SHOWTIME® And STRIKEFORCE® Reach New Programming Agreement For Live MMA Events On The Premium Network

New Deal Kicks Off on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 with ROCKHOLD vs. JARDINE

Plus, All STRIKEFORCE Preliminary Fights to Air Live on SHOWTIME EXTREME®

NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2011 -- Showtime Networks Inc. and world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE® have entered into a new broadcast agreement to continue producing live MMA events on the premium television network, SHOWTIME. The agreement was announced jointly today by Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, Dana White, UFC® President, and Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO.

Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women's featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos, women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME.

The new deal kicks off during the network's Free Preview Weekend, Saturday, Jan. 7, as champion Rockhold defends the STRIKEFORCE 185-pound title against dangerous veteran Keith Jardine at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Notable STRIKEFORCE contenders such as Robbie Lawler, "King Mo" Lawal and Tyron Woodley are also set to compete on the televised card, which—as part of Free Preview Weekend—will be available in more than 60 million households nationwide across SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME HD™ and SHOWTIME On Demand®.

Beginning with the Jan. 7 card, SHOWTIME will also televise undercard fights for all STRIKEFORCE events live on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The live SHO Extreme preliminary telecasts will afford network subscribers with expanded live fight coverage by up to two hours and provide invaluable exposure for the sport's next generation of STRIKEFORCE contenders.

Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow.

"Since its advent on SHOWTIME in 2007, live mixed martial arts has always performed well with our subscribers, particularly in the younger demographics," said Espinoza, who now heads the division of the network responsible for programming live boxing, studio shows from National Football League and NASCAR as well as multiple sports documentary series. "As the one and only premium network in the MMA business, we are proud to renew our commitment to the sport and to our partners at Strikeforce. This agreement ensures that we can continue to deliver the edge-of-your-seat programming that each live MMA event produces in the New Year and beyond.

"This exciting announcement could not have come at a better time," he continued. "During our nationwide Free Preview Weekend a whole new crop of MMA fans will have the opportunity to sample the Strikeforce brand free of charge."

"We're excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big STRIKEFORCE events next year," White said. "I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building STRIKEFORCE and working very closely with SHOWTIME."

"SHOWTIME has been a great TV partner for us and we're happy to renew our agreement with them," Coker said. "Together, we've put on some really amazing events and we're going to keep doing that with this new deal. We have a great core of talented fighters on our roster and MMA fans are in for a real treat."

STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. MASVIDAL airs live on SHOWTIME this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast) as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defends the title against hard-hitting contender Jorge Masvidal. In the night's co-main event, women's featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos meets gifted Japanese star Hiroko Yamanaka.

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 Las Vegas, Nev. that currently holds 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.

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™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. 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

2012 Date And Location Of WWE's 'Over The Limit' PPV

For those of you interested, next year's edition of WWE's 'Over The Limit' takes place on May 20, 2012, and will emanate from Raleigh, North Carolina's RBC Center (the first time in nearly eight-years a WWE PPV has come from that location).

Tickets officially go on sale in February. More information is available at the RBC Center's website, and if you supply them with your e-mail address, you can get in on a presale (which runs until December 16).

ProElite MMA Returns Live On HDNet At Neal Blaisdell Center Honolulu, Hawaii -- January 21, 2012

Fight Card Headline features "Da Spyder vs. The PUNK" and ProElite Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi's

LOS ANGELES, Dec 09, 2011 -- ProElite (PK:PELE) makes its return to the MMA-centric islands of Hawaii, featuring a fight card loaded with world class talent on January 21, 2012 at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The main event matches Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove against Ikuhisa “The PUNK” Minowa, and includes the semifinals of the ProElite Heavyweight Grand Prix.

