Amarillo, TX. – July 16, 2010 -Texas based mixed martial arts fight promotion company, Shark Fight Promotions, confirmed today that Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine and Trevor Prangley will headline Shark Fights 13. This will be Jardine’s first post-UFC challenge since his recent departure from the organization. Jardine will face fellow UFC veteran and current Shark Fights light-heavyweight champion, Trevor Prangley, in a non-title bout. Shark Fights 13 will take place on Saturday, September 11 at the Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo, Texas.

According to Brent Medley, president of Shark Fight Promotions, “We are very excited that Keith Jardine and Trevor Prangley are fighting for our organization. Jardine had a lot of options, as several promoters were clamoring to sign him, but he chose to fight for us. Prangley is our light heavyweight champion and he always puts on an exciting fight. We feel that Jardine vs. Prangley is a very compelling match up for any organization.”
Keith Jardine (15-8-1) is looking to bounce back after a loss to Matt Hamill at the Ultimate Fighter 11 finale last month in Las Vegas. Jardine, who is best known for fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), plans to defeat Prangley and add another notable win to his record. Jardine has defeated some of the best fighters in the business, including Brandon Vera and former UFC champions Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell.
According to Keith Jardine, “To prove that I’m still a top contender I need to fight for credible organizations and face high caliber opponents. Shark Fights has become a leading promoter over the last two years. The promotion has a huge following.”

Jardine went on to say, “I’ve known Brent Medley for several years, and in my opinion, he is one of the top matchmakers in the industry. When Brent approached me about fighting for Shark Fights and facing Trevor Prangley, I jumped at the opportunity. Prangley has an impressive list of notable wins and has only lost twice over the past three years.”

Prangley (22-6-1) was on a six fight win streak (6 wins, 1 draw) prior to his recent loss to Tim Kennedy at Strikeforce “Live” in Los Angeles. The South African Olympic alternate has fought for some of the top fight organizations in the industry and currently holds the Shark Fight light- heavyweight title. Prangley holds impressive wins over top-notch fighters such as Chael Sonnen, and Travis Lutter.

Prangley is looking forward to stepping into the cage to face Jardine; “I’m looking forward to this fight. I’m ready to step into the cage and redeem myself. I’m not happy with my lackluster performance against Kennedy. I plan to come back strong. Keith is a tough opponent. It’s great to see that Shark Fights is attracting more high-level fighters. They are a top-notch fight organization. They treat the fighters well and put on great shows.”

Jardine vs. Prangley is just one of many compelling match ups on the upcoming Shark Fight Promotions fight card. Shark Fights 13 is stacked with high-caliber marquee fighters. According to Medlley, it is the fight organization’s most impressive card to date. Shark Fights will be announcing the full fight card and additional details about the event in the coming weeks. To learn more about Shark Fight Promotions, please visit www.sharkfights.com.

About Shark Fight Promotions:
Shark Fight Promotions, based out of Amarillo Texas, is an up-and-coming fight promotion company dedicated to driving the growth of mixed martial arts through the production of high quality MMA events and by effectively showcasing MMA fighters. The organization takes pride in putting the fans and fighters first; therefore they strive to make each Shark Fight event more exciting than the last. Executives within the organization are committed to producing impressive fight cards with extremely competitive matchups. They are also very passionate about their philanthropic endeavors. Shark Fight Promotions stays very involved in charity causes by partnering with, and contributing to, non-profit organizations in each city that hosts a Shark Fight Promotions event.

NEW YORK (July 15, 2010)–Following weeks of intense negotiations, SHOWTIME Sports® is proud to announce that Hennessy Sports and Sauerland Event—the promotional outlets for world-class super middleweight boxers Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham—have agreed to a location for their fighters’ crucial Super Six World Boxing Classic bout.

On Saturday, Oct. 2, in the capital city/state of Monaco, Abraham and Froch will meet at the Chapiteau de l’Espace Fontvieille for their pivotal Group Stage 3 match up in the boxing tournament that has ignited the industry. The bout will be televised on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/PT (same day delay).

Hennessy Sports and Sauerland Event are currently working with Principality officials in Monaco to finalize all the necessary authorizations for this event as they expect it to be one of the biggest fights in the history of the region. The Principality of Monaco is situated on the Mediterranean Sea in the south west area of Europe, some 1,400 km from Abraham’s home in Berlin and over 1,000 km from Froch’s native Nottingham, England.

“The intensity of the selection process for this venue speaks to the enormity of the moment created by the Super Six World Boxing Classic,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “All the fighters in the tournament have set out to prove that they are the world’s best at 168-pounds by fighting their peers—the most dangerous men in the division—fight after fight. Any perceived advantage or disadvantage has been calculated.

“To the credit of all involved, each hurdle has been cleared and the Super Six World Boxing Classic now marches on toward a thrilling conclusion.”

This bout is the last of the Super Six Group Stage matches. Following Abraham vs. Froch, the four fighters with the highest point totals on the Super Six scoreboard will advance to the semi-finals, tentatively slated for the first quarter 2011.

Froch (26-1, 20 KOs) is coming off a hard-fought unanimous decision loss, the first of his career, to Mikkel Kessler on April 24. That night, during the post-fight press conference, Wilfried, and his son Kalle Sauerland and Mick Hennessy began publicly disputing the venue selection for the Abraham vs. Froch contest. At the time, Abraham (31-1, 25 KOs) held the tournament lead with three points by virtue of his KO win over Jermain Taylor in Group Stage 1, but was out boxed and ultimately disqualified in his Group Stage 2 bout versus Andre Dirrell for the first loss of his career. Froch remains tied at the moment with Kessler and Dirrell at two points.

“I cannot wait to get back in the ring,” said Abraham. “I am thrilled that the date and the venue have been set. I must admit that the disqualification against Dirrell still haunts me. Only a victory over Froch can put my mind at rest. I was ringside when he fought against Kessler and I must say I was impressed with both men. They really fought their hearts out. Froch is a hell of a fighter, but so am I. This will be the biggest, the most important fight of my career, and I will put on a special performance to please the boxing fans in Monaco, France, Germany, England, America and all over the world.”

