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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Xtreme Fight Championship Announces Jeff Monson To Challenge XFC Light Heavyweight Champ Darrill Schoonover To February 27 MMA Superfight ...

--Xtreme Fight Championship

Xtreme Fight Championship Announces Jeff Monson To Challenge XFC Light Heavyweight Champ Darrill Schoonover To February 27 MMA Superfight In Austin

The Xtreme Fight Championship (XFC), the Austin-based MMA organization, has announced that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and PRIDE Fighting Championship veteran Jeff "The Snowman" Monson will challenge Darrill Schoonover, the current XFC Light Heavyweight Champion, in an Mixed Martial Arts Superfight on Saturday, February 27 at Austin's Travis County Expo Center.

Austin, Texas, February 19, 2009 -- The Xtreme Fight Championship (XFC) today announces that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and PRIDE Fighting Championship veteran Jeff "The Snowman" Monson will challenge Darrill Schoonover, the current XFC Light Heavyweight Champion, in an MMA Superfight on Saturday, February 27, 8 p.m., in Austin at the Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane.

Both fighters come into the February 27 showdown with impressive MMA resumes.

Monson, a highly decorated grappler representing American Top Team (Coconut Creek, Florida), boasts a 27-8 professional MMA record and owns victories over MMA luminaries such as former UFC Heavyweight champion's Ricco Rodriguez and Mark Kerr, and PRIDE FC veteran Kazuyuki Fujita. He's also fought some the best Heavyweights in the world, including Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett, Pedro Rizzo, and Forrest Griffin, and has earned top honors in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club's submission wrestling championships.

Schoonover, representing Fighter's Forge (Copperas Cove, Texas), is undefeated in eight professional MMA fights.

The fight also presents a intriguing contrast in personalities. El Paso native Schoonover is a soft-spoken former Army Specialist who was based out of Fort Hood, and currently lives in neighboring Killeen, Texas. Monson is a self-proclaimed anarchist currently facing First Degree Malicious Mischief charges for allegedly spray-painting an anarchy symbol, a peace symbol, and the words "no war" and "no poverty" on the Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia. Charges were filed after pictures of Monson were published in an issue of ESPN: The Magazine, and the case is drawing interest from legions of MMA fans.

Although he's fighting a hometown favorite in Schoonover, Monson looks forward to the opportunity to fight in the heart of Texas.

"Texans are really educated MMA fans," he noted. "They appreciate good grappling as well as quality stand-up, and they're passionate about football and all sports; so I'm excited to head down to Texas and compete in front of fans who know what they're cheering about."

Schoonover is looking forward to what may be the biggest fight of his career to date. "The way everyone is talking, they think I'm going to go in there and get my butt kicked," Schoonover said, "A win here would prove all doubters wrong. It would mean great opportunities for me in MMA."

Tickets for the event are available online at the XFC website, xfcfights.com, and online pay-per-view access will also be available to fans via the website.

ABOUT THE XTREME FIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (XFC)

Xtreme Fight Championship is Texas's most popular MMA organization and is the brain child of "The Fight Boys," President Aaron Bouren and Promoter Frank Frye. The XFC is dedicated to providing the most professional and exciting MMA experience possible for the enjoyment of fans, fighters, sponsors, and media. The XFC boasts Texas's largest-ever outdoor MMA event, the public weigh-ins before 200,000 on Austin's famed Congress Avenue in June 2007, in conjunction with the annual Republic of Texas Biker Rally. The XFC is one of the only MMA organizations to provide affordable health care benefits and continuing education programs to its contracted athletes. The XFC is changing the face of MMA, and welcomes all inquiries from fans, fighters, coaches, trainers, media, and sponsors via its website, www.xfcfights.com.