Tickets for “ProElite: Da Spyder vs The PUNK” will be on sale soon to the general public at the Blaisdell Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations (800)745-3000, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and www.ProElite.com. The ProElite event, a wholly-owned property of Stratus Media Group (www.stratusmediagroup.com), will be televised live on HDNet at 10 P.M. EST

Hawaii native Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (13-9) returns to the ProElite cage to take on international fan favorite Ikuhisa “The PUNK” Minowa (51-32-8) of Nagoya, Japan. The 6-foot-6 Grove had an impressive showing on ProElite’s last card in Hawaii (August 27, 2011) where he choked out tough MMA veteran Joe “Diesel” Riggs with a guillotine choke at just :59 seconds of the first round.

With 35 of his 51 wins coming by way of submission, Japanese fight icon Minowa is one of the most well known and recognizable fighters on the international circuit today. He has competed in PrideFC and Dream, where he defeated three MMA giants including Bob Sapp (Achilles Lock), Hong Man Choi (Heel Hook), and Sokoudjou (TKO) to capture the Dream Super Hulk (Openweight) Grand Prix title. The January 21 fight will mark Minowa’s ProElite and North American debut.

The Honolulu Card also features the first semifinal match of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, and showcases the very tough Ryan Martinez (6-1) taking on headhunter Cody Griffin (5-2).

In his ProElite debut, Martinez handed 2009 NCAA Heavyweight wrestling champion Mark Ellis his first MMA defeat by unanimous decision in the first stage of the Grand Prix on November 5, 2011. Known for his go for broke fighting style, the 5-foot-11 Martinez hails from Greenley, Colorado where he trains out of Infinite MMA. Griffin, a true comeback kid, brings an explosive style to the match. Between the two fighters only 3 out of their 14 total fights have gone to decision.

The opposite bracket features the heavy hitting Jake “The Honey Bear” Heun (2-1) against the biggest physical competitor in the tournament at 6-foot-5, Richard “The Black Eagle” Odoms (6-0).

Heun looks to continue his rise to prominence after training with Chris “The Crippler” Leben during his time as a Linebacker at the University of Hawaii and is now refining his technique in Utah under the guidance of MMA pioneer Jeremy “Gumby” Horn. Heun has become a dangerous opponent for any fighter entering the cage with him.

Richard Odoms, an imposing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds, is truly a giant in the cage. The San Antonio, Texas police officer dominated his November 5 fight against Rod Housley and won a clear cut unanimous decision to advance into the Honolulu semifinals.

ABOUT PROELITE

Founded in 2006, Proelite has been a major global force in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). ProElite, based in Los Angeles, California, continues its legacy to hold key domestic and international live MMA events. The company owns U.K. based MMA brand Cage Rage and is a significant stakeholder in Spirit MC in South Korea. ProElite signed a broadcast deal with HD NET in October 2011 to broadcast fights live in the highest quality video for consumers and fans. ProElite also holds the distinction of having produced one of the two highest-rated televised broadcasts of a live major network MMA event.

www.proelite.com

ABOUT STRATUS

Headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with offices in Los Angeles, California; New York City, NY; Geneva, Switzerland; and Perugia, Italy, Stratus Media Group, Inc. (SMDI) is an owner, operator, developer, producer, and marketer of live entertainment events. In addition, the company owns Stratus White, a new standard in personal lifestyle and card services for the global affluent. Available by invitation only, Stratus White is a discreet, elite member & partner community providing exclusive and unparalleled service and access across the luxury product & travel, social, sporting, cultural and philanthropic areas of life, including events and experiences.

www.stratusmediagroup.com

www.stratuswhite.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, projections of results, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Acts of 1933 and 1934. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors. Although the company's management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. The company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: ProElite

Brian Blair Recovering After Health Scare

I'd like to send get-well wishes to Brain Blair, who recently returned home from a six-day stint in the hospital due to intestinal poisoning from an undetected tear in his appendix.

If you'd like to contact Brian, feel free to do so via Facebook or e-mail.

Mary J. Blige, Nickelback, Maria Menounos, George Wallace, Miss USA Alyssa Campanella, Join WWE For Holiday Special “WWE® Tribute To The Troops®”

STAMFORD, Conn., Dec 1, 2011 -- WWE, USA Network and NBC will honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces with the ninth annual holiday special, “WWE Tribute to the Troops” presented by Slim Jim. The program will air as a two-hour special on USA Network on Tuesday, December 13 (9-11 p.m. ET / 8-10 p.m. CT) and as a one-hour special on NBC on Saturday, December 17 (9-10 p.m. ET / 8-9 p.m. CT).

