Qeb Archives: mixed martial arts

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Ntsia hlau loj TV

‘IRISH’ BRENNAN WARD TO DEFEND HIS HOMETURF AGAINST DENNIS ‘THE MENACE’ OLSON AT BELLATOR 144

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MONICA RAUG, Calif. (September 8, 2015) – “Irish” Brennan Ward (11-3) will compete for the third time in 2015 when he meets Dennis “The Menace” Olson (14-9) in a welterweight contest at “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which emanates from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., rau October 23.

 

The bout will take place during the main card of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which will be televised live on Spike at 9 p.m. LI/8 p.m. I, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. LI.

 

The main event of “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” features an exciting rematch for the bantamweight title fight between champion Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) and his former training partner Eduardo Dantas(17-4). Nyob hauv tus nqi feature, Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-0) will look to regain the vacant Bellator MMA Middleweight Title when he takes on Rafael Carvalho (11-1).

 

Daim pib mus “Bellator 144: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” which start at just $25, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 6:00 p.m. LI local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after.

 

Ward is fresh off an ESPN Top-10 first-round knockout of Roger Carroll at “Bellator 140: Lima vs. Koreshkov,” his second consecutive victory. “Irish” has competed in his home state of Connecticut on three-straight occasions, but the crowd may be torn as he faces Olson, who also calls the New England area his home.

 

Olson fought valiantly against Paul Daley this past July, but ultimately was defeated in his third appearance under the Bellator MMA banner. “The Menace” has finished 10 of his 14 wins as a professional and will also be competing for the third time in 2015.

 

Bellator 144: “Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Updated Card

 

Main Card: (Spike – 9 p.m. LI/8 p.m. I)

Bellator Bantamweight Championship Fight: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)

Bellator Middleweight Championship Fight: Brandon Halsey (9-0) vs. Rafael Carvalho (11-1)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (11-3) vs. Dennis Olson (14-9)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (8-0) vs. TBA

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

 

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

 

GFL. TV, mixed martial arts, UFC

STAR-STUDDED UFC 191 EVENT TO FEATURE SEVEN GFL ALUMNI ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 5

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Seventeen archived fights featuring
Jimi Manuwa, Paige VanZant,
Paul Felder and three other UFC 191 stars
available for viewing on GFL.tv

NEW YORK, NY (Sept. 3, 2015) – The highly-anticipated UFC 191 world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event that takes place on Saturday, Sept. 5, will feature seven athletes whose early career fights were covered by Go Fight Live (www.GFL.tv), and are available for viewing in their entirety, in video on demand (VOD) format on the world’s premier online destination for live combat sports.

Three of the stars – Jimi “Poster Boy” Manuwa, Jan Blachowicz thiab Paige VanZant – will see action on the live pay-per-view telecast of the UFC 191 main fight card, while two others – Paul “The Irish Dragon” Felder thiab “Cassius” Clay Collard – will do battle on the FOX Sports 1 televised portion of the event’s preliminary bout card and the remaining two – Joe “Diesel” Riggsthiab Ron “The Choir Boy” Stallings – will face off against each other on the UFC Fight Pass-live streamed portion of the preliminary bout card.

“This Saturday’s UFC 191 fight card, which is stacked with some of the best fighters in the world, is another testament to the incredible talent that has risen from the ranks of our promotional partners that have put on some of the best combat sports action seen anywhere,” said GFL CEO David Klarman.

“We are thrilled to see how the careers of these seven fighters have taken off, and encourage fans to check out some of the fights that helped mold them into who they are today.”

The GFL library contains a total of 16 complete bouts, including 8 (T)KO’s and 2 submissions, featuring 6 of the 7 alumni who will step in the UFC’s Octagon Rau hnub Saturday.

GFL distributes over 350 live events annually across all genres of combat sports. Approximately 60 percent of its video content is MMA action featuring action from Ring of Combat (ROC), Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), BAMMA USA, Rage In The Cage (RITC) and a host of other promoters that have collectively sent hundreds of athletes to the UFC, World Series of Fighting and Bellator, the three largest MMA sports franchises in the world.

