News Page 40

NO HOLDS BARRED: Larry Hazzard, Bernard Hopkins

11-20-2007

Denver, CO

On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman discusses the latest outrage in the combat sports: The firing of Larry Hazzard Sr.,
who had been the commissioner of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, which regulates combat sports, for almost 22 years.

We discuss his firing, as well as his place in both boxing and mixed martial arts. Simply put, without Larry Hazzard's role in developing the unified rules of MMA and having MMA sanctioned in New Jersey in 2000, that sport would not have been anywhere near as developed as it is today in the U.S. - if even it would have existed.

His firing, which took place Wednesday, Nov. 14, came in the wake of a letter being sent on his behalf by attorney James Binns to New Jersey
Governor Jon Corzine alleging numerous charges of "malfeasance" against officials regulating boxing and mixed martial arts events in New Jersey (http://www.adcombat.com/Article.asp?Author_ID=4&Article_ID=14295). Among the many bombshells in this letter, dated Oct. 23, 2007, included citing an official for allegedly "failing to suspend a combatant who tested non-negative for HIV"; "allowing MMA promoters to deviate from sanction protocols"; "permitting contestants to compete without submitting required medical documents"; and "accepting a CT Scan that revealed marked brain impairment (Stephan Johnson)". Johnson died on Dec. 5, 1999, from injuries suffered in a fight in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Nov. 20,
1999, in which he was knocked out in the tenth round.

Instead of investigating these serious charges, the New Jersey politicians dismissed Larry Hazzard.

Larry Hazzard was in Atlantic City this past Saturday night, Nov. 17, for the Joan Guzman-Humberto Soto fight at the Borgata Casino, but only as a spectator. Before taking his first-row seat, he held an informal news conference with several members of the boxing media. He also then continued to answer more media questions right after that. We have both discussions for you on this show.

Among the many people who expressed their outrage at this firing and protested it was Bernard Hopkins, the light heavyweight boxing champion of the world, and the president of Golden Boy East, the lead promoter of the Guzman-Soto card (http://adcombat.com/Article.asp?Article_ID=14296). He spoke with the media as well, and we also have that discussion for you.

To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link below and just press the play button on the player:

http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-11-19T23_51_18-08_00

You can also listen to it through the NO HOLDS BARRED blog, at http://nhbnews.blogspot.com, and my MySpace page, at http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews, also by pressing the play button on the player.

STRIKEFORCE - Results

11-17-2007

Denver, CO

From the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.

Preliminary bouts:
1. Dennis Hallman defeated Jeremiah Metcalf by footlock at 1:39 of rd 1
2. Chris Drumm vs. Evan Esguerra was judged a no contest at 2:35 of rd 2
3. Alex Crispin defeated Clint Coronel by unanimous decision
4. Anthony Figueroa defeated Pete Sabala by split decision
5. Eric Lawson defeated Josh Neal by rear choke at 0:20 of rd 2

Main Card:
6. Jorge Santiago defeated Sean Salmon by KO at 0:24 of rd 1
7. Trevor Prangley defeated Falaniko Vitale by referee's decision at 2:12 of rd 2
8. Luke Stewart defeated Bryson Kamaka by KO at 0:19 of rd 1
9. Anthony Ruiz defeated Bobby Southworth by TKO due to cut at 0:54 of rd 2
10. Lemont Davis defeated Brian Schwartz by unanimous decision
11. Alistair Overeem defeated Paul Buentello by submission due to strikes at 3:42 of rd 2
12. Jorge Santiago defeated Trevor Prangley by TKO at 2:31 of rd 1
13. Cung Le defeated Sam Morgan by TKO at 1:58 of rd 3

ProElite & LiveHive - Introduce Fantasy Fight Game to Mixed Martial Arts Fans
11-16-2007

Denver, CO

Technology Platform Allows MMA Fans to Play Alongside Favorite Fighters

LOS ANGELES--Nov. 16, 2007--ProElite, Inc. today announced that it has signed an agreement with LiveHive Systems(TM) to enhance the
television and Internet viewing experience for fans of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) by introducing the ProElite Fantasy Fight Game, a fun, interactive offering.

The ProElite Fantasy Fight Game debuts with UFC 78, the Ultimate Fighting Championship being held in New Jersey on Saturday, November 17. In order to play, MMA fans must go to http://fantasy.proelite.com before the event begins at 7 p.m. PST/10 p.m. EST.

"This is a game that allows fans to experience the raw energy of MMA and interact with matches broadcast on television or ProElite.com," says Dave Bullock, President and Co-Founder of LiveHive Systems. "On ProElite.com, MMA fans can play alongside their favorite fighters by making predictions on what will happen next. They can also answer trivia questions and chat with other fans, and have the option of playing the game while watching the fight concurrently through a live video stream on ProElite.com, which is a first."

Kelly Perdew, President of ProElite.com, says partnering with LiveHive Systems gives ProElite.com members a high-quality, interactive experience that further connects them to this burgeoning sport.

"Our integration of the LiveHive NanoGaming platform further demonstrates our commitment to provide MMA fans with the highest quality entertainment every time they visit ProElite.com," Perdew said. "This will help build a community of fans around a variety of MMA events, not just one fight brand. Fans can chat and compete with each other, which makes the viewing experience far more engaging. The ProElite Fantasy Fight Game allows fans to become a part of the action."

Fans who play the game will be eligible for prizes based on accumulating points for accurate predictions.

About LiveHive Systems Inc.

LiveHive Systems(TM) is a privately held software development company that specializes in two-screen, interactive technology for TV broadcasters, fantasy sports sites, and web portals looking to differentiate their offering and increase value to viewers, advertisers and stakeholders. Its flagship product, NanoGaming is a technology platform that powers viewer interaction with entertainment media, such as live television broadcasts and streaming video. It gives audience members a continuous and engaging way to accumulate points, play with friends, and win prizes.

LiveHive provides software, integration, joint marketing initiatives, and a 24-hour Broadcast Control Center, which supports the comprehensive NanoGaming schedule. LiveHive Systems is based in Waterloo, Ontario, which was recently named the world's top intelligent community by the New York-based Intelligent Communities Forum. For more information, visit www.livehivesystems.com.