In the grand tradition of Bob Hope, the most patriotic holiday special of the year will feature performances by Grammy award winning R&B sensation Mary J. Blige, multi-platinum rock band Nickelback, comedian George Wallace, and WWE’s biggest Superstars and Divas for thousands of Fort Bragg military personnel and their families at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, NC. Miss USA 2011, Alyssa Campanella, will make a special appearance along with Extra’s Maria Menounos, who will lace up her boots and step into the ring for a special Diva’s match. The special will also include messages of encouragement and thanks from various celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Jackman, The Muppets, Robin Williams, Bradley Cooper and Nicole Kidman, among others.

In keeping with the spirit of “WWE Tribute to the Troops” and bringing a little piece of Americana to our service men and women overseas, the special will chronicle WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and Superstars Kofi Kingston®, Brie Bella™ and Nikki Bella™’s goodwill visit to our troops in Afghanistan, as well as WWE Superstars and Divas visit with the troops and families of Fort Bragg.

WWE is proud to partner with the U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs, to expand entertainment and outreach efforts to Soldiers and their Families around the world.

*Talent is subject to change.

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 entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. 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, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul 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, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE 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 and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; 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 the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; 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 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.

SOURCE: WWE

UFC (R) Returns To Japan with Championship Card: Frankie Edgar Defends Lightweight Title Against Benson 'Smooth' Henderson, On Sunday, February 26, 2012, At Saitama Super Arena, Japan

- Tickets: Pre-sale Channels Open Now; General Availability on December 10; Live on Pay-Per-View on Saturday, February 25, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT -

TOKYO, Nov. 30, 2011 -- The Ultimate Fighting Championship (R) announced the full title card on November 30 of the organization's return to the birthplace of mixed martial arts. This highly anticipated event, the first in Asia under Zuffa ownership, features an epic lightweight title fight pitting champion Frankie Edgar against former WEC Champion Benson Henderson. "UFC (R) JAPAN: EDGAR vs. HENDERSON" will take place at the Saitama Super Arena, in suburban Tokyo, on Sunday, February 26, 2012.

UFC Japan -- or UFC 144 -- will also feature the return to the Land of the Rising Sun of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, one of the biggest stars in the sport, in a bout which will mark the 6th anniversary to the day of his last fight in Japan. Jackson faces rising star Ryan Bader, whose most recent win came just two weeks ago at UFC 139 in San Jose. Other key matchups feature Mark Hunt, a veteran of Japanese kickboxing, versus French heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo; and Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama cutting weight to meet the always dangerous Jake Shields in the welterweight division. Rounding out the main card will be a lightweight bout pitting the underrated Joe Lauzon, coming off a stunning 67-second submission over Melvin Guillard, against former WEC champion Anthony Pettis.

The above-mentioned fighters Edgar, Jackson, Akiyama, Henderson, Bader and Shields, as well as Japan's own top middleweight Yushin Okami, all appeared in a press conference at the Ritz Carlton Roppongi in Tokyo on November 28 along with other top Japanese fighters such as Hatsu Hioki, Takanori Gomi, "Kid" Yamamoto, Riki Fukuda and Takeya Mizugaki. UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC International Managing Director Marshall Zelaznik, and Asia Managing Director Mark Fischer unveiled the complete card and discussed the upcoming event to be held at the Saitama Super Arena.

"Japan is the spiritual home of martial arts -- the world has learned from the Japanese many aspects of how to compete in hand-to-hand combat with respect and honor," said Fertitta. "But Japan also has a proud history of modern mixed martial arts and I am excited to bring the Ultimate Fighting Championship back here, and to begin the build-up today to one of the most highly anticipated events of the year -- not just for Japanese UFC fans, but for sports fans all over the world."

