viewers are able to enjoy the action LIVE, all available to M-1Global.tv users through a low-priced month to month digital subscription. Your world of action. Anytime!




WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING SIGNS CAROS FODOR AND COREY DEVELA TO EXCLUSIVE PROMOTIONAL AGREEMENTS

LAS VEGAS (September 10, 2015) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that it has inked another pair of recognized stars – lightweight (155 pounds) Caros “The Future” Fodor and middleweight (185 pounds) Cory “The One” Devela – to exclusive, multi-year agreements. Each athlete’s promotional debut will be announced soon.

Fodor (10-4) of Kirkland, Wash. joins his brother, rising star and costumed crime fighter Phoenix Jones aka Ben Fodor, on the World Series Fighting roster.

“Caros and Cory are two seasoned and accomplished stars in their respective weight classes, so it is a pleasure to welcome them aboard,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo.

“With our roster of stars,” said Sefo, “and our schedule of live events and television programming all growing rapidly, this is a more exciting time than ever for World Series of Fighting, and we are delighted to be able to have more and more established talent like Caros and Cory be a part of what we are building.”

The 31-year-old Fodor, a protégé of famed trainer Matt Hume, has won three of his last four bouts that took place over the course of a two-year stint competing in Asia. Fodor put himself on the map in 2010 after signing with Strikeforce and reeling off five consecutive victories on national television while competing for the now-defunct, former number two promotion in the world.

Fodor boasts a 70 percent finish rate, having earned 5 of his 10 career wins by submission and 2 wins by (T)KO. Since he began his career as an amateur 10 years ago, he has not suffered a knockout.

Also 31 years old, Devela (15-6) of Bonney Lake, Wash. is coached by wrestling guru and MMA submission ace Dennis “Superman” Hallman. Like Fodor, he established his name at a young age by competing against top-level competition on a major stage.

Devela, who will look for his fourth consecutive victory after earning a unanimous decision over superstar Nick Ring on June 26, produced one of the memorable moments in Strikeforce history when he stopped Joe “Diesel” Riggs with a vicious body slam in the first round (1:22) of their matchup on February 23, 2008.

Live World Series of Fighting action returns to NBCSN on Friday, Sept. 18 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with the much-anticipated “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” world championship doubleheader event that will be headlined by a world lightweight championship rematch between reigning kingpin Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (14-0) and hard-hitting rival Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-10).

About World Series of Fighting (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF.com) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.




WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING ADDS PROMINENT SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA EXECUTIVES MARK FORD, MIKE STEVENS & JOHN WEISER, TO LEAD ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 9, 2015) –World championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today the addition of three prominent industry leaders in sports, entertainment and media, respectively, to lead its Board of Directors. Joining the Board, effective immediately, are Mark Ford (Executive Vice President, Global Advertising for Time Inc.), Mike Stevens (Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer, New York Football Giants, Inc.) and John Weiser (President, U.S. Distribution for Sony Pictures Television).

“We are thrilled to add the diverse sports, media, and brand building expertise that Mark, Mike, and John bring to our Board as we look to continue to grow as a premier destination for MMA fans and sponsors alike,” said CEO, Carlos Silva.

In his role EVP, Time Inc. Global Advertising Sales, Ford works across Time Inc.’s brands to drive overall advertising sales revenue for the company and to build on their leadership in the marketplace. Ford previously served as EVP and President of Time Inc’s Sports Group, where he was responsible for the global business development and operations of Sports Illustrated, SI For Kids, Golf and popular brand franchises including the SI Swimsuit issue.

Stevens, the New York Giants first-ever CMO, has a strong track record of growing businesses through innovative corporate partnerships, live events, multi-platform media and innovative activations. He has led the team’s transformation to become a leader in team business performance while also successfully building, marketing and selling the largest privately funded stadium in the world, MetLife Stadium. Stevens brings extensive sports industry experience to the World Series of Fighting with prior roles at eBay Sports and the National Basketball Association.

As President of U.S. Distribution for Sony Pictures Television, Weiser oversees all domestic sales operations including sales of features films produced by Sony Pictures, first-run and off-network syndicated programs and Sony Pictures library titles to U.S. broadcast networks, cable networks and television station groups along with video-on-demand, subscription video-on-demand and domestic pay television.

The World Series of Fighting cards air exclusively on NBC Sports Network and NBC. Its next fight card, WSOF 23 Gaethje vs. Palomino, is headlined by this exciting Lightweight rematch scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18 at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT from Comerica Theater in Phoenix, AZ.

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.




TWO EPIC TITLE FIGHTS HEADLINE UFC 194®

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Las Vegas – In the most anticipated matchup in UFC® history, two kings battle for one throne, as inaugural UFC featherweight champion and pound-for-pound great Jose Aldo returns to face newly-crowned interim champion Conor McGregor in the five-round main event of UFC 194®. Plus, undefeated middleweight champion Chris Weidman puts his spotless record on the line when he meets No. 1 contender Luke Rockhold in the co-main event. UFC 194®: ALDO vs. McGREGOR takes over the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Jose Aldo (25-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), UFC’s first-ever featherweight champion, has proven to be one of the most dominant titleholders in the history of the sport, as he’s compiled seven consecutive title defenses while remaining unbeaten for nearly a decade. Slated to meet earlier in the year at the record-breaking UFC 189 event, an injury forced Aldo to withdraw from the contest against bitter rival Conor McGregor (18-2, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland). The undeterred Irishman was then pitted against No. 1 contender Chad Mendes, who he defeated with a thrilling second-round knockout to claim the interim title.

Ready to finally settle the score, Aldo returns to the Octagon® to prove he is the undisputed featherweight champion, while “The Notorious” intends to cement his claim as the true 145-pound world champion.

