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Thursday, March 31, 2011

FUEL TV Hits Hard With Launch Of “FUEL TV’s Friday Fight Night”

Upcoming line-up includes PRIZEFIGHTER, SHARK FIGHTS, and HOMETOWN THROWDOWN

LOS ANGELES, Mar 31, 2011 -- FUEL TV, Fox Sports Media Group’s dynamic entertainment and sports network for young males, announces the launch of a new weekly programming block devoted to boxing and MMA fighting programming. “FUEL TV’s Friday Fight Night” launches April 1 and includes shows such as PRIZEFIGHTER, SHARK FIGHTS, and HOMETOWN THROWDOWN.

“Fight-focused programming is a very popular genre with our demographic and is consistent with FUEL TV’s promise of ‘Risk is the only Rule,’ making it a natural addition to our schedule,” says CJ Olivares, FUEL TV GM. “Our goal is to establish ‘FUEL TV’s Friday Fight Night’ as the ultimate destination for fans who are looking for a one-of-a-kind experience of adrenaline-fueled fight programming.”

Airing Friday, April 1 and April 8 at 10:00 PM ET/PT, PRIZEFIGHTER offers two one-hour specials of a round-to-round breakthrough boxing showdown. Eight fighters must find the stamina to go the distance in a one-night tournament where the only way to become the champ is to win every fight of the night. Prevail and you fight again. In the end, the winner will fight three matches to take the championship and prize of approximately $50,000.

Airing Friday, April 15 and 22 at 10:00 PM ET/PT, the two, one-hour SHARK FIGHTS specials consist of several epic fights that were previously only available during the September 11, 2010 pay-per-view event. Each one-hour episode brings you the best in professional MMA fighting, featuring a light heavyweight match between hard-hitting UFC veterans Houston Alexander and Thierry Remeau Soukoudjou, as well as, a main event battle between MMA fan favorite "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine and South African powerhouse Trevor Prangley. Additional fights include the controversial Paul “Semtex” Daley as he faces up-and-coming Jorge Masvidal, Daley's first U.S. bout following his highly publicized departure from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Also, Pete Spratt seeks to redefine himself as a well rounded fighter as he battles tough-as-nails Eric Davila.

From Art Dore, the creator of incredibly successful Toughman Contest, comes the next generation of fighting called the HOMETOWN THROWDOWN, airing on June 3 and 10 at 10:00 PM ET/PT. In this fun night of entertainment, tough guys from around America, and all walks of life, compete in a “come one, come all” fight contest at the Wisconsin Rumble. Fighters battle in three one-minute rounds. No professional fighters, just average hometown guys slugging it out in a boxing style fight with kicking included. Everyone is vying for their two seconds of fame and glory.

The announcement of “FUEL TV’s Friday Fight Night” complements the upcoming launch of ELLISMANIA, with Jason Ellis—Australian “man’s-man,” pro-fighter, pro skateboarder and host of an uncensored, no-holds barred daily radio show on Faction, SiriusXM’s action sports and music channel. ELLISMANIA is an absurd fight comedy series that throws the traditional fighting rules out the door, bringing in shock collars and blindfolds, and offering his friends and fans a chance to battle it out in the ring. ELLISMANIA premieres on FUEL TV on Wednesday, April 6 at 10:00PM ET/PT, as part of FUEL TV’s Fearless Wednesdays line up.

FUEL TV

FUEL TV is the only cable and satellite television network that features the exciting world of adrenaline and thrill-seeking sports and the stories that surround them. This new generation of sports provides a rich landscape of some of the most vibrant and action-packed television entertainment in the world. See why young adrenaline sports fans call FUEL TV the channel they never turn off. FUEL TV, part of FOX Sports Media Group, was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in more than 30 million U.S. homes and can be accessed by broadband, mobile devices and other digital platforms such as iTunes®. FUEL TV programming is available in more than 50 countries around the world with 24/7 channels operating in Australia, Portugal, Germany, France, South Africa, and Sweden. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4-FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv.

FOX Sports Media Group

FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching over 20 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.

FUEL TV – RISK IS THE ONLY RULE

Source: Fuel TV

Monday, March 28, 2011

New Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Venture Features Hardened Ex-Cons Against War Heroes, Police Officers And Other Heroes

Cage vs. Cons 1 scheduled for May 21 at the Los Angeles Sport Arena, along with 7-hour underground hip-hop festival

LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2011 -- A new mixed-martial arts venture will debut May 21 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena featuring nothing-to-lose ex-convicts against hard-hitting police officers, war veterans, firefighters, and other heroes.

Cage vs. Cons 1 will provide fans with instant rivalries, mouth-dropping storylines, and identifiable heroes and villains—all combining to create fights that overflow with a savage energy unmatched in the MMA world.

Cage vs. Cons is steeped in street credibility. Its co-founder, Michael Lynch, is an ex-con who spent five years in California Youth Authority and six years in prison before reinventing himself as the entrepreneurial force behind Felony Fights and Cage vs. Cons.