IFL Forms Video Sharing Partnership With YouTube and Google Ads
11-14-2007

Denver, CO

World’s Number One Team Mixed Martial Arts League Joins With World’s Leading Video Sharing Website To Provide and Share Short Form Content To The Largest Audience Possible

NEW YORK, November 13, 2007 – The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s number one team-based professional mixed martial arts league, and YouTube, the world’s leading video sharing Website, today announced a video sharing partnership designed to expose IFL content to a larger worldwide audience. It is the first partnership YouTube has formed in the sport of mixed martial arts, and follows the path of similar partnerships with the NBA, NHL, CBS and EA Sports among others.

“We are very excited to be able to add YouTube and Google Ads as our partners,” said IFL co-founder and CEO Gareb Shamus. “Compelling content is key to success, and this partnership gives us the opportunity to expose our athletes, coaches and events to a much larger audience than ever before with compelling content we know this demo loves to view.”

The partnership will provide IFL content to thousands of websites around the globe that use Google AdSense and YouTube players. The partnership will also include working with Google and YouTube in a revenue sharing model that would allow the IFL to generate income from advertisements shown in conjunction with its videos. The videos will be available on YouTube as well as other Google AdSense partner sites that cover the sport.

IFL short form videos are already some of the highest volume sports pieces on YouTube, with in excess of over one million views in recent months. This partnership is expected to significantly increase that potential audience.

The first major test of the partnership will occur in the coming week, when the IFL makes the fights from its November 3 World Grand Prix available to the MMA audience for the first time through YouTube. MyNetworkTV showed two of the fights in their live airing on broadcast television; the remaining seven bouts will now be seen for the first time through this partnership.

STRIKEFORCE MMA To Stream Live On Yahoo! Sports

11-14-2007, Denver, CO
Event date: November 16, 2007
From the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California

San Jose, CA….Following the smash success of its live stream from the world-famous Playboy Mansion, Strikeforce will again deliver to fans around the globe, world championship mixed martial arts action, LIVE on Yahoo! Sports (www.sports.yahoo.com), from the HP Pavilion in San Jose on Friday.

Available to all internet users located beyond a 150 mile radius of San Jose, the live stream, free of charge to viewers, will begin at 8 PM PST (11 PM EST) and include the entire Strikeforce four-man, single-elimination tournament, featuring middleweight (185 lb. limit) stars Trevor Prangley (16-4), Falaniko Vitale (24-7),
Yuki Sasaki (21-13-1), and Jorge Santiago (14-7). Each tournament bout will consist of two, five-minute rounds.

Also included during the stream will be the Strikeforce world heavyweight championship battle between Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello (23-9) and Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem (25-11); the middleweight showdown between undefeated Cung Le and The Ultimate Fighter season 2 star, Sam “The Squeeze” Morgan; the matchup between Strikeforce World Light Heavyweight (205 lb. limit) Champion, Bobby Southworth (8-4), and Anthony “El Toro” Ruiz (17-10); and the mixed martial arts debut of undefeated world kickboxing champion, Brian “The Mad Stork” Schwartz (18-0), who will take on Lemont Davis (8-4).

The Strikeforce event is being presented by BodogFIGHT.

NO HOLDS BARRED: Todd Hester on the First UFC
11-13-2007

Denver, CO
http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-11-12T22_52_09-08_00

On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Todd Hester, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com), and our correspondent on this show.

Todd covered the first edition of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which was held 14 years ago, on November 12, 1993, in Denver, Colorado. We discuss what the significance was of that event for the combat sports, how it showcased Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and emphasized technique, and the subsequent dumbing down of the UFC in recent years. We also stress that technique in general and submissions in particular need to be emphasized to make these types of events special again.

Also, make sure to check out my weekly boxing show, SecondsOut Radio. On this week's edition, we review the impressive unanimous decision victory this past Saturday, November 10, by WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25 KOs) over Shane Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) at Madison Square Garden in New York. We spoke after the fight with Miguel Diaz, Cotto's veteran cutman, for a no-holds-barred analysis of his victory. We also have Miguel Cotto's remarks and answers to questions at the postfight news conference.

SecondsOut Radio is also free to hear, but you must register to gain access to it, at http://www.secondsout.com/radio.

Make sure to check out my regular articles on the ADCC News at http://www.adcombat.com and on FightBeat.com at http://fightbeat.com.

IFL - Five Titles On The Line in World Grand Prix
11-13-2007

Denver, CO
By Jerry Milani

NEW YORK, November 13, 2007 – The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) today announced several additions to the card for the 2007 IFL World Grand Prix finals, the individual all-star competition for the world’s number one mixed martial arts league.

Five Championship bouts, believed to be unprecedented in North America, will take place on Saturday, December 29, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Headlining the upgraded card will be the much anticipated rematch between undefeated (11-0) star Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki (London, Ontario) and former NYU wrestling standout Shad Lierley (Seattle). The two met in June in Everett, Washington, with Horodecki pulling out a thrilling split decision in what many considered the MMA fight of the year to date.

Lierley is moving into the lightweight spot created when undefeated Brazilian Wagnney Fabiano (5-0) was moved to the new featherweight class where he will fight in 2008. Fabiano will not go untested, meeting another undefeated rising star, L.C. Davis (Kansas City, Mo.) of Pat Miletich’s Silverbacks.

“We have set up what will be one of the memorable nights for fans, and a night which showcases the six weight classes that will be the key component of our 2008 season,” said Kurt Otto, IFL commissioner and co-founder.

“Moving Wagnney to his natural featherweight, and having a worthy opponent such as L.C. already in the league, shows our depth of talent and also sets up a great rematch between Chris and Shad for their natural lightweight title. The other fights, and the undercard featuring a sneak peak at some of our U.K. talent and another rising star in Rory Markham, will make this a night not to be missed.”

In addition, the night will feature title shots at welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight:

At welterweight, the Pitbulls’ Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), the top seed with a 5-1 overall mark this year, takes on Long Island native Jay Hieron of the Anacondas, who has won three of four bouts in 2007.