In the second half of this championship doubleheader, undefeated middleweight champion Chris Weidman (13-0, fighting out of Baldwin, N.Y.) will clash with former STRIKEFORCE® middleweight champion Luke Rockhold (14-2, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) in the co-main event. Having defeated former champions Anderson Silva (twice), Lyoto Machida and, most recently, Vitor Belfort, Weidman looks to add another name to his perfect record. Rockhold earned his crack at the title after racking up four stoppage victories, including impressive second-round submissions over Machida and Michael Bisping. This high-stakes bout has analysts wondering if this could be the greatest middleweight matchup in UFC history.

Plus, vying for the next shot at the 185-pound championship, No. 2 contender and former STRIKEFORCE middleweight champion Jacare Souza (22-3, 1NC, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) goes toe-to-toe with third-ranked Yoel Romero (10-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla. by way of Pinar del Rio, Cuba), who is riding a six-fight unbeaten streak that includes five knockouts.

Additional bouts include:

· In a showdown between top-ranked welterweights, No. 6 Demian Maia (24-6, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) will look for a fourth straight win when he meets Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, No. 11 Gunnar Nelson (14-1-1, fighting out of Reykjavik, Iceland).

· In what promises to be an exciting featherweight scrap, fifth-ranked Max Holloway (14-3, fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii) takes on UFC veteran and eighth-ranked Jeremy Stephens (24-11, fighting out of San Diego, Calif.).

· MMA legend and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber (32-8, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) returns to the bantamweight division to face No. 12 Frankie Saenz (11-2, fighting out of Scottsdale, Ariz.).

· The Ultimate Fighter® Season 20 standout and fifth-ranked strawweight contender Tecia Torres (6-0, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) meets former Invicta FC atomweight champion and 11th-ranked contender Michelle Waterson (13-4, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.), in a 115-pound bout.

· Undefeated rising contenders Warlley Alves (10-0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Colby Covington (8-0, fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) square off in a welterweight bout.

· The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 winner Leonardo Santos (14-4, 1NC, fighting out of Campos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) takes on surging lightweight star Kevin Lee (11-1, fighting out of Las Vegas.), a winner of four straight.

· Joe Proctor (11-3, fighting out of Bridgewater, Mass.) meets Russian prospect Magomed Mustafaev (12-1, fighting out of Sochi, Russia).

· Tristar Gym staple John Makdessi (12-4, fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada) battles exciting lightweight Yancy Medeiros (11-3, 1NC, fighting out of Makaha, Hawaii).

· The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 veteran Court McGee (16-4, fighting out of Orem, Utah) takes on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 finalist Marcio Alexandre (13-2, fighting out of Florianopolis, Brazil) in a welterweight showdown.

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Visit the UFC® Press Portal for additional information, media credential applications, and content to support your UFC coverage.

Tickets for UFC®194: ALDO vs. McGREGOR go on sale Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $1,253, $853, $603, $403, $278 and $178. Tickets are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. 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 are also available at any MGM Grand box office. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, Sept. 10 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Get your VIP package today! The UFC VIP Experience packages together your tickets with behind-the-scenes access to the official weigh-ins, meet and greet and autograph signings with top UFC stars, Q&A sessions, and photo opportunities, access to an in-arena VIP hospitality room, a chance to hold the championship belt inside the Octagon® and more.

UFC 194 headlines an unprecedented three-day series of events in Las Vegas. Before Aldo and McGregor square off at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night, UFC will host two nights of live action at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. This includes a UFC FIGHT PASS® event (bouts to be announced soon) on Thursday, Dec. 10, followed up by The Ultimate Fighter®: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale on Friday, Dec. 11. These three incredible events make Las Vegas the can’t-miss destination for fight fans this December.

UFC®194: ALDO vs. McGREGOR will be available live on Pay-Per-View on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, Rogers and Canal Indigo for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High-Definition.

About UFC®

UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 158 countries and territories to over one billion TV households worldwide in 21 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service that is available throughout the world with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

About MGM Grand

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is “The Entertainment Authority,” creating the ultimate Las Vegas experience. The hotel features the astonishing KÀ by Cirque du Soleil; Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club; master illusionist David Copperfield and world-class entertainment at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. MGM Grand offers signature restaurants by celebrity chefs including Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak, Michael Mina’s PUB 1842, Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans Fish House, Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill and Michelin three star and Forbes Five-Star restaurant, Joël Robuchon. The resort recently remodeled all of the rooms and suites in its main tower and launched the industry’s first-ever STAY WELL Collection. MGM Grand is home to many of today’s hottest DJs including Tiësto, Calvin Harris and Steve Aoki who share residencies between Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub and WET REPUBLIC, The Strip’s hottest day life destination. The hotel also features a state-of-the-art, non-smoking Five Green Key conference center, the Grand Spa, Cristophe Salon and an inviting six-acre pool complex. Upscale accommodations include SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand, an exclusive boutique luxury hotel within the hotel and The Signature at MGM Grand, a luxury all-suite, non-gaming hotel located adjacent to the main resort. MGM Grand is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information and reservations, visit mgmgrand.com, call toll free at (877) 880-0880 or find us on Facebook and Twitter.




HISAKI KATO SET TO FACE MELVIN MANHOEF IN THE MAIN EVENT OF ‘BELLATOR 146’ AT WINSTAR WORLD CASINO IN THACKERVILLE, OKLAHOMA ON NOVEMBER 20

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 8, 2015) – After his explosive Bellator MMA debut, Hisaki Kato (5-1) will return to action on November 20 at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, OK., to main event “Bellator 146” against Melvin Manhoef (29-12-1, 2 NC).

The middleweight contest will serve as the main event of “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 6 p.m. CT.
Tickets for “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef” go on sale Friday, September 11th at 10 a.m. CT and will be available at the WinStar World Casino and Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster. Ticket prices range from: $75, $55, $45 and doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time, with the first contest taking place one hour later.