The major event on the 10-fight May card features Los Angeles Police Department Officer Ismael Gonzalez (9-8-2) against "Notorious" Rick Slaton (10-2-1). Slaton, a heavily tattooed ex-con known for his aggressive style and hard punching, jumped at the chance to fight a police officer.

Among the heroes fighting are Gonzo, a former Marine squad leader and machine gunner who fought in Iraq. He was a high school football star and 31-0 as a wrestler in his senior year, but passed up many college scholarships to join the Marines after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The San Clemente resident served eight years in the Marines and was selected to be one of the pallbearers at President Ronald Reagan's funeral.

Another ex-con on the card is Ralph "The Pelican Bay Bomber" Aau, a 28-year-old who served six years in notorious Pelican Bay State Prison for attempted murder and carjacking. There, he joined a prison gang and fought for his life many times, including one battle that left his opponent with an estimated 60 stab wounds.

A world-class hip-hop music festival kicks off the day-long entertainment, featuring such cutting-edge artists as Too Short, the Dogg Pound, E40, Psycho Realm, Killah Priest from Wu Tang Clan, Shabazz the Disciple and Big Twins from Mobb Deep.

Source: Cage vs. Cons

Round 5 Releases “Ultimate Collector” Series 6 Featuring Six New Figures & Limited-Edition Runs Of Joe Rogan, And Bas Rutten

Markham, ON (March 28, 2011) – Round 5 President Damon Lau announced the release of the “Ultimate Collector” Series 6 featuring six figurines, representing a broad range of popular characters. Included in the Series are current fan favorites light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones, Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy, and Gray “The Bully” Maynard, plus a UFC 69 Championship Edition of Matt “The Terror” Serra. Series 6 will hit retail shelves in the Spring of 2011.

Also included in Series 6 are limited edition figures of UFC play-by-play commentator Joe Rogan and UFC 20 heavyweight champion turned world-class trainer and broadcaster Bas “El Guapo” Rutten. The Rutten figure includes a replica of the classic Ultiman UFC championship belt he won at UFC 20, Rutten’s final fight in the UFC.

The limited edition figures will be sold exclusively on round5mma.com and will be available for pre-order on April 11th.

“We have been getting tons of requests from fans through Facebook and Round5MMA.com for all of these guys, “ said Lau, “We are thrilled that we could release such a diverse range of figures this Spring”

Fans can view an image of early sculpts of the new series at http://www.round5mma.com/blog/

“'The Ultimate Collector’ Series 6 is our most innovative, varied release to date,” said Lau. “From active contenders, current and former champions, to Hall of Famers we’ve got something for every collector in Series 6. I am proud to offer a Series that pays homage to the current superstars in the sport and some of the UFC’s greatest moments.”

As with previous “Ultimate Collector” items, Series 6 will be presented in stylish, UFC-themed packaging that includes action shots from the Octagon as well as a short bio.

For a list of retailers carrying Ultimate Collector Series 6 and all Round 5 products go to: www.round5mma.com.

About Round 5

Since 2008, Markham, Ontario based Round 5 has been the industry leader in creating officially licensed UFC collectible figures of top tier and emerging UFC fighters. Round 5 is dedicated to creating products that accurately capture the likeness and trademark poses of the athletes they represent, and most importantly, to remaining true to the sport of MMA and its personalities.

Round 5 products are sold in over 50 countries around the world, and can be found on www.round5mma.com, and at major department stores in the United States, and Canada.

Source: Round 5

UNDEFEATED LORENZ LARKIN REPLACES SATOSHI ISHII AGAINST SCOTT LIGHTY AT STRIKEFORCE® CHALLENGERS EVENT ON APRIL 1

STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS LIVE ON SHOWTIME® FROM STOCKTON ARENA IN STOCKTON, CALIF. ON FRIDAY, APRIL 1

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

SAN JOSE, CA, March 28, 2011 – Unbeaten light heavyweight Lorenz “The Monsoon’’ Larkin (fighting out of Riverside, Calif. / 8-0) will replace Satoshi Ishii and take on kickboxing specialist Scott “Lights Out’’ Lighty (fighting out of San Luis Obispo, Calif./ 6-1) on the STRIKEFORCE® Challengers card on Friday, April 1, at Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif.

The event, which is presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, will air live on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Due to the recent natural disasters that struck Japan, Ishii, the 2008 Judo Olympic Games Gold Medalist, was unable to acquire a visa permitting him to leave his homeland in time for the fight. Taking his place is Larkin, a 25-year-old who has made quick work of his last five foes, winning all by stoppage inside three rounds. In his most recent outing, he registered a second round TKO over Mike Cook on Feb. 25.

