Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy”
loaded from top to bottom
F. Emelianenko-J. Barnett headline August 1 PPV Extravaganza in Anaheim
SEAL BEACH, California (June 18, 2009) – Affliction M-1Global’s star-studded “Trilogy” is stacking-up as one of the all-time best shows from top to bottom in professional mixed martial arts fighting history. The marquee performer is Russian combat fighting legend Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko, who defends his WAMMA heavyweight title against No. 1 contender Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett, August 1 live on Pay-Per-View from Honda Center in Anaheim, California.The Affliction M-1 Global “Trilogy” card, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and presented by Affliction and M-1 Global, in association with Donald J. Trump, has been separated into two live broadcasts on the same night. A one-hour special will air on HDNet starting at 7:30 PM/ET (4:30 PM/PT), followed by the sensational Pay-Per-View event, “Trilogy,” commencing at 9 PM/ET (6 PM/PT). Fedor (30-1-0) is the undisputed “Baddest Man on the Planet,” the most lethal fighter on earth. The Russian fighting machine is 7-0 in fights against UFC® heavyweight champions – Andrei Arlovski (KO1 – overhand right), Tim Sylvia (SUB1 – naked choke), Mark Coleman twice (SUB2 – arm-bar, SUB1 – arm-bar), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira twice (DEC3 and DEC1) and Kevin Randleman (SUB1 – arm-bar) – to go along with victories against world-class MMA fighters such as Mirko Filipovic, Matt Lindland, Renato Sobral and Heath Herring. Barnett (24-5-0), however is another former UFC® Heavyweight Champion, who is 2-1 versus UFC® heavyweight title-holders, by decision twice against Nogueira and defeating 3-time heavyweight champion Randy Couture by second-round TKO in 2002 to become the UFC®’s youngest Heavyweight Champion ever at 24. The popular Barnett has also defeated MMA monsters such as Jeff Monson and Dan Severn, as well as one Emelianenko—Fedor’s brother Aleksander—back in 2006 by second-round submission (key-lock).The co-main event features former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral (32-8-0) against Armenian kick-boxing specialist, Gegard “The Dream Catcher” Mousasi, (25-2-1) making his American debut.Also on the PPV card is Brazilian knockout specialist Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (18-8-0), another former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion, versus Sengoku middleweight title-holder Jorge Santiago (21-7-0); heavyweight Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello (27-10-0) against an opponent to be determined; ex-IFL® Welterweight Champion Jay “The Thoroughbred” Hieron (17-4-0) takes on former Cage Rage belt-holder, British brawler Paul “Semtex” Daley (21-8-2). The undercard on HDNet features a pair of exciting, young lightweight prospects, Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki (12-1-0) vs. Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (12-2-0); former IFL® heavyweight titlist “Big” Ben Rothwell (30-6-0) vs. hot, unbeaten prospect Chase Gormley (6-0-0); former IFL® lightweight challenger Deividas Taurosevicius (10-3-0) and welterweight fan-favorite Brett Cooper (9-4-0) against opponents to be determined.Fans in attendance will also be treated to two off-television matches between heavyweights Jessie Gibbs (7-2-0) and Rob Broughton (10-4-1), in addition to Brazilian light heavyweights Lucio Linhares (12-4-0) and Givanildo “The Arm Collector” Santana (12-1-0)All fights and fighters are subject to change. For more information go online to www.aflictionclothing.com.Tickets for Affliction M-1 “Trilogy,” ranging between $50.00 and $600.00, go on sale June 8 at Honda Center Box Office (1.714.704.2500) and also online at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticket Master outlets (1.714.740.2000).AfflictionAlready a mainstay for the most elite athletes, heaviest bands, A-listers and the fashion conscious, Affliction Clothing's ability to set the bar high in fashion is evident in its collection's indulgence of style and design, focus on quality, and its trademark series of divinely executed, dark and powerful themes. (www.afflictionclothing.com)
M-1 Global and M-1 Challenge
M-1 Global has been one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the world for over a decade. International MMA stars who have fought under the M-1 banner have included Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Keith Jardine, Alistair Overeem, Yushin Okami, Ben Rothwell, Mike Pyle, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zenstov, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Omar Suloev, and Chalid Arrab, to name a few. (www.m1mixfight.com) The Trump Organization The Trump Organization encompasses global real estate development and global licensing, sales and marketing, property management, golf course development, entertainment, entertainment and product licensing, brand development as well as restaurants and event planning. Donald J. Trump is the Chairman and President of the Trump Organization, a privately held company in New York. (www.Trump.com)
Golden Boy Promotions
Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. Golden Boy Promotions currently has over 60 fighters under contract, from future hall of famers Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez to current world champions Ricky Hatton, David Haye, Joel Casamayor, Israel Vazquez and Gerry Peñalosa. Also included on the company’s roster are top contenders Jeff Lacy, Juan Diaz, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Jhonny Gonzalez, Librado Andrade, Rocky Juarez and Rey Bautista; 2004 Olympians Abner Mares, Vicente Escobedo and Rock Allen; and highly regarded prospects Danny Garcia, Jermell Charlo, Hylon Williams and Carlos and Juan Velasquez. (www.goldenboypromotions.com)
BROKEN LEG FORCES THOMSON
OUT OF TITLE DEFENSE
New York (April 1, 2009) – A broken left leg sustained during a sparring session earlier today (Wednesday) has forced Strikeforce World Lightweight (155-pound limit) Champion Josh “The Punk” Thomson (16-2) to withdraw from his scheduled title defense against Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (14-2) at Strikeforce’s “Shamrock vs. Diaz” event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Saturday, April 11.