You can’t make much more of a sudden impact than Kato did against Joe Schilling at “Bellator 139: Kongo vs. Volkov,” knocking out the Glory kickboxing standout via Superman Punch early in the second frame. The victory put Kato on the map in a big way, earning him spots on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top10 countdown and “Knockout of the Year” lists everywhere as well as propelling him to main event status.

Also tied to Schilling is Manhoef, who is returning to the Bellator MMA cage after more than nine-months of inactivity. “No Mercy” has the undeniable ability to knock out any opponent standing in front of him, earning 27 of his 29 professional victories with his unparalleled striking power. The Dutch competitor also has an extensive kickboxing record and has competed for many of the world’s most prominent promotions, which include Strikeforce, K-1 and the infamous Rings in Holland.

About Bellator MMA:
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.




‘IRISH’ BRENNAN WARD TO DEFEND HIS HOMETURF AGAINST DENNIS ‘THE MENACE’ OLSON AT BELLATOR 144

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 8, 2015) – “Irish” Brennan Ward (11-3) will compete for the third time in 2015 when he meets Dennis “The Menace” Olson (14-9) in a welterweight contest at “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which emanates from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on October 23.

The bout will take place during the main card of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which will be televised live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.

The main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” features an exciting rematch for the bantamweight title fight between champion Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) and his former training partner Eduardo Dantas (17-4). In the co-feature, Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-0) will look to regain the vacant Bellator MMA Middleweight Title when he takes on Rafael Carvalho (11-1).

Tickets for “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which start at just $25, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 6:00 p.m. ET local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after.

Ward is fresh off an ESPN Top-10 first-round knockout of Roger Carroll at “Bellator 140: Lima vs. Koreshkov,” his second consecutive victory. “Irish” has competed in his home state of Connecticut on three-straight occasions, but the crowd may be torn as he faces Olson, who also calls the New England area his home.

Olson fought valiantly against Paul Daley this past July, but ultimately was defeated in his third appearance under the Bellator MMA banner. “The Menace” has finished 10 of his 14 wins as a professional and will also be competing for the third time in 2015.

Bellator 144: “Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Updated Card

Main Card: (Spike – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT)
Bellator Bantamweight Championship Fight: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)
Bellator Middleweight Championship Fight: Brandon Halsey (9-0) vs. Rafael Carvalho (11-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (11-3) vs. Dennis Olson (14-9)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (8-0) vs. TBA

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.




Video: Jimi Manuwa KO’s Opponent Via Knees Before UFC Debut




Video: UFC 191: The Exchange – Paige VanZant




THE ADDITION OF 10 PRELIMINARY BOUTS COMPLETES THE STACKED 20-FIGHT ‘BELLATOR MMA: DYNAMITE 1’ CARD, WITH SEVERAL UNDERCARD MATCHUPS TAKING PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 4, 2015) – In addition to the eight fights airing live on Spike, today’s announcement of 10 new preliminary scraps brings the total amount of action on September 19’s “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” event at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., to 20 bouts.

In addition to the previously announced contests, 10 additional tilts will make up the Spike.com-streamed portion of the event, showcasing a wealth of Northern California-based talent.

For the first time ever, “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” will feature both a Bellator MMA cage and a Glory kickboxing ring on one arena floor at the same time, and the promotion will take full advantage of the unique scenario, showcasing several kickboxing and mixed martial arts preliminary contests simultaneously, in what should make for an amazing combat sports experience.

In the evening’s main event, Tito Ortiz (18-11) will challenge the undefeated Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion, Liam McGeary (10-0) for the title. Additionally, the previously announced fight card features a Glory kickboxing title fight featuring Zack Mwekassa (13-2, 12 KO) and Saulo Cavalari (31-2, 19 KO) for the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship, as well as Bellator MMA competitors Paul “Semtex” Daley (37-13-2) and Fernando “The Menifee Maniac” Gonzalez (24-13) also competing in Glory action, when they trade-in the MMA gloves for kickboxing gloves. Finally, recently signed Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez (2-1) will compete in kickboxing action against Hadley Griffith.

On the mixed martial arts side, Bellator MMA will also conduct a four-man, one-night light heavyweight tournament to determine the No. 1 contender in the division that features Phil Davis (13-3) taking on Emanuel Newton (25-8-1) and Linton Vassell (15-4-1) facing Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (15-4, 1 NC). Newly signed lightweight standout Josh “The Punk” Thomson (20-8, 1 NC) is also in action, when he makes his Bellator MMA debut against Mike “The Greek Assassin” Bronzoulis (18-8-1).

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” airs live and free on Spike at 9/8c. Tickets for the historic event start at just $30 and are on sale now at the SAP Center box office and are also available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

See the completed “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” bout sheet and fight order below.

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” – Saturday, September 19 – SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.

Main Card:
Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Tito Ortiz (18-11) vs. © Liam McGeary (10-0)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD
Glory Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Saulo Cavalari (31-2) vs. Zack Mwekassa (13-2)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Thomson (20-8) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (18-8-1)
Glory Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (37-13-2 MMA/20-3 Kickboxing) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (24-13/1-2 Kickboxing)
Glory Bantamweight Feature Fight: Kerri-Anne Taylor Melendez (2-1) vs. Hadley Griffith (Debut)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Phil Davis (13-3) vs. Emanuel Newton (25-8-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Linton Vassell (15-4-1) vs. Muhammed Lawal (15-4, 1 NC)

Preliminary Card:
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Victor Jones (Debut) vs. David Blanco (1-0) *
Bellator Flyweight Amateur Fight: Gloria Telles (Debut) vs. Alysia Cortez (Debut) *
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Nick Pica (4-0) vs. Mauricio Alonso (10-5)
Glory Lightweight Feature Fight: Jose Palacios (7-7) vs. TJ Arcengal (4-1) *
Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Brandon Hester (1-0) vs. DeMarco Villalona (1-0) *
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Israel Delgado (0-1) vs. JJ Okanovich (0-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: James Terry (15-8) vs. Carlos Rocha (9-3)
Bellator Flyweight Feature Fight: Matt Ramirez (1-1) vs. Josh Paiva (5-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Gabe Carrasco (5-0) vs. Joe Neal (5-0)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Adam Piccolotti (5-0) vs. Marlen Magee (3-3)
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Thomas Diagne (5-4) vs. Mike Malott (4-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Alternate Bout: Francis Carmont (23-10) vs. Philipe Lins (9-1)