At middleweight, hard-hitting top-seed Benji Radach (Coconut Creek, Fla.) tries to remain unbeaten (5-0) in the IFL when he battles Matt Horwich (Portland, Ore.) of the Wolfpack (3-1).

At heavyweight, Antoine Jaoude (Rio de Janeiro) also unbeaten in IFL (4-0), goes against Roy “Big Country” Nelson (Las Vegas), who has two punishing TKO’s to his credit among his three victories in 2007.

Horodecki and Fabiano won their IFL World Grand Prix semifinal bouts on November 3, at the Sears Centre in Chicago, along with six others, to advance to the finals. Three other highly-anticipated Championship fights are also on tap for Mohegan Sun, including:

Standout Rory Markham (Chicago) of the Silverbacks will take on Dan Miller (Sparta, N.J.), who helped the Pitbulls to the World Championship with a semifinal round victory as a late replacement. Alex Cook (Whitehaven, England) will help introduce the new British team, coached by Ian Freeman, which will begin competition in 2008, against Marcello Salazar (Portland, Ore./Brazil) in a rematch from March 2006, won by Cook. Undefeated military vet Tim Kennedy (Fayetteville, N.C.), one of the bright spots for the Red Bears, battles (local) standout Elias Rivera (Southington, Conn.).

Vladimir Matyushenko (El Segundo, Calif./Retchisa, Belarus) claimed the first IFL World Grand Prix Championship belt with a win at 205 lbs. over Alex Schoenauer (Las Vegas) in Chicago.

Tickets for the Finals can be purchased at the Mohegan Sun box office, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-860-886-0070.

Athletes were selected for the World Grand Prix based on their respective match records during the 2007 regular season. In the event of a tie, competitors with the fastest finishes or best strength of victories earned the higher seeds. The winners will defend their individual belts throughout the 2008 IFL season.

The full rosters for the World Grand Prix Finals follow. Bout order to be determined prior to the weigh-in on Dec. 28.

Preliminary Bouts
175 lbs.: Dan Miller, Pitbulls (Sparta, N.J.) (1-0 IFL 2007, 1-0 IFL career, 6-1 overall) vs. Rory Markham, Silverbacks (Chicago) (2-0, 6-1, 12-2)
185 lbs.: Marcello Salazar (Brazil) (0-0, 0-0, 6-1-2) vs. Alex Cook (Whitehaven, England) (0-0, 0-0, 8-5)
185 lbs.: Elias Rivera (Southington, Conn.) (0-0, 0-0, 3-2) vs. Tim Kennedy, Red Bears (Fayetteville, N.C.) (2-0, 2-0, 8-1)

Championship Bouts
145 lbs.: L.C. Davis, Silverbacks (Kansas City, Mo.) (2-0, 2-0, 9-0) vs. Wagnney Fabiano, Dragons (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (4-0, 4-0, 8-1)
155 lbs.: Shad Lierley, Tiger Sharks (Seattle) (2-1, 2-1, 2-1) vs. Chris Horodecki, Anacondas (London, Ontario) (4-0, 7-0, 11-0)
170 lbs.: Jay Hieron, Anacondas (Las Vegas) (3-1, 5-2, 13-4) vs. Delson Heleno, Pitbulls (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (5-1, 6-2, 13-3)
185 lbs.: Matt Horwich, Wolfpack (Portland, Ore.) (3-1, 5-3, 20-9-1) vs. Benji Radach, Anacondas (Coconut Creek, Fla.) (5-0, 5-0, 17-3)
265 lbs.: Roy Nelson, Lions (Las Vegas) (3-1, 3-1, 9-2) vs. Antoine Jaoude, Condors (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (4-0, 4-0, 8-2)

ELITE FIGHTING XTREME - Results

11-12-2007,

Denver, CO

From the Wells Fargo Theater in Denver, Colorado. Attendance for this premier show was estimated to be under a thousand.

1. Chris Camozzi defeated Donnie Liles by TKO due to strikes at 4:58 of rd 1
2. Spencer Hooker defeated Jeremy Hart by submission at 4:57 of rd 2
3. Rocky Johnson defeated Preston Scharf by unanimous decision
4. Jose Murillo defeated Cameron Dollar by unanimous decision
5. Manuel Gallardo defeated Andre DeVillier by submission at 2:11 of rd 2
6. Max Smith defeated Mark Korzenowski by decision
7. Miguel Martinez defeated Nick Bushman by rear choke at 1:31 of rd 1
8. Jesse Henley defeated Jason Brenton by unanimous decision
9. Sam Ferrell defeated Ronnie Encinias by unanimous decision
10. Caleb Jarramillo defeated Shawn Flannagan by rear choke at 2:24 of rd 1
11. Miguel Martinez defeated Phil Bentley by TKO from strikes at 1:07 of rd 1
12. Nick Bushman defeated Alan Alano by TKO from strikes at 0:37 of rd 1
13. Adam Martinez defeated Titus Holmes by TKO due to injury in rd 2

UFC 80 - Rapid Fire in Newcastle on January 19th

11-08-2007

Denver, CO

ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® PRESENTS UFC 80: RAPID FIRE, SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2008, LIVE FROM METRO ARENA, NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND, WORLD LIGHTWEIGHT INTERIM TITLE “THE PRODIGY” BJ PENN vs. JOE “DADDY” STEVENSON

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Hawaiian superstar BJ Penn has waited six years for another shot at the lightweight title that eluded him in 2002. On January 19, 2008, at the Metro Arena in Newcastle, England, “The Prodigy” finally gets his chance for redemption when he challenges Joe “Daddy” Stevenson for the Interim World Lightweight Championship at UFC 80: RAPID FIRE. Also featured on this star-studded card, which was made official today by the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization, is a heavyweight showdown between top contenders Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga and Fabricio Werdum.

“BJ Penn and Joe Stevenson are two of the top lightweights in the world,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Penn is the former world welterweight champion and Stevenson is unbeaten in the UFC as a lightweight. Both of these guys are known for their ground games and their will to win, so not only will it be a great fight, but the winner will become the interim world lightweight champion.”

