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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Feel The Summer Heat With King Of The Cage: Connection At Lake Of The Torches Resort Casino

Lake of the Torches Resort Casino will again plat host to mixed martial arts global powerhouse King of the Cage on Saturday, July 18, 2009 in the Lac du Flambeau Amphitheater – also known as the Indian Bowl, in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin.

Lac du Flambeau, WI, June 30, 2009 -- Lake of the Torches Resort Casino will again plat host to mixed martial arts global powerhouse King of the Cage on Saturday, July 18, 2009 in the Lac du Flambeau Amphitheater –- also known as the Indian Bowl, in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. Tickets for the event are $200,
$75, $45 & $35.

This national Pay-Per-View event will feature some of the nation’s premier martial artists competing in a series of some of the best match-ups in Wisconsin history starting at 7 p.m. The event will feature renowned MMA referee Herb Dean officiating as well as special guest and former UFC light heavyweight champion of the world
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Jackson will be coaching for a second time on Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter reality show that will air on in September on Spike TV and will feature YouTube star and street fighter “Kimbo” Slice. Also in attendance will be celebrity model McKey Sullivan, winner of the 11th cycle of “Americas Next Top Model” as well as many more stars and celebrities of screen, stage, MMA, and media who have chosen to remain anonymous because of possible paparazzi interference. Guests must be at least 14 years of age and accompanied by an adult or 18 years of age to attend the show unaccompanied.

And immediately after the fights, guests and fighters alike can heat up the night with the Ultimate Playboy Playmate Party hosted by the 50th Anniversary Playmate and DJ Colleen Shannon, Miss June 2009 Candice Cassidy and Hustler model and film star Britney Brighton at Lake of the Torches’ convention center. Tickets to the after show party are $15 for men 18 years old and older and is free for all ladies over 18 years of age.

“This will no doubt be one of the biggest shows that Wisconsin Mixed Martial Arts has seen in years!” said Lakes of the Torches’ Director of Marketing Michael J. Broderick. “Lake of the Torches is ecstatic once again to pull no punches for their biggest MMA show of the year,” Terry Trebilcock, president of King of the Cage said: “We put a lot of time and effort into having the best match-ups and top fighters perform for the amazing fans in Wisconsin. The outdoor lakeside venue at Lake of the Torches is one of the most phenomenal settings for what will be an absolute war of a fight card.”

KOTC: Connection Fight Card

Professional Fights

Nick Gaston vs. Mike Westbrook, Heavyweight Gaston makes his pro debut coming off an amazing 12-0 amateur record out of Ohio. Famed former NFL star and fighter on MTV’s popular TV show “Bully Beatdown,” Michael Westbrook steps into the cage with heavy and phenomenal ground skills. If you thought Westbrook was tough on “Bully Beatdown,” you haven’t seen anything yet.

Lucas Bower vs. Caleb Nelson, Catch Weight 195 lbs. Bower moves up a weight with his 7-2 record attempt to put down No. 1 Wisconsin ranked light heavyweight Caleb Nelson. Wisconsin local Nelson recently stunned local fans with a recent victory over “Smilin” Sam Alvey

Sam Alvey vs. Dave Roberts, Light Heavyweight “Smilin” Sam Alvey is currently 5-1 after a great win on the heels of a disappointing loss to No. 1 ranked Caleb Nelson. Sam looks to prove once and for all that he is a national contender against California fighter Dave Roberts. Roberts, who apart from being a former contestant on the hit T.V. show “The Ultimate Fighter” is also the best friend of “Rampage” Jackson. “Smilin” Sam has stated that he has no concerns’ about having “Rampage” in his opponent’s corner, and still plans on destroying him in front of “Rampage” and millions of King of the Cage fans on national Pay – Per - View. This looks to be a 3 round war.

Ricky Stettner vs. Ernie Paulson Welterweignt Stettner steps in with ground effects and a respectable chin against one of the biggest fan favorites and Rhinelander’s own Ernie Paulson. Paulson, one of the few certified amputee mixed martial artists in the country and practitioner of Brazilian Jujitsu, loves to stand and bang with a chin to support his trade and a true warrior’s heart. And just because he is an amputee doesn’t make him a pushover. Paulson expects and gives no mercy in the cage and has placed Stettner on notice. According to Paulson, “This guy (Stettner) is going to know what it is like to get his a** kicked by a one legged man.”

Other Epic Pro Bouts:

Dave Hipke vs. Jimmy Zidek

Rob Mondloch vs. Jon Barker

Chris Skoglund vs. Torre Reams

Derek Griffin vs. Kyle Kennedy

Amateur Bouts:

Jason Hamilton vs. Adam Cope

Jason GIgnac vs. Shane Cadotte

TBD vs. Stephanie Schneider

Plus many more.

To purchase tickets for the fights and the after show party, please see the Player Services desk at the casino or call 1-800-25-TORCH (86724) ext. 6222. More information is also available at www.lakeofthetorches.com or www.kingofthecage.com
Situated on the shores of Pokegama Lake and nestled in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, the Lake of the Torches Resort Casino has a feel of a classic Northern retreat and reflects its Ojibwe culture and heritage. The casino has over 800 slot machines (including a non-smoking area), 12 blackjack tables and three poker tables, a high-stakes Bingo Hall seating up to 500 persons, the 24-hour Game Time Grill and the Eagle’s Nest Restaurant. The hotel has 101 well–appointed rooms, the Dancing Waters Lounge and the Woodland Oasis pool area. The 8,500 square-foot Convention Center with the Hall of Nations offers an outstanding venue for entertainment, receptions, trade shows, meetings, presentations and seminars.

More information on upcoming events at Lake of the Torches is available at www.lakeofthetorches.com.

Source: Lake of The Torches Resort Casino

WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING® ANNOUNCES HUGE SEPT. 2 CARD IN YOUNGSTOWN

For Immediate Release:
June 30, 2009

WEC® PRESENTS: CERRONE VS. HENDERSON

From The Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio - Wednesday, Sept. 2;
First Bout at 6 p.m. ET
Fight to Air Live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Tickets Go On Sale Thursday, July 9 at 10 a.m. ET

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – On Wednesday, Sept. 2, World Extreme Cagefighting® brings its hard-hitting, explosive brand of mixed martial arts to one of the finest fight towns in the country. The best light weight fighters in the world will be on display when WEC invades the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, OH. In the main event, fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone battles feared striker Ben Henderson in a bout that will crown the interim WEC lightweight champion.

“The fight fans in Youngstown have a history of being some of the best in the country,” WEC General Manager Reed Harris said. “We’re happy to bring a championship fight and loaded card to our first trip to Ohio. We know the fans in Youngstown, and in surrounding areas like Cleveland and Pittsburgh, are anxious to see the WEC live.”

Tickets for Cerrone vs. Henderson go on sale Thursday, July 9 at 10 a.m. ET and will be priced at $25, $45, $75, and $125. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to WEC newsletter subscribers on Wednesday, July 8 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the WEC newsletter through wec.tv. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the Covelli Centre Box Office. Purchases can also be made at Covelli Centre retail locations, including Giant Eagle and Macy’s stores in the Youngstown area. Tickets also are available online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com.

Cerrone vs. Henderson will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.

With lightweight champion Jamie Varner unable to defend the title due to injury, top contenders Donald Cerrone and Ben Henderson are set to collide in what could be of the most intense championship bouts of the year.

A former professional bull rider, Cerrone (10-1, 1 NC) hopes to lasso his first world title when he meets Henderson in Youngstown. A phenomenal Muay Thai striker, the 26-year-old Albuquerque, NM resident also boasts a potent ground game. With nine of his 10 wins coming by way of submission – including his last victory via rear naked choke over James Krause on June 7 - the Greg Jackson-trained Cerrone is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous fighters in the lightweight division. With a unique blend of striking and submissions, “Cowboy” firmly believes that his versatility will guide him toward the WEC championship.

“He’s got an awesome ground game and he’s a superior wrestler,” Cerrone said of Henderson. “The only thing he lacks is his standup. I believe that I have what it takes to become champion. I know Ben well and like him, but when the cage door closes, I want to win that belt.”

A technically-sound grappler, Henderson (9-1) has lived up to his nickname “Smooth” since debuting in the WEC in January. Fighting out of Glendale, AZ, the former two-time NAIA collegiate wrestling All-American has scored WEC wins over Shane Roller and Anthony Njokuani and is unbeaten since 2006. Thanks to his wrestling prowess and black belt in Taekwondo, Henderson has the ability to finish fights both on the feet and the ground. With a complete arsenal at his disposal, the 25-year-old believes he will out-duel “Cowboy” in their September showdown.

“There are guys who get in the cage and you can see in their eyes that they’re a little bit overwhelmed by the whole thing,” Henderson said. “I don’t think I’ll be overwhelmed. I love Cerrone’s game and his ‘Terminator’ style. He just keeps coming forward. As far as standing up with him and trading some blows, I’d love to. Let’s go out there and have fun.”

Remaining bouts for WEC: Cerrone vs. Henderson will be announced at a later date. For more information about current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv.

About World Extreme Cagefighting®

The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. WEC, founded in 2001, is the sister organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and today features the most prominent light weight fighters in the world. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network.WEC programming is also available on Fox Sports en Espanol. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on the TSN network in Canada and Cadena Tres in Mexico. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. World Extreme Cagefighting® and WEC® are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

About VERSUS

VERSUS celebrates real competition across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD). Now in more than 75 million homes, the network is the national cable home of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the IndyCar® Series as well as best-in-class events such as The Tour de France, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Professional Boxing. The network also offers collegiate sports featuring nationally-ranked teams from top conferences such as the Pac-10, Big 12, Mountain West and Ivy League. VERSUS features the best field sports programming on television and is a destination for sports fans, athletes and sportsmen to find exclusive, competitive events and original programs, such as Sports Soup and The Contender that audiences can't find elsewhere. VERSUS, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

About The Covelli Centre

Youngstown’s Covelli Centre has hosted a string of sold out events this year including the recent Top Rank championship title boxing match between reigning WBO/WBC Middleweight Champion Kelly Pavlik and Marco Antonio Rubio; as well as Celtic Woman, Globetrotters, and Disney Live. The Covelli Centre is a 5,000 seat arena owned by the City of Youngstown and is managed by privately-operated JAC Management Group LLC of Struthers, Ohio and SMG, a Philadelphia based company that provides facility services to more than 215 public assembly facilities.