About GFL:
GFL (www.gfl.tv) is a fast-growing media and sports entertainment company that utilizes a proprietary technology to deliver the most exciting LIVE combat sports events worldwide and an incredible viewing experience to a global audience. With a diverse mix of combat sports properties, GFL is the premier online destination for live boxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Muay Thaib, kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu and more. Since its inception in 2007, GFL has streamed more than 2,500 live events with over 10,000 hours of combat sports content. In addition to its web platform, GFL is available on Roku, IPhone, IPad, as well as other internet ready devices, and broadcasts a weekly, two-hour, syndicated fight TV show on CSN, TCN and SNY, as well as live pay-per-view events directly to iN DEMAND.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, Ntsia hlau loj TV

4 PRELIMINARY BOUTS ANCHORED BY RYAN COUTURE VERSUS NICK GONZALEZ COMPLETES ‘BELLATOR 143: WARREN VS. DAVIS’ ON SEPTEMBER 25

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MONICA RAUG, Calif. (Lub yim hli ntuj 24, 2015) – Four fights have been added to the preliminary portion of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” rau September 25 at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, with the addition of Ryan Couture (10-3) versus Nick “The Ghost” Gonzalez, (18-12) as well as three other preliminary scraps.

 

The remaining fights round out a stacked card that also includes: Abram Torres (3-3) noj Daniel Cervantes (2-3), Saul Elizondo (6-5) returning to action against Amador Ramirez (4-4) and undefeated Steve Garcia (5-0) meeting Eduardo Bustillos (4-1).

 

The contests will take place during the prelims of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. LI/8 p.m. I, while the opening portion of the event will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. LI/6 p.m. I.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which start at just $20, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the State Farm Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. I local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after.

 

Currently engrossed in a four-fight winning streak, including his first two contests with Bellator MMA, Ryan Couture will look to remain undefeated in 2015. The son of MMA legend Randy Couture, the former Strikeforce competitor has finished all of the aforementioned wins via rear-naked choke submission.

 

Couture will go up against Gonzalez, who you can call a true Bellator MMA veteran. “The Ghost” competed at the promotion’s inaugural event back in 2009 and then again at Bellator 6. With 30-fights to his name, the Austin, Texas native will compete professionally for the first time in nearly two years.

 

In a battle of 170-pounders, Torres will look to end a two-fight losing when he faces Cervantes on September 25. Cervantes has won his only fight in 2015, a unanimous decision win on Tej zaum 29.

 

Elizondo and Ramirez will square off in bantamweight action. Both men will be making their Bellator MMA debuts.

 

Finally, undefeated Steve “Mean Machine” Garcia will look to add to the impressive start to his pro career when he meets Eduardo Bustillos. The 23-year-old has already notched three wins under the Bellator MMA banner and has finished four out of five bouts. Bustillos is no slouch, having ended three of his four wins via submission.

“Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” Updated Fight Card

 

Main Card: (Spike – 9 p.m. LI/6 p.m. PT)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Joe Warren (12-4) vs. L.C. Davis (23-6)

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Joey Beltran (16-11, 1 NC) vs. Kendall Grove (21-15, 1 NC)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Henry Corrales (12-1) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (10-2)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Vinicius Queiroz (7-3) vs. Ewerton Teixeira (3-0)

 

Preliminary Card: (Spike.com – 6:30 p.m. LI/3:30 p.m. PT)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Ryan Couture (10-3) vs. Nick Gonzalez (18-12)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Dan Charles (9-3) vs. Chase Gormley (12-4, 1 NC)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Darrion Caldwell (7-0) vs. Shawn Bunch (4-1)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Gleristone Santos (27-4) vs. John Teixeira (18-1-2)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Jose Flores (3-0) vs. Guillermo Gonzalez (3-0)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Guilherme Farias da Costa (3-0) vs. Jared Chaffe (4-1)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Bryce Mejia (3-0) vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan (3-0)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Abram Torres (3-3) vs. Daniel Cervantes (2-3)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Saul Elizondo (6-5) vs. Amador Ramirez (4-4)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Steve Garcia (5-0) vs. Eduardo Bustillos (4-1)

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

 

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New hais Fights

JOHN RAIO THRIVING IN RETIREMENT WITH A FIRST CLASS TEAM

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Lewiston, Maine (September 3, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX,” Rau hnub Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The fight card will feature three members of First Class MMA in action that night. Hannah Sparrell (0-0), Rafael Velado (0-0) thiab Nick Shea (1-0) from the Brunswick, Maine-based gym. Recently, First Class MMA founder and head coach John “First Class” Raio joined NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson as the guest on the NEF Podcast.

 

This past June, 38-year-old Raio retired after competing in the NEF cage for some three-and-a-half years. Raio now concentrates on training the members of his First Class MMA gym, including preparing Sparrell, Velado and Shea for their upcoming bouts.

 

“I definitely can put a lot more time into my fighters as well as my family,” said Raio. “The fighters, I can put a lot more time into them because it’s not all about me. When you’re fighting, when you’re training for a fight, no matter how much you try to focus on Nick Shea or Nick Gully or Hannah Sparrell or Rafael or any of our fighters, you can’t really put 100% effort into a fighter when you really focus on your own fight. It’s tough splitting between their fight and your fight and your job, your family and your kids.”