Tickets for UFC 80: RAPID FIRE will go on public sale Saturday, Nov. 10 at 10am GMT and will be priced at £35, £50, £100, £150 and £200. Tickets will be available through ticketmaster.co.uk and www.metroradioarena.co.uk.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 10am GMT via the website www.ufc.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Friday, Nov. 9 starting at 10am GMT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through www.ufc.com.

One of the most gifted fighters to ever grace the UFC Octagon™, hence his nickname, “The Prodigy”, BJ Penn (12-4-1) has amazed fight fans throughout his career with a blend of stellar ground work, knockout power, and a warrior’s heart. In 2002, he challenged for the lightweight title against Jens Pulver but fell short in a five round war. Two years later though, he shocked the world when he won the welterweight title by submitting Matt Hughes at UFC 46. In 2007 though, Penn returned to the division where he first made his mark and he began on his road to the 155-pound title by avenging his first defeat with a submission win over Pulver at The Ultimate Fighter® season five finale on June 23rd. He will come full circle on January 19 if he can defeat Stevenson for the interim lightweight title.

“I’m very excited to be fighting for the UFC lightweight interim title and to be matched up against Stevenson,” said Penn. “Our styles are very similar, and we both want the interim title, so I think it will be a good fight and an excellent fight for the fans.”

A pro fighter since the age of 16, Joe “Daddy” Stevenson (33-7) has more experience than most fighters twice his age, and his time in the trenches of the fight game has prepared him for his first world title shot. First arriving on the UFC scene as a welterweight with a win on season two of The Ultimate Fighter, Stevenson soon determined that his true fortunes lay in the lightweight division, and since moving to 155 pounds, he has been unstoppable, stopping Yves Edwards, submitting Dokonjonosuke Mishima and Melvin Guillard, and decisioning Kurt Pellegrino enroute to his meeting with Penn in Newcastle.

“I’m really excited to fight BJ, and I’m happy to have the chance to fight for the interim title,” said Stevenson. “I think BJ is an awesome fighter. He has a dangerous ground game, but I don’t think it will be too big of a factor. And he’s not going to knock me out, so I’m confident that it will be my hand that’s raised at the end of the night.”

Also featured on the UFC 80 card is the heavyweight feature Gonzaga vs.Werdum.

One of the most dangerous heavyweights on the planet, with the ability to end a fight via submission or with a devastating knockout, Rio De Janeiro native Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga (8-2) captured the imagination of UFC fans in April when he knocked out the feared striker Mirko Cro Cop with a single head kick at UFC 70. And though Gonzaga fell short in his subsequent shot at Randy Couture’s heavyweight crown in August, the 28-year old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt is eager to get back in line for a title shot, something that will be made easier with a win over the only other man to beat him, Fabricio Werdum.

A highly-regarded veteran who made his name in the PRIDE® organization, Porto Alegre, Brazil’s Fabricio Werdum (9-3-1) lost a hard-fought decision to former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in his UFC debut in April, but he plans on evening his record on January 19 by repeating his 2003 TKO win over Gabriel Gonzaga. To do that, the highly decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt will have to use the tools that led him to PRIDE wins over Alistair Overeem and Aleksander Emelianenko and which have led many to dub him the best kept secret in the heavyweight division.

Also confirmed for UFC 80 is a welterweight battle of the adoptive Brits as Irish-American Marcus Davis clashes with Anglo-Frenchman Jess Liaudin.

Former pro boxer Davis is on an incredible 10 fight winning streak and is coming off two hugely impressive wins in Belfast and London. Likewise, the London-based Liaudin, a 19 fight MMA veteran, is in the form of his life and has won both his previous UFC fights in the very first round.

The remaining bouts for UFC 80: RAPID FIRE will be announced in the near future. All bouts live and subject to change. For further information on the UFC visit www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or www.ufcespanol.com.

Eddie Goldman's NO HOLDS BARRED

11-06-2007

Denver, CO

IFL Grand Prix TV Commentary; UFC-Couture Dispute; MMA vs. Boxing; EliteXC Preview with Kimbo Slice, Jake Shields, KJ
Noons, Gary Shaw; Jay Larkin

On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman offers a no-holds-barred commentary on this past Saturday's live telecast of the semifinals of the IFL Grand Prix on MyNetworkTV; the UFC-Randy Couture dispute; and a comparison of the major defects in mixed martial arts and boxing.

We next preview this coming Saturday's EliteXC card, which will take place Nov. 10 at the American Bank Center Arena in Corpus Christi, Texas. This show will be telecast live in the U.S. on Showtime. We spoke on a media teleconference call with fighters Kimbo Slice, Jake Shields, and KJ Noons, who will each be in separate bouts on this card. We also spoke with EliteXC promoter Gary Shaw about the organizational structure of mixed martial arts.

We also spoke with Jay Larkin, the new president and COO of the International Fight League, about their anti-doping policy.

To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link below and just press the play button on the player:
http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-11-06T00_07_25-08_00

STRIKEFORCE - Cung Le To Be ‘Squeeze’-D In San Jose
11-05-2007, Denver, CO

Event date: November 16, 2007
From the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California

San Jose, CA….Unbeaten world kickboxing champion and mixed martial artist Cung Le (20-0) will make his highly-anticipated return to the cage for a middleweight (185 lb. limit) showdown with The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 star Sam “The Squeeze” Morgan (19-8) during the Strikeforce “Four Men Enter, One Man Survives” mixed martial arts mega-card at San Jose’s HP Pavilion on Friday, November 16th.

“I just can’t wait to get back in the cage,” said Le, who, in his last effort, was a winner over Tony “The Freak” Fryklund by way of TKO in a featured bout during “Shamrock vs. Baroni,” the first-ever live SHOWTIME PPV mixed martial arts event, produced by Strikeforce on June 22nd. Le frustrated and hammered Fryklund with quick hands and a combination of reverse spinning back kicks and round kicks to the body before the referee ordered a stoppage 25 seconds into the third round.

By easily handling Fryklund, a 10-year veteran of professional mixed martial arts and a former student of the world-renowned Miletich Fighting Systems, Le began to answer questions about whether his dominance in the world of kickboxing could translate to similar success in competition that allows combat on the ground as well as on the feet.