*Fights taking place simultaneously inside cage and ring

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About GLORY:
Founded in 2012, GLORY is owned and operated by GLORY Sports International (GSI), a professional martial arts organization and television content provider that maintains offices in New York, Denver, London, Amsterdam, and Singapore. GLORY programming is seen in over 170 territories. GLORY kickboxing rules are comprised of a mix of several combat disciplines including Karate, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do and traditional Boxing. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @GLORY_WS, and visit us online at gloryworldseries.com.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About SAP Center in San Jose
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SAP Center at San Jose is the premier sports and entertainment venue in Northern California. Each year, SAP Center hosts approximately 175 events featuring professional and amateur athletes, Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners, international recording artists, and a variety of performers who appeal to children and families alike. SAP Center at San Jose is home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League as well as the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. For more information about SAP Center at San Jose and for a list of upcoming events, visit the SAP Center home page at www.sapcenter.com.




Star-Studded UFC 191 To Feature Seven GFL Alumni

NEW YORK, NY (Sept. 3, 2015) – The highly-anticipated UFC 191 world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event that takes place on Saturday, Sept. 5, will feature seven athletes whose early career fights were covered by Go Fight Live (www.GFL.tv), and are available for viewing in their entirety, in video on demand (VOD) format on the world’s premier online destination for live combat sports.

Three of the stars – Jimi “Poster Boy” Manuwa, Jan Blachowicz and Paige VanZant – will see action on the live pay-per-view telecast of the UFC 191 main fight card, while two others – Paul “The Irish Dragon” Felder and “Cassius” Clay Collard – will do battle on the FOX Sports 1 televised portion of the event’s preliminary bout card and the remaining two – Joe “Diesel” Riggs and Ron “The Choir Boy” Stallings – will face off against each other on the UFC Fight Pass-live streamed portion of the preliminary bout card.

“This Saturday’s UFC 191 fight card, which is stacked with some of the best fighters in the world, is another testament to the incredible talent that has risen from the ranks of our promotional partners that have put on some of the best combat sports action seen anywhere,” said GFL CEO David Klarman.

“We are thrilled to see how the careers of these seven fighters have taken off, and encourage fans to check out some of the fights that helped mold them into who they are today.”

The GFL library contains a total of 16 complete bouts, including 8 (T)KO’s and 2 submissions, featuring 6 of the 7 alumni who will step in the UFC’s Octagon on Saturday.

GFL distributes over 350 live events annually across all genres of combat sports. Approximately 60 percent of its video content is MMA action featuring action from Ring of Combat (ROC), Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), BAMMA USA, Rage In The Cage (RITC) and a host of other promoters that have collectively sent hundreds of athletes to the UFC, World Series of Fighting and Bellator, the three largest MMA sports franchises in the world.

About GFL:
GFL (www.gfl.tv) is a fast-growing media and sports entertainment company that utilizes a proprietary technology to deliver the most exciting LIVE combat sports events worldwide and an incredible viewing experience to a global audience. With a diverse mix of combat sports properties, GFL is the premier online destination for live boxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Muay Thai, kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu and more. Since its inception in 2007, GFL has streamed more than 2,500 live events with over 10,000 hours of combat sports content. In addition to its web platform, GFL is available on Roku, IPhone, IPad, as well as other internet ready devices, and broadcasts a weekly, two-hour, syndicated fight TV show on CSN, TCN and SNY, as well as live pay-per-view events directly to iN DEMAND.




BARRY PINCUS JOINS WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICIER (CFO)

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 3, 2015) – World championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today the addition of Barry Pincus as its’ Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Pincus brings with him over 20 years of experience serving as a Senior Executive/CFO of major sports and entertainment brands including IMG Artists, the New York Yankees and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

“Barry is a terrific addition to the World Series of Fighting management team, bringing a wealth of knowledge and financial experience, as well as a dynamic approach to brand development to our growing sports property,” said CEO, Carlos Silva.

Pincus most recently served as CFO for IMG Artists (2012 – 14), the global leader in performing arts management, tours, festivals, events and consulting. Prior to IMG Artists, Pincus worked in a variety of senior-level management and consulting roles for over a decade including leading brand development for Dennis Publishing for seven years. His impressive career in financial management includes serving as CFO/VP of Finance for one of the crown jewels in sports; the New York Yankees (1991 – 97), as well as serving as CFO for media conglomerate Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (1997 – 99).

The World Series of Fighting cards air exclusively on NBCSN and NBC. Its next fight card, “WSOF 23 Gaethje vs. Palomino,” is headlined by this exciting lightweight rematch scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18 at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT from Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, AZ.

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.




CHAEL SONNEN JOINS WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING AS COLOR COMMENTATOR FOR LIVE NBCSN TELECASTS

LAS VEGAS (September 1, 2015) –Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar Chael Sonnen has signed on with World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) as a color commentator for multiple events, and will call his first action with veteran play-by-play announcer Todd Harris, at the highly-anticipated “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” world championship doubleheader mega-event, live on NBCSN from Phoenix, Ariz. on Friday, Sept. 18 at 10 p.m. ET.

“I am stoked to join the powerhouse team at World Series of Fighting, and call their fights that feature some of the best mixed martial artists on the planet,” said Sonnen “World Series of Fighting has done an outstanding job of building their organization into a top-tier franchise in a very short span of time, and I am just proud to be a part of such a fast-growing company.

“We are thrilled to have Chael Sonnen, one of the most colorful individuals in professional sports, join our production,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo. “We are confident Chael will enhance the fan viewing experience both for our growing national audience on NBCSN and across the globe by providing the insights he learned competing at the highest level of the sport.”