"To mark this historic occasion of UFC's return to Japan and Zuffa's first event in Asia, we are bringing a truly stacked card, topped with a World Championship title bout," noted UFC Asia Managing Director Mark Fischer. "Frankie Edgar is one of the top pound-for-pound and toughest guys in the sport, and Benson Henderson is a former WEC champion who earned his title shot with three consecutive wins including most recently over Clay Guida in one of the best fights of 2011."

Tickets for "UFC (R) JAPAN: EDGAR vs. HENDERSON," now available via pre-sale channels in Japan, are priced at 100,000, 34000, 19000, 9800, and 5800 Japanese yen (JPY). General availability begins December 10 in numerous outlets including Kyodo Promotion, E-Plus and Lawson Tickets. UFC (R) fans in Japan can purchase pre-sale tickets to this event through UFC Mobile and through WOWOW and Nikkan Sports.

"UFC (R) JAPAN: EDGAR vs. HENDERSON" will be available live in the United States on Pay-Per-View at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT for a suggested retail price of US$44.99 for Standard Definition and US$54.99 for High Definition.

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com. All bouts will be live and subject to change.

About Ultimate Fighting Championship (R)

Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC (R) produces over 12 UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually around the world. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in more than 140 countries and territories, reaching more than a billion homes worldwide in 21 different languages.

In Japan, UFC events and other featuring programming are currently broadcast on the Wowow premium cable channel. In addition, the Hikari TV IP television network airs live and archived UFC bouts, as well as classic fights from the beloved PRIDE (R) library. UFC information, news and features are available in Japanese via JP.UFC.COM as well as the Official UFC Mobile site in partnership with TV Bank Corp. The UFC mobile site also offers fans across Japan updates, ringtones, wallpapers, fights on demand, and other exciting content.

UFC (R) also boasts a powerful presence online, with UFC.com attracting over seven million unique visitors per month, while also possessing one of the most powerful social media followings in all of professional sports. To date, UFC has over six million fans on Facebook and over 300,000 followers on Twitter. In addition, UFC President Dana White is one of the most accessible and most followed executives in sports with over 1.6 million followers on Twitter. On January 22, 2011, UFC continued to set trends in social media, becoming the first major sports league to stream live, broadcast quality action on Facebook.

Ancillary businesses include the best-selling UFC "Undisputed" videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC Gym (TM), UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo (TM) festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, articulated action figures and other media including best-selling DVDs and a bimonthly magazine.

SOURCE: ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP

!BANG! TV Report - Return To Nashville, Tennessee - Dory Funk Jr., Jerry Lawler And The !BANG! Gang

Thanksgiving Night was my first time in Nashville since my days as NWA World Champion.

My thanks to Wrestling Promoter, Burt Prentice from Marti, Myself and Funking Conservatory Athletes for a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner (Early Thursday) and the opportunity to perform for Bert and Local NWA Promoter, Mike Porter on my return to Nashville, Tennessee sharing the spotlight with wrestling legend, Jerry "The King" Lawler, the !BANG! TV athletes and local area wrestlers.

Now on !BANG! TV - at http://www.dory-funk.com - From the NWA Arena in Nashville, Tennessee 8 Man Tag Team Action:

Dory Funk Jr., Johnny Magnum, Cory Weston and Jayson Falcone
vs
Leo Cristiani, Fushicho Masuku, Andra "D Soul" Smith and Brian Rivers

For the Women's Championship:
Claudia "The Claw" Reiff (Champion) vs Hollywood Heather
********************
This was my first wrestling match in Nashville since the glory days of the National Wrestling Alliance.

Nick Gulas was the promoter of the Tennessee Territory. (Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Louisville, and more) Nick had close relations with Legendary Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver.

Nick claimed credit for the existence of all of professional wrestling.

During the days of the quiz show investigations and subsequent legislation to regulate television, (Content presented on television had to be true) Nick said, "My God that will kill Professional Wrestling." Thru Nick's Influence with Senator Kefauver, the words "Except in the case of professional wrestling" were inserted into the legislation to control television content.