“Lorenz is a talented, undefeated fighter whose aggression and power make him a threat in the light heavyweight division,” Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said. “He’s in for a tough test against Scott Lighty, who has trained with some of the sport’s best like Chuck Liddell. This is the biggest fight of his young career.”

Larkin agrees with Coker’s assessment and believes a win over Lighty in Stockton could propel him into the mix in the Strikeforce 205-pound division.

“This is definitely a step up for me, but I’m excited and looking forward to the challenge,’’ Larkin said. “Lighty’s a good fighter with a lot of experience. But I’ve trained hard, I’m in good shape and I’m confident.’’

In the televised main event, former NCAA wrestling standout and body builder Justin “The Silverback’’ Wilcox (10-3), of San Jose, will face Brazil’s Rodrigo Damm (9-4) in a lightweight bout. In other fights on SHOWTIME: Rapidly-rising David “Tarzan” Douglas (6-2), of Antioch, Calif., will take on Caros “The Future” Fodor (7-2), of Kirkland, Wash., at 155 pounds, Josh Thorrnburg (6-2), of Stockton, and James Terry (9-2), of Livermore, Calif., clash at 165 pounds and Antioch’s Damian Douglas (3-1), Tarzan’s unidentical twin, meets Wayne Phillips (5-3), of San Jose, in a welterweight battle.

Tickets, starting at $20, are on sale at the Stockton Arena ticket office, online at www.StocktonTickets.com, by phone at (209) 373-1700 or (866) 373-7088 and STRIKEFORCE's official website (www.strikeforce.com).

The first non-televised, undercard fight will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT. Doors will open at 4:45 p.m.

About STRIKEFORCE® - www.strikeforce.com

Owned and operated by Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC, which also owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand, STRIKEFORCE® is a world-class mixed martial arts promotion based in San Jose, Calif. that currently holds 16 live events annually across the United States. First established as a mixed martial arts entity in 2006, STRIKEFORCE now broadcasts its events live on Showtime® Networks, Inc. and has produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network. With a growing roster featuring the world’s elite competitors, STRIKEFORCE has cemented its place as a leader in providing quality mixed martial arts action.

Source: Strikeforce

With So Much About Concussions Recently In The News ...

I thought I'd make mention of tomorrow night's 'Diagnosis and Management of Concussion in Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Combatants' (hosted by Dr. Peter Q. Warinner, a neurologist and founder of Brigham and Women's/Mass General Health Care Center's Sports Neurology and Concussion Clinic), set to begin at 8 PM ET.

Be you fan, promoter, or participant, I have a feeling it's going to be important viewing.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Mixed Martial Arts Comic Book Series Launches In April

Heavy Knucklez Sportswear is Proud to Announce a Partnership with former Marvel Comics writer, Peter Quinones; to Release Four-Issue Comic Book Series, "IDUMA - PANKRATION 3042."

Stockton, CA, March 19, 2011 -- Heavy Knucklez Sportswear owner, Will Trawick has teamed up with writer, Peter Quinones (GI Joe, Phantom 2040, Dragon Lines, Terraformers) and Robekka Art Studio artists; Matrix (Lillim 1-5) and P.X. (Lillim, Unforgiving) to introduce readers to a New Generation of Warrior. "PANKRATION 3042" will explore a world where Mixed Martial Arts and Mythology merge.

It's the 31st Century; Zeus the god of gods has grown bored. He has brought back hand to hand combat in the form of Pankration to the Arena's of the new world; Zeus has instructed the gods to select warriors, past or present to represent them in the games. Most of the fighters have been resurrected; they are human, part human or mythological beings.

This four part journey will follow Iduma Visilios, a great Pankration warrior of the past; chosen, against his will, by Ares, the God of War. Ares has changed the very make-up of Iduma's genetics and evolved him into a more advanced human being, Homosuperios. The human race is facing extinction; Ares holds the key to their survival. Confused, angry and not knowing who to trust, our courageous and battle tested hero will try to find his way in this new world, win his freedom from Ares and save mankind in the process.

"We were fortunate to work with Peter, he brought so much experience and creativity to the project that it just wouldn't be the same without him," says Will Trawick. "He took a vision that I had in my mind and put it to words with such clarity and focus, I really enjoyed working with him."

Peter Quinones adds, "Will Trawick has created a fascinating world, filled with scheming gods, mixed martial arts, and true warriors. I've been having a blast stepping into the arena of Heavy Knucklez!"

The artwork comes courtesy of Matrix and up and coming artist P.X. "The amount of detail that these two artists put into this book is amazing!" says Will Trawick. "We are very pleased with their work."

Robekka Art Studio's P.X. adds "We appreciate the creative freedom Will gave us."

In its earliest form, Pankration was a martial arts sport introduced during the Greek Olympic games of 648 BC. It was founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling. The matches were won by submission or death. Pankration competitions were the closest an athletic event has come to unarmed, no-rules, hand-to-hand combat; similar to modern day MMA fighting styles.