The 38-year-old Sonnen is a former three-time UFC world championship challenger, NCAA Division I All-American wrestler and two-time PAC-10 runner-up for the University of Oregon and 2000 Greco-Roman World University championships silver medalist.

As an analyst, Sonnen has covered the sport of MMA for ESPN and FOX Sports 1.

The live NBCSN telecast of “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Friday, Sept. 18 from Comerica Theatre. In the main event, undefeated reigning World Series of Fighting Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (14-0) will put his coveted title on the line for the second time against hard-hitting challenger Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-10), six months after the two engaged in an all-out slugfest that is widely regarded as a “Fight of the Year” candidate.

In the co-main event, David Branch (16-3) will attempt to become the promotion’s first two-division champion and first World Series of Fighting light heavyweight (205 pounds) champion in history when he squares off with determined, hard-hitting KO artist Teddy Holder (9-1) in the championship round of the four-man, multi-event tournament that kicked off at Comerica Theatre on March 28.

About World Series of Fighting (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF.com) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.




SUPER SEPTEMBER STREAM-A-THON POWERED BY RONDA

ufc_title-belt_206
Las Vegas –UFC FIGHT PASS® will be “Powered by Ronda” throughout September – kicking off with a comprehensive collection of every Ronda Rousey title fight, two sets of live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims, four exclusive mixed martial arts (MMA) events streamed live from three continents and brand new Original Content all premiering throughout September.

“September will prove to be the greatest month to date for UFC FIGHT PASS – especially since we are Powered By Ronda as we showcase all of her championship fights including her first round KO of Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Brazil,” said Eric Winter, Senior Vice President and General Manager of UFC FIGHT PASS. “In addition, we have two sets of live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims, four exclusive live MMA events from three continents, the debut of our new original series The 3rd Degree, and the strongest installments yet of our fan-favorite Original Series, Fightography and Pioneers of MMA.”

During Super September Stream-a-thon, UFC FIGHT PASS will live stream the prelim fights kicking off UFC® 191: JOHNSON vs. DODSON 2 and UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: BARNETT vs. NELSON.

In addition, UFC FIGHT PASS will live stream Invicta FC 14 on September 12 – featuring the bantamweight title showdown between champion Tonya Evinger and unbeaten challenger Pannie Kianzad – from Kansas City, Missouri. On September 19th, live on UFC FIGHT PASS, three titles will be defended at Titan FC 35. Then, on September 25, UFC FIGHT PASS cameras will travel to Moscow, Russia for the inaugural broadcast of the streaming service’s latest content partner, EFN MMA. Finally, UFC FIGHT PASS will present another action packed card from Shooto Brazil 57 on September 27.

Here is a sneak peek at September on UFC FIGHT PASS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwB2vooSW6A

Additional highlights of the Super September Stream-at-thon on UFC FIGHT PASS include:

Ronda Rousey: Every Title Fight (premieres September 1)

All eight of the world’s most dominant athlete’s title fights – from her Strikeforce® championship win back in 2012 to her recent domination of Bethe Correia – are presented in their entirety in a back-to-back format.

The 3rd Degree – with Kyra Gracie (two-part series, premieres September 8)

Every culture, in every corner of the globe, has a tradition of martial arts. Kyra Gracie – third degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and member of the legendary Gracie clan – travels the world seeking the roots of the world’s ancient fighting styles. Venturing beyond the bright lights of international competition, Kyra visits hole-in-the-wall gyms to encounter the men and women who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of their culture’s martial art.

In the first episode, Gracie travels across Brazil to better understand the richness of her native martial art. Then, in the second episode, Kyra travels completely out of her comfort zone – visiting the iconic Don Nacho gym in Mexico City to immerse herself in Mexican boxing. The first two episodes will premiere together on September 8, with UFC FIGHT PASS already committed to a full season of The 3rd Degree in 2016.

Pioneers of MMA: Bas Rutten (premieres September 15)

A brand new episode of the ground-breaking Original Series focuses on the career of Bas Rutten, the Dutch kickboxer whose terrifying striking helped him win championships in Pancrase and UFC, ultimately leading him to the UFC Hall of Fame. Featuring interviews with Rutten, Joe Rogan, Ronda Rousey and leading MMA historians, Pioneers of MMA is the definitive retrospective of true MMA icons.

Also, accompanying the Pioneers of MMA episode, UFC FIGHT PASS will present every single Rutten fight, in career order, from his September 1993 debut, his legendary bouts in Japan, his UFC championship run and his farewell fight in the World Fighting Alliance in 2006.

Fightography: BJ Penn (premieres September 22)

Legendary two-division UFC champion BJ Penn gives a dramatic first-person account of his historic trilogy with Matt Hughes. The pair of UFC Hall of Famers fought three times between 2004 and 2010, starting off as bitter rivals but eventually developing a mutual respect that turned into a friendship. In the latest installment of the popular FIGHT PASS Original Series, Penn gives his side of the epic rivalry with Hughes.

The short film will be presented with all of Penn’s UFC bouts, including his professional debut, to his two UFC championship reigns, to his final bout in July 2014.

UFC Fan Expo® 2015:The Fighter Panels

Recorded exclusively for FIGHT PASS at UFC Fan Expo® in 2015, hosts Mike Goldberg and Megan Olivi sat down with some of the biggest names in UFC, past and present, in front of a live audience. Unless you were lucky enough to attend UFC Fan Expo, this is your first chance to enjoy these fascinating panels.

“Reigning UFC Champions Panel” (premieres September 6)

Hosted by Mike Goldberg and featuring reigning UFC champions Fabricio Werdum, Chris Weidman, Rafael dos Anjos, Demetrious Johnson and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

“Women of the UFC Panel” (premieres September 11)

Hosted by Megan Olivi and featuring Paige VanZant, Rose Namajunas, Julianna Pena and Liz Carmouche.