Source: World Extreme Cagefighting

On The Crest Of The Wave Waiting To Drop: SOBRAL Prepares For Mousasi

Source - Bob Trieger:

SEAL BEACH, California (July 1, 2009) — Gegard Mousasi has declared his fight against Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, Renato “Babalu” Sobral an all-out war. “Sobral is so tough. When he comes, he comes to fight,” says Mousasi, as he trains for one of the biggest challenges of his career. Babalu Sobral ranks in the top ten of light heavyweights and has been training since Mousasi was a newborn. Besides the ten years difference in age and experience, Mousasi will have to contend with Sobral’s explosiveness and dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills in the ring.

Sobral, on the other hand, prepares for the power and athleticism that comes with Mousasi’s youth. Although Babalu is well aware of the dangers Mousasi presents, he fully intends on continuing his current winning streak. “On the ground,” Babalu contemplates his possible advantage over Mousasi, “…probably that’s where I can take advantage (of him). Whatever it takes.”

“It will be a good test for me,” asserts Mousasi. “With Sobral, I will try to fight (a) stand up game. If it goes to the ground, I will take top position and work him over with my ground and pound. Sobral will have to watch out for my elbows; I want to use them in this fight. If I end up on my back, I can defend myself and eventually we will stand back up again.”

Although he has other plans for the fight’s outcome, Babalu is ready for Mousasi to try to keep the fight on his feet and to adapt to whatever the fight may bring. Sobral (32-8), enters the bout as one of the division's most compelling fighters, with five consecutive wins and notable victories over Jeremy Horn, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, “Shogun” Rua, Trevor Prangley, and Maurice Smith.

Babalu is always ready to fight, saying he is “on the top of the wave” right now “waiting to drop.” And although he won’t reveal it in interviews, he has some tricks up his sleeve for his upcoming bout with Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi, who made the majority of last year’s “Fighter of the Year” lists. But the seasoned Sobral is ready, bringing to the bout the same passion and ferocity he brings to all his fights, along with a tried and true game plan. “Whenever I see a space, I’m gonna push the fight,” Sobral states. “When he makes a mistake, then I’m going to finish.”

The Affliction M-1 Global “Trilogy” card, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and presented by Affliction and M-1 Global, in association with Donald J. Trump, has been separated into two live broadcasts on the same night. A one-hour special will air on HDNet starting at 7:30 PM/ET (4:30 PM/PT), followed by the sensational Pay-Per-View event, “Trilogy,” commencing at 9 PM/ET (6 PM/PT).

Tickets for Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy,” ranging between $50.00 and $600.00, go on sale June 8th at Honda Center Box Office (1.714.704.2500), and also online at Ticketmaster.com and at all Ticket Master outlets (1.714.740.2000).

Affliction

Already a mainstay for the most elite athletes, heaviest bands, A-listers and the fashion conscious, Affliction Clothing's ability to set the bar high in fashion is evident in its collection's indulgence of style and design, focus on quality, and its trademark series of divinely executed, dark and powerful themes. (www.afflictionclothing.com)

M-1 Global and M-1 Challenge

M-1 Global has been one of the leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organizations in the world for over a decade. International MMA stars who have fought under the M-1 banner have included Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Keith Jardine, Alistair Overeem, Yushin Okami, Ben Rothwell, Mike Pyle, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zenstov, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Omar Suloev, and Chalid Arrab, to name a few. (www.m1mixfight.com)

The Trump Organization

The Trump Organization encompasses global real estate development and global licensing, sales and marketing, property management, golf course development, entertainment, entertainment and product licensing, brand development as well as restaurants and event planning. Donald J. Trump is the Chairman and President of the Trump Organization, a privately held company in New York. (www.Trump.com)

Golden Boy Promotions

Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. Golden Boy Promotions currently has over 60 fighters under contract, from future hall of famers Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez, to current world champions Ricky Hatton, David Haye, Joel Casamayor, Israel Vazquez and Gerry Peñalosa. Also included on the company’s roster are top contenders Jeff Lacy, Juan Diaz, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Jhonny Gonzalez, Librado Andrade, Rocky Juarez and Rey Bautista; 2004 Olympians Abner Mares, Vicente Escobedo and Rock Allen; and highly regarded prospects Danny Garcia, Jermell Charlo, Hylon Williams and Carlos and Juan Velasquez. (www.goldenboypromotions.com)

Compete Releases Ranking Of Top Ten Sports Fan Sites In May

Source: Compete, Inc.

Even with the NBA and NHL Playoffs Underway, MLB Attracts More Fans Online

BOSTON, June 30, 2009 -- Compete, a TNS Media company, today released the rankings of the top ten sports fan sites for May 2009, based on data from Compete's panel of two million US-based internet users. Even with the NBA and NHL playoffs underway in May, Major League Baseball fans outnumbered NBA fans online more than two to one and NHL fans more than four to one. According to Compete, number-one ranked MLB.com reached more than 12,227,000 sports enthusiasts in May 2009 (up 35% since May 2008), followed by NBA.com with 5,624,776 unique visitors (UVs), Nascar.com with 3,716,636 UVs and NHL.com with 2,899,406 UVs.

Sports Fan Sites
Ranking Web site May 2009 May 2008 Percent Change
1 mlb.com 12,227,038 9,067,116 35%
2 nba.com 5,624,776 4,262,470 32%
3 nascar.com 3,716,636 3,903,193 -5%
4 nhl.com 2,899,406 2,035,278 42%
5 nfl.com 2,385,687 1,809,218 32%
6 wwe.com 1,784,088 2,574,245 -31%
7 pgatour.com 1,222,622 672,966 82%
8 minorleaguebaseball.com 1,101,034 753,579 46%
9 ufc.com 945,495 766,853 23%
10 kentuckyderby.com 932,266 794,666 17%

Compete also compared the May 2009 numbers to May 2008, which show a year-over-year increase in sports fan interest among the fans of the four major team sports–MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL with significant increases for MLB (35 percent) and the NBA (32 percent). Meanwhile, wwe.com and nascar.com visits dropped while pgatour.com and minorleaguebaseball.com cracked the top ten in May 2009.

About Compete, Inc.

Compete, a unit of TNS media, helps the world's top brands improve their marketing based on the online behavior of millions of consumers. Leading marketers such as Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Hyundai Motor America, Upromise, Chrysler, and Verizon Wireless rely on Compete's services to create effective online experiences and highly profitable advertising campaigns. Compete's online behavior database–the largest in the industry–makes the web as ingrained in marketing as it is in people's lives.

Compete was founded in 2000 and is located in Boston, MA, with offices throughout the U.S. For more information about us, please visit: http://www.competeinc.com, or to join the conversation visit http://www.compete.com/.

About TNS Media

Established in more than 30 countries, TNS Media explores all the media–print, radio, TV, Internet, social media, cinema and outdoors worldwide, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and offers a full range of insights, analyses and audience measurement services.

TNS Media combines the deepest expertise in the industry to provide media and marketing intelligence including advertising expenditure monitoring, advertising creation monitoring, audience measurement, market influence analytics, online consumer behavior tracking, news monitoring, sports sponsorship evaluation and more. The TNS Media companies track more than 3 million brands and provide vital market intelligence to 16,000 customers in the world. http://www.tnsmediagroup.com

All logos, company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

The Kantar Group

The Kantar Group is one of the world's largest research, insight and consultancy networks. By uniting the diverse talents of more than 20 specialist companies–including the recently-acquired TNS–the group aims to become the pre-eminent provider of compelling and actionable insights for the global business community. Its 26,500 employees work across 80 countries and across the whole spectrum of research and consultancy disciplines, enabling the group to offer clients business insights at each and every point of the consumer cycle. The group's services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies. The Kantar Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WPP Group plc. For further information, please visit http://www.kantargroup.com

Monday, June 29, 2009

UFC® ENTERS THE HOME OF MARTIAL ARTS WITH NMTV DEAL THAT BRINGS THE WARRIORS OF THE OCTAGON™ TO CHINA

Source: Ultimate Fighting Championship

For Immediate Release:
June 29, 2009

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – As one of the birthplaces of martial arts, China is rightfully considered to be hallowed ground for the warriors of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®. Today, UFC® is pleased to announce a television deal with Inner Mongolia Television that will mark the first time in history UFC will be seen on TV in China, continuing the global expansion of the premier brand in mixed martial arts.

“Obviously China is a huge market and the Chinese understand the martial arts probably better than anyone else in the world. It’s a no brainer that UFC programming will be appreciated in China, and will become a big hit for the NMTV network,” said Dana White, UFC President.

Inner Mongolia Television, known as NMTV, is a network broadcast station available in 80 million households, with the potential to reach 240 million viewers throughout all the provinces of China. Starting this month, NMTV will air up to 16 hours of UFC programming per month, including the trademark shows The Ultimate Fighter®, UFC® Unleashed™ and UFC® All Access™, with an option to air recent UFC pay-per-view event telecasts.

With this deal, NMTV will air between one to four hours of UFC programming each week on Saturday and Sundays between 1:30 – 5:30pm local time, broadcast in languages specific to each province.

UFC television programming can be seen in over 100 countries and territories worldwide in 17 different languages. UFC is the largest pay-per-view content provider in the world and is the fastest growing sports organization in history.

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship®

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa™, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN Entertainment, BellTV, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, Viewers Choice, and WOWOW in Japan, and Premiere Combate and SporTV in Brazil, and via the Internet worldwide on Yahoo! Sports, and commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. In addition to its North American distribution, UFC programming is distributed in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa®, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.

SUN Announces Media Plans & Production Partner For Inaugural "MANO A MANO" MMA Event

Source: SUN Sports & Entertainment, Inc.

DALLAS, TX--(June 29, 2009) - SUN Sports & Entertainment, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: SUNR) today announced its media distribution in the Dallas, Texas Hispanic Community and its new Production Partner (Studios 121, Inc.) for its new Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion, "MANO A MANO" coming up on July 12th, 2009.