Nick was proud of this accomplishment and often would ask, "Where in the Hell all those other "Bastards" (Referring to the other wrestling promoters) would be if it wasn't for him."

In Nick's territory as champion I faced Johnny Walker (Mr. Wrestling II) Whitey Caldwell, Bearcat Brown, Big Bad John, Don Green and Lou Thesz in world title matches.

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.com - and watch !BANG! and Premium !BANG! TV.

The next !BANG! TV Taping comes to the !BANG! TV Sound Stage in Ocala, Florida Saturday December 31st, New Year's Day. For ticket information, Call 352-895-4658 or you may purchase tickets online at http://www.dory-funk.com

SOURCE: DORY FUNK, JR.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Sues To Overturn New York Ban On Live Performance Of Professional Mixed Martial Arts

NEW YORK, Nov 15, 2011 -- The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a group of plaintiffs including fighters, fans, trainers and others involved with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) announced today that they have filed a lawsuit against New York State officials challenging the constitutionality of the state law banning live professional MMA events and associated activities (the “Ban”). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, challenges the Ban for violating numerous provisions of the United States Constitution, including the First Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges the Ban infringes upon the rights of the fighters who want to publicly exhibit their skills as professionals and express themselves before a live audience, the rights of fans who would like to experience live professional MMA events, and the rights of those who train, publicize or otherwise advance MMA in New York. Plaintiffs point to the following as evidence of the irrational, unconstitutional nature of the Ban:

* The Ban was originally imposed in 1997, at a time when MMA was unregulated and prohibited in many other states. Today, MMA is a highly-regulated, broadly popular sport, which experts and supporting safety data verify is as safe as or safer than many sports and activities that are legal in New York, including boxing, football and rodeo.

* MMA is widely available on television in New York, and many New Yorkers lawfully train and spar in MMA.

* Live professional MMA can take place in virtually every state except New York.

* The individual martial arts that comprise MMA, including kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, judo, boxing and wrestling, are legal and performed live regularly in New York - it is only their combination, performed live by professionals, that is banned in New York.

“MMA is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. and one of the most popular in the world,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman and CEO of Zuffa LLC, owner of the UFC. “When we acquired the UFC, we went to great lengths to invite regulation and adopt substantial safety measures. MMA is now as safe as or even safer than many other sports and activities sanctioned in New York like boxing, for example, because it allows fighters to honorably tap out and involves far fewer hits. All the disciplines that go into mixed martial arts are performed live in New York; it is only their combination that is illegal. Denying fighters the chance to exhibit their training and skills before a live audience and denying thousands of New Yorkers the ability to watch their favorite fighters perform live is not only an injustice to them, but to the local markets that would reap tremendous economic benefits from hosting competitions. We believe the ban should be eliminated, and look forward to fighting live in New York.”

“It is unfortunate that we were forced to take the step of filing a lawsuit to overturn this senseless law, but the ban on live professional MMA infringes on the rights of countless New Yorkers,” said Barry Friedman, a constitutional law professor at New York University School of Law and co-counsel with Morrison & Foerster LLP for the Plaintiffs. “Despite sincere legislative efforts, the ban remains in place based on a flawed assessment of the sport’s supposedly ’violent message.’ This rationale is a patent violation of the First Amendment. In live events, fighters showcase their talents, communicate their convictions, show respect for their opponents and the art and tradition of MMA, and convey the importance of discipline, training and hard work. They also entertain their fans. Not only does the law prohibit live events, but as it is written it purports to ban other speech including media broadcasts and coverage of professional MMA. It is ironic that New York -- in many ways the home of free expression, the global media, and the art world -- would deny someone his or her fundamental freedom of expression. The Ban is contrary to what New York is all about. There is no legal basis for this unconstitutional ban to persist.”