IDUMA - PANKRATION 3042 #1, a 24-page full-color, Indie comic book that will appeal to fans of MMA/UFC; films like 300, Gladiator, Clash of the Titans; and TV series like Spartacus, will be available online at http://www.heavyknucklez.com/hk%20web_030.htm, April 20, 2011 for $2.99.

ABOUT HEAVY KNUCKLEZ

Heavy Knucklez is an independently owned and operated MMA Apparel company, based in Stockton California, geared towards Mixed Martial Arts fans and Comic Book enthusiasts. Will Trawick, the owner and founder is a fan of Mixed Martial Arts and an avid reader and collector of Comic books. He came up with the concept for Heavy Knucklez in 2008 when he set out to create original comic characters to display on products to be sold online and at MMA sporting events. However, at its conception, he envisioned something more for Heavy Knucklez than just images on products; he created a fictional world for the characters, complete with individual biographies and storylines for fans to follow on the website. In 2011 his vision will be taken to the next level with the launch of an MMA Comic Book series, IDUMA - PANKRATION 3042. Currently there are five main characters; Iduma Visilios, Basilios Maximus, Damianos, Diomedes, and Atreus. For more information, visit http://www.heavyknucklez.com.

ABOUT PETER QUINONES

Peter Quinones has written for Marvel and various independent publishers. He has worked on titles such as G.I. Joe, Phantom 2040 (with Steve Ditko) and Quantum Leap. He has also co-created titles with Ron Lim (Dragon Lines) and Kelley Jones (Terraformers). He has also written articles and conducted interviews for Starlog, Comics Scene, Comics Journal and other genre publications. His current project deals with mythology and MMA.

ABOUT ROBEKKA ART STUDIOS, MATRIX & P.X.

Matrix did all the art for "Lillim" 1-5; pencils, inks, and colors. "Lillim" was published by Image Comics in 2009. He has worked for Image, Marvel, DC and DDP. He's a comic artist with more than 10 years experience. P.X. has worked as assistant for Matrix and they worked together on an Image published comic "Lillim"; he has also worked with Robekka artist Ada Zhu on a comic titled "Unforgiving" for the band "Within Temptation"; with Steven O'Connell (BloodRayne & Dark 48) and Romano Molenaar (Witchblade, Darkness and X-men).

Source: Heavy Knucklez Sportswear




Thursday, March 17, 2011

SPECIAL EDITION OF HDNET’S “INSIDE MMA” TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF UFC’S PURCHASE OF STRIKEFORCE™

Exclusive Interviews with Dana White and Scott Coker – This Friday at 9:00 p.m. ET

DALLAS, March 17, 2011 -- This week’s announcement that Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC (which owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand) purchased Strikeforce™ has stunned the mixed martial arts community. The move is arguably the most significant development in the sport since Zuffa’s acquisition of PRIDE in 2008, and solidifies Zuffa’s position as the largest MMA company in the world.

This week’s “Inside MMA” covers all the angles on this major breaking news story, including interviews with all the principals involved in the deal.

First, Mike Straka talks to UFC President Dana White about the acquisition and what it means for the sport then Bas Rutten and Strikeforce™ President Scott Coker discuss how the deal came together and where the promotion will go from here.

Also, Ron Kruck takes a look back at the two organizations and gathers reaction from the fighters about what this consolidation will mean for them.

“Inside MMA” is committed to giving viewers more insight into the top stories than any other outlet,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “Bas’ exclusive interview with Scott Coker goes deeper than anything you have seen so far. You’ve read the headlines and heard the sound bites, now tune in this Friday to go inside the story and find out what it means for the fighters, fans and the sport.”

“Inside MMA” airs this Friday night at 9:00 p.m. ET on HDNet.

And, HDNet will post a special ONLINE ONLY edition of “Inside MMA” which will be available at www.hd.net/blog immediately following the telecast. Dominick Cruz, Phil Baroni, and Trevor Whitman will join Kenny and Bas to breakdown UFC 128, plus Ron Kruck has comments from Jon Jones and Shogun Rua.

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2011.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, King of the Cage, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features live coverage of regular season games from the second season of the United Football League.

HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"

Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS and in Canada via Access Communications, Cogeco, Rogers, Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct.

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

Source: HDNet

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Former UFC & WWE Champion To Grace Upcoming Issue Of 'Muscle & Fitness'

For those of you into this kind of thing, the May issue of 'Muscle & Fitness' promises an exclusive look into Brock Lesnar's "brutal training program" (which has recently come under heavy scrutiny by numerous armchair-quarterbacks, has-beens, and never-weres).

Lesnar will also be featured on the cover of said issue, which should be available on or around April 19.

Friday, March 11, 2011

TWO TELEVISED FIGHTS ADDED TO STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS EVENT FRIDAY, APRIL 1, LIVE ON SHOWTIME® AT STOCKTON ARENA IN STOCKTON, CALIF.