MANO A MANO, the first 100% Latino MMA promotion, will be featured in ADBEAT (45,000 circulation), EL HERALDO (30,000 circulation), EL LIDER (30,000 circulation) and REVISTA INFORMATE (10,000 circulation). In addition, a feature article will be written for DIARIO LA ESTRELLA (100,000 circulation). MANO A MANO will also be featured on ESPN Radio. Several TV networks are in the process of being cleared to run numerous 30-second spots, which can be viewed at www.studios121.com/manoamano30/.

"This event has received enormous support from the Latino community and we are very proud to feature fighters whose country of origin or heritage stems from Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Spain," said SUN President Clyde Gentry III.

SUN is pleased to announce its agreement with Studios 121 (www.studios121.com) to produce MANO A MANO in High Definition (HD). Luis Estrada, Chief Operating Officer of Studios 121, stated, "We will use the inaugural July 12 event to produce segments for the show's pilot episode. The broadcast debut of the program will be announced in the near future."

Studios 121's founders include veteran production and media professionals Michael Fletcher (Chairman & CEO), Luis Estrada (COO) and Francisco Cuevas (Creative Director). The team possesses over 20 years of international television production experience for Latino and mainstream markets. The company's management team has produced content for TNT, Cartoon Network, DirecTV, NARAS (Grammy Awards), Univision, Telemundo, 7-Eleven and many others.

SUN has also launched aggressive, grassroots marketing campaigns in the local region and will be taking part in numerous co-sponsored events and direct mail efforts. SUN is proud to be a member of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Mesquite Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Balch Springs Chamber of Commerce, as well as providing sponsorship support for the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's initiative of the Young Professionals Group.

Requests for Media Credentials for MANO A MANO must be submitted no later than July 9th. A formal press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, July 7th. Interested media should contact SUN for more information at admin@sunorganization.com. Event Tickets can be purchased at www.tickets.com.

About SUN:

SUN Sports & Entertainment, Inc. (www.sunorganization.com) is a Professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Promotion Company that produces MMA under the brands "ART OF WAR" and "MANO A MANO." SUN is a Certified and Licensed Combative Sports Promoter (www.artofwarlive.com).

Safe Harbor Statement - This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 27E of the Securities Act of 1934. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, ability to obtain financing and regulatory and shareholder approvals for anticipated actions. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to or implied by such statements. In addition, actual or future results may differ materially from those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, including continued maintenance of favorable license arrangements, success of market research identifying new product opportunities, successful introduction of new products, continued product innovation, sales and earnings growth, ability to attract and retain key personnel, and general economic conditions affecting consumer spending. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Sun Sports & Entertainment Inc. does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.

!BANG! TV Report - Jumbo Elvis Sharp Caught On Tape Rummaging Through Shane Chung's Private Video Collection

Source: Dory Funk Jr.:

In the latest !BANG! TV Mini Movie direct from the !BANG! TV Sound Stage, http://www.dory-funkjr.com Jumbo Elvis Sharp is "Caught on Tape," rummaging through Shane Chung's private video collection. At the contract signing for the Main Event, an "I Quit" match between Dory Funk Jr. and Blain Rage, Sar-Ah acts as Blain Rage's personal representative. Damien Steele talks about his upcoming "Dog Collar" match with Hack Meyers and Shane Chung blows his stack on Jumbo Elvis Sharp.

Support Your Troops 42, Red White and !BANG! comes to the Funking Conservatory Sunday July 12th, Showtime is 7:00pm.

U.S. Championship
Johnny Magnum vs Chaos

Special Conditions - Return Match
Dory Funk Jr. vs Blain Rage

Women's Tag Team Championship Match
"The Claw" Claudia Reiff and Sa-Rah vs Rachael Moore and Charlotte Mahoy

Funking Conservatory World Championship
Shane Chung (Champion) vs Jumbo Elvis Sharp

Premium !BANG! TV Championship
Damien Steele vs Hack Meyers

and Much More

For ticket information and training schedules at the Funking Conservatory visit http://www.dory-funk.com.

If you would like to become a professional wrestler and appear on !BANG! TV, call 352-895-4658

Muscle Flex Inc. To Fully Enforce Its 'In the Raw®' Brand & Evaluates Trademark Infringement Damages By World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)

Source: Muscle Flex Inc.

LOS ANGELES, CA--(June 29, 2009) - Muscle Flex Inc. (PINKSHEETS: MFLI) announced today that it plans to fully enforce and capitalize on its legal rights and Canadian exclusivity for the stated wares and services connected to the "In the Raw®" trademark. Muscle Flex Inc. is in the process of exploring any and all remedies with regards to damages and past trademark infringement by the WWE in connection to their unauthorized use of "RAW" in Canada.

Earlier this year, Muscle Flex Inc. successfully defended its "In the Raw®" trademark against the World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) "Raw" trademark application 1,153,018 in Federal court on appeal by the WWE. Prior, on June 18, 2008, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) Opposition Board issued its final decision with respect to the WWE Canadian trademark application for "RAW." The ruling confirmed that certain wares listed in the RAW trademark application 1,153,018 were confusingly similar and thus lacked distinctiveness from the "In the Raw®" registered trademark which Muscle Flex is completing the acquisition of. The transaction is expected to close in July 2009.

As part of its trademark victory, Muscle Flex Inc. also announced it is moving forward with developing a diversified portfolio of "In the Raw®" branded merchandise. 'In the Raw' products planned include multiple lines of apparel, such as caps, T-shirts and workout wear, extreme sports, reality-based videos and related music. Future products will be marketed through direct response media as well as traditional retail distribution.

According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the U.S. sporting goods industry is nearly a $70 billion business at wholesale, and fitness gear continued its trend as the #1 equipment category in 2008. "The defense of the 'In the Raw' trademark has lasted many years and our victory comes as no surprise," commented Danny Alex, CEO of Muscle Flex Inc. "Now that the appeal process has concluded, Muscle Flex can begin to realize the many lucrative merchandising and future licensing opportunities of our 'In the Raw' brand. We also intend to vigorously enforce all of our rights to the Canadian 'In the Raw' trademark as well as seek damages and infringement on the unauthorized use of our brand in Canada."

Details of the wares and services for "In the Raw®" can be viewed at www.MuscleFlexInc.com.

About Muscle Flex Inc. (www.MuscleFlexInc.com)

Muscle Flex Inc. brings new products to market using direct response TV infomercials specializing in the health, fitness, wellness and hygiene sectors. As well, Muscle Flex Inc. develops and creates general television content for network and cable television distribution. Muscle Flex's corporate strategy is to develop new and innovative products for sale and distribution via its proprietary direct response marketing system and the creation of television shows and content.

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Muscle Flex to be materially different from the statements made herein.

Muscle Flex® is a registered trademark of Muscle Flex Inc. All Right Reserved.

"In the Raw®" is a registered trademark of Danny Alex in Canada, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

"Ultimate Chaos" Results

Bobby Lashley cages Bob “The Beast” Sapp in one
Gilbert Yvel KO’s Pedro Rizzo in first

BILOXI, Miss. (June 27, 2009) – Popular Bobby Lashley took super heavyweight Bob “The Beast Sapp to the mat right off the opening bell and used his improved ground-and-pound game to win by first-round submission in the main event on the “Ultimate Chaos” pay-per-view event, presented by Prize Fight Promotions and Fight Force International, last night at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.

“Going up against Bob,” Lashley said after the fight, “you always expect the big bulls. I had to take him down, cover and pound. The first thing is to win: ground-and-pound to wear the big man down. He has a big punch. I used my ground-and-pound and got out of there.”

“I got a good shot in the eye and was unable to see,” Sapp explained the ending. “He got me in the eye. No excuses, He got me down today and controlled it. Give it up to Bobby Lashley.”

In a devastating display of power striking, Dutch heavyweight Gilbert “The Hurricane” Yvel (36-13-3) registered his 31st knockout with five lethal rights on a fallen Pedro “The Rock” Rizzo (16-9-0) at 2:10 of the first round in the co-feature. “I want to move up to (fight) the champions because I want a belt,” Yvel explained his next move. “I’m learning the ground game. What I did tonight was be patient, relax, and kick-off.”

Veteran Javier “Showtime” Vazquez (13-2-0) took pro debuting Mark Kergosian (0-1-0), who was a late replacement for Din “Dinyero” Thomas, to school with a first-round submission by Guillotine choke only 59-seconds into the opening frame. “I want to thank Mark or I wouldn’t have had a chance to fight tonight,” featherweight Vazquez remarked. “I was looking forward to fighting Din. It’s unfortunate. I’m back! This is my weight class. Very few guys can touch me at 145. That was just a tip of the iceberg.”

Hot 21-year-old lightweight prospect Chris “The Polish” Horodecki (13-1-0) won by submission for the first time, using a rear naked choke to force William “The Bull” Sryyapai (12-5-0) into a tap-out in round one.

Waachim “Native Warrior” Spirit Wolf (6-4-0) unleashed a barrage of punches to stop a dazed Brett Cooper (9-5-0) at 1:04 of the opening round of their welterweight fight. “I head Brett Cooper signed to fight in 30 days,” Spirit Wolf noted. “It was all over the news. I said, if he didn’t take me serious, he’d be in trouble and that’s what happened. He never should have looked past me. I’ve been fighting tough guys since I started. I’ve always told my management to get me the best fighters. I’ll fight anybody. I’ve gone through wars and it’s made me a more powerful, spiritual fighter.”

Affliction vice president Tom Atencio (2-0-0), 42, turned back the clock and ruined local favorite Randy Hedderick’s (0-0-1) pro debut in a spirited lightweight match. Atencio won the second-round TKO when Hedderick, 17 years Atencio’s junior, was unable to continue (broken nose) in the third. “Randy’s a tough kid and I thank him for the fight,” Atencio said. “Screw Dana White for what he said about you. Anybody who steps in the ring deserves a lot of respect. Win, lose or draw, at least you had the balls. He rocked me a couple of times and decked me.”

Mississippi lightweight Brandon Harder (2-0-0) used an arm triangle to submit John Harris (0-2-0) in round two.