“Performing MMA live in front of a crowd is an unrivaled experience and allows me to speak to my fans,” said Plaintiff and UFC competitor Brian Stann. “I was attracted to MMA during my time in the Marine Corps, after I returned from my first deployment to Iraq in 2005 and was looking for a path that allowed me to stay motivated, and inspire others, particularly fellow veterans. MMA is a brotherhood that demands respect for your fellow fighters and rewards mental discipline and skill. It has given countless veterans a way to rehabilitate and connect with other military veterans and I am grateful every day for the ability to compete and inspire my fans.”

SOURCE: The Abernathy MacGregor Group, Inc.

Updated Lineup - Bellator Fighting Championships 59 - Saturday, November 26, 2011

Caesars Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Live on Spike.com (7 PM ET) & MTV2 (9 PM ET)
Card subject to change

TELEVISED (9 PM)
Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos - heavyweight-tournament final
Eduardo Dantas vs. Alexis Vila - bantamweight-tournament final
Kurt Pellegrino vs. Patricky Pitbull - lightweights
Michael Costa vs. Lyman Good - welterweight-tournament qualifier

PRELIMS (7 PM)
Scott Heckman vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen - featherweights
Marcin Held vs. Phillipe Nover - lightweights
LeVon Maynard vs. Christopher Wing - welterweights
Azunna Anyanwu vs. Randy Smith - heavyweights
Gregory Milliard vs. Brandon Saling - middleweights

NOTES
I believe this, in some way, shape or form, to be the complete card.

VITOR BELFORT DISCLOSES HIS INJURY FOR THE FIRST TIME - TOMORROW NIGHT ON “INSIDE MMA”

DALLAS (September 29, 2011) For the first time, Vitor Belfort will disclose the injury that forced him to pull out of his recent fight vs. Cung Le. Speculation has been rampant but, “Inside MMA” has the real story tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Belfort also tells Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten when he can fight again – and who he wants to fight once he’s ready.

Also on tomorrow night’s show, Rameau Sokoudjou and Ryan Jimmo - who will face each other for the Light Heavyweight Championship at MFC 31 - share some tense and awkward moments on the “Inside MMA” panel, before they head into the cage with Bas to break down the match. It’s the first time two opposing fighters have joined us in the in-studio cage!

Their bout airs LIVE on HDNet next week, Friday, October 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET.

A clip for the show can be found here: http://www.hd.net/blogs/vitor-belforts-injury-and-mfc-31-inside-mma-preview/

Finally, we recap UFC 135 with Dana White and we talk a little Japanese MMA – all tomorrow night on “Inside MMA.”

And, don’t forget, coming up on October 17, “Inside MMA” moves from Friday nights to MONDAY NIGHTS - LIVE!

For more on this and more MMA news, follow “Inside MMA” on Twitter (twitter.com/insidemmahdnet) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/HDNetInsideMMA).

SOURCE: HDNET

FEDOR VS. MONSON SET TO MEET THIS FALL

Sunday, November 20, 2011
From The Olympic Arena in Moscow, Russia

NEW YORK (September 16, 2011) – Mixed martial arts (MMA) heavyweight legends Fedor ‘The Last Emperor’ Emelianenko (31-4, 1 NC) and Jeff ‘The Snowman’ Monson (42-12) will meet as the headline bout at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson. The event will take place Sunday November 20th from the Olympic Arena in Moscow, Russia with details on broadcast availability announced soon.

“Fedor has been very vocal about wanting to continue his fighting career,” said Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations for Europe’s leading MMA promotion M-1 GLOBAL. “Fedor vs. Monson is a classic fight that had been in crosshairs for year. All parties have come together to make this fight a reality.”

Regarded as one of MMA’s greatest heavyweight fighters of all time, Emelianenko has been challenged as late, losing his last three bouts after going undefeated for nearly a decade. The losses came at the hands of Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson. Hungry to compete, ‘The Last Emperor’ still has the drive to battle top competitors. “I cannot wait to compete again. Monson is a great athlete who is skilled in many areas. He is a very worthy opponent,” said Fedor.

Coming of a loss to Daniel Cormier, the 40-year-old Monson is a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist and considered extremely dangerous on the ground with more than half of his 42 career wins coming by way of submission.