-- Ric Gillespie

James Terry Faces Conor Heun, Damian Douglas Meets Wayne Phillips

NEW YORK (March 11, 2011) – Fights between lightweights (155 pounds) James Terry (9-2), of Livermore, Calif., and Conor “Hurricane” Heun (8-4), of Los Angeles, and welterweights (170 pounds) Damian Douglas (3-1), of Antioch, Calif., and Wayne Phillips (5-3), of San Jose, Calif., have been added to the televised portion of a STRIKEFORCE Challengers Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight card presented by Rockstar Energy Drink at Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif., on Friday, April 1, live on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

In the main event, former NCAA wrestling stud Justin “The Silverback’’ Wilcox (10-3), of San Jose, will face Rodrigo Damm (9-4) of Brazil in a lightweight bout. Other fights on SHOWTIME: 2008 Judo Olympic Games Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii (4-1), of Japan, makes his STRIKEFORCE debut against kickboxing specialist Scott Lighty (6-1), of San Luis Obispo, Calif., in a light heavyweight (205 pounds) bout, and David “Tarzan” Douglas (6-2), of Antioch, the unidentical twin of Damian, will take on Caros “The Future” Fodor (7-2), of Kirkland, Wash., at 155 pounds.

Tickets, starting at $20, are on sale for STRIKEFORCE’s first fight in Stockton at the Stockton Arena ticket office, online at www.StocktonTickets.com, by phone at (209) 373-1700 or (866) 373-7088 and STRIKEFORCE's official website (www.strikeforce.com). The first non-televised, undercard fight will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT. Doors will open at 4:45 p.m.

Terry, a winner of two in a row and four of five, is coming off a 3:26, first-round TKO (punches) over Lucas Gamaza last Jan. 29 in San Jose. An explosive 170-pounder with heavy hands, excellent stamina and athleticism, the 5-foot-10, 30-year-old Terry is a product of Cung Le’s Universal Strength Headquarters in San Jose. He is 4-1 for STRIKEFORCE.

Terry, who was born in Kodiak, Alaska, started wrestling at the age of five. He was a high school state champion in Alaska and Arizona. At Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz., he was a two-time NJCAA All American. Terry transferred to Arizona State for his junior year, but he sustained an injury that ended his collegiate career.

In June 2006, Terry moved to San Jose and joined Le’s outfit. He went 5-0 at the outset of an MMA career that began in August ‘06.

“I’m looking forward to a good, hard fight against Conor, who has solid experience against top guys,’’ Terry said. “This is a big step up, but these are the kinds of fights I want. I appreciate the opportunity I am getting. I’ll be ready.’’

Heun is winless in two fiercely contested, bloody, highly entertaining STRIKEFORCE fights, but the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt and former IFL and EliteXC fighter could just as easily be 2-0.

Last June 16 in Los Angeles on SHOWTIME, the aggressive-minded 5-foot-10, 30-year-old wound up on the wrong end of a split decision against former world champion KJ Noons in a thrilling affair. On a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event on June 16, 2009, in Kent, Wash., Heun dropped a close, unanimous decision to Jorge Gurgel in a grueling, non-stop-action encounter that left both combatants bloodied and battered.

“I want to win this fight badly,’’ said Heun, a superb athlete who was ahead on one scorecard against Noons (29-28), but behind on the other two (30-27). “I was very disappointed when only one judge got it right (against Noons). I love to put on great fights. But this is one I want badly.’’

Before turning to MMA, Heun was a Division III National Qualifier wrestler at the University of Ithaca where he majored in English. After graduating, Heun did not enter MMA immediately. Instead, he went into the corporate world and even owned his own clothing apparel line. He would later leave Colorado and move to California where he began work as a dental assistant.

Damian Douglas, who competes in a full weight class higher than “Tarzan,’’ will be making his STRIKEFORCE debut and first start anywhere since registering a 0:46, first-round submission (rear-naked choke) over Joe Schilling on Sept. 26, 2008. Damian turned pro in August 2007, nearly two-and-one-half years after his brother did.

Phillips has won both his STRIKEFORCE fights. In his last start, he scored a split decision over Fernando Bettega on Dec. 4, 2010, in St. Louis. Phillips produced a 4:27, first-round submission over Erik Lawson in his debut for the promotion on Feb. 26, 2010.

A winner of five in a row, Wilcox will be making his third consecutive start on Challengers and will be headlining for a second straight time. On Nov. 19, 2010, in Jackson, Miss., he took a unanimous decision over highly touted Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro in the main event on SHOWTIME.

Wilcox, a 5-foot-6, 32-year-old former bodybuilder, was born in Cincinnati, lives in Fresno and fights out of AKA (American Kickboxing Academy) in San Jose. He wrestled for Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where he befriended Josh Koscheck, who turned on his college wrestling buddy to MMA and eventually brought him to AKA.