“I think the fight with Tony definitely proved that I have the ability to be a force in mixed martial arts,” said Le. “Being able to fight on your feet is just as important as being able to fight on the ground in this sport because the fight starts standing up. My ground game is still evolving but, as far as stand up goes, I feel I’m one of the strongest fighters out there.”

Le’s success in martial arts combat sports recently earned him a guest appearance on The History Channel hit documentary series, The Human Weapon. During an episode spotlighting the sport of mixed martial arts, the four-time K-1 Superfight champion and two-time captain of The United States San Shou Kickboxing team showed co-hosts Jason Chambers and Bill Duff the mechanics of kicking.

Like Le, Morgan conquered his last opponent with ease, finishing Sam Jackson with a rear naked choke in the opening round of their August 2nd meeting. The outing, Morgan’s first in just under a year, helped the Minnesota native reestablish his confidence before his upcoming debut at 185 pounds.

“This is a great fight for me” said the 26-year-old Morgan of the matchup with Le. “He’s a wonderful opponent and I’m gonna come out on top because it’s a bad fight for him. I’m not the same guy that was fighting on The Ultimate Fighter. I’ve changed and my goals have changed. I’m happy and excited about this fight because I know the outcome – me winning.”

A former welterweight (168 lb. limit), Morgan indicated that the recent changes he’s gone through, primarily an improvement of his mental toughness, were the greatest factor behind his decision to leap to the next weight class. “I feel that I’m that person that is up to the challenge and it’s in my grasp to take this fight and come out victorious,” he said. “I feel that right now where I’m at, it’s all or nothing.”

During his career at 168 lbs, Morgan earned a number of notable wins, including a knockout of world Muay Thai champion, Duane “Bang” Ludwig, and a submission of Aaron Riley. “I want to fight all the top name guys in this sport. I’m not scared of any of them. I want to take them all on.”

Presented by BodogFIGHT, Strikeforce “Four Men Enter, One Man Survives” will be headlined by the first- ever sanctioned mixed martial arts tournament in the state of California. Slated to compete in the four-man middleweight (185 lb. limit) playoff are Trevor Prangley (16-4), Falaniko Vitale (24-7), Yuki Sasaki (21-13-1), and Jorge Santiago (14-7).

Each tournament bout will consist of two, five-minute rounds. Brackets for the single-elimination event have yet to be determined.

In other action, heavyweight superstars Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello (23-9) and Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem (25-11) will battle to become the first Strikeforce World Heavyweight Mixed Martial Arts Champion in history.

World Light Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion Brian “The Mad Stork” Schwartz (18-0) will step in the cage for the first time in his 16-year professional fighting career to face Lemont Davis (8-4) in a 175 lb. limit matchup.

Tickets for the Strikeforce extravaganza are on sale at Ticketmaster (408-998-TIXS) and Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) as well as at the HP Pavilion box office (408-287-7070). Ticket prices range from $30 to $200. HP Pavilion doors will open for Strikeforce “Four Men Enter, One Man Survives” at 5:30 PM PST on Friday, November 16th. The first preliminary bout will begin at 6 PM and the first tournament bout will commence at 7:30 PM.

PANCRASE 2007 "RISING TOUR" - Fight Card

11-04-2007, Denver, CO, PNW

Event date: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 (doors open at 18:00, pro bouts start at 18:30)
From the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan

Lineup:

Pro Bout #1 - Lightweight, 2x5 min rounds:
SHINSUKE SHOJI (KILLER BEE) vs. WATARU TAKAHASHI (Pancrase Debut/Team Sakurabatake)

Pro Bout #2 - Welterweight, 2x5 min rounds:
TAKUYA WADA (SK Absolute) vs. SEIKI RYO (STAND)

Pro Bout #3 - Heavyweight, 2x5 min rounds:
TATSUYA MIZUNO (Heavyweight 2nd Ranked/U-FILE CAMP/Noborito) vs. MASAYUKI KONO (NEW JAPAN FACTORY)

Pro Bout #4 - Featherweight, 2x5 min rounds:
MITSUHISA SUNABE (Featherweight 5th Ranked/P's REAL) vs. MICHIHISA ASANO(KILLER BEE)

Pro Bout #5 - Lightweight, 3x5 min rounds:
ERIYA MATSUDA (Lightweight 4th Ranked/Team Sakaguchi Dojo) vs. HACRAN DIAS (Pancrase Debut/Nova Uniao)

Semifinal - Featherweight, 3x5 min rounds:
DJ.TAIKI (Featherweight 1st Ranked/Freelance) vs. MARLON SANDRO(Pancrase Debut/Nova Uniao)

Main Event - Middleweight K.O.P. title defense, 3x5 min rounds:
YUICHI NAKANISHI (The 6th Middleweight K.O.P./Freelance) vs. IZURU TAKEUCHI (Middleweight 1st Ranked/SK Absolute)

M-1 GLOBAL - Announces Management Team

10-30-2007

Denver, CO

NEW YORK, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sibling Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc.'s affiliate, Sibling Sports, LLC, as the Managing Member of M-1 Global, LLC, announced today the management team for M-1 Global.

Sibling Entertainment Group, Inc. is the company with which Sibling Holdings has previously signed an Agreement of Acquisition and Plan of Reorganization, the closing of which is currently pending. (See "Note to Editor" below for an explanation of Sibling Holdings relationship to Sibling Entertainment Group, Inc.).

"We are pleased with the high level of talent that we have been able to assemble to lead our new organization," said Monte Cox, M-1 Global president and chief executive officer. "Our leadership team has a great blend of experience and skills that will help guide our organization in the years to come."

Vadim Finkelchtein was appointed to the M-1 Global Executive Committee. He is also president of M-1 Mix Fight and will continue to manage Fedor Emelianenko, the world's greatest MMA fighter. Finkelchtein, 43, will be responsible for providing strategic guidance to the entire team. He will also help stage M-1 Global events in Russia.

"We are elated to partner with Vadim. Not only is he the founder of M-1 Mix Fight, but he is also a very successful Russian businessman. He owns and manages Russia's first and only sports-entertainment center located on water. Located in St. Petersburg, right across from the famous Hermitage museum, the center is located on board the 'Letuchii Golandez,' (or Flying Dutchman), a replica of the 1748 sailboat 'Amsterdam.' It contains four levels, and includes an exercise room, beauty salon, restaurants, cafes and hotel rooms," Cox said.