“I’m training hard already for ‘King’ Arthur,” said Froch from his training center in Sheffield. “I respect what the man brings to the table, but I’m going out there to knock Abraham’s crown right into Kalle’s lap,” he added in response to Sauerland’s bold predictions on the outcome of this fight.

“Make no mistake about it, I fully appreciate the threat that Abraham presents to me in this fight. Whenever two warriors go into battle there will be bloodshed. But there will be only one victor in Monaco and that will be The Cobra,” Froch concluded.

The Sauerlands are filled with anticipation. “The Super Six tournament has been outstanding thus far,” said Kalle. “We’ve had so much drama and so many high-class fights. Kessler versus Froch was as good as it gets but believe me, Abraham-Froch will be even better. It’s win or go home! I honestly can’t see this going the distance. I have a lot of respect for Froch as a fighter but I think that his style is tailor-made for Abraham. The King will knock The Cobra out – no doubt about that. The only question is in which round.”

Hennessy also expects a toe-to-toe war and believes the Englishman will come out victorious inside the distance “This is a mouth-watering match up against two of the best and toughest fighters in the game,” Hennessy said. “If you thought Carl’s last fight against Kessler was epic just wait for Froch vs. Abraham. This has all of the ingredients to be the fight of the decade.

“I have a lot of respect for Arthur in and outside of the ring, but unfortunately on the 2nd October he will come up against a highly driven and fully motivated Carl Froch. When Carl’s is in that sort of mode he will prove he is the best of the best and will secure three points for a knockout win, showing the world once again that he is a very special fighter.”

The Super Six World Boxing Classic continues on Saturday, Sept. 25, when SHOWTIME will present a world championship doubleheader to kick off Group Stage 3—the final Group Stage of the round-robin portion of the tournament. First, Kessler will look to lock up a semi-final berth with a win over Allan Green. Kessler is making the first defense of his second world title, the WBC 168-pound strap he wrested from Carl Froch. Green is desperate for a win to have a shot at the semi finals. He may need a knockout and/or help from his fellow competitors to earn one of the four spots.

Immediately following, live on SHOWTIME, Andre Ward will face 2004 U.S. Olympic teammate and friend Andre Dirrell in what promises to be a dramatic affair. Ward has already locked up his semi-final berth as the only contestant to win both of his initial Group Stage matches. But, make no mistake, Ward promises a fierce defense of his WBA world championship belt and undefeated professional record. Dirrell, on the other hand, needs a win to guarantee his place in the semis. Conceivably, Dirrell could get in with two points but he would need help from Green and/or Abraham.

SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC SCOREBOARD (Through Group Stage 2)

ABOUT SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC
The inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic is a ground-breaking, six-fighter tournament from SHOWTIME Sports® featuring the class of the super middleweight (168-pound) division from around the world. All bouts in the Super Six tournament will be contested under the Unified Rules of Boxing. Each boxer fights three bouts against different opponents in the field in the points-based Group Stage of competition (Win – 2 pts with a 1-pt bonus for KO/TKO; Loss – 0 pts; Draw – 1 pt.). After the Group Stage, the four fighters with the highest point totals will advance to the single-elimination Semi-Finals. The winners of the Semi-Final bouts will advance to the Finals and fight for the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup.

JON FITCH vs. THIAGO ALVES

MATT HUGHES vs. RICARDO ALMEIDA

CLAY GUIDA vs. RAFAEL DOS ANJOS

ROY NELSON vs. JUNIOR DOS SANTOS

THIAGO SILVA vs. TIM BOETSCH

DUSTIN HAZELETT vs. RICK STORY

STEFAN STRUVE vs. CHRISTIAN MORECRAFT

JOHNY HENDRICKS vs. CHARLIE BRENNEMAN

BEN SAUNDERS vs. DENNIS HALLMAN

RODNEY WALLACE vs. STANISLAV NEDKOV

Live from the Oracle Arena – Oakland, CA

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The middleweight title fight at UFC 117 between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will be accentuated by one of the most stacked cards in UFC history. The main card features the long-awaited rematch between welterweight contenders Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves, as well as such notable fighters such as recent UFC Hall of Fame inductee Matt Hughes, the electrifying Clay Guida, and a heavyweight matchup between two fast rising stars in the division Roy Nelson and Junior Dos Santos. With all of the intriguing fights lined up on the fight card, the championship ramifications in the main event will add the icing to the cake.

The undercard bouts feature the following matchups: Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves, Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida, Clay Guida vs. Rafael Dos Anjos, Roy Nelson vs. Junior Dos Santos, Thiago Silva vs. Tim Boetsch, Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story, Stefan Struve vs. Christian Morecraft, Johny Hendricks vs. Charlie Brenneman, Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman, and Rodney Wallace vs. Stanislav Nedkov.

UFC 117 is available live on Pay-Per-View at 10pm ET/7pm PT on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

The co-main event of UFC 117 will be a showdown to elevate one fighter to the top of contention for the welterweight championship. UFC veteran Jon Fitch (fighting out of San Jose, Calif./ profesional record – 25-3, 1 NC) has had a remarkable career in the organization. One of the division’s most consistent fighters, Fitch has won four fights in a row and has an overall record of 12-1 in the UFC. His lone loss came at the hands of welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre via unanimous decision at UFC 87. The durable fighter from Indiana wrestled collegiately at Purdue University and has the endurance to battle until the end. This decisive battle will be a long awaited rematch as Thiago “The Pitbull” Alves (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla./22-5) aims to seek revenge on Fitch. The 26-year old fighter has elevated himself to the top of the division by winning nine of his last eleven fights in the UFC. Alves believes he has improved as a fighter more than Fitch has since their last fight in 2006, which he hopes will lead him to victory. The ramifications of this fight extend beyond a statistic on their career record.