“STRIKEFORCE has a great lightweight division,’’ Wilcox said. “There are a lot of potentially great matchups out there for me. I just take it one fight at a time, but no question I want to fight the biggest names and fight for the title.’’

Damm has previously fought for the STRIKEFORCE belt. He replaced the injured Josh Thomson on short notice to challenge STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez on April 11, 2009, in San Jose, on SHOWTIME. The Sengoku star lost to Melendez and has split his two fights since.

Perhaps Damm’s most significant victory came when he scored a second-round TKO over American Top Team’s Jorge Masvidal on June 8, 2008, in Japan. The triumph capped off an eight-fight win streak for Damm, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist who has produced submissions in five of his career wins.

David Douglas, a member of Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, is a 5-foot-11, 28-year-old non-stop action fighter who has won six out of his last seven fights, the last two very impressively. This will be his second consecutive fight on SHOWTIME.

In his last outing this past Feb. 18, Tarzan made like a “Ghostbuster,’’ making local fan favorite Nick “The Ghost’’ Gonzalez disappear via rear-naked choke after just 1:05 of the first round during a STRIKEFORCE Challengers show at Cedar Park, Texas.

“I wanted to showcase my Jiu-Jitsu skills,’’ said the well-conditioned, offensive-minded Douglas after outclassing the more experienced Gonzalez. “I’ll fight anybody. I feel most comfortable at 155 pounds. No one can beat me when I’m healthy and fighting regularly.’’

Two outings ago, Tarzan scored a second-round TKO (punches) over Dominic Clark in a non-televised match of a Challengers event on Oct. 22, 2010, in Fresno.
Tarzan’s most memorable win came against Mongkhon Wiwasuk, aka Malaipet, a Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai champ in Thailand and a dangerous striker, on Sept. 26, 2008, at Santa Ynez, Calif. He rallied to triumph by third-round TKO in a brawl that featured numerous changes in momentum, exceeded all expectations and, for sheer excitement, was as good as it gets.

Fodor, a talented 5-foot-9, 27-year-old, has won two in a row, both on STRIKEFORCE Challengers, and seven of eight. In his last fight, he submitted (brabo choke) Derek “Pretzel’’ Getzel on Nov. 19, 2010, in Jackson. The previous July 23, Fodor won the only decision of his five-year career when he unanimously outpointed Thomas Diagne.

A well-rounded fighter known for his mental toughness and ability to finish, Fodor wrestled in high school but entered the Marines six days after graduation. While he was in boot camp, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 occurred and he was sent to Kuwait for the Iraq invasion.

After an extensive, successful amateur career in which he was the Genesis Fights MMA and Muay Thai champion and Revolution submission champion, Fodor turned pro. Outside the cage, Fodor, who once had his sights set on becoming a homicide detective, is a trainer at a health club and works with mentally challenged kids while remaining active in the reserves.

Ishii will be making his United States debut. He won all four of his fights in 2010 after getting outpointed in his pro debut by fellow Judoka gold medalist Hidehiko Yoshida on Dec. 31, 2009. In his last fight, Ishii won a unanimous decision over Jerome Le Banner on Dec. 31, 2010. The 5-foot-11, 24-year-old Ishii also won a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games. He is a two-time All-Japan Judo Champion.

Lighty, a 6-foot-2, 32-year-old from San Luis Obispo, Calif., is competing for the first time since a second-round KO (punch) over Shawn Frye on Aug. 14, 2010. This will be Lighty’s third start for STRIKEFORCE and his first in a televised fight. He registered a 2:05, first-round TKO over Mike Cook on Aug. 15, 2009, but lost to Antwain Britt the following Dec. 19.

About STRIKEFORCE

STRIKEFORCE (www.STRIKEFORCE.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.

Source: Strikeforce

Thursday, March 10, 2011

“HDNET FIGHTS: SHARK FIGHTS 14” DEBUTS LIVE THIS FRIDAY ON HDNET

Horwich vs. Villefort and Damm vs. LaRosa Headline Event – Friday at 10:00 p.m. ET

DALLAS -- March 10, 2011 -- HDNet, “Your Home for MMA” presents more LIVE events than any other network, and this Friday is no exception as “Shark Fights” makes its debut on the network presenting a solid card from top to bottom.

In the main event of the evening middleweight contender Danillo Villefort (12-3) meets UFC veteran and former IFL Middleweight Champion Matt Horwich (26-17-1). Villefort is riding a three fight winning streak with two (T)KOs during that stretch. Horwich is coming off a victory over Jake Rosholt.

Two of the top ranked women fighters in the world take center stage in the co-main event. The bout between Tara LaRosa (19-2) and Carina Damm (15-5) has literally been years in the making. The rivalry dates back to their time in Bodog Fights three years ago and the bad blood has continued ever since. Damm believes she was disrespected by LaRosa in the past and she is anxious for the chance to finally settle their differences in the cage.