“Legends of UFC Panel” (premieres September 13)
Hosted by Mike Goldberg and featuring UFC legends Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Pat Miletich, Oleg Taktarov, Don Frye, Paul Varelans, Guy Mezger and Gary Goodridge.

Plus, there is a new brand episode of The Road to UFC Japan every Monday and The Ultimate Fighter®: Latin America premieres every Wednesday. Both shows are exclusive to UFC FIGHT PASS.

“Our number one goal is to provide the greatest collection of live-streaming fights and video-on-demand to our existing subscribers, while enticing all MMA fans to give UFC FIGHT PASS a try via our 7-day free trial,” Winter said.

For the full UFC FIGHT PASS calendar, click here.

About UFC®

UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 158 countries and territories to over 1 billion TV households worldwide in 21 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service that is available throughout the world with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.




Harrington to make defense of SFL America Lightweight title

TACOMA, Wash. – Justin “Ruckus” Harrington will make his first defense of the Super Fight League America lightweight title on Saturday, Sept. 26 when he faces Woo “Why So Serious” Johnson in the main event of CageSport MMA presents SFL 44 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.

Harrington (7-2) is a two-time CageSport champion and opened his professional career with six consecutive victories with every triumph coming via stoppage. A resident of Enumclaw, Wash., Harrington captured the vacant SFL lightweight crown on July 12 with a victory over Harrison Bevens, winning by second-round TKO.

Johnson (5-1), of Spanaway, Wash., earned his title shot with an equally impressive victory on the SFL 41 undercard, defeating Chris Aparicio via submission (rear naked choke) at the 4:40 mark of the third round.

“This really is a bout worthy of main event status. It was hard to decide whose victory at SFL 41 was more exciting,” said promoter Brian Halquist. “They both tore the house down last time. Each has a feverish fan base locally. It should all add up to an excellent title fight.”

Tickets are available through the EQQ box office and all Ticket Master Outlets. Doors open at 6 p.m. with preliminary bouts starting at 7 p.m.

In the co-main event bout Alfonso “Big Smooth” Gonzales (7-1) will square off against Thomas “Tiny” Hoeper (1-1) for the vacant SFL America light heavyweight title.

Gonzales made his pro debut at CageSport 23 with a quick first-round TKO win over Steve Simpson and is a perfect 4-0 all-time at the Emerald Queen Casino, while the 6-foot-7 Hoeper is coming off a victory over Nate Cook at SFL 36.

Highlighting the undercard will be two-time CageSport champion and local favorite Drew “The Eternal Fire” Brokenshire (11-2). Brokenshire, a native of Tacoma, faces Daniel “Agent Orange” Swain (11-5-1) in a featherweight contest which should see the victor emerge as a top contender for the SFL America title.

Super Fight League 44 is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions and CageSport MMA. For more information, please visit www.halquistproductions.com and the CageSport MMA Facebook page.

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ABOUT SUPER FIGHT LEAGUE
The Super Fight League is Asia’s leading Mixed Martial Arts organization. Over the past decade, with the guidance of state athletic commissions throughout the United States, Mixed Martial Arts has developed from a spectacle into a highly respected sport with a global audience. Major fights between world-renowned Mixed Martial Arts superstars are among the most popular sporting events of the year, surpassing pay-per-view records of boxing and professional wrestling. Sports fans around the World have made their voices heard, they want a sense of real competition when they watch sports, and MMA delivers. The Super Fight League brings Mixed Martial Arts to India and it brings it the world through its partnership with YouTube.com. MMA fans can catch all Super Fight League live and for free on TV in India and YouTube everywhere else.

ABOUT BRIAN HALQUIST
Brian Halquist Productions is the Northwest premiere fight promotion company creator of the famed “Battle at the Boat” boxing series promoting more than 17 years and 100 fights at the Emerald Queen Casino. BHP has also built the largest professional MMA series on the USA’s west coast with “CageSport MMA” promoting over 30 fights. Brian Halquist Productions has promoted events for ESPN, ShowTime and HBO and featured on Showtime’s historic boxing event in St Lucia, West Indies. Brian Halquist Productions has been promoting fights and concerts for over 30 years in the Pacific Northwest.




ANTONIO RODRIGO ‘MINOTAURO’ NOGUEIRA JOINS UFC® BRAZIL AS ATHLETE RELATIONS AMBASSADOR

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Sao Paulo – Mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, known by fans worldwide as “Minotauro,” officially announced his retirement from UFC® competition today. While his fighting days may have come to a close, his work in the MMA community is only beginning as he will serve as an Athlete Relations Ambassador for UFC® Brazil.

As part of his new contract, Nogueira will provide services for a number of initiatives in the Brazil region. He will serve as a liaison for the organization between athletes, sponsors, media and government bodies, as well as act as a mentor in the development of young athletes. Additionally, Nogueira will assist in identifying rising talent throughout Brazil as UFC® continues to seek the best athletes for its roster.

“‘Big Nog’ is a legend in the sport of MMA,” UFC President Dana White said. “He is respected by fighters and fans worldwide. It has been an honor to watch him compete and I’m happy to see him retire. He will be a huge asset to the UFC, the athletes and the sport as an ambassador. I look forward to working with him in this new chapter of his life.”

Nogueira added: “It’s a great pleasure and an honor for me to further my ties with the UFC. I’ve always had a passion to follow the development of new athletes and that’s what I intend to continue doing. I want to help further the spread of MMA around the world and give my contribution to the emergence and development of young talent. I appreciate all the confidence that Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta have in me, and I believe we will reach big results together. I know that I can, and will, contribute much to the growth of our sport outside of the Octagon.”