The “swing” bout of the evening is an early favorite to garner Fight of the Night honors. The always-exciting Clay “The Carpenter” Guida (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M. by way of Johnsburg, Ill./26-8) is renowned for his memorable battles in the Octagon. Coming off a submission victory over Shannon Gugerty, Guida has won four of his last six fights. The former collegiate wrestler is set to lock up with the winner of three fights in a row, Rafael Dos Anjos (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/14-4). The Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion has entered the Octagon twice already in 2010, most recently for UFC 112 when he was able to submit Terry Etim with an armbar at the end of the second round. The young fighter has only had five fights in the UFC, but is steadily climbing the ladder in the lightweight division.

The context of the first welterweight matchup on the main card extends beyond a typical fight, as honor and history are on the line. Recent UFC Hall of Fame inductee Matt Hughes (fighting out of Hillsboro, Ill./45-7) is a legend of the UFC, with 22 fights and a UFC record 17 victories. The two-time UFC welterweight champion has defeated future champions in Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn, but in the context of this fight, Hughes has defeated Royce Gracie, Matt Serra and Renzo Gracie. Both Serra and Ricardo “Big Dog” Almeida (fighting out of Hamilton, N.J./12-3) are coached by the legendary Renzo Gracie, which sets up the opportunity for Almeida to defend the honor of the Gracie clan. Almeida is on a three fight win streak and a winner of five of his last seven. The four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu National Champion not only has his own reputation to defend, but the reputation of an entire legendary MMA family.

The Ultimate Fighter® Heavyweights Finale winner Roy Nelson (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./16-4) has only two UFC fights under his belt, but has scored a first-round knockout in both of them. A grappler with world-class experience and a black belt under Renzo Gracie, he has quickly elevated himself as a worthy heavyweight contender. His matchup with Junior Dos Santos (fighting out of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil/11-1) provides a glimpse into the exciting future of the heavyweight division. Dos Santos has been victorious in his five fights within the organization by way of four knockouts, and a submission victory over Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 103. The Brazilian native’s boxing and jiu-jitsu background have helped establish Dos Santos as a legitimate contender for the heavyweight title.

Thiago Silva (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil/14-2) started his UFC career with a bang, winning his first four fights (three by TKO), dating back to UFC 71 in 2007. He has since battled the elite fighters in the light heavyweight division, including former champions Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans. His latest opponent, Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch (fighting out of Lincolnville, Maine/11-3), makes a return to the UFC after a short hiatus. Previously, Boetsch had four fights in the UFC, establishing a record of 2-2.

Of the five victories that Dustin Hazelett (fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio/14-5) has obtained in the UFC, four have come via submission. The submission specialist has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and hopes to secure a win over Rick Story (fighting out of Vancouver, Wash./10-3).The young fighter out of Washington has been on a roll lately, winning his last three fights. Story’s supreme conditioning is exemplified by the fact three of his four fights have gone all three rounds.

In one of the tallest matchups in recent UFC history, the 6’11” Stefan Struve (fighting out of Beverwijk, Netherlands/23-4) is set to face the 6’5 ½ Christian Morecraft (fighting out of Plymouth, Mass./6-0). Known for his height and length, the 22-year-old Struve has utilized his skills in kickboxing and submissions to secure three wins in his five fights in the UFC. Morecraft is making his UFC debut after establishing a solid professional record.

Two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion Johny Hendricks (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./8-0) has split time between the UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting®(WEC®). After winning his first two fights in the WEC, Hendricks made a smooth transition to the UFC and continued his winning ways through his first three fights. His opponent, Charlie Brenneman (fighting out of Whippany, N.J. by way of Hollidaysburg, Pa./12-1), improved his already solid professional record after winning his UFC debut against Jason High last March at UFC Fight Night Live®. Also a former Division I wrestler, this matchup could very well be decided on the ground.

Welterweight striker Ben Saunders (fighting out of Orlando, Fla./8-2-2) has been successful in his UFC career thus far. The aggressive fighter has won four of his six fights, and is the only man to knock out veteran contender Marcus Davis. Although Saunders has had a relatively short fighting career, his opponent Dennis Hallman (fighting out of Yelm, Wash./64-13-2, 1 NC) has had 80 professional fights. Hallman made a return to the UFC at The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights Finale in December of 2009 after a four year hiatus. The gritty fighter has the experience and knowledge required to secure a longer stay in the UFC.

The opening fight for UFC 117 features two up-and-coming light heavyweights. Rodney Wallace (fighting out of Charlotte, N.C./9-2) made his debut against Brian Stann at The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights Finale and has since fought Jared Hamman at UFC 111. On August 7th, Wallace is seeking his first victory in the UFC against Stanislav Nedkov (fighting out of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria/11-0). Nedkov is an impressive light heavyweight fighter with a background in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, who is making his UFC debut at UFC 117.

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

Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually and 30 live arena events around the world. UFC programming is distributed in the United States on Viacom, Inc.’s Spike TV and on Comcast, Inc.’s Versus network. UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 130 countries, territories and jurisdictions, reaching 430 million homes worldwide, in 20 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.

EVERETT, Wash. (July 14, 2010) –The students of two icons will collide when submission specialist and Matt Hume protégé Caros “The Future” Fodor (5-2) takes on Cung Le student Thomas Diagne (1-1) in a lightweight (155 pounds) contest on the STRIKEFORCE Challengers Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight card at Comcast Arena at Everett, on SHOWTIME, on Friday, July 23.

The 26-year-old Fodor, an ambitious go-getter, fulfilled a lifelong dream by enlisting in the U.S. Army just six days after his high school graduation while he was still a minor at age 17, eventually making him the youngest Marine in his platoon.  At the age of 12, the Shoreline, Wash. Native had joined an auxiliary military group to get a taste of what life like might be as a serviceman.

After invading Iraq and, later Kuwait in 2003 to support the U.S. war on terror, Fodor experienced a change of heart and eventually decided to re-focus his aggressive energy towards combat in the cage.  During a visit to AMC Kickboxing and Pankration in Kirkland, Wash., Fodor met former submission wrestling champion and MMA expert Hume as well as Hume’s top coach, Trevor Jackson, an introduction that quickly inspired Fodor to commit his life to the sport.