Even though Emelianenko is coming off three straight losses, Monson holds Fedor in high regard; “Fedor is the best heavyweight of all time… It’s an honor to be fighting him.” Asked about what a win would mean, Monson didn’t mince words; “A win would be a highlight to my career. My trainers at American Top Team will prepare me for all possibilities. I’ll be prepared.”

As the hype builds towards the legendary matchup between Fedor and Monson, M-1 Global is already well underway preparations for its October 14th event in Phoenix, Arizona, M-1 Challenge: Guram vs. Garner 2.

The event from the new 5,500 seat Grand Canyon University Arena marks the promotion’s third outing on premium US network SHOWTIME and is headlined with two title fights; Reigning Heavyweight (265 Lbs.) Champion Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) will face relentless power-puncher Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner (7-3) while BBJ Ace Vinny Magalhaes (8-5) makes his inaugural light heavyweight (205 Lbs.) defense against Mikhail Zayats (14-5).

For information on M-1 Global, go to the official M-1 website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global facebook fan page.

About M-1 Global:

Founded in 1998, M-1 Global (www.M-1Global.com) has established itself in the realm of mixed martial arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles and affiliates in Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand has staged over 100 events worldwide including the M-1 Selection and M-1 Challenge events and its co-produced Strikeforce events in the United States. Captivating the live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 events boast some of the sport’s top names including Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zentsov, Stephan Struve and rising stars Shamil Zavurov, Guram Gugenishvili, Alexander Sarnavskiy and Vinny Magalhaes. 2011 marks a breakthrough year with two Selections tournaments across Eastern & Western Europe, North America and Asia and a full calendar of Challenge events fuelled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global’s Champions amongst the greatest in the sport.

M-1 Global’s greatest asset is renowned heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko. With daily coverage on all MMA-related websites in the world, and articles in Time Magazine, LA times and New York Times, Fedor and M-1 Global make a lifetime match serving as the catalyst to grow MMA in the 21st century.

SOURCE: M-1 GLOBAL

Kimbo Slice's Next Fight For "World Title"

No, you didn't misunderstand me. Kimbo Slice, fresh off of a knockout in his only sanctioned boxing bout, is already fighting for a world title on Saturday, October 15, in Grand Island, Nebraska.

His opponent has yet to be named, but if you want more information, visit Heartland Events Center.

Card Update - Bellator Fighting Championships - Saturday, October 15, 2011

Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Live on MTV2 @ 9:00 PM ET
Card subject to change

TELEVISED
* Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler - Lightweight title

NOTES
Andria Caplan (Daddis Fight Camps), who has several amateur fights at 155, will be making her professional debut. If she's aware of her opponent's identity, or where they'll be placed (on the lineup), she's ahead of me ... Despite current publicity, I believe this will be show 53, not 54.

FIGHT NOW TV Signs Ring Of Fire MMA To Exclusive Programming Deal

Hoboken, New Jersey (August 19, 2011) -- FIGHT NOW TV TM -- America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel – announced today that it has acquired the exclusive library and new event rights to Ring of Fire MMA (“ROF”).

Founded in March 2000 by promoter Sven Bean, ROF has produced more than 40 events under the ROF brand with ROF 41 set to take place tomorrow night (Saturday, Aug. 20) at the First Bank Center in Denver, which will also air on a tape-delay bases on FIGHT NOW TV.

Based in Denver, ROF has become a premier regional promotion in the United States, helping to establish the careers of such MMA fighters as Duane ”Bang” Ludwig, Shane Carwin, Brendan Schaub, and Donald “the Cowboy” Cerrone. The promotion continues to provide a well-run outlet for new and rising stars such as Brandon Thatch and Chid Njokuani, who are headlining the ROF 41 event.

“Sven Bean and his entire team at ROF was a very solid choice for us to add to our MMA programming line-up,” FIGHT NEWS TV General Manager Mike Garrow said. “ROF does a excellent job putting-on compelling cards and we look forward to not only showcasing their new events as they happen, but to also tap into the rich library history it has developed over the years. ROF is a welcome addition to our channel’s commitment to feature the top regional MMA promotions from across the country.”