Bob Clark was appointed chief operating officer. Clark, 51, will be responsible for directing and managing day-to-day operations. He was also appointed to the M-1 Global Executive Committee. Clark also serves as president of Sibling Theatricals, Inc. and director of marketing for Sibling Entertainment Group, Inc. Prior to joining Sibling in July 2007, he spent the past 9 years working for CarMax, a Fortune 500 company and one of the Fortune 2007 "100 Best Companies to Work For."

Joost Raimond was appointed president of M-1 Eurasia. Raimond, 42, will be responsible for directing and managing day-to-day operations in Eurasia. He was also appointed to the M-1 Global Executive Committee. Prior to joining M-1 Global, Joost provided legal advice and management consultant services to Too Hot to Handle, M-1 Mix Fight & Pride Europe. He also owns his own project management and consultancy company -- WORX. He specializes in health and fitness projects and focuses on sourcing fabrication of consumer or commercial products in the Far East and establishing production and QA/QC systems.

Apy Echteld was appointed vice president of fighter development. Echteld, 46, will be responsible for match-making and helping to identify fighters for M-1 Global to sign. He was also appointed to the M-1 Global executive committee. Echteld has been an accomplished martial arts trainer since 1979. In 1997, Echteld joined forces with Vadim Finkelchtein to create the Russian organization M-1 Mix-Fight, which is recognized as the largest MMA event in Europe.

Brian Patton was appointed vice president of M-1 Global. Patton, 41, will coordinate with SFX Media & Events to secure sponsorships and endorsements for both M-1 Global and our fighters. He was also appointed to the M-1 Global executive committee. Brian will continue in his current position as a faculty member at his alma mater Greenville College. Brian is also the business manager for Matt Hughes, 9-time UFC Welterweight champion.

Dennis Spencer, executive vice president of SFX Media & Events, was appointed to the M-1 Global executive committee. "He brings us over 30 years of experience in professional sports and sports television. Spencer, 54, will serve as our liaison with SFX Media & Events and he will help negotiate television and other media contracts, sponsorships and endorsements for M-1 Global and our fighters," Cox said.

"We believe we have a world-class management team," Cox said. "I look forward to working with this great group of leaders to help M-1 Global make its mark and contributions to the great sport of mixed martial arts."

ART OF WAR 4 - Results

10-30-2007

Denver, CO, PNW

ART OF WAR 4: Mississippi Mayhem played to a nearly sold-out crowd of 2,400 fans on Saturday, October 27th at Harrah's Grand Tunica Casino & Resort and delivered eight action-packed bouts that all ended before going to the scorecards.

MIKE WESSEL, strength and conditioning coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks, was not the favorite going into his heavyweight main event contest against Memphis native MATT THOMAS. Wessel had only eight months of training and carried a 2-1 record against Thomas, who held a 3-3 record against some tough competition. In the opening seconds of the bout, Wessel's standup proved to be tighter than his opponent's and he opened a cut on Thomas? head. Eventually Thomas shot in for a takedown and had Wessel in a bad position dropping punches and elbows.

Just before the two-minute mark, Wessel showed an incredible amount of strength by reversing his position and dropping bombs of his own. The two big men briefly got back to their feet, but Wessel kept the pressure and unleashed a flurry of shots before the ref called the bout at 2:42 in the first round. Wessel walked off with the ART OF WAR Quickest Knockout Award.

In a battle between undefeated super heavyweights, SHANE CARWIN tested his 6-0 record against REX RICHARDS (4-0). At the weigh-ins, Carwin could have made heavyweight tipping the scales at just 266 pounds. Richards, on the other hand, looked leaner but weighed in a whopping 312 pounds. Both men stood toe to toe for just seconds before Carwin shot in, took Richards down and had him in the mount position. The Colorado native pounded on Richards who flailed away trying to escape.

Remarkably Richards was able to get back to his feet, but Carwin capitalized by sinking in a tight guillotine choke. With blood streaming from Richards? nose, the bigger man tapped out at 1:24 into the first stanza. Both men intend to drop to heavyweight, and with Carwin's undefeated record unblemished, he will no doubt have big opportunities in his future.

On paper, RON FAIRCLOTH vs. CHRIS HAWK looked like a light heavyweight mismatch. Faircloth held a record of 26-12, while Hawk was making his pro debut. It took only a few seconds to see why Hawk would be facing a cagey veteran to get his pro card. After a little feeling out period, Hawk launched a barrage of punches, kicks and knees that put Faircloth against the cage. Faircloth took over 20 unanswered shots and the ref nearly called the fight on two different occasions. Managing to survive, Faircloth got a few seconds to clear his head and took Hawk down to close out the first round.

In Round 2, Hawk continued his assault with head kicks and punches, but Faircloth kept his head in the game. The 21-year-old Hawk began to look tired and Faircloth took advantage by finally getting him down and sinking in a rear naked choke. Hawk tapped out at 1:57 into the round, but proved he has a long career ahead of him. Faircloth said after the fight that he would now be moving down to middleweight. And for taking a beating and coming back the way he did, Faircloth won the ART OF WAR MVP Award.

ANDREW CHAPPELLE (5-5) stepped into the cage for the first time in two years to face local favorite and BJJ black belt ADRIANO NASAL (6-3) in a lightweight bout. During the first round, Chappelle's tight standup game overmatched Nasal, who tried time and time again for takedowns. When the fight went to the ground, the Brazilian couldn't find any holes in Chappelle's game. During the middle of Round 2, Chappelle not only kept Nasal away, he landed a couple of takedowns and throws of his own.

By the end of the second round, Chappelle had the lead on the scorecards, but neither man had been in trouble. In the third round, Chappelle kept on the pressure and after rocking Nasal, poured on the pain. Landing shot after shot, the referee called a halt to the contest at 3:54. Nasal's manager said the fighter would be moving down to 145 pounds, while Chappelle is ready to restart his MMA career and has a much better game to prove it.