James Orso (9-3-0) defeated Danny “The Assassin” Abbadi by decision for the second time in their welterweight rematch.

Northern Ireland welterweight Colin “The Gift” McKee (6-3-0) won by way of a series of strikes in the first round against tapping-out Lance Thompson (5-3-0).

FULL RESULTS:

SUPER HEAVYWEIGHTS
Bobby Lashley (4-0-0), Parker, CO WSUB1 (3:17 – Strikes) Bob Sapp (10-5-1), Seattle, WA

HEAVYWEIGHTS
Gilbert Yvel (36-13-3), Las Vegas, NV WKO1 (2:10 - Punches) Pedro Rizzo (16-9-0), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rocky Overstreet (1-0-0), Auburn, AL WSUB1 (2:08 – Arm Bar) Greg Maher (0-1-0), Gulfport, MS

WELTERWEIGHTS
Waachim Spirit Wolf (6-4-0), Las Vegas, NV WTKO1 (Punches) Brett Cooper (9-5-0), Los Angeles, CA

Colin McKee (4-2-0), Belfast, Northern Ireland WSUB1 (4:16 -- Strikes) Lance Thompson (5-3-0), Slidell, LA

James Orso (9-3-0), McIntosh, AL DEC3 (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Danny Abbadi (4-5-0), Orlando, FL

FEATHERWEIGHTS
Javier Vazquez (13-2-0), Pomona, CA WSUB1 (0:59 -- Guillotine) Mark Kergosian (0-1-0), Gulfport, MS

LIGHTWEIGHTS
Chris Horodecki (13-1-0), London, Canada WSUB1 (4:02 – Rear Naked Choke) William Sriyapai (12-5-0), Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Tom Atencio (2-0-0), Laguna Beach, CA WTKO2 (5:00) Randy Hedderick (0-1-0), Biloxi, MS

Brandon Harder (2-0-0), Horn Lake, MS WSUB2 (4:31 – Arm Triangle) John Harris (0-2-0), Biloxi, MA

Drew Wallace (1-0-0), McComb, AL WTKO2 (4:02 – Punches) Eric Graham (3-1-0) Petal, MS

Source: Bob Trieger

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Second-Generation Problems Continue

Carrying on in the rich tradition of the Flairs, Hogans, Von Erichs, and other pro-wrestling families, Brian Lawler (Brian Christopher, Grandmaster Sexay) has again made not-so-positive headlines, this time, for this morning's public-intoxication arrest.

At roughly 4 AM ET, police in Jackson, Tennessee, arrested Lawler, unsteady on his feet and slurring his speech, who had stopped at a local Circle K, then fell against and damaged a soda cooler, prompting the original call to authorities.

Once taken into custody, for the second time since February (shortly after completing a stint in rehab), that time, for disorderly conduct, Lawler is said to have threatened the arresting officers.

Lawler's arraignment is set for today, shortly after this is posted. Speaking of posted, I'll keep you abreast of further developments, because they'll probably be some.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Review Of Three WSU DVD's

Courtesy of Alan J. Wojcik - http://alanwojcik.com:

The northeast promotion Women Superstars Uncensored sent out news on three new DVD's which are being sold in a package deal. After taking several days to go through them I am happy to report one them; one great, one good and one...well not so good. First let's talk about the great, the WSU Best of 2008 hosted by Sean Hanson with the following bouts:

1. Formation Of The Beatdown Betties From 3/8
2. Awesome Kong’s WSU Debut Vs Rick Cataldo & Roxxie Cotton 3/8
3. Mercedes Martinez Vs Mickie Knuckles 3/8
4. Awesome Kong Vs Amy Lee 3/8
5. WSU Title Match Nikki Roxx Vs Sunny Vs Alexa Thatcher 3/21/08
6. Dawn Marie’s WSU Wrestling Debut Vs Becky Bayless 3/22
7. Becky Bayless Vs Mercedes Martinez 3/22
8. Angel Orsini Vs Mercedes Martinez 3/22 J-Cup Finals
9. WSU Title Match Nikki Roxx Vs Alexa Thatcher Vs Cindy Rogers 4/20
10. WSU Title Match Nikki Roxx Vs Angel Orsini 5/31
11. Angelina Love Vs Portia Perez 6/21
12. WSU Title Match Angel Orsini Vs Mercedes Martinez 6/21
13. Lumberjack WSU Title Mach Angel Orsini Vs Portia Perez 8/23
14. WSU Tag Team Title Tournament Finals Amy Lee & Missy Sampson Vs Beatdown Betties 10/11
15. WSU Title match Angel Orsini Vs Bobcat 10/11
16. Traci Brooks Vs Annie Social 11/29
17. Mercedes Martinez Vs Portia Perez 11/29
BONUS MATCHES
18. Kylie Pierce Vs Roxxie Cotton 3/7/09 NHPW
19.TLC Match Mercedes Martinez Vs Nikki Roxx Vs Melissa Stripes 12/15/06 NHPW

This DVD is great for the fact if you have never seen a single WSU match this is the perfect introduction. You see the debut of Awesome Kong and her brutal feud with Amy Lee, several excellent Orsini/Martinez matches which are better then the majority of the matches you can see on cable TV. By the way Hanson does an excellent job giving the viewer the backstory. Out of the three in this review this is a 100% must buy item.

Next let's talk about good the 2009 Women's J-Cup held on April 10th in Bergenfield, NJ:

Round One Matches

Rain Vs Brooke Carter
Angel Orsini Vs Annie Social
Trixxie Lynn Vs Jennifer Cruz
Miss April Vs Roxxie Cotton

Plus the semi finals and the finals plus a non-tournament match:
WSU Womens Champion Mercedes Martinez Vs Jana

This DVD is good for the fact you will see matches you would normally not see at a WSU event like former champion Orsini and Ms. Social which was my favorite opening round match. Hanson is back in the commentary seat with the "First Lady of Wrestling" Missy Hyatt. The duo as usual are entertaining. My only problem and its the same with the next DVD reviewed is if the matches go the time limit and go past a extra time period, the fans applause decide the winner. Sounds more like a Bert Prentice Nashville based event not a tournament.

Now let's get to the bad, the 2009 King and Queen of the Ring Tournament held April 11th in Kearny, NJ. Hanson and Hyatt are back with the following opening round matches:

Vicious Vinny & Brooke Carter Vs Nicky Oceans & Autumn Breeze
Danny Demanto & Jana Vs Travis Blake & Jennifer Cruz
Jay Lethal & Miss April Vs Helter Skelter & Trixie Lynn
Bison Bravado & Annie Social Vs JD Smoothie & Roxxie Cotton Vs Sean Hanson & Rick Cataldo

In addition to the second round and finals, you also get Missy's Manor with Angel Orsini & Rain and WSU champion Mercedes Martinez vs. Angel Orsini vs. Rain. The pairings involve the WSU wrestlers with male wrestlers from NWS also a northeast based promotion. Instead of the women facing the women and men with men, its intergender which doesn't work well in some of the matches. No offense against the NWS wrestlers but some of them just clashed against each other. It was good to see Lethal drop the "Black Machismo" persona for the evening but I don't think his trainee/girlfriend Miss April is good in the ring. The WWE must think the opposite since they signed her not long after these tapings.

Log onto www.wsuwrestling.com and www.doivideo.com for these items and the upcoming June releases which feature the 60-minute Ironwoman match between Angel Orsini and WSU champion Mercedes Martinez, plus the Uncensored Rumble 2.

WEIGHTS FROM BILOXI

Courtesy of Full Court Press' Bob Trieger:

* Bobby Lashley - 255.4 lbs.
* Bob Sapp - 322.2 lbs.

* Gilbert Yvel - 237 lbs.
* Pedro Rizzo - 243.6 lbs.

* Din Thomas - 146.6 lbs.
* Javier Vasquez - 144.8 lbs.

* Chris Hordecki - 155 lbs.
* William Sriyapai - 154.8 lbs.

* Brett Cooper - 169.2 lbs.
* Waachiim Spirit Wolf - 168.4 lbs.

* Tom Atencio - 160.4 lbs.
* Randy Hedderick - 159 lbs.

* John Harris - 154.2 lbs.
* Brandon Harder - 154.2 lbs.

* James Orso - 173.2 lbs.
* Danny Abbadi - 174.6 lbs.

* Eric Bradley - 170.4 lbs.
* Kelly Leo - 168.4 lbs.

* Colin McKee - 174.2 lbs.
* Lance Thompson - 172 lbs.

* Eric Graham - 159 lbs.
* Drew Wallace - 159 lbs.

* Greg Maher - 265.2 lbs.
* Rocky Overstreet - 253.4 lbs.

“ULTIMATE CHAOS” FACT SHEET

WHAT: “Ultimate Chaos” PPV professional MMA show

WHEN: Saturday, June 27, 2009

WHERE: Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum

PPV CARD:

Main Event – 3 X 5 – Super Heavyweights
Bobby Lashley (3-0-0), Parker, CO vs. Bob Sapp (10-4-1), Seattle, WA
Co-Main Event – 3 X 5 – Heavyweights

Gilbert Yvel (35-13-3), Las Vegas, NV vs. Pedro Rizzo (16-8-0), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3 X 5 -- Featherweights

Din Thomas (24-8-0), Port St. Lucie, FL vs. Javier Vazquez (12-2-0), Pomona, CA
3 X 5 – Lightweights

Chris Horodecki (12-1-0), London, Canada vs. William Sriyapai (12-4-0), Rancho Cucamonga, CA
3 X 5 – Welterweights

Brett Cooper (9-4-0), Los Angeles, CA vs. Waachim Spirit Wolf (5-4-0)
3 X 5 – Lightweights (Catchweight 160 lbs.)

Tom Atencio (1-0-0), Laguna Beach, CA vs. Randy Hedderick (Pro Debut), Biloxi, MS
3 X 5 – Lightweights

John Harris (0-1-0), Biloxi, MS vs. Brandon Harder (1-0-0), Horn Lake, MS
3 X 5 – Welterweights (Catchweight 175 lbs.)