Prior to his retirement, Nogueira boasted one of the most successful careers in MMA history. With his first professional fight in 1999, Nogueira rose to prominence in Japan with PRIDE Fighting Championship, eventually becoming a two time champion in the organization, including winning their first ever heavyweight belt in 2001. Upon PRIDE being purchased by an affiliate of Zuffa, LLC in 2007, Nogueira continued his dominance by defeating Tim Sylvia for the interim UFC® heavyweight title. Big Nog also had a number of other memorable fights, including his homecoming to Rio de Janeiro in 2011, when he defeated Brendan Schaub at UFC® 134 in front of raucous crowd that few will forget. Nogueira finishes his career with a sterling impressive 34-10-1 record and a reputation as one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu artists ever in the heavyweight division, as evidenced by his 22 submission victories.

Nogueira is a pillar to the community in Rio de Janeiro boasting an Institute co-owned by his twin brother, current UFC® fighter Antonio Rogério “Minotouro” Nogueira. The “Nogueira Brothers Institute” was created in 2008 and has six operating centers that train underprivileged children in Brazil, using MMA as a social inclusion tool. Since its inception, the project has contributed to social development by changing the lives of many young people from communities throughout Rio de Janeiro, building exemplary citizenship and overcoming barriers.

Rodrigo and Rogerio are also known for their entrepreneurial profiles. The twins own a chain of franchised Team Nogueira gyms, with 33 locations, including a gym in Dubai. In three years, Team Nogueira franchises have reached over 10,000 students.

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About UFC®
UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 158 countries and territories to over one billion TV households worldwide in 21 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service that is available throughout the world with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.




GLORY KICKBOXING BOUT PITTING KERI ANNE TAYLOR-MELENDEZ VS. HADLEY GRIFFITH ADDED TO MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR MMA: DYNAMITE 1’

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 1, 2015) – A 120-pound Glory kickboxing bout pitting Ker Anne Taylor-Melendez (2-1) against Hadley “Relentless” Griffith (pro debut) completes the Spike-televised card of “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” on September 19 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

For the first time ever, “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” will feature both a Bellator MMA cage and a Glory kickboxing ring on one arena floor at the same time. In the evening’s main event, Tito Ortiz (18-11) will challenge the undefeated Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion, Liam McGeary (10-0) for the title.

Additionally, the previously announced fight card features a Glory kickboxing title fight featuring Zack Mwekassa (13-2, 12 KO) and Saulo Cavalari (31-2, 19 KO) for the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship, as well as Bellator MMA competitors Paul “Semtex” Daley (37-13-2) and Fernando “The Menifee Maniac” Gonzalez (24-13) also competing in Glory action, when they trade-in the MMA gloves for kickboxing gloves.

On the mixed martial arts side, Bellator MMA will also conduct a four-man, one-night light heavyweight tournament to determine the No. 1 contender in the division that features Phil Davis (13-3) taking on Emanuel Newton (25-8-1) and Linton Vassell (15-4-1) facing Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (15-4, 1 NC). Newly signed lightweight standout Josh “The Punk” Thomson (20-8, 1 NC) is also in action, when he makes his Bellator MMA debut against Mike “The Greek Assassin” Bronzoulis (18-8-1).

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” airs live and free on Spike at 9/8c. Tickets for the historic event start at just $30 and are on sale now at the SAP Center box office and are also available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

At only 31 years of age, Taylor-Melendez has previously competed in both kickboxing and muay Thai, but fully intends on transitioning to the sport of mixed martial arts in the near future. The spouse of former WEC and Strikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez and co-owner of El Nino Training Center in San Francisco, Taylor-Melendez first took up combat sports close to 10 years ago, making a name for herself fighting in the Bay Area. After racking up a 4-1 amateur record, she took her talents to the professional circuit, where she currently holds a 2-1 kickboxing record.

A five-fight mixed martial arts veteran, Griffith will return to action for the first time in 2015, except this time it will be inside a Glory kickboxing ring. “Relentless” eagerly awaits her return to combat sports after being out of action for more than a year due to an injury that caused the amputation of the top of her middle finger. A native of Washington, and training in Colorado, Hadley will likely have plenty of fan support on September 19 in San Jose, Calif.

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” – Saturday, September 19 – SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.

Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Tito Ortiz (18-11) vs. © Liam McGeary (10-0)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD
Glory Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Saulo Cavalari (31-2) vs. Zack Mwekassa (13-2)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Thomson (20-8) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (18-8-1)
Glory Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (37-13-2 MMA/20-3 Kickboxing) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (24-13/1-2 Kickboxing)
Glory Bantamweight Feature Fight: Kerri Anne Taylor-Melendez (2-1) vs. Hadley Griffith (Debut)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Phil Davis (13-3) vs. Emanuel Newton (25-8-1)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Linton Vassell (15-4-1) vs. Muhammed Lawal (15-4, 1 NC)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Alternate Bout: Francis Carmont (23-10) vs. Philipe Lins (9-1)

*Fight card subject to change

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About GLORY:
Founded in 2012, GLORY is owned and operated by GLORY Sports International (GSI), a professional martial arts organization and television content provider that maintains offices in New York, Denver, London, Amsterdam, and Singapore. GLORY programming is seen in over 170 territories. GLORY kickboxing rules are comprised of a mix of several combat disciplines including Karate, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do and traditional Boxing. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @GLORY_WS, and visit us online at gloryworldseries.com.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About SAP Center in San Jose
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SAP Center at San Jose is the premier sports and entertainment venue in Northern California. Each year, SAP Center hosts approximately 175 events featuring professional and amateur athletes, Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners, international recording artists, and a variety of performers who appeal to children and families alike. SAP Center at San Jose is home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League as well as the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. For more information about SAP Center at San Jose and for a list of upcoming events, visit the SAP Center home page at www.sapcenter.com.




CAST REVEALED FOR THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®: TEAM McGREGOR vs. TEAM FABER

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Las Vegas – Competitors from 11 different countries have been cast for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter® led by UFC® interim featherweight champion and proud Irishman Conor McGregor, opposite former WEC® featherweight champion Urijah “The California Kid” Faber. The premiere episode, debuting on September 9 at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, will showcase 32 fighters competing for one of 16 spots featuring eight Europeans and eight Americans and the opportunity to be coached by two of the sport’s best athletes.