To the delight of fans, Memphis fighter ANDY UHRICH made his pro debut against Mississippi native CHRIS GATES in the middleweight division. People were screaming out Andy's name at the beginning of the fight and no doubt there were plenty of fans cheering on either side. Unfortunately the experience may have been too overwhelming as Uhrich got off one kick before the much taller Gates took him down and started raining down elbows. Uhrich managed to escape and turned the tide, but couldn't find much of an opening. Sitting in Gate's guard, Uhrich was caught in a tight triangle choke and ended up getting choked unconscious at 3:34 into the fight.

In one of the most exciting fights of the night, DAVID BROWN (1-1) faced off against DAVID HULETT (2-3) in a welterweight contest. Brown, who had once tipped the scales at 230 pounds as a pro wrestler, certainly had showmanship, but his fight game was more flash than substance. He had heart though. During the first round, Brown was caught in a clinic of submissions and had his right eye closed, but kept on fighting. Brown slammed, threw and took down Hulett several times and continued punching. In Round 2, Hulett tried to finish with more submission attempts, but looked tired. Brown didn't look much better, but never stopped moving forward.

About three minutes into the round, Brown illegally kneed Hulett to the head on the ground and the fight was stopped momentarily. Brown had been warned of the infraction earlier and had a point taken away; Hulett was given the full five minutes to recover. Despite a communication breakdown between Hulett, Hulett's manager and the referee, Hulett eventually stood up and the fight resumed. In Round 3, Hulett and Brown both traded shots, but Brown was the hungrier fighter and Hulett couldn't take any more damage. At 1:18 into the round, the referee halted the contest. Hulett's manager plans on petitioning the commission for a no contest ruling.

MARK WIGGINS (2-1) had the edge on standup against KEITH BACH (2-0) at the beginning of their fight, so Bach got the takedown and worked for a choke. Wiggins tried to escape, but Bach finished him quickly by rear naked choke at 1:32. KYLE GIBBONS (6-3) also made quick work of MIKE QUEEN (4-2), who took the fight on late notice, by submitting him via arm bar in just 58 seconds.

ART OF WAR will have a full schedule of events in 2008 and plans will be announced soon. For information, please visit us online at www.artofwarLIVE.com.

NO HOLDS BARRED: Jay Larkin on Calzaghe-Kessler, IFL Grand Prix, & Changes in IFL Team Concept

10-30-2007

Denver, COhttp://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2007-10-29T23_29_53-07_00

On this special edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Jay Larkin, the new president and COO of the International Fight League.

Jay Larkin headed the acclaimed boxing telecasts on Showtime for two decades. He still is involved in boxing and will oversee HBO’s broadcast of the super middleweight title unification fight between Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler in Cardiff, Wales, this Saturday, November 3. While in Wales, he also will be on the phone to run the first-ever live MMA event on primetime network TV, when the IFL holds its World Grand Prix broadcast live on MyNetworkTV from the Sears Centre near Chicago. Both events will air live at 9 PM ET/8 PM CT.

We spoke with him Monday at his IFL office in New York as he was preparing for both events. We discussed the latest news on the Calzaghe-Kessler fight; the IFL Grand Prix; the major changes that are in store for the IFL's team concept; and much more.

Also, make sure to check out my weekly boxing show, SecondsOut Radio. This week we provide a show chock full of fighter interviews about the major fights coming up next weekend, which will be one of the busiest in boxing this year. Before speaking with the fighters who are entering the ring in the coming week, we got comments from Floyd Mayweather (38-0, 24 KOs), who takes on Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs) December 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. We asked him how he would like the boxing media to improve its coverage of the sport. Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, which is co-promoting this fight along with Golden Boy Promotions, also commented on Floyd's coverage in the mainstream media. Mayweather-Hatton will be shown in the US on HBO Pay-Per-View. This coming Saturday, November 3, the long-awaited showdown between the two undefeated super middleweight champions, Joe Calzaghe (43-0, 32 KOs) from Newbridge, Wales, and Mikkel Kessler (39-0, 29 KOs) from Copenhagen, Denmark, takes place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. We spoke with Joe Calzaghe about his approach to technique and what to expect in this fight. Calzaghe-Kessler will be shown live in the US on HBO and on the subscription channel Setanta in Britain. Saturday, November 3, will also see an important title doubleheader coming from the Desert Diamond Casino, n Sahuarita, Arizona, near Tucson. On that card, which will be shown live in the US on Showtime, another one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KOs) defends his belt against Rocky Juarez (27-3, 19 KOs). Also on that card, IBF featherweight champion Robert Guerrero (20-1-1, 13 KOs) defends his belt against Martin Honorio (24-3-1, 12 KOs). We spoke with Juan Manuel Marquez, Rocky Juarez, Robert Guerrero, and Martin Honorio to hear what they expect to happen this coming Saturday night. The night before these competing HBO and Showtime telecasts, a heavyweight crossroads fights takes place between the undefeated Eddie Chambers (29-0, 16 KOs) and former world title challenger Calvin Brock (31-1, 23 KOs). This will be shown live in the US on the ShoBox: The New Generation series on Showtime Friday, November 2, from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash. We got comments from both Eddie Chambers and Calvin Brock about what to expect Friday night.

SecondsOut Radio is also free to hear, but you must register to gain access to it, at http://www.secondsout.com/radio

'TAP OR SNAP 29' - To Honor Trevor Carron and Nikko Landeros

10-27-2007, Denver, CO

Event date: Nov. 3, 2007 at Douglas County Event Center

UFC Champions show the soft side of the toughest sport in the world.

Colorado Springs, Colorado - October 26, 2007 -- The Douglas County Event Center will be host to some of the toughest men in the world who also have the softest hearts, on Saturday November 3, 2007.

During "Tap or Snap" mixed martial arts event, Matt Serra, the current UFC Welterweight Champion, will be presenting Trevor Carron and Nikko Landeros gifts that were sent by the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture.

Trevor and Nikko both lost their legs in a terrible accident in January of this year. Both Trevor and Nikko are fans of MMA and the UFC. Local promoter, Brian Lee, hopes this event will raise significant funds to continue providing the financial support needed for Carron and Landeros.