James Orso (8-3-0), McIntosh, AL vs. Danny Abbadi (4-4-0), Orlando, FL
3 X 5 – Welterweights

Eric Bradley (3-1-0), Las Vegas, NV vs. Kelly Leo (5-0-0), Jackson, MS
3 X 5 – Welterweights

Colin McKee (5-3-0), Belfast, Northern Ireland vs. Lance Thompson (5-2-0), Slidell, LA
3 X 5 – Lightweights (Catchweight 160 lbs.)

Eric Graham (3-0-0), Petal, MS vs. Drew Wallace (Pro Debut), McComb, AL
3 X 5 – Heavyweights

Greg Maher (Pro Debut), Biloxi, MS vs. Rocky Overstreet (Pro Debut), Auburn, AL

CO-PROMOTERS: Prize Fight Promotions and Fight Force International

PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: Produced and distributed by Gotham MMA and Integrated Sports at 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT in the United States and Canada on cable and satellite Pay Per View via iNDemand, TVN, DirecTV, Bell TV, Shaw, Star Choice and Viewer’s Choice for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. The show will also air internationally to viewers outside of North America on www.gofightlive.tv.

PAY-PER-VIEW ANNOUNCERS: Veteran blow-by-blow announcer Col. Bob Sheridan; colorful mixed-martial-arts heavyweight Seth “The Silverback” Petruzelli, color commentator; color analyst Bray Deavours, ringside reporter Dave Ferguson

TICKETS: $25.00 (limited discount seating), $40.00 (general admission) and $55.00 (premium reserved seating) and sale at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum and all TicketMaster outlets

INFORMATION: www.theultimatechaos.com or www.mscoastcoliseum.com

DOORS OPEN: 5 PM/CT

FIRST FIGHT: 6 PM/CT

FIRST PPV FIGHT: 8 PM/CT

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® CONFIRMS FIGHTERS FOR FIRST-EVER UFC® FAN EXPO™

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 24, 2009

UFC®, WEC® and Former Pride® fighters Signed for Historic Fan Event

Las Vegas, NV – The history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship is filled with stories of legendary fights and athletes who built a sport behind skill, heart, and determination. On July 10th and 11th, just before the lights go down and the first bell rings for July 11th’s historic UFC 100 event, fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet the fighters who made mixed martial arts what it is today, as well as the ones carrying the flag for the next generation, all under one roof at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center during the UFC® Fan Expo™.

Tickets for this fight fan’s dream event, which features an unprecedented lineup of UFC®, World Extreme Cagefighting® (WEC®) and former PRIDE® fighters, are limited, but are still on sale and can be bought exclusively at www.ufcfanexpo.com V.I.P. Passes for this event are already SOLD OUT, but Customers that purchase Expo tickets in advance will receive $10 off the two-day pass.

Already confirmed to be in attendance during the UFC® Fan Expo™ are UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida, UFC Hall of Famers Royce Gracie and Randy “The Natural” Couture, and former world champions Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, “Suga” Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. UFC contenders Kenny Florian, Steve Cantwell, Shane Carwin, Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis, Tyson Griffin, Clay Guida, Dustin Hazelett, Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann, Josh Koscheck, Joe Lauzon, Junie Browning, Nate Marquardt, Gray Maynard, Karo Parisyan, Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez, Sean Sherk and Mike Swick will also be meeting fans, along with The Ultimate Fighter winners Nate Diaz and Efrain Escudero.

Fans of the PRIDE Fighting Championships will have the chance to re-live the excitement of Japan’s classic organization as well, with MMA icons Renzo Gracie and Gary Goodridge being joined by “The Texas Crazy Horse”, Heath Herring, and Brazilian superstars Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

And if that’s not enough MMA star power, the premier fighters of the WEC will be on hand to sign autographs, with current champions Miguel Torres, Mike Brown, and Jamie Varner sharing the convention center floor with Urijah Faber, Jens Pulver, Brian Bowles, Joseph Benavidez, Donald Cerrone, Leonard Garcia, Ben Henderson, and Alex Karalexis.

Among the UFC Fan Expo’s two-day roster of activities will be the aforementioned meet and greets with legendary UFC, WEC, and PRIDE fighters, MMA demonstrations, fan-inspired special events, training and development sessions, and other exciting opportunities and entertainment. All the UFC Fan Expo activities will be planned in conjunction with UFC 100, including the free-to-the-public weigh-in event on Friday, July 10th.

Expected to attract over 100 companies and brands, UFC Fan Expo will span more than 200,000 gross square feet of space exhibiting apparel, electronic gaming, food & beverages, fight gear and fitness equipment, MMA training and development, nutritional supplements, lifestyle products, and much more.

Currently seen on television in over 120 countries and territories in 17 different languages, UFC is the world’s largest pay-per-view content provider, and is the fastest-growing sports franchise in history. UFC programs are often the highest-rated television sports shows among the coveted male 18-34 and 18-42 demographic. UFC Fan Expo and UFC 100 are expected to attract tens of thousands of sports fans from throughout North America and abroad.

For more UFC Fan Expo information and to purchase tickets, visit UFCfanexpo.com. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Ed Gallo, Event Director at 1-203-840-5546 or email egallo@ufcfanexpo.com.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship®

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa™, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN Entertainment, Bell ExpressVU, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, Viewers Choice, and WOWOW in Japan, and Premiere Combate and SporTV in Brazil, and via the Internet worldwide on Yahoo! Sports, and commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. In addition to its North American distribution, UFC programming is distributed in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or ufcespanol.com.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.

About Reed Exhibitions

The UFC Fan Expo is operated by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading events organizer, with over 470 events in 37 countries. In 2008, Reed brought together over seven million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today, Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 38 fully staffed offices.

Reed organizes a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses, and meetings. Its portfolio of over 470 events serves 44 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, broadcasting, building & construction, electronics, energy, oil & gas, engineering, manufacturing, environment, food service & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, interior design, IT & telecoms, jewelry, life science & pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical education, printing & graphics, property & real estate, security & safety, sports & recreation, and travel. Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations, and government departments, Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.

SOURCE: Ultimate Fighting Championship

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Final Ratings For Last Week's Edition Of 'WWE Friday Night SmackDown'

According to Nielsen Media Research's data, the program drew a 1.8/3, and roughly two-million-eight-hundred-twenty-thousand viewers, numbers which sound strangely familiar.

Monday, June 22, 2009

World Wrestling Entertainment Possibly Headed Into Mainstream Hall-Of-Fame

WWE, for their ability to market pay-per-views, has been nominated for induction into this year's CTAM (Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing) Hall Of Fame.

"Stiff" competition includes: Comedy Central's marketing of 'South Park' (that show still around?); FOX News' 'We Report. You Decide' campaign (bor-ing); Time Warner Cable's marketing of 'Road Runner' (huh?); Turner's marketing of the TBS & TNT brands (WTF?).

We all wait, with bated breath, until the winner's announced in October.

Trump Gives Money Back

STAMFORD, Conn., June 22, 2009 -- In the fact or fiction world of WWE®, it is a fact that Donald Trump held a press conference today in Green Bay at Austin Straubel Airport. As the new “owner” of Monday Night RAW®, Trump announced that all ticketholders to tonight’s RAW event at the Resch Center will receive a ticket refund. The total value of all ticket refunds is approximately $235,000. RAW will be presented commercial free live tonight at 9 pm/8pm CT on USA Network.

Tonight’s main event will be WWE Champion Randy Orton® versus Triple H® in a Last Man Standing match.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

MIZUGAKI RETURNS ON AUG. 9 TO FACE VETERAN CURRAN

For Immediate Release:
June 22, 2009

Japanese Star ‘Planning on a KO Finish’

WEC® PRESENTS: TORRES VS. BOWLES

From The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada - Sunday, August 9;
First Bout at 3 p.m. PT
Fight to Air Live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT

Tickets On Sale NOW

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – In April, Japanese sensation Takeya Mizugaki did what many thought was impossible. The 25-year-old, filling in as a late replacement for an injured Brian Bowles, pushed WEC® bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres to the limit. For five grueling rounds, Mizugaki landed knees in the clinch and traded leather with one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters. Although he couldn’t wrestle the title away from Torres, Mizugaki returned to Japan following the bout knowing that he had earned the respect of the U.S. fans.

Having reviewed the Torres bout, Mizugaki (11-3-2) returns to World Extreme Cagefighting® on Aug. 9 as motivated as ever. Facing grizzled veteran Jeff Curran (31-11-1) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the former Shooto star hopes to build off his first WEC performance and prove that he is among the bantamweight elite.

“I love the American fans and I want to come up with a good result this time,” Mizugaki said via translator Shu Hirata. “I want to show the fans here and in Japan that I belong in the WEC, where the world’s best competition in MMA is being held.”

Tickets for the fight, which is headlined by a 135-pound title clash between champion Miguel Angel Torres and Brian Bowles, are on sale now and priced at $40, $55, $85, $100, $125, $175, and $225. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the Hard Rock Box Office. Tickets also are available online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com.

WEC: Torres vs. Bowles will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.

Mizugaki’s second bout in the WEC may be as difficult as his first. Curran, a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt with professional boxing experience, has fought some of the stiffest competition in the world. From Mike Brown to Urijah Faber to Wagnney Fabiano, “Big Frog” has battled a who’s who of mixed martial artists. Mizugaki is aware of Curran’s prominence in the sport, but thinks that he can become the first person since 2001 to knock out the Illinois native.

“Jeff is a fantastic fighter and he’s famous here in Japan because he’s been fighting on the world’s top level for a long time,” Mizugaki said of Curran, who fought in Japan in 2006 at a PRIDE event. “But I’m planning on an aggressive fight with a KO finish. This will be an exciting fight for fans.”

Competing in what he calls a “crossroads fight,” Curran was encouraged to hear that Mizugaki is looking for a knockout. Needing a win to push himself up the bantamweight ladder, the 31-year-old wants to show that he, and not Mizugaki, is the best striker not named Torres in the division.

“I was impressed by Takeya Mizugaki and his striking in April,” Curran admitted. “But I would say that most people just don't know how good my hands really are because I never get into a boxing match during my fights. I know if I were to simply box Mizugaki, he would have his hands full.”