One of four children adopted by a single mother, Fodor has persevered through a number of hardships during his life, including a hostile rivalry with adopted brother and, now, fellow professional fighter Ben Fodor.

It was their common bond in MMA that eventually helped Caros and Ben settle their differences.  Suddenly, the two young men who had not been able to peacefully co-exist in a room together were supporting each other during their respective bouts.

Fodor is looking to return to the win column after suffering a second round defeat via submission (armbar) at the hands of Nate Hannah on Feb. 10, 2010.  Prior to the loss, Fodor had been victorious in five consecutive fights, all in the first round by way of submission.

Diagne, a 26 year old native of Paris, France, is a longtime practitioner of San Shou, the Chinese form of kickboxing that embraces throwing techniques in addition to striking.  Since 1996, the once obscure martial art has been brought to the forefront of the fight world by Le, its pioneer who amassed a perfect 16-0 career record in the sport before bringing his San Shou skills to the cage where he eventually was crowned STRIKEFORCE World Middleweight (185 pounds) Champion after defeating MMA legend Frank Shamrock at San Jose, Calif.’s HP Pavilion on March 29, 2008.

In 2008, Diagne parted ways with his homeland in order to train with Le at the superstar’s Universal Strength Headquarters (USH) gym in Milpitas, Calif.  Following in the footsteps of his mentor, Diagne added Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training under Paul Schreiner to his game in order to prepare for a career in MMA.

A six-time San Shou titlist, the 6-foot-1 Diagne made history as well as his MMA debut on May 15, 2009 when he competed in the first STRIKEFORCE Challengers event in history, earning a unanimous decision over Kaleo Kwan at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.

Tickets for the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event are on sale and can be purchased at the Comcast Arena box office (866-332-8499) as well as online at ComcastArenaEverett.com and STRIKEFORCE’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).

In the main event, undefeated heavyweight prospect Shane Del Rosario (9-0) will attempt to extend his unblemished streak when he faces fellow heavy hitter Lolohea Mahe (4-1-1).

Unbeaten STRIKEFORCE Women’s World Welterweight (135 pounds) Champion and former ballet dancer Sarah Kaufman (11-0) will put her perfect record as well as her crown on the line against international star Roxanne Modafferi (15-5).

In other featured action, Abongo Humphrey (7-1) will take on MMA bad boy Mike “Mak” Kyle (16-7-1) at light heavyweight (205 pounds).

Twenty-five year old Cory “The One” Devela (9-4) of Bonney Lake, Wash. will attempt to re-ignite his career in his first bout in 12 months when he faces hard-hitting Bobby Voelker (21-8) at welterweight (170 pounds).

The first STRIKEFORCE Challengers preliminary card bout will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the first main card bout will begin at 8 p.m.

The live SHOWTIME telecast will begin at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

STRIKEFORCE Challengers, where tomorrow’s champions are born, is a proving ground for up-and-coming MMA fighters. The series is designed to provide today’s top prospects with the opportunity to step-up their level of competition and demonstrate their ability in a nationally televised event.

This Friday, ShoBox: The New Generation will present a classic “ShoBox” fight card featuring ambitious young talent on the verge of greatness. To continue their rise up the rankings and contend for a world title, they first must triumph in their most critical test to date – live at 11p ET/PT on SHOWTIME®.

Fernando Guerrero vs. Ishe Smith
Plus, Shawn Porter vs. Ray Robinson and Lanard Lane vs. Mike Dallas Jr.
For more info, visit sports.sho.com

PHOENIX NATIVE JOE “DIESEL” RIGGS TO FACE LOUIS TAYLOR IN STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS MAIN EVENT

Four-Woman (135 Pounds) Single Elimination Welterweight Tournament To Be Featured On Main Card

Friday, Aug. 13, LIVE ON SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT From Dodge Theatre In Phoenix , Ariz.

Phoenix, Ariz. (July 8, 2010) – Phoenix native and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) star Joe “Diesel” Riggs will headline a stacked STRIKEFORCE Challengers event from Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz., when he takes on knockout artist Louis Taylor at a catch weight of 182 pounds in the main event on Friday, Aug. 13, LIVE on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

The event, STRIKEFORCE’s first in the state of Arizona, will also feature a four-woman single elimination welterweight (135 pound) tournament comprised of four female prospects to be announced soon.  The tournament will be completed over the course of the evening’s fight card.

The winner of the tournament will likely face the champion of the July 23 STRIKEFORCE Women’s Welterweight Title fight between undefeated, defending champ Sarah Kaufman and challenger Roxanne Modafferi in Everett, Wash., LIVE on SHOWTIME.

Tickets for the Aug. 13 Challengers event will be available beginning Saturday, July 17 at 10 a.m. PT through www.livenation.com, www.STRIKEFORCE.com, the Dodge Theatre Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

A former super heavyweight who once competed at over 300 pounds, the 27-year-old Riggs (32-12) is now a dangerous threat in multiple STRIKEFORCE divisions.  He holds the rare distinction of having competed at heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, and welterweight during the course of his eight-year career.

A former UFC star, Riggs holds notable victories over STRIKEFORCE Welterweight champ Nick Diaz, Kendall Grove, Chris Lytle and “The N.Y. Badass” Phil Baroni.  He is coming off a controversial unanimous decision loss to streaking, former world champ Jay Hieron at STRIKEFORCE: Miami on Jan. 30, 2010.

Prior to the loss to Hieron, the 6-foot Riggs tallied up four consecutive wins including an impressive unanimous decision victory over Baroni at STRIKEFORCE: Lawler vs. Shields on June 6, 2010 in St. Louis, Mo.

Taylor (6-1), of Chicago, has rattled off two consecutive knockout wins since his first career loss to Nate Moore on the undercard of the STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL:  Fedor vs. Rogers event in Hoffman Estates, Ill. on Nov. 7, 2009.