The Europeans will be led by Dublin’s own McGregor (18-2, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland), while the American squad will be under the tutelage of Faber (32-8, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.). The fighters from around the globe will descend upon the Las Vegas desert for a chance at a UFC contract and the ability to be coached by two of the sports’ best. Given the history between McGregor and Faber’s Team Alpha Male gym, paired with national pride on the line, the teams’ rivalry will be fierce and competition intense.

McGregor took the MMA world by storm when he burst onto the UFC scene in 2013, quickly amassing a 6-0 record inside the Octagon® en route to becoming the interim featherweight champion. Currently riding a 14-fight winning streak, “The Notorious” is set to unify his title with pound-for-pound king Jose Aldo at UFC 194 on December 12 in Las Vegas.

This will be Faber’s second stint as coach, having served as head coach for season 15 against rival Dominick Cruz in 2012. Widely considered a pioneer amongst fighters in the lighter weight classes, Faber is one of the most recognized and respected competitors in mixed martial arts history.

Below is a full list of competitors by team and in alphabetical order (name, professional record, age, hometown):

United States

Europe

Andreas Quintana, 8-1, 24, Albuquerque, N.M.

Artem Lobov, 11-10-1-1, 28, Dublin, Ireland

Austin Springer, 8-0, 27, Portland, Ore.

Abner Lloveras, 19-7-1, 32, Barcelona, Spain

Billy Quarantillo, 6-1, 26, Tampa, Fla.

David Teymur, 3-1, 25, Stockholm, Sweden

Brandon Ricetti, 7-1, 28, Chico, Calif.

Djamil Chan, 19-2, 24, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Brennan Sevin, 7-1, 29, Chauvin, La.

Frantz Frank Slioa, 4-0, 24, Stockholm, Sweden

Chris Gruetzemacher, 12-1, 29, Peoria, Ariz.

Marcin Wrzosek, 10-2, 27, Bydgoszcz, Poland

Jason Soares, 8-0, 25, Miami, Fla.

Martin Delaney, 10-1, 36, Bathgate, Scotland

Johnny Nunez, 5-1, 29, Las Vegas, Nev.

Martin Svensson, 14-5, 30, Malmo, Sweden

James Jenkins, 8-1, 29, Long Island, N.Y.

Mehdi Baghdad, 11-3, 29, Toulon, France

Jason Gonzalez, 9-2, 25, Colton, Calif.

Mohamed Grabinski, 10-1, 23, Dusseldorf, Germany

Julian Erosa, 14-2, 25, Yakima, Wash.

Paulo Boer, 10-1-1, 29, Holland

Mike Flach, 7-1, 27, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Sascha Sharma, 8-2, 27, Stuttgart, Germany

Ryan Hall, 4-1, 30, Falls Church, Va.

Saul Rogers, 10-1, 25, Bolton, England

Thanh Le, 4-1, 29, New Orleans, La.

Sean Carter, 10-1, 30, Essex, England

Tim Welch, 12-5, 25, Glendale, Ariz.

Thibault Gouti, 10-0, 28, Avignon, France

Tom Gallicchio, 19-8, 28, Perth Amboy, N.J.

Vladimir Sikic, 10-0, 25, Frankfurt, Germany

The show will feature 12 episodes airing Wednesdays on FOX Sports 1. Each episode’s winner will advance in the single-elimination tournament, leading to the season finale card on December 11 in Las Vegas. The finale will be headlined by former lightweight champion and current second-ranked featherweight Frankie Edgar taking on Faber teammate, No. 3 Chad Mendes.

For more show information, bios, videos and photos, visit ultimatefighter.com and follow us on Twitter @UltimateFighter and Facebook.

About UFC®
UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 158 countries and territories to over 1 billion TV households worldwide in 21 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service that is available throughout the world with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

About FOX Sports

FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com, FOX Sports GO, Whatifsports.com and Yardbarker.com. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network.




BRANDON HALSEY LOOKS TO REGAIN MIDDLEWEIGHT GOLD WHEN HE FACES RAFAEL CARVALHO AT BELLATOR 144

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 1, 2015) – Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-0) will compete for the second time in 2015 when he meets Rafael Carvalho (11-1) for the Bellator MMA middleweight title in the co-main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on October 23.

The contest will serve as the co-main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.

The main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” features a bantamweight title fight between Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) and Eduardo Dantas, (17-4). In addition, “Irish” Brennan Ward (11-3) will be in action, as will Michael “Venom” Page (8-0). The pair of welterweight’s opponents, as well as additional bouts will be announced shortly.

Tickets for “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which start at just $25, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 6:00 p.m. ET local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after.

Undefeated to open his professional mixed martial arts career, Halsey looks to take back the middleweight title that he never lost. “Bull” was stripped of the title after a training camp injury hindered his ability to make weight prior to “Bellator 137: Halsey vs. Grove,” a fight that the 28-year-old went on to win in emphatic fashion. It’s worth noting that Halsey recently re-signed with Bellator MMA to an exclusive, multi-fight contract.

Carvalho entered his Bellator debut with Joe “Stitch Em’ Up” Schilling at “Bellator 136: Brooks vs. Jansen” as the underdog, but after a tightly contested bout, earned a split decision victory. The 29-year-old Rio de Janeiro resident has not tasted defeat since the opening contest of his 12-fight career and has only seen two of his wins go as far as the judges’ scorecards.

Bellator 144: “Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Updated Card

Main Card: (Spike – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT)
Bellator Bantamweight Championship Fight: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)
Bellator Middleweight Championship Fight: Brandon Halsey (9-0) vs. Rafael Carvalho (11-1)
Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (8-0) vs. TBA
Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (11-3) vs. TBA

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.




Video: Fight Night Japan Free Fight: Gegard Mousasi vs Mark Munoz