With the August slugfest looming, both fighters have engaged in some of the hardest training camps of their respective careers. While Curran has his sights set on moving up the bantamweight rankings, Mizugaki is slightly more single-minded. The clinch fighter, who owns a master’s degree in electric engineering, hopes a win over Curran powers him toward another shot at Torres.

“I’m not looking past Curran, but I’d fight Torres again immediately after our fights on Aug. 9,” Mizugaki said with a laugh. “I will fight him any day, anywhere. If I beat Curran, I will prove that I am one of the top 135 pound fighters. If the WEC gives me another shot at Torres after that, I would take the offer in a second.”

For more information about current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv.

About World Extreme Cagefighting®

The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. WEC, founded in 2001, is the sister organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and today features the most prominent light weight fighters in the world. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network.WEC programming is also available on Fox Sports en Espanol. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on the TSN network in Canada and Cadena Tres in Mexico. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. World Extreme Cagefighting® and WEC® are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

About VERSUS

VERSUS celebrates real competition across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD). Now in more than 75 million homes, the network is the national cable home of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the IndyCar® Series as well as best-in-class events such as The Tour de France, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Professional Boxing. The network also offers collegiate sports featuring nationally-ranked teams from top conferences such as the Pac-10, Big 12, Mountain West and Ivy League. VERSUS features the best field sports programming on television and is a destination for sports fans, athletes and sportsmen to find exclusive, competitive events and original programs, such as Sports Soup and The Contender that audiences can't find elsewhere. VERSUS, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

About The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Designed by the renowned Montreal-based architectural design firm Scéno Plus, the new Joint at Hard Rock has a capacity of 4,000, offers seven premiere VIP hospitality suites, and features an innovative sound and lighting system. To maximize fan’s enjoyment with a genuine experience, the new Joint is double its previous size, yet maintains the same atmosphere of the original venue. Introduced to concert-goers in April, the new Joint has opened to rave reviews thanks to its focus on creating the ultimate viewing experience.

SOURCE: World Extreme Cagefighting

First-Ever Autographed Limited Edition Prints Of MMA Champion GSP Now Available

MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 22, 2009 – Georges St-Pierre (GSP) and nationally-renowned artist Brian Fox have teamed up to offer fans the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Champion’s first-ever, individually autographed limited edition prints.

The 100-piece deluxe signed and embellished canvas prints, measuring 30” x 40 and priced at $599.00, are now available for purchase online at www.brianfoxstudios.com or the newly-redesigned www.gspfightclub.com. In addition, fans may purchase the artwork at GSP’s booth, # 731, at UFC 100’s Fan Expo.

UFC Fan Expo will be held Friday and Saturday, July 10-11, 2009, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, coinciding with UFC 100, the biggest event in mixed martial arts history.

“I love this painting,” said Georges St-Pierre. “I’m a good guy, and when I fight, I am another guy. Brian’s work shows that to me. He is a master on his canvas, and I am a master on mine. I hope my fans love it as much as I do.”

For more information on GSP’s 100-piece limited edition giclée, visit www.brianfoxstudios.com.

About Brian Fox

Brian Fox specializes in painting the world’s greatest legends. His forte and passion centers around sports and music but his ability and experience extend far beyond that scope. Brian has painted some of the biggest icons of our time, including the late Jackie Robinson, Keith Richards, Michael Phelps, Johnny Depp, Ray Charles, and Mixed Martial Arts Champion Georges St-Pierre, to name just a few. Brian’s impeccable draftsmanship, attention to detail and uncanny ability to capture the “look” of his subjects keep his masters of art in high demand. Brian is prominently featured in numerous celebrity events and high-profile charity benefits, always promoting his altruism and passion for expressive, visual art. Brian Fox’s artwork exhibits and sells throughout the United States. www.brainfoxstudios.com.

About Georges St-Pierre

Georges St-Pierre, often referred to as GSP, is a French-Canadian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. He is the current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight champion, and is generally regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He is currently ranked by multiple MMA publications as the #1 welterweight in the world and on 22 Dec 2008, St-Pierre was voted the Canadian Athlete of the year.

Source: Courtney Guertin

Hooters And Harley-Davidson Sponsor SUN MMA Event

DALLAS, TX, June 22, 2009 - SUN Sports & Entertainment Inc. (PINKSHEETS: SUNR) announced today that Hooters and Harley-Davidson have joined SUN as part of a growing list of Sponsors for SUN's next Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Event set for July 12th, 2009 at the Mesquite Arena in Mesquite, TX.

Harley-Davidson is a strategic sponsor and is helping promote the Event at all their Dallas, TX locations as well as an on-site promotion on Saturday, June 27 at their Harley-Davidson Store in Garland, TX. The promo will showcase the new bikes as well as exciting activities and giveaways to include photos with the "Mano-a-Mano" Girls!

Hooters will be doing promotions at all their locations in the Dallas, TX area as well as in store display of cards and posters to promote the event. Hooters has had great success in their association with the MMA industry, hosting many of the sport's biggest pay-per-view events via closed-circuit in the restaurants, to mostly packed houses. Hooters has found that aligning themselves as a leader in this fast growing sport gives them a chance to extend the scope of their demographic clientele and brand themselves as "the sports destination spot."

About Harley-Davidson:

Started in Dallas, TX in 1999, and expanded in 2002, to new facilities in Garland, TX. For more info on Harley-Davidson Motorcycles visit www.dallasHD.com

About Hooters:

Texas Wings, a franchise of Hooters of America, Inc., opened its first store in 1989 with all of the rights in State of Texas. Texas Wings owns and operates 45 stores and growing! For more info on Hooters visit www.hooterstexas.com/index.html

About SUN:

SUN Sports & Entertainment, Inc. (www.sunorganization.com) is a Professional Certified and Licensed Combative Sports Promoter that produces Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) under the brand, "Art of War." For more info visit www.artofwarlive.com.

Safe Harbor Statement -- This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 27E of the Securities Act of 1934. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, ability to obtain financing and regulatory and shareholder approvals for anticipated actions. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to or implied by such statements. In addition, actual or future results may differ materially from those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, including continued maintenance of favorable license arrangements, success of market research identifying new product opportunities, successful introduction of new products, continued product innovation, sales and earnings growth, ability to attract and retain key personnel, and general economic conditions affecting consumer spending. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Sun Sports & Entertainment Inc. does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.

Source: SUN Sports & Entertainment, Inc.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Press Release: Lyons Untamed On “Ultimate Chaos”

SOURCE - Bob Trieger, of Full Court Press:

Lashley-Sapp headlines Saturday night’s MMA PPV show in Biloxi, MS

BILOXI, Miss. (June 22, 2009) – Long before the bright lights come on for Saturday night’s “Ultimate Chaos” pay-per-view card, live from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi, 21-year-old Austin Lyons will make his MMA mixed martial arts pro debut against John Harris.

Harris, fighting out of Memphis, is a former high school football player at Dyersburg, Tennessee, who will be 90-pounds lighter in the cage than his playing weight on the gridiron. The 250-pound defensive end will fight Saturday night as a welterweight.

The spotlight, however, will be shining on former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley (3-0-0) and K1 and PRIDE combat fighting legend Bob “The Beast” Sapp (10-4-1), who will bull-rush each other in their highly anticipated super heavyweight main event headlining “Ultimate Chaos, presented by Prize Fight Promotions and Fight Force International, in association with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum, and Treasure Bay Casino.

“Ultimate Chaos” is being produced and distributed by Gotham MMA and Integrated Sports at 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT in the United States and Canada on cable and satellite Pay Per View via iNDemand, TVN, DirecTV, Bell TV, Shaw, Star Choice and Viewer’s Choice for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. The show will also air internationally to viewers outside of North America on www.gofightlive.tv.

Veteran blow-by-blow announcer Col. Bob Sheridan and colorful mixed-martial-arts heavyweight Seth “The Silverback” Petruzelli lead the PPV broadcast team that also includes color analyst Bray Deavours and ringside reporter Dave Ferguson.

Meanwhile, Lyons will be proudly fighting in front of his parents, girl friend and some friends. He couldn’t be happier being in one the opening acts for the star-studded PPV card.

“I’ve been thinking about it lately,” he said, “and I’m going to be star-struck with all of the big names on the card. I’m going to feel like I’m walking on the red carpet. I’m looking forward to meeting all of them and, hopefully, making valuable contacts for my MMA career.

“I started MMA training five years ago, competitively fighting about 2 ½ years ago, and had an 11-2 amateur record. When college football didn’t work out for me, I remember going to an MMA show and seeing heavyweights fight up close. I’m only 5-9, 5-10 and I knew I couldn’t fight those guys. I weighed about 240-pounds at that time. I’ve been working out and eating right ever since then and now I weigh about 160. I’m a free-style fighter, good on my feet and the ground. I can’t wait for Saturday night.”

In the co-feature, 3-time UFC heavyweight title challenger Pedro “The Rock” Rizzo (16-8-0) meets Dutch knockout artist Gilbert “The Hurricane” Yvel (35-13-1) in an intriguing match-up. Former King Of The Cage and Gladiator Challenge lightweight champion Javier “Showtime” Vasquez (12-2-0) takes on The Ultimate Fighter 4 star Din “Dinyero” Thomas (24-8-0), while 4-time World Muay Thai title-holder William “The Bull” Sriyapai (12-4-0) faces highly-regarded Canadian lightweight prospect Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki (12-1-0)

Also fighting on the card is Waachiim “NativeWarrior” Spirit Wolf (5-4-0) vs. welterweight Brett Cooper (9-4-0); middleweight Colby McMahan (3-1-0) vs. James Orso (8-3-0); Affliction vice president Tom Atencio (1-0-0) vs. pro debuting lightweight Randy Hedderick; veteran middleweight Lance Thomson (4-2-0) vs. The Ultimate Fighter 3 star Danny Abbadi (3-4-0); Belfast, Northern Ireland brawler Colin McKee (3-2-0) vs. welterweight Eric Bradley (2-1-0), 2-time All-America wrestler and 2003 NCAA boxing champion at Penn State. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $25.00 (limited discount seating), $40.00 (general admission) and $55.00 (premium reserved seating) and sale at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum and all TicketMaster outlets.