Strikeforce is searching for a replacement fighter to face the top-ranked Melendez in the live SHOWTIME televised event.
“I was sparring hard and I broke my leg, above my ankle, during an exchange,” said the 30-year-old Thomson, who was trading blows with fellow Strikeforce competitor Billy Evangelista when the injury occurred. Thomson is scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday and is expected to be out of action for two to three months.
“I’m very upset. All the hard work was done and it was time to fight,” said the injured champ. “I was looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans. All I can say is that I’ll be back when I get healthy.”
Strikeforce “Shamrock vs. Diaz” will air live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) on Saturday, April 11.
Tickets for “Shamrock vs. Diaz,” priced from $30, are available for purchase at the HP Pavilion box office (408-287-7070) as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (408-998-TIXS), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com), and Strikeforce’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).
MMA heavyweight gladiators Nelson & Monson
in classic match-up of world-class grapplers
Jones-Sheika headlines pro boxing/MMA PPV March 21in Pensacola
PENSACOLA, Fla. (February 25, 2009) – Former IFL heavyweight champion Roy “Big Country” Nelson believes his March 21st fight against former UFC title challenger Jeff “The Snowman” Monson has all the makings of a classic match-up between a pair of world-class grapplers that all fight fans -- mixed martial arts and boxing -- will truly appreciate.
Nelson-Monson is part of a boxing/MMA show, headlined by 8-time world boxing champion Roy Jones, Jr. against 4-time world title challenger Omar Sheika, being broadcast live on pay-per-view from Jones’ hometown of Pensacola, Florida.
The pro boxing/MMA show, presented by Square Ring Promotions in association with Hirsch Borao Boxing and the Pensacola Civic Center, is being distributed by Square Ring Promotions, Inc. at 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT in North America on cable and satellite via iNDemand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer's Choice, Shaw Cable, Star Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
Tickets, priced at $128.00, $103.00, $78.00, $53.00 & $28.00 are on sale and available at all Ticketmaster locations, the Pensacola Civic Center Box Office and ticketmaster.com.
Nelson (13-6, 6 KOs, 4 Submissions), fighting out of Las Vegas, was once known strictly as a submission specialist and ground technician, but he has developed his overall game and he’s now as dangerous on his feet striking as he is grappling on the mat.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Monson (27-8, 2 KOs, 15 Submissions) was a Pac-10 wrestling champion at Oregon State, earning a Master’s Degree in psychology, who is generally recognized as one of the world’s all-time greatest submissions grapplers.
“Monson has been to the top, fighting for the UFC belt and taking on some of the top MMA fighters in the world,” Nelson said. “But I belong at the top of that food chain, too. He’s an outstanding grappler but, he lacks reach, compared to other heavyweights. We’re both world-class grapplers, but my advantage is I hit harder and I’m a better fighter on my feet than him. Our ground game will be a stand-off. We’re gladiators; they can put in the tiger but I’m still coming out the winner. Just like in boxing, it’s all about match-ups, and I’m the guy who brings the show. You have two outstanding grapplers who both know how to get out of holds. We’ll nullify each other on the ground, forcing us to fight standing-up, and that’s where it’s going to be a war. The difference is I’m a finisher…..and entertainer.”
Jones Jr. (52-5, 38 KOs), who has won titles in four different weight classes (middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight), returns to fight in his hometown for the first time in a decade. Still ranked among the top 10 light heavyweights in the world by three major boxing organizations as well as The Ring magazine, Jones has defeated 18 world champions – Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Virgil Hill, Felix Trinidad, Mike McCallum and John Ruiz among the more notables – and all five of his career losses have been to world champions.
However, Sheika (27-8, 18 KOs), fighting out of Paterson, N.J., holds a victory against a fighter who beat Jones, Glen Johnson, by 10-round decision in 2000. A hand injury hampered Sheika the past few years but he’s fully recovered and shooting for an upset.
“I think it’s great for MMA fighters to be fighting in front of a new audience – boxing fans,” Nelson added. “They’re in for a real surprise, another level of fighting, and I believe they will really appreciate it. Roy Jones is a legend in boxing. He’s one of the biggest names in boxing, but MMA is a different beast. If Roy, the promoter, takes what’s right in boxing and changes what’s wrong in MMA, I think this (boxing/MMA show) is going to be a major success.”
Additional boxing and MMA bouts are in the process of being added to the March 21st pro boxing/MMA show. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
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