The 5-foot-11 Taylor has scored knockouts in four of his six consecutive victories and has only gone to the judges scorecards once in his professional career.

Photography by Rosemary Acosta Clark/STRIKEFORCE

 STRIKEFORCE WORLD TITLE DOUBLEHEADER

HEADED TO TOYOTA CENTER IN HOUSTON
 SATURDAY, AUG. 21, LIVE ON SHOWTIME®,

KICKOFF PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Tuesday, July 13, 2010,

Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

“King Mo” To Defend Light Heavyweight Belt Against “Feijao” Cavalcante,

“Jacare’’ Souza and Tim Kennedy Clash For Vacant Middleweight Crown;

Live Telecast Begins At 10 p.m. ET/PT

HOUSTON (July 13, 2010) – STRIKEFORCE formally announced Tuesday a World Championship Doubleheader for Toyota Center here on Saturday, Aug. 21, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). 

STRIKEFORCE World Light Heavyweight (205 pounds) Champion “King Mo” Lawal (7-0) will make the first defense of his belt against devastating striker Rafael “Feijao’’ Cavalcante (9-2) in the main event. The semi-main will match Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (12-2-1) and Tim Kennedy (12-2) in a clash for the vacant STRIKEFORCE Middleweight (185 pounds) crown.

In a featured, televised bout, undefeated heavyweight rising star Bobby Lashley (5-0), will return to the cage against an opponent to be announced. 

Also on the televised portion of an outstanding event, former world champion KJ Noons 11-2) will face Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt Jorge Gurgel (13-6) in a lightweight (155 pounds) match. 

A special pre-sale ticket purchase opportunity for the STRIKEFORCE event is available for “STRIKEFORCE Insider” e-newsletter subscribers (http://STRIKEFORCE.com/insider.html) until 10 p.m. CT this Thursday, July 15.  STRIKEFORCE Insiders receive a special e-newsletter with the pre-sale code.      

Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, July 16, at 10 a.m. CT at www.ToyotaCenterTix.com, by phone at 1-866-4-HOU-TIX, at select Houston area Randalls locations, and at www.strikeforce.com. Tickets will be available at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 19, at Toyota Center Box Office.

“King Mo” Lawal vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante

The undefeated Lawal, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is a two-time NCAA Division I All-American and Big 12 wrestling champion for Oklahoma State University. He won the STRIKEFORCE title with a unanimous five-round decision over defending belt-holder Gegard Mousasi last April 17 on the CBS Television Network. 

Prior to the convincing victory over the highly regarded Mousasi, the colorful, charismatic 30-year-old, 6-foot Lawal won his STRIKEFORCE debut via first-round knockout of “Iron” Mike Whitehead on Dec. 19, 2009, at STRIKEFORCE: Evolution in San Jose. 

A winner in five of his last six starts, Brazil’s Feijao is coming off a crushing first-round knockout over Antwain “The Juggernaut” Britt at STRIKEFORCE: Heavy Artillery last May 15 in St. Louis on SHOWTIME.  Feijao trains out of the famed Black House camp with, among others, Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and Antonio Nogueira with Silva, the current UFC middleweight champion, serving as his striking coach and former champ Nogueira working as his grappling coach. 

The only losses on Cavalcante’s resume came in 2007 on a disqualification and in a shocking upset to late replacement and dangerous veteran Mike “Mak” Kyle on June 6, 2009.  Since the loss to Kyle, the 6-foot-1 Cavalcante has rattled off two consecutive knockouts: a second-round KO of Aaron Rosa at a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event in Kansas City on Nov. 20, 2009 and the Britt blowout. 

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Tim Kennedy

Jacare (pronounced “Jock-a-ray’’) is a world-class submission specialist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who is coming off a hard-fought unanimous decision over Joey Villaseñor at STRIKEFORCE: Heavy Artillery.  In his outing before last, the world-renowned grappler submitted (arm triangle choke) 1996 Olympic Games Greco-Roman medalist Matt “The Law” Lindland on Dec. 19, 2009. 

The 6-foot, 30-year-old Jacare’s only defeats came in his first career match in 2003 and to former STRIKEFORCE champ Mousasi at the Dream 6: Middleweight Grand-Prix Final in 2008. 

An American military hero, Kennedy, of Austin, Tex., is fresh off a first-round submission (rear-naked choke) of Trevor Prangley on June 16 at STRIKEFORCE: LIVE at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.   The 5-foot-11, 30-year-old Kennedy is a United States Army Special Forces sniper with the 19^th Special Forces outfit based in San Antonio. He has toured the Middle East multiple times and earned the Army’s Bronze Medal Star medal for valor under fire. 

Kennedy has split two fights with Jason “Mayhem’’ Miller, while his only other defeat came to Scott “Hands Of Steel’’ Smith in his pro debut on Aug. 31, 2001.

KJ Noons vs. Jorge Gurgel

A confident, prolific striker, the 5-foot-11 Noons outlasted Conor Heun in his STRIKEFORCE debut via split decision in an all-out slugfest in his last fight, also at STRIKEFORCE: LIVE in L.A.  Noons, who is also a professional boxer, is the last fighter to defeat current STRIKEFORCE welterweight champion Nick Diaz – a bloody first-round knockout in 2007. 

The 27-year-old Noons has won five consecutive fights and is 8-1 in his last nine outings. His last defeat came to Charles “Krazy Horse’’ Bennett on Feb. 10, 2007, in the opening bout on the historic first MMA fight card ever broadcast on network premium television (SHOWTIME).

Gurgel holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but prefers to stand and exchange strikes rather than utilize his submission skills, which makes all his fights explosive and entertaining.  The 5-foot-7 Gurgel has never lost a fight via knockout and has only been submitted twice in an eight-year MMA career. 

Gurgel, 33, is coming off an exciting, extremely tough decision loss to undefeated prospect Billy Evangelista on Nov. 6, 2009, at a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event in Fresno, Calif.  Before the loss to Evangelista, Gurgel won a unanimous decision victory over Heun on June 19, 2009 at a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event in Kent, Wash. 