For more information go to www.theultimatechaos.com or www.mscoastcoliseum.com. Doors open at 5PM/CT, first fight 6 PM/CT, and the first PPV fight is at 8 PM/CT.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

!BANG! TV Report - The Wasilla Alaska Wrecking Crew Return To The Funking Conservatory

-- Dory Funk

Charlotte Mahoy and Rachael Moore, the Wasilla Wrecking Crew return to !BANG! TV Sunday July 12 for Support Your Troops 42, "Red White and !BANG!."

Now on !BANG! TV at http://www.dory-funk.com, In an emotional encounter, Sar-Ah interrupts The Claw's training session to entice The Claw to team up with her to take on The Wasilla Wrecking Crew.

For the Funking Conservatory World Championship, Shane Chung will defend against the challenge of Jumbo Elvis Sharpe

Dory Funk Jr. returns to !BANG! TV for a return match "A Matter of Discipline" against Blain Rage. This match will have special stipulations to be announced.

For the Women's Championship, The Claw, Claudia Reiff will team up with Sar-Ah to take on The Wasilla Wrecking Crew, Charlotte Mahoy and Rachael Moore.

For the Premium !BANG! TV Championship, Damien Steele will defend against the challenge of Hack Meyers.

More matches will be added to the card.

If you would like to become a professional wrestler and appear on !BANG! TV, Call now - 352-895-4658 or visit http://www.dory-funk for more information.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Not That This Will Amount To Anything Of Significance, But Figured I'd Mention It

Amarillo's KCPN-LP (whatever that stands for), which, since 2006, has been a MyNetworkTV affiliate, will soon be available to subscribers of DISH Network.

Does DISH Network still exist?

Anyway, the addition is expected on or about the start of the 2009-2010 television season, and should provide WWE with more false hope, as it pertains to an increase in SmackDown's ratings (because, after all, it's not like improving the product would be of any help; rolls eyes).

Thursday, June 18, 2009

TWO RISING STARS SET TO COLLIDE AT HARD ROCK ON AUGUST 9

-- World Extreme Cagefighting

For Immediate Release:
June 18, 2009

BENAVIDEZ AND CRUZ MEET IN PIVOTAL BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT

WEC® PRESENTS: TORRES VS. BOWLES

From The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada - Sunday, August 9; First Bout at 3 p.m. PT
Fight to Air Live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Tickets On Sale NOW

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Two of the sport’s most well-rounded athletes have officially agreed to meet on August 9 in a bout that could very well determine the next bantamweight title challenger. Undefeated Joseph Benavidez of Sacramento, Calif. takes on once-beaten Dominick Cruz of San Diego, Calif. at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in a fight that already has fans buzzing.

“When we discussed making this bout, we knew that it had the potential to produce fireworks,” WEC General Manager Reed Harris said. “Both Joseph and Dominick boast speed and power and both guys like to finish fights. That’s a recipe for a really exciting bout.”

Tickets for the fight, which is headlined by a 135-pound title clash between champion Miguel Angel Torres and Brian Bowles, are on sale now and priced at $40, $55, $85, $100, $125, $175, and $225. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the Hard Rock Box Office. Tickets also are available online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com.

WEC: Torres vs. Bowles will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.

A fast-paced, crisp striker with good grappling skill, the 24-year-old Benavidez (10-0) burst onto the WEC bantamweight scene last December with a unanimous decision win over Danny Martinez. The New Mexico native, who now trains out of Urijah Faber’s camp in Sacramento, followed up the win over Martinez by dominating tested veteran Jeff Curran in April en route to a second consecutive decision victory. With two WEC wins under his belt, Benavidez hopes to catapult himself into title contention with a win over Cruz.

“Cruz is someone I’ve looked at for a while,” Benavidez said. “I felt like a clash with him would happen in the future. Once he dropped to 135, I thought he would pose problems for anyone. He’s as dangerous as anyone in the division. This is a fight between the top two contenders. I’m pretty sure whoever wins this will be going for the title.”

With victories over Charlie Valencia, Ian McCall, and Ivan Lopez in his WEC career, Cruz, also 24 years old, has earned the right to fight the bantamweight’s best. Training with UFC veteran Brandon Vera at the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., Cruz (13-1) has refined his standup game and become one of the better strikers in the WEC. Given that his only career loss came at the hands of Benavidez’s training partner Urijah Faber in 2007, Cruz is hoping to get revenge by defeating Benavidez on August 9.

“I think he’s a very good athlete with a lot of natural talent and that’s what has gotten him as far as he has,” Cruz said. “I’m going to beat Joseph Benavidez because I am a more complete MMA fighter and I’m just as athletic and in better condition than he is. I have nothing but respect for him. I’ve seen all of his fights and he looked real impressive against Curran. But MMA comes down to style matchups. It’s all about how you fight somebody that leads to the win. I think a lot of people haven’t gone at him with the right game plan. I will.”

Remaining bouts for WEC: Torres vs. Bowles will be announced at a later date. For more information about current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv.

About World Extreme Cagefighting®

The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. WEC, founded in 2001, is the sister organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and today features the most prominent light weight fighters in the world. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network.WEC programming is also available on Fox Sports en Espanol. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on the TSN network in Canada and Cadena Tres in Mexico. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. World Extreme Cagefighting® and WEC® are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

About VERSUS

VERSUS celebrates real competition across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD). Now in more than 75 million homes, the network is the national cable home of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the IndyCar® Series as well as best-in-class events such as The Tour de France, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Professional Boxing. The network also offers collegiate sports featuring nationally-ranked teams from top conferences such as the Pac-10, Big 12, Mountain West and Ivy League. VERSUS features the best field sports programming on television and is a destination for sports fans, athletes and sportsmen to find exclusive, competitive events and original programs, such as Sports Soup and The Contender that audiences can't find elsewhere. VERSUS, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

About The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Designed by the renowned Montreal-based architectural design firm Scéno Plus, the new Joint at Hard Rock has a capacity of 4,000, offers seven premiere VIP hospitality suites, and features an innovative sound and lighting system. To maximize fan’s enjoyment with a genuine experience, the new Joint is double its previous size, yet maintains the same atmosphere of the original venue. Introduced to concert-goers in April, the new Joint has opened to rave reviews thanks to its focus on creating the ultimate viewing experience.

BANG! TV Report - Now On !BANG! TV Dory Funk Jr., Wahoo McDaniel Jr. And More

-- Dory Funk

The complete show, Support Your Troops 42, Summer Sizzler is now on !BANG! TV at http://www.dory-funk.com.

Funking Conservatory World Title Match
Wahoo McDaniel Jr. vs Shane Chung (Champion)
* Old School Rules as per NWA Rule Book of Professional Wrestling by Eddie Graham. (Best Two Out of Three Falls)

A Matter of Discipline
Dory Funk Jr. vs Blain Rage

Women's Championship Match
"The Claw" Claudia Reiff (Champion) vs Sar-Ah

In Honor of a Friend and Great Wrestler
Ten Bell Salute to Mitsuharu Misawa

Dog Collar Match (15 feet of steel chain)
Damien Steele (Originator) vs Johnny Romano

Hard-Core Championship Match
Hack Meyers (Champion) vs Damien Steele

Funking Conservatory Wrestling School http://www.dory-funk.com

USA Network Statement Re: WWE Monday Night RAW

-- USA Network

NEW YORK, June 18 -- "USA Network and WWE issued a press release on June 16 that referred to Monday Night RAW's storyline of a 'sale' of WWE's RAW to Donald Trump. We intended the release to be promotional for that ongoing story arc on the series. There is no such actual 'sale.' We apologize for any confusion."

Note from Ric: Most people will get all pretentious and explain how wrestling is "fake" and not meant to be taken seriously, and/or feel the need to explain how superior they are because they knew this was a "wrestling angle." I, on the other hand, don't see how the original release differs from countless others (including those from "real" sports and "more-worthy" forms of entertainment), in that, were it anything more than made-for-television or made-to-be-entertainment purposes, it would've included far more on behind-the-scenes specifics. To me, this "amendment" is nothing more than a waste of time.

GOULET SCRATCHED FROM UFC® 100 DUE TO INJURY

-- Ultimate Fighting Championship

For Immediate Release:
June 18, 2009

DONG HYUN KIM TO FACE TJ GRANT ON JULY 11TH

Las Vegas NV (USA) -- A dislocated shoulder, suffered in training, has forced welterweight standout Jonathan Goulet to withdraw from his bout against Dong Hyun Kim on the preliminary card of UFC® 100 on July 11th. But Canada will still be represented in the bout, as Nova Scotia’s TJ Grant will step in to face Kim at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

UFC 100 is sold out and will be available live and only on Pay-Per-View on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

A purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Grant made quite an impression in his UFC debut in April, as he pounded out an impressive three round split decision win over seasoned competitor Ryo Chonan. Now 14-2 as a pro, the 25-year old Grant is eager to move further up the welterweight ranks by scoring a victory over the talented Kim.

Dong Hyun Kim is a hero back home in his native South Korea, and the unbeaten (11-0-1, 1 NC) “Stun Gun” is rapidly building a United States fanbase as well after wins over Jason Tan and Matt Brown. A fourth degree black belt in judo, Kim hopes to keep the “0” at the end of his record on July 11th.

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com, UFCJapan.jp or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship®

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa™, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN Entertainment, BellTV, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, Viewers Choice, and WOWOW in Japan, and Premiere Combate and SporTV in Brazil, and via the Internet worldwide on Yahoo! Sports, and commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. In addition to its North American distribution, UFC programming is distributed in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or ufcespanol.com.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and affiliated entities in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.

Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy” Loaded From Top To Bottom

-- Bob Trieger

F. Emelianenko-J. Barnett headline August 1 PPV Extravaganza in Anaheim

SEAL BEACH, California (June 18, 2009) – Affliction M-1Global’s star-studded “Trilogy” is stacking-up as one of the all-time best shows from top to bottom in professional mixed martial arts fighting history. The marquee performer is Russian combat fighting legend Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko, who defends his WAMMA heavyweight title against No. 1 contender Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett, August 1 live on Pay-Per-View from Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

The Affliction M-1 Global “Trilogy” card, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and presented by Affliction and M-1 Global, in association with Donald J. Trump, has been separated into two live broadcasts on the same night. A one-hour special will air on HDNet starting at 7:30 PM/ET (4:30 PM/PT), followed by the sensational Pay-Per-View event, “Trilogy,” commencing at 9 PM/ET (6 PM/PT).

