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Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Pitbulls Vs. Dragons Featured Monday On "IFL Battleground"

Courtesy of the International Fight League:

Gideon Ray, Andre Gusmao Among Top International Fight League Athletes Highlighted In Winner-Take-All Battle For Playoff Spot; More On IFL “Fleet Week” Visit With Troops

NEW YORK, July 18, 2007- The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s number one professional mixed martial arts league, takes a look at the matchup between the unbeaten New York Pitbulls, coached by Renzo Gracie, and Toronto Dragons, coached by Carlos Newton, with a playoff berth on the line, in the next episode of “IFL Battleground” on Monday, July 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT/MT). “IFL Battleground” airs every Monday night, with a replay on Saturday, on MyNetworkTV.

Top athletes profiled in the episode include Andre Gusmao (Goiania, Brazil) of the Pitbulls, who is one of the world’s leading practitioners and teachers of the beautiful Brazilian tradition of Capoeira and Gideon Ray (Chicago) of the Dragons, who takes viewers on a tour of his home and inside his training regimen. Undefeated Dragons standout and one of the league’s big surprises in 2007, Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), who has made quick work of his first two opponents, is highlighted in his matchup with fellow Jiu Jitsu expert Erik Owings (Florence, Ky.).

The episode continues its behind-the-scenes look at IFL coaches, athletes, and “IFL Battleground” Co-host Tiffany Fallon on board several U.S. Navy ships as part of “USO Fleet Week,” during which Navy sailors and officers and U.S. Marines took part in training, meet-and-greet and autograph sessions. Fallon joined Gracie, Silverbacks coach Pat Miletich and IFL athletes Ben Rothwell (Milwaukee, Wis.), Jamal Patterson (Hoboken, N.J.), Mark Miller (Chicago), Brian Foster (Moreno Valley, Calif.) and Bryan Vetell (Jamaica, N.Y.).

Many of the league’s top stars and matchups are profiled in and out of the ring in the episode, which features action from the Las Vegas Hilton, including:

Dragons’ middleweight Brent Beauparlant (Ottawa, Ontario), a former Canadian National Team wrestler, battles one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu artists in unbeaten Fabio Leopoldo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

Ray looks to upend high-flying welterweight Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), known as “Pe de Chumbo” for his devastating kicking power.

Gusmao of the Pitbulls tangles with Polish native Wojtek Kaszowski (Mississauga, Ontario) in a light heavyweight bout.

Rafael Feijao (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), of the Dragons, a skilled Jiu-Jitsu athlete, has a tall order in heavyweight Marcio Cruz, brought in as an injury replacement for the Pitbulls.

Viewers can find their local MyNetworkTV affiliate at www.mynetworktv.com/local_stations.html.

About the IFL

International Fight League™ (IFL) is the world’s first professional mixed martial arts sports league. IFL has its headquarters in New York, NY and offices in Las Vegas, NV. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.