Bobby Lashley vs. TBA

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Lashley is a former collegiate wrestling star for Missouri Valley College who competed in both the WWE Raw and SmackDown! shows in 2005 and 2006.  He made his MMA debut in December 2008. 

In his last fight and STRIKEFORCE debut, Lashley, 33, scored a first round TKO over Wes Sims at STRIKEFORCE: Miami on Jan. 30, 2010.  Prior to that, the former professional wrestling superstar pulverized the 6-foot-5, 350-plus pound goliath Bob Sapp. 

Lashley’s WWE and TNA wrestling career has helped make him a well-known figure in the sports and entertainment world. 

What the fighters said Tuesday:

“KING MO” LAWAL

“Feijao likes to bang so this is going to be an exciting fight.  I’m going to show you all some new things I’ve been working on.”

On coming into his first fight as champion:  “The approach doesn’t change.  Going into every fight, I feel like both a champion and a challenger because I challenge myself in training, but I’m always champion in my mind.   So nothing is going to change for this fight.

“I watch about 10-15 fights a day.  I’m always studying guys and learning their weaknesses.”

After KJ stated that he’s going to fight a war:  “I’ll let KJ fight a war.  I don’t want to fight a war.  I’m going to look to finish (Feijao) as fast as I can.  I don’t ever want to fight a war.  I always want to dominate and fight as one-sided a fight as possible.”

TIM KENNEDY

On how his military experience prepared him mentally and physically for MMA competition:  “This is just fighting.  (In the cage), there’s a guy in a black shirt wearing latex gloves who’s going to protect me.  It’s much different than battling a guy who’s hiding behind a rock with a cell phone, waiting to blow me up.  So, this is fun.  I love fighting.  It’s a huge sport and I’m a huge fan of it.  It’s totally different.

“I’m proud to say that I’m a Texan now.  I live in Austin.  I hope that all of Texas will come out to support me as I fight to win the belt.

“As your career progresses, every next fight is the most important one.  After I beat Jacare and have the title, they’re going to say ‘Is this the most important fight of your career?’  I take every single fight with extreme seriousness and I take Jacare very seriously.  I have great respect for him as an athlete and as a fighter.  He’s very talented.  It’s a tough fight.  I don’t know if he’s my toughest opponent, but it’s nice to be able to train full time, so this is going to be a tough fight for him.”

BOBBY LASHLEY

“I think I’ve progressed well.  The Bobby Lashley who fought my first fight is completely different from Bobby Lashley now.   I’m anxious to get back out there.   I had a little setback and when I finally got cleared. I called (STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott) Coker and begged him to be on this card.”

“As far as comparing myself to the other heavyweights, we’ll see real soon.  I’ll have opportunities to fight those guys in the next year.”

KJ NOONS

“I’m very excited to come back to Texas.  I finished high school here.  My mom and my dad are here.  The fans are awesome here.  I did open-hand Pancrase down the street from here eight years ago before MMA was even big, so I know how it was back then so I’m super excited to be back here.

“I think I’m going to keep the fight standing and keep it exciting.  Whether you want to call it a war or whatever, it’s going to be like all my other fights.  I’m going to pick him apart and take him out.

 “(MMA) is a lifestyle.  You have to work hard and you can be the best, just like anything else.  But, if you don’t work hard and you don’t respect the sport, then you won’t make it.”

Main Event

DEMIAN MAIA vs. ALAN BELCHER

Featured Bout

MATT WIMAN vs. MAC DANZIG

Live from the Frank Erwin Center on Sept. 15 – Tickets on Sale Saturday, July 17 at 10AM CT

Las Vegas – The Ultimate Fighting Championship^® will feature two of the most dominant middleweight fighters in the world at UFC Fight Night Live^®, live from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas on September 15. Submission specialist Demian Maia will step into the Octagon^® to face red-hot Alan Belcher in the evening’s main event. The records of these two fighters exemplify their elite caliber; however, both will try to prove their supremacy to each other as they attempt to improve their standing in the stacked 185-pound class.

UFC Fight Night Live also features a highly anticipated rematch in the lightweight division, as Mac Danzig seeks revenge against Matt Wiman. In the first fight between The Ultimate Fighter alumni at UFC^® 115, Wiman was declared the winner after an erroneous call by the referee as Danzig was caught in a submission hold near the end of the first round.

“The Frank Erwin Center is excited and honored to welcome UFC to Austin for the very first time, and only the third time in Texas! Austin has a sizeable UFC fan base and I’m sure they will come out in droves to support their favorite UFC fighters,” said Jimmy Earl, Associate Director of the Frank Erwin Center.

Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT LIVE at the Frank Erwin Center Wednesday, September 15 are $30, $50, $75, $125 and $185 and GO ON SALE Saturday, July 17 at 10AM CT.  Tickets available at all Texas Box Office outlets including select H-E-B stores, Ft. Hood ITR and Renaissance Records in Killeen, by phone at 512-477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or online at TexasBoxOffice.com. Convenience charges may apply. All information is subject to change. Suites at the Frank Erwin Center provide a unique environment to entertain your clients, family and friends.  For more information, call 512-471-4713 or email suites@erwin.utexas.edu.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, July 15 starting at 10 a.m. CT via UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, July 16 starting at 10am CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

In his last fight, Demian

CHICAGO, Ill. (July 12, 2010) — Bellator Fighting Championships’ upcoming Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament continued to take shape today with the addition of 14-2 fan favorite Travis “The Hurricane” Reddinger.

The 28-year-old Pittsburgh native and St. Paul, Minn., transplant –who enters the tournament in the midst of a four-fight win streak –is known for his power, relentless approach and the oversized “BELLATOR” tattoo etched across his torso.

Reddinger says he got the tattoo about 4 ½ years ago, long before Bellator Fighting Championships exploded onto the MMA scene.

“For me it just symbolizes perseverance and the never-say-die mentality that I strive for,” he said. “I know that Bellator stands for the warrior mentality as well, so it’s a great honor for me to be a part of the organization. The tournament concept suits me really well and I love the exposure of being on national TV. It’s all pretty surreal still. I don’t think the gravity of it all has really hit me yet.”