Fedor (30-1-0) is the undisputed “Baddest Man on the Planet,” the most lethal fighter on earth. The Russian fighting machine is 7-0 in fights against UFC® heavyweight champions – Andrei Arlovski (KO1 – overhand right), Tim Sylvia (SUB1 – naked choke), Mark Coleman twice (SUB2 – arm-bar, SUB1 – arm-bar), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira twice (DEC3 and DEC1) and Kevin Randleman (SUB1 – arm-bar) – to go along with victories against world-class MMA fighters such as Mirko Filipovic, Matt Lindland, Renato Sobral and Heath Herring.

Barnett (24-5-0), however is another former UFC® Heavyweight Champion, who is 2-1 versus UFC® heavyweight title-holders, by decision twice against Nogueira and defeating 3-time heavyweight champion Randy Couture by second-round TKO in 2002 to become the UFC®’s youngest Heavyweight Champion ever at 24. The popular Barnett has also defeated MMA monsters such as Jeff Monson and Dan Severn, as well as one Emelianenko—Fedor’s brother Aleksander—back in 2006 by second-round submission (key-lock).

The co-main event features former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral (32-8-0) against Armenian kick-boxing specialist, Gegard “The Dream Catcher” Mousasi, (25-2-1) making his American debut.

Also on the PPV card is Brazilian knockout specialist Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (18-8-0), another former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion, versus Sengoku middleweight title-holder Jorge Santiago (21-7-0); heavyweight Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello (27-10-0) against an opponent to be determined; ex-IFL® Welterweight Champion Jay “The Thoroughbred” Hieron (17-4-0) takes on former Cage Rage belt-holder, British brawler Paul “Semtex” Daley (21-8-2).

The undercard on HDNet features a pair of exciting, young lightweight prospects, Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki (12-1-0) vs. Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (12-2-0); former IFL® heavyweight titlist “Big” Ben Rothwell (30-6-0) vs. hot, unbeaten prospect Chase Gormley (6-0-0); former IFL® lightweight challenger Deividas Taurosevicius (10-3-0) and welterweight fan-favorite Brett Cooper (9-4-0) against opponents to be determined.

Fans in attendance will also be treated to two off-television matches between heavyweights Jessie Gibbs (7-2-0) and Rob Broughton (10-4-1), in addition to Brazilian light heavyweights Lucio Linhares (12-4-0) and Givanildo “The Arm Collector” Santana (12-1-0)

All fights and fighters are subject to change. For more information go online to www.aflictionclothing.com.

Tickets for Affliction M-1 “Trilogy,” ranging between $50.00 and $600.00, go on sale June 8 at Honda Center Box Office (1.714.704.2500) and also online at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticket Master outlets (1.714.740.2000).

Affliction

Already a mainstay for the most elite athletes, heaviest bands, A-listers and the fashion conscious, Affliction Clothing's ability to set the bar high in fashion is evident in its collection's indulgence of style and design, focus on quality, and its trademark series of divinely executed, dark and powerful themes. (www.afflictionclothing.com)

M-1 Global and M-1 Challenge

M-1 Global has been one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the world for over a decade. International MMA stars who have fought under the M-1 banner have included Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Keith Jardine, Alistair Overeem, Yushin Okami, Ben Rothwell, Mike Pyle, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zenstov, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Omar Suloev, and Chalid Arrab, to name a few. (www.m1mixfight.com)

The Trump Organization

The Trump Organization encompasses global real estate development and global licensing, sales and marketing, property management, golf course development, entertainment, entertainment and product licensing, brand development as well as restaurants and event planning. Donald J. Trump is the Chairman and President of the Trump Organization, a privately held company in New York. (www.Trump.com)

Golden Boy Promotions

Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. Golden Boy Promotions currently has over 60 fighters under contract, from future hall of famers Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez to current world champions Ricky Hatton, David Haye, Joel Casamayor, Israel Vazquez and Gerry Peñalosa. Also included on the company’s roster are top contenders Jeff Lacy, Juan Diaz, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Jhonny Gonzalez, Librado Andrade, Rocky Juarez and Rey Bautista; 2004 Olympians Abner Mares, Vicente Escobedo and Rock Allen; and highly regarded prospects Danny Garcia, Jermell Charlo, Hylon Williams and Carlos and Juan Velasquez. (www.goldenboypromotions.com)

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® CONFIRMS REMAINING FIGHTS FOR UFC 100

-- Ultimate Fighting Championship

For Immediate Release:
June 17, 2009

JON FITCH vs. PAULO THIAGO
YOSHIHIRO AKIYAMA vs. ALAN BELCHER
MARK COLEMAN vs. STEPHAN BONNAR
MAC DANZIG vs. JIM MILLER
JON JONES vs. JAKE O’BRIEN
DONG HYUN KIM vs. JONATHAN GOULET
CB DOLLAWAY vs. TOM LAWLOR
MATT GRICE vs. SHANNON GUGERTY

SATURDAY, JULY 11 - LIVE FROM MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Title contenders, a former UFC® champion and a handful of rising stars – and that’s just on the undercard. With the undisputed heavyweight title on the line, one of the UFC’s greatest welterweights ever facing his greatest challenge ever and a mixed martial arts legend facing the United Kingdom’s biggest star, the UFC has already secured three main-event-caliber matches for UFC 100. The fight card has the exciting names – now it’s time to watch the exciting fights.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® today confirmed the remaining fights for the historic UFC® 100 event on Saturday, July 11th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. With an already stacked fight card, including two championship fights, the UFC has added Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago, Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher, Mark Coleman vs. Stephan Bonnar, Mac Danzig vs. Jim Miller, Jon Jones vs. Jake O’Brien, Dong Hyun Kim vs. Jonathan Goulet, CB Dollaway vs. Tom Lawlor and Matt Grice vs. Shannon Gugerty.

UFC 100 is sold out and will be available live and only on Pay-Per-View on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

With an outstanding 9-1 record in the UFC (22-3, 1 NC overall) and coming off an impressive win against Akihiro Gono in his last fight, Jon Fitch (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) is one of the toughest fighters the welterweight division has to offer. With wins over Thiago Alves, Diego Sanchez, Brock Larson and Luigi Fioravanti, the Ft. Wayne, Indiana native has dominated the competition and looks to one day hold that UFC welterweight strap. Standing in his way is the undefeated Paulo Thiago (fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil). The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt improved his professional mixed martial arts record to 11-0 when he defeated Josh Koscheck by TKO in the first round of their February match. He gets another true test when he faces Koscheck’s teammate at UFC 100.

A middleweight superstar who made his name overseas, Yoshihiro Akiyama (fighting out of Osaka, Japan) is a decorated judo black belt with dangerous knockout power and a 12-1, 2 NC mixed martial arts record. He’ll make his long-awaited UFC debut against MMA veteran Alan Belcher (fighting out of Biloxi, Mississippi). A Jonesboro, Arkansas native, “The Talent” is riding a two-fight win streak with a submission victory against Denis Kang in his last fight at UFC 93.

A UFC Hall of Famer, former UFC heavyweight champion and 1988 NCAA national wrestling champion for Ohio State, Mark Coleman (fighting out of Columbus, Ohio) has the credentials and the talent to make a great fight every time out. With seven career UFC wins, the 44-year-old looks to stir things up in the light heavyweight division, and if there’s another fighter that knows how to put on a great show it’s Stephan Bonnar (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.). A fighter that will be remembered forever for his epic battle with Forrest Griffin in the original The Ultimate Fighter® finale, The Munster, Indiana born fighter has notable wins over Keith Jardine, Eric Schafer and James Irvin.

Season six winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Mac Danzig (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) has two submission victories as a UFC fighter and the Cleveland, Ohio native will have his greatest test to date when he faces Sparta, New Jersey native Jim Miller (fighting out of Whippany, N.J.). The Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt has two UFC wins, including a submission victory over David Baron in his lightweight debut.

If one wanted to watch a rising star in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, look no further than Rochester, New York born Jon Jones (fighting out of Endicott, N.Y.). The undefeated 21-year-old earned an exciting unanimous decision victory against UFC veteran Stephan Bonnar in his last fight, winning his second UFC match and keeping his professional record perfect at 8-0. Now Jones turns his attention to former heavyweight Jake O’Brien (fighting out of Indianapolis, Ind.). The former Purdue wrestler and three-time high school state champion earned a split decision victory against Christian Wellisch in his last fight.

With two UFC wins already on his resume, Dong Hyun Kim (fighting out of Busan, Korea) brings plenty of excitement to the UFC welterweight division. With a memorable match against Karo Parisyan and wins over Matt Brown and Jason Tan, the 27-year-old judo black belt will be an interesting matchup for Canadian striker Jonathan Goulet (Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada). The 29-year-old has four wins in the UFC, including two TKOs and one submission.

Currently on a two-fight win streak, former The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 finalist CB Dollaway (fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.) has finished his last two fights within one round. Now the Mt. Gilead, Ohio native and former NCAA All-American wrestler from Arizona State University faces Fall River, Massachusetts product Tom Lawlor (fighting out of Orlando, Fla.). The 26-year-old with the 5-1, 1 NC record earned a unanimous decision victory against Kyle Kingsbury in his UFC debut.

A former wrestler from Oklahoma University, Matt Grice (fighting out of Harrah, Okla.) holds a 10-2 professional MMA record and an impressive split decision victory over Jason Black. Grice will have to be on his game when he faces the well-rounded Shannon Gugerty (fighting out of San Diego, Calif.). The 27-year-old brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu also has a background in Muay Thai and already holds a UFC win over Dale Hartt.

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com, UK.UFC.com, GERMANY.UFC.com or UFCEspanol.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship®

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa™, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN Entertainment, BellTV, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, Viewers Choice, and WOWOW in Japan, and Premiere Combate and SporTV in Brazil, and via the Internet worldwide on Yahoo! Sports, and commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. In addition to its North American distribution, UFC programming is distributed in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or ufcespanol.com.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and affiliated entities in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.