Lucas Lopes (19-11) vs. Mike Bronzouliz (10-2), Alex Cisne (5-1) vs. Eric Davila (18-10), and Sean Shakour (3-0) vs. Joseph Sandoval (4-0) rounds out the main card.

"I am excited to introduce ‘Shark Fights’ to HDNet fans,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “Everyone knows that we broadcast the best action from Asia and Europe, so it was time to bring in some great, live US fights on Friday night."

The event is part of five hours of original MMA programming on HDNet this Friday night including:

* ”HDNet Fights Vault” at 8:00 p.m. ET – featuring “Sengoku 9 Featherweight GP Final”

* ”Fighting Words with Mike Straka” at 8:30 p.m. ET – featuring the UFC’s ring girls

* ”Inside MMA” at 9:00 p.m. ET – featuring Rich Franklin, Tim Kennedy, and Thomas Denny

* ”HDNet Fights: Shark Fights 14” LIVE at 10:00 p.m. ET

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2011.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, King of the Cage, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features live coverage of regular season games from the second season of the United Football League.

HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"

Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS and in Canada via Access Communications, Cogeco, Rogers, Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct.

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

Source: HDNet

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Dragon Gate USA In Atlanta And On The GWH Radio Network

Dragon Gate USA will make their Atlanta debut at the Presidential Ballroom, located at 4001 Presidential Parkway on April 2, followed by a matinee event at the same venue on April 3.

In advance of their arrival in Atlanta, a few of the DGUSA stars will be making appearances on the GWH Radio Network. The schedule is as follows:

Ringside Rap, hosted by Rich Tate, Les Thatcher, and Mike Sempervive, will be joined by Jon Moxley on March 9. Austin Aries will be the featured guest on their March 23 broadcast.

Jimmy Jacobs will appear on Phoning It In, hosted by Larry Goodman, Murder One, and Trent Van Drisse, on March 14, while Brodie Lee will join them on their March 29 program.

Both shows begin at 8 PM ET, and can be heard online by clicking here.

Stay tuned to Georgia Wrestling History for more information.

Source: http://georgiawrestlinghistory.com/news-notes/2011/03/08/10.html.

Monday, March 7, 2011

UFC® AND SPORTSNET AGREE TO FOUR-YEAR DEAL

Broadcast Agreement Makes Sportsnet Home of the UFC® in Canada

TORONTO, March 7 - The Ultimate Fighting Championship® and Rogers Sportsnet today announced a four-year agreement for broadcast rights to UFC® television events in Canada.

Sportsnet, the live-event high-definition leader in Canada, will have a consistent schedule of UFC programming including preliminary fights of UFC Pay-Per-View events and UFC Fight Night™ events while also having the home sports position for the 10 p.m. (ET) timeslot for The Ultimate Fighter® series. In addition, Sportsnet will broadcast live non Pay-Per-View international UFC events and provide UFC content on a non-exclusive basis across other platforms.

"This deal cements our commitment to bring fans the best UFC coverage in Canada," said Scott Moore, President, Rogers Broadcasting. "Sportsnet is excited about this partnership with the UFC as the sport continues to rapidly grow in this country and beyond."

"We're excited to announce a new deal with Rogers Sportsnet that will put the UFC in millions of homes in Canada," UFC President Dana White said. "Canada is an amazing market for this sport and we look forward to bringing the fans more UFC programming. We're happy to have a strong television partner in Canada like Rogers Sportsnet."

"This is great news for the UFC and our fans," said Tom Wright, UFC Director of Canadian Operations. "Canadians are hungry for UFC shows and segments and now have so much to look forward to as we continue to grow the sport together with Sportsnet."

"Showdown" Joe Ferraro is the featured UFC analyst for Sportsnet Connected and sportsnet.ca, reporting on all UFC events. He is also the host of MMA Connected, which presents highlights and news from around the mixed martial arts world every Monday night. Sportsnet has been broadcasting UFC programming for the past four years.

About Rogers Sportsnet

As Canada's live-event and high definition leader, Sportsnet is comprised of five channels: four regional channels and the nationally distributed Sportsnet ONE., which are all available in high definition. The network broadcasts more NHL games than any other Canadian network with 253 regional regular-season telecasts, featuring the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators.

Sportsnet broadcasts over 500 Major League Baseball games, featuring all of the Toronto Blue Jays' 162 games and the World Series, MLB Playoffs, MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. Sportsnet is a member of Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, and an official broadcaster of the London 2012 Games of the Olympiad. Sportsnet also features NFL on Sunday and Thursday nights, UEFA Champions League and Barclays Premier League. Sportsnet also broadcasts the Canadian Hockey League and the MasterCard Memorial Cup. Sportsnet Connected is the network's nightly news program, providing regional coverage of the day's events in the world of sports. Fans that want to get connected to their home teams choose Rogers Sportsnet and sportsnet.ca for news, highlights and live-events.