“We are very excited to be working with FIGHT NOW TV,” Bean commented. “This programming deal gives us a chance to showcase our ROF brand and fighters to viewers across the country. FIGHT NOW TV is a great 24/7 combat sports channel, in addition to being a natural fit for us.”

About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.

Founded by veteran broadcast executives Mike Garrow, Cal Millar and Romen Podzyhun and launched earlier this year, FIGHT NOW TV is the first 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week combat sports channel, bringing the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and match-ups from around the globe.

FIGHT NOW TV has also enlisted one of the fight game’s biggest names to join its camp, former UFC champion and MMA legend Randy Couture, who serves as both spokesperson and analyst for the channel.

About RING OF FIRE MMA: One the leading Mixed-Martial-Arts promotional companies in North America, Ring Of Fire has promoted exciting combat sports events for the past 11 years.

In Early 2007, ROF expanded by entering into the Japan-based World Wide Cage Network, allowing for a unique talent exchange program.

In the June 2008 issue of Grappling Magazine, ROF was referred to as the top promotion in the Midwest, and one of the biggest promotions in the country.

In April of 2010 production began on THE ROAD TO RING OF FIRE Reality Show in Belgrade, Serbia, which was produced by Doctor Productions and broadcast on Happy TV across Eastern Europe.

RING OF FIRE uses Unified MMA Rules, recognized as the most prevalent rule set in the world. They have been adapted by several state athletic commissions in the U. S. and are used most notably in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, and WEC. The Unified Rules are the de facto rules for mixed martial arts in the United States, and have been adopted by other promotions and jurisdictions worldwide

For more information about FIGHT NOW TV go on line at www.fightnow.com, or follow on Twitter@fightnowtv and Facebook.com/fightnowtv.

Source: Full Court Press

Programming Alert: Catch Rashad Evans' Appearance On Last Friday's 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'

Hat tip: Kelsey Cohen-Roth

ProElite To Announce Honolulu Fight Card Friday, July 29th

ProElite MMA Fight Tickets Now On Sale

LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2011 -- Stratus Media Group, Inc. (OTCBB:SMDI), today announces a press conference scheduled for Friday, July 29th in Honolulu to reveal the matchups on the upcoming August fight card.

“It’s exciting to have the MMA community on the edge of their seats awaiting the next ProElite news,” stated Paul Feller, President and CEO of Stratus. “I am confident that MMA fans will not be disappointed with the matchups, which will be announced later this week.”

The August 27th fight marks the third time ProElite has staged an MMA event in Hawaii.

T.Jay Thompson, head of Fight Operations said, “This is just the start of ProElite’s return to a dominant player in the industry. We look forward to regaining the support of the MMA global audience.”

Tickets can now be purchased at the Blaisdell Arena box office, or online at ticketmaster.com. Reserved seats are $28, $40, $65, and $90; Cage side seats are priced at $150 and $200.

ABOUT PROELITE

Founded in 2006, ProElite has been a major global force in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), holding the record for the highest televised broadcast rating of a major network live MMA event. ProElite, based in Los Angeles, California, continues its legacy to hold key domestic and international live MMA events and owns U.K. based MMA brand Cage Rage and is a significant stakeholder in Spirit MC in South Korea.
www.proelite.com

ABOUT STRATUS MEDIA GROUP

Headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with offices in Los Angeles, California; New York City, NY; Geneva, Switzerland; and Perugia, Italy, Stratus Media Group, Inc. (SMDI) is an owner, operator, developer, producer, and marketer of live entertainment events. In addition, the company owns Stratus Rewards Visa White Card, an ultra-exclusive consumer rewards marketing and redemption program, providing premium redemption benefits to members in the form of VIP event access, luxury trips, private jet travel, luxury automobiles, high-end merchandise and other rewards.
www.stratusmediagroup.com
www.stratusrewards.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, projections of results, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Acts of 1933 and 1934. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors. Although the company's management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. The company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Source: Stratus Media Group, Inc.