Reddinger is the fourth confirmed participant in the Bantamweight Tournament along with Kansas City brawler Danny Tims, Las Vegas-based BJJ brown belt Ulysses Gomez and fast-rising Wyoming native Nik Mamalis, who gained entry into the tournament with two stunning wins during Bellator Season 2.

Reddinger got his start in MMA in June 2005 and took his first fight about three months later, winning each of his first six pro fights decisively via TKO or submission.

The 5’ 10” bantamweight now trains under the renowned MMA coach Sergio Cunha who was a trainer for both Brazilian Top Team and Chute Box Academy and worked with MMA champions past and present like Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, the Noguiera Brothers, BJ Penn and Shogun Rua.

In addition to his full-time training regimen, Reddinger is also a full-time nursing student and shares in the role of raising his 5-month-old son, Traden, along with his fiancé, Kayla.

“Being a father, it gives all of this a lot bigger purpose,” he said. “It’s not just me I’m fighting for. I’m looking to do something life-changing for my family.”

Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney said that Reddinger poses a very real threat to whomever he faces once the tournament begins on August 12th on FOX Sports Net.

“Travis is a great competitor and someone to keep an eye on in our Bantamweight Tournament,” Rebney said. “I know that he is planning on making the most of this opportunity and he definitely has the skills to make a major impact.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter@BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

Friday, July 16, 2010, Live at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME® From DeSoto Civic Center, Southaven, Miss.

NEW YORK (July 9, 2010)–-Just days from celebrating its ninth anniversary, SHOWTIME will televise a quintessential ShoBox: The New Generation fight card from DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Miss., just a short drive from Memphis, Tenn.  In emblematic fashion, this edition of ShoBox will feature highly-regarded prospects in the toughest and arguably most important fights of their careers.    World-ranked middleweight prospect Fernando Guerrero  (18-0, 15 KOs) will put his undefeated record on the line against tough veteran Ishe Smith (21-4, 9 KOs) in a 10-round bout in the main event of a tripleheader telecast on Friday, July 16, live SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).    The tripleheader will be the 143rd ShoBox telecast since the series began on July 21, 2001.    Promising, unbeaten knockout artist Shawn Porter (15-0, 12 KOs), of Cleveland, Ohio, will face fellow prospect Ray Robinson (11-1, 4 KOs), of Philadelphia, Pa., in a 10-round junior middleweight (catch weight 150 lbs) bout.

Philadelphia’s Lanard Lane (12-0, 7 KOs), another talented, undefeated prospect, will put his perfect record up against Mike Dallas, Jr., (14-0, 5 KOs), of Bakersfield, Calif., in an eight-round welterweight bout.    The tripleheader is promoted by Prize Fight in association with DiBella Entertainment.      The power-punching Guerrero, of Salisbury, Md., by way of the Dominican Republic, has scored all 15 of his knockouts inside of four rounds. The No. 5-rated World Boxing Organization (WBO) contender at 160 pounds, Guerrero is fresh off a dominating second-round TKO victory over Michael Walker on April 16 in Salisbury on ShoBox.    ShoBox color commentator and boxing historian Steve Farhood has called all three of Guerrero’s fights on SHOWTIME and witnessed him develop from a fringe prospect into a legitimate threat in the middleweight division.

“Fernando Guerrero has unmistakable star appeal, and in taking on Ishe Smith, he’s ready to prove he has the class to match the flash,” Farhood said.  “Smith will be Guerrero’s toughest test to date. It’s a critical step for Guerrero, who’s ready to move from prospect to top-20 contender.”   Former light heavyweight kingpin and current ShoBox expert analyst Antonio Tarver agrees.    “It’s been nice watching him develop because he seems to have all the tools to become a contender,” Tarver said.  “We just want to seem him step up the competition and we think Smith is that step for him.  He was under matched in his last fight and he had a nice win in front of his hometown, but it wasn’t the best indication of what his potential is.  The Smith fight should be that indicator.”

“He has all the natural, God-given talent and ability, but the mark of a champion is how he fights under pressure and under adversity.  If he loses a round or two, will he be able to dig deep and bring out something special?”   Tarver thinks that Smith will serve as that necessary tough test for the prospect who has won 14 of his 18 fights in under four rounds.    “Smith has never been stopped and has been going the distance recently,” Tarver said.  “He hasn’t been winning much, but we don’t expect him to quit in this. We’ll see the best of Ishe Smith because he knows this is a must-win.  Smith is looking to reestablish himself and that makes him a dangerous fighter.  This should be a real test for both men.”   While Guerrero agrees that Smith will be a tough opponent, he admits that he isn’t training differently for the veteran than he has for any of his previous opponents.   “Every step is a critical step — lose once to anyone and you will see how critical it is,” Guerrero said.  “I take every fight as the most important and toughest challenge of my career.  I worked as hard for this fight as for the guys that were 3-4 back in the beginning.

“As far as my toughest fight?  Ask me again after the fight.”    The 23-year-old Guerrero isn’t worried that he only has 59 total rounds of ring experience under his belt with just one fight going the full 10 rounds.   “If I see an opportunity to slam the door shut I am going to do it,” Guerrero said.  “If it happens in the first or the 10th, that is what you are suppose to do.  No one on my team expects me to carry a fight extra rounds just to get more experience.   “If you need more rounds you fight tougher guys, and that is what we are doing.  I can’t imagine (former trainer/manager) Cus D’Amato telling (Mike) Tyson he should have carried his guys more rounds to get ring experience.  I have only been a pro for two-and-a-half years, but I know we are getting close to contending for a title as you can see the better opponents we are facing now.”   Prior to the Walker victory, Guerrero scored a thrilling fourth-round TKO victory over Jessie Nicklow on Dec. 18, 2009, on ShoBox.  The former Jr. Olympian’s career-best win came in a hard-fought 10-round majority decision over former British Commonwealth welterweight and junior middleweight champion Ossie Duran on Oct. 10, 2009

A southpaw who spars with brothers Anthony and Lamont Peterson, Guerrero is trained by Barry Hunter, who describes his fighter as a gym-rat and a workaholic.      Guerrero is going to have his work cut out for him against the veteran and re-energized Smith, who participated in the first season of the reality TV series “The Contender.”  Smith recently sparred with pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr., in Las Vegas before his fight against Shane Mosley.    “Going to Mayweather’s camp rejuvenated me,” Smith said.  “It rededicated me to the sport that’s been in my blood since I was born. I know it benefited him to some degree, but it was huge for me.    “At that time I had my advisor tell me, ‘Get in the gym,’ but I had fights keep falling out.  I couldn’t stay focused on boxing.  When I got that call to go help him it just refreshed me as a fighter and as a man.  I needed that at that particular time.” 