There will be T-shirts and other merchandise sold of which 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the fund benefiting the young men. Fans, friends and anyone else who desires can also make cash donations in designated areas during the show.

Doors open at 7 p.m.

SPIKE TV & UFC - EXTEND STRATEGIC TELEVISION PARTNERSHIP THROUGH 2011
10-26-2007

Denver, CO

NEW YORK, NY, October 26, 2007 - Spike TV, a division of MTV Networks, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization have agreed to a new, three-year extension of their strategic partnership, it was announced jointly today by Kevin Kay, President, Spike TV and Dana White, President, Zuffa, LLC d/b/a Ultimate Fighting Championship. The deal maintains Spike TV as the basic cable home to the UFC, the premiere brand in mixed martial arts, the fastest growing sport in America, through 2011. The deal was brokered by the Endeavor Agency.

The main components of the deal are:

• Seasons 9 through 12 of the highly successful reality series, “The Ultimate Fighter®.” The first five seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter” on Spike TV were seen by 93 million viewers. *

• 12 live fight cards, “UFC® Fight Nights™,” hosted by Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg. Spike TV will telecast four per year.

• Two seasons of a new, weekly live fight series (details to be announced at a later date).

• 39 one-hour episodes of “UFC® Unleashed™,” hosted by Mike Goldberg, featuring the greatest fights in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, many of them never seen before on basic cable. Spike TV will run 13 per year in ‘09, ’10, and ’11.

“With the tremendous success and the record ratings we have achieved over the years, I am very happy to have Spike TV as UFC’s cable partner,” said White. “I am excited to continue our relationship with the team that has supported UFC from the very beginning, and to have even greater success with all of our UFC programming on Spike TV.”

“We are proud to be the television home of the country’s hottest sports brand which is now firmly established as a major, regulated sports franchise with an ever-growing fan base,” said Kevin Kay, President, Spike TV. “It is a testament to the dedication and foresight of UFC President Dana White that the UFC has emerged, since its debut on Spike TV three years ago, as a must-have for viewers and advertisers alike.”

In 2007, seven live UFC fights on Spike TV have averaged more young men in the coveted 18-34 demographic (869,000) on cable than the more established ‘major’ American sports of basketball, baseball, football, hockey, and NASCAR including:

62% more than the NLCS on TBS
143% more than the NBA playoffs on ESPN
24% more than the NBA playoffs on TNT
123% more than MLB Sunday Night baseball on ESPN
48% more than NASCAR on TNT
31% more than NASCAR on ESPN
81% more than the NFL on NFL Network
595 % more than the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on Versus

The sixth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” currently airs Wednesday nights at 10:00pm ET/PT and averages over 1.5 million viewers each week. Season seven begins production in January, 2008. Craig Piligian of Pilgrim Films and Television, Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White of Zuffa, LLC, and Kevin Kay of Spike TV are the show's executive producers. Brian J. Diamond, senior vice president, sports & specials, Spike TV is co-executive producer and Christopher Martello is executive in charge of production for Spike TV.

PROELITE.COM - To stream coverage of Randy Couture's press conference

10-25-2007, Denver, CO

Event date: THURSDAY AT 1:30 P.M. PT/4:30 P.M. ET

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 24, 2007) – So, what were the real reasons why he left Ultimate Fighting Championships? Is the Mixed Martial Arts legend really retired? What is his opinion of his former boss, Dana White, and his reaction to the UFC president bolding proclaiming he “owned him’’?

Was his intention to resign to put pressure on White to let him out of his contract so he can get a much-desired fight against Fedor? Was he making, as reported, millions of dollars per fight? What are his plans for the future?

Those questions and many more will be answered by legendary, three-time heavyweight champion Randy Couture during what figures to be a lively and emotional, no-holds-barred national press conference Thursday in Las Vegas that will be aired live and in its entirety on ProElite.com.

"We at Xtreme Couture feel that it is important for Randy's side of the story to be heard. We are glad to work with the Pro Elite team to help deliver his message directly to his fans, unadulterated and unfiltered as he says it. Pro Elite has done a marvelous job streaming live broadcasts of MMA events around the world. We are excited that they will bring their attention to detail and expertise to Randy's Press Conference." -Sean O'Heir Public Relations Director, Xtreme Couture

The exclusive world-wide live stream will begin Thursday, October 25th at 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET and originate from the celebrated and world-renown fighter’s gym, Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Register early at www.proelite.com to see this historic press conference!

ProElite.com’s wall-to-wall coverage will include a live forum chat from Xtreme Couture. Interviews will include fighters and other dignitaries in attendance. It will begin at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET.

HDNet Fights - Hires new CEO

10-25-2007

Denver, CO

DALLAS (October 25) - HDNet has named Andrew Simon CEO of HDNet Fights, the high definition network's new venture into Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

Simon will lead the strategic direction and overall execution of the network's Mixed Martial Arts initiative. He will also oversee development of all HDNet Fights branding and sponsorships.

Simon will work alongside Guy Mezger who was recently named general manager of HDNet Fights. Mezger, a former MMA champion, will handle all fighter relations and matchmaking for HDNet Fights.

"Andrew brings a proven track record in sales, marketing, video-on-demand, pay-per-view and strong MMA experience to our network," said Mark Cuban, chairman and co-founder of HDNet. "Andrew's strengths as a leader in the media industry combined with Guy Mezger's unparalleled reputation in MMA, creates a powerhouse team for HDNet Fights. We're thrilled to have them on board."

"I jumped at the chance to help build an MMA organization that treats the athletes and sponsors with the respect they deserve," said Andrew Simon. "Mark has set the standard for treatment of athletes in the NBA, and we will do the same for MMA."

Andrew Simon comes to HDNet Fights from Cox Communication in Las Vegas, Nevada where he served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales. During his tenure at Cox he was recognized with multiple industry awards including Top 40 Under 40 from In Business Las Vegas, and numerous CTAM and ADDY awards recognizing excellence in leadership and cable marketing. Prior to his tenure at Cox, Simon held management roles with MGM Mirage (formerly Mirage Resorts Inc.) and Deloitte Consulting.

Simon is a graduate of Cornell University, with an MBA from The Anderson School at UCLA.