Ultimate Fighting Championship® - www.ufc.com

Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over 12 UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually and 30 live arena events around the world. UFC content is distributed commercially through Canadastar in Canada. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries and territories, reaching 354 million homes worldwide, in 19 different languages. Ancillary businesses now include UFC.com with over 5 million unique visitors per month, the best-selling UFC "Undisputed" videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC Gym™, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo™ festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, articulated action figures and other media including best-selling DVDs and a U.S. bimonthly magazine.

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.

Source: Rogers Media, Inc.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

WWE® #1 In Cable Friday And Monday

STAMFORD, Conn., Mar 03, 2011 -- WWE’s Monday Night Raw® on USA Network and Friday Night SmackDown® on Syfy ruled cable as the most watched programs on their respective nights. The strong viewership is building towards WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania® XXVII, which will feature the most electrifying host in entertainment, The Rock®.

With 3.55 million viewers this past Friday, SmackDown was the most watched program on Syfy since August 2008. The show beat well-known shows Phineas and Ferb (Disney Channel), The O’Reilly Factor (FOX News Channel) and the NBA regular season games (ESPN) as the most watched that night.

Monday Night Raw’s 5.6 million viewers beat American Pickers, Pawn Stars (History Channel), and both college basketball regular season games (ESPN). It was watched by more viewers than Chuck and The Cape (NBC), as well as every program on CW.

Monday Night Raw ratings highlights include:

* Most watched program on all television (broadcast and cable) among males under 55, including 18-49 and 25-54.

* Most adults 18-34 and 18-49 on all of cable and every program on NBC and CW.

* More adults 25-54 on all of cable and every program on CW.

Friday Night SmackDown ratings highlights include:

* Most watched television program (broadcast and cable) among all males (M2+) than every program on NBC, FOX, ABC, CW and all of cable.

* Most watched television program (broadcast and cable) among all adults 18-49 and 25-54.

* Watched by more than 1.2 million female viewers, beating all programming on CW, TLC, A&E, Food Network, Lifetime, Hallmark and Oxygen.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Galaxy Explorer 2/25/11 & 2/28/11, live + same day impressions.

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

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG content across all of its platforms including television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.

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

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

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to our film business and any new business initiative which we may undertake; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition, our dividend is significant and is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant, including a waiver by the McMahon family of a portion of the dividends.

Source: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

STRIKEFORCE WORLD GRAND PRIX -- HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT CONTINUES JUNE 18 AT AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER IN DALLAS, TEXAS

April 9 Date Is Replaced
With World Championship Doubleheader
From Valley View Casino Center In San Diego, Calif.

NEW YORK (March 2, 2011) – The STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix -- Heavyweight Tournament will continue on Saturday, June 18 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, LIVE on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

The date originally reserved for continuation of the three-stage, single-elimination tournament comprised of eight of the world’s top heavyweights, April 9, will now feature a terrific STRIKEFORCE World Championship Doubleheader from Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., formerly the San Diego Sports Arena.

In the second event of the tournament, STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem (34-11, 1 NC) will face the only man to tap out MMA legend Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) and the heavy-handed Brett “The Grim” Rogers (11-2) will take on former UFC World Champion Josh Barnett (29-5).

“STRIKEFORCE is coming off a record presale and impressive attendance for the kickoff of the Grand Prix at IZOD Center in New Jersey that also drew a record viewership on SHOWTIME for live MMA,” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “To build on the tremendous momentum from New Jersey we needed the proper time to promote an event of this magnitude, which is why we have decided to continue the Tournament on June 18 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, a venue that has been identified as one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in the U.S.”

Coker continued: “We have a great relationship with the Texas State Athletic Commission, who, along with the American Airlines Center, is enthused to host the Grand Prix.”

STRIKEFORCE Welterweight World Champion Nick Diaz (24-7, 1 NC) will defend his title in a highly anticipated grudge match against the brawling Paul “Semtex” Daley (26-9-2) in the April 9 main event. Gilbert Melendez (18-2) will make the second defense of his STRIKEFORCE Lightweight World Title against the powerful Tatsuya Kawajiri (27-6-2). Also on the April 9 card is a bitter showdown between current DREAM Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi and Mike Kyle.

“We are fortunate to replace the April 9 date with a tremendous World Championship Doubleheader featuring the eagerly awaited showdown between Nick and Paul and the sensational matchup between Gilbert and Tatsuya,” Coker said. “This is a fight everyone has been waiting for and I’d like to thank DREAM for allowing Tatsuya to come to the U.S. to take on our Lightweight World Champion.”

For more information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive video, photos and news links on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and STRIKEFORCE mixed martial arts telecasts, along with access to the SHOWTIME Sports Facebook® and Twitter® pages, please go to http://Sports.Sho.com.

About STRIKEFORCE

STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, SHOWTIME 2 HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™ and FLIX ON DEMAND®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Channel™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Source: Strikeforce