Fresh off the experience of training with one of boxing’s brightest stars, Smith, of Las Vegas, Nev., now has an opportunity to take down one of the sport’s most coveted prospects.    “This has been my best camp in 10 years — by far my best camp I’ve ever had,” Smith said.  “He’s young, he’s hungry and that will make for a really interesting fight. I’m very experienced in boxing, in sparring, I’ve sparred some of the biggest names in the sport.”    The 31-year-old Smith knows his experience could give him the opportunity to push the hard-hitting Guerrero to the brink.    “It’s going to be very interesting to see what the young man can handle,” Smith said.  “When we get into swimming and get into the deep, deep waters, it will be interesting to see if he still needs those floaties. My job is to take the young man into deep waters and cut those floaties off and see if he’ll sink or swim.”   “I’ve fought some big names: (Joel) Julio, (Daniel) Jacobs, (Sechew) Powell, (Sergio) Mora. I’ve been here, I’ve done that. The question isn’t what I’m going to do; the question is what he’s going to do.  We will take off those floaties. There’s no question about that, but we’ll see if he sinks or swims.”

Photography by Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

Interim WBA Super Flyweight World Champion Nonito Donaire

Stops Hernan Marquez in Eight

Saturday, July 10, At San Juan, Puerto Rico

Live on SHOWTIME®

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (July 11, 2010)—It took less than six minutes for WBO featherweight world champion and Puerto Rican star Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez to dispatch an outmatched Bernabe Concepcion on Saturday night at Coliseo De Puerto Rico in Hato Rey, just outside of the capital city of San Juan.  After four knockdowns in the explosive—albeit short—fight, referee Luis Pabon halted the bout at 2:37 of round two, awarding Lopez the TKO to the delight of his hometown fans.

In the co-feature, interim WBA super flyweight world champion the “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire defended his title with an eighth-round technical knockout over young Hernan Marquez of Mexico.

Saturday’s world championship doubleheader was promoted by Top Rank, Inc., and P.R. Best Boxing and televised live on SHOWTIME.

Lopez made the sixth successful defense of his 126-pound title and set up a major showdown with future hall of fame boxer Rafael Marquez.  The impending marquee fight is scheduled for September 18, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be televised live on SHOWTIME.

On Saturday, Lopez used his superior speed and incredible power to knock down Concepcion in the first minute of the bout.  After Concepcion got to his feet, Lopez unleashed a ferocious attack, landing multiple power-punches on his desperate opponent.  But just before the bell and with his back to the ropes, Concepcion rallied with a miracle left hook that landed flush and sent Lopez down to the canvas.

In the second, Lopez floored Concepcion twice, forcing the ref to call it a night.

“Sometimes you get a little bit overconfident,” said the charismatic champion. “That’s what happened there. I have to be cautious never to be over confident.”

The 27-year-old Lopez remains undefeated with 29 wins and 26 knockouts.

In closing, SHOWTIME analyst Al Bernstein said, “Juan Manuel Lopez lights up a boxing ring in so many ways. His personality is as big as the great outdoors. His power is magnificent and he can be, at times, vulnerable and that’s part of what makes him such an exciting fighter to watch.” 

Donaire who typically fights in the orthodox stance, came into Saturday’s bout against 21-year-old Hernan Marquez looking to challenge himself. Donaire planned to fight the entire night from the southpaw stance.  He did so for the first four rounds and landed some powerful straight left hands, especially in the fourth round.  But in the fifth, Donaire switched to right-handed and began connecting at will, scoring a knockdown at the end of the round. 

Donaire again knocked Marquez down near the end of the eighth round, this time with a terrific uppercut to the head.  Referee Roberto Ramirez stopped the bout on the advice of the Marquez corner after the bell.   

“I wanted more rounds,” said Donaire immediately after the fight. “I knew I could figure him out right away from the right-handed stance. But I was confident (in fighting lefty) and everybody on my team believed in me. I may have taken a little bit of a beating for it, but I feel that I needed that.”

“I will continue to work on my left-handed stance. I feel so much more powerful. Soon you will see Sweet Pea (Pernell Whitaker) or Marvelous Marvin Hagler from me.  That’s what I want to do.” 

Donaire improved his record to 24-1, with 16 KOs. Marquez dropped to 25-2 (18 KOs).

July 3, 2010

MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas

Brock Lesnar def. Shane Carwin by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:19 of Round 2

Chris Leben def. Yoshihiro Akiyama by submission (triangle choke) at 4:40 of Round 3
Chris Lytle def. Matt Brown by submission (armbar) at 2:02 of Round 2
Stephan Bonnar def. Krzysztof Soszynski by TKO (strikes) at 3:08 of Round 2
George Sotriopoulos def. Kurt Pellegrino by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
Brendan Schaub def. Chris Tuchscherer by TKO (punches) at 1:07 of Round 1
Ricardo Romero def. Seth Petruzelli by submission (armbar) at 3:05 of Round 2
Kendall Grove def. Goran Reljic by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28).

Gerald Harris def. David Branch by knockout (slam) at 2:35 of Round 3
Daniel Roberts def. Forrest Petz by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).

>Pictures