 

Since the birth of NEF in early 2012, and the subsequent explosion of the sport’s popularity in the state, many new gyms have sprung up in recent years, including First Class MMA. Raio enjoys, more than anything else, the tight-knit, family-like atmosphere that has developed at the facility since he opened the gym.

 

“The biggest thing I like about our gym, I enjoy going and being a part of, is there’s a very humble group of students and instructors,” noted Raio. “Everyone who teaches in there is about the fighters. It’s about the students. They’re not about themselves. They’re more about trying to help people get better. Whether they’re a fighter or a teacher, we have a few teachers who go there and we have several women students and several children and adults. It’s a real good mix and very much a family atmosphere. We rarely lose a student.”

 

Tus “First Class” moniker is not merely a nickname given to Raio because of his past job with the postal service. Early on in his MMA career, Raio earned the reputation of a respectful, classy, professional, likeable individual, hence the pun in his nickname. Those same qualities have carried over to the students of First Class MMA.

 

“I try to treat everybody equally,” said Raio. “I try to treat everyone respectfully. I think a lot of those guys (at the gym), in turn, treat each other respectfully. If I ever have an issue with a student, if they’re not acting respectful to the instructors or the other students, I’ll pull them aside and if they have to leave then they have to leave. That’s part of life… Our gym attracts, for some reason, people who are just nice people.”

 

With more and more new students coming through his gym’s door, Raio has definitely kept busy since his retirement from active competition. Like a proud father, Raio has a real passion for the success of his students. The ultimate reward for him is seeing his protégées do well in the cage.

 

“After the last show (NEF XVIII), when I saw Nick (Gulliver, 1-0) have his arm raised and Rob (Robinson, 1-0), I was so happy for those guys,” recalled Raio. “I’m so happy to see these two guys win. As much as I didn’t come away with a win against Bruce (Boyington, 10-8), I said ‘if we go 2-1, I’d rather be the one that didn’t pull off the victory.’ I’ve never been as happy for my own win than I was for Nick and Rob that night.”

 

To learn more about First Class MMA, you can visit the team’s Facebook page “First Class Fitness & MMA.”

 

You can listen to the NEF Podcast in its entirety atwww.NewEnglandFights.com/Podcasts/.

 

New hais Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Hnub vas xaum, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Daim pib mus “NEF XIX” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. tsis tas li ntawd, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New hais Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

mixed martial arts, Ntiaj teb Series ntawm sib ntaus

BARRY PINCUS JOINS WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICIER (CFO)

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Pincus previously served as CFO for IMG Artists, the New York Yankees and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, among others

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 3, 2015) – World championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today the addition of Barry Pincus as its’ Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Pincus brings with him over 20 years of experience serving as a Senior Executive/CFO of major sports and entertainment brands including IMG Artists, the New York Yankees and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

“Barry is a terrific addition to the World Series of Fighting management team, bringing a wealth of knowledge and financial experience, as well as a dynamic approach to brand development to our growing sports property,” said CEO, Carlos Silva.

Pincus most recently served as CFO for IMG Artists (2012 – 14), the global leader in performing arts management, tours, festivals, events and consulting. Prior to IMG Artists, Pincus worked in a variety of senior-level management and consulting roles for over a decade including leading brand development for Dennis Publishing for seven years. His impressive career in financial management includes serving as CFO/VP of Finance for one of the crown jewels in sports; the New York Yankees (1991 – 97), as well as serving as CFO for media conglomerate Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (1997 – 99).

The World Series of Fighting cards air exclusively on NBCSN and NBC. Its next fight card, “WSOF 23 Gaethje vs. Palomino,” is headlined by this exciting lightweight rematch scheduled for Hnub vas Xuv, Sept. 18 tom 10 PM ET/7 PM PT from Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, AZ.

About “Ntiaj teb Series ntawm sib ntaus” (WSOF)
“Ntiaj teb Series ntawm sib ntaus” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “Ntiaj teb Series ntawm sib ntaus” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries thiab “Ntiaj teb Series ntawm sib ntaus” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, Ntsia hlau loj TV

UNDEFEATED DARRION ‘THE WOLF’ CALDWELL MEETS SHAWN ‘BUNCH THE GREAT’ BUNCH AT ‘BELLATOR 143: WARREN VS. DAVIS’ ON SEPTEMBER 25

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CHASE GORMLEY MAKES HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT AGAINST DAN CHARLES

MONICA RAUG, Calif. (September 2, 2015) – Not one, but two must-see bouts have been added to the preliminary portion of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” rau September 25 at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, with the addition of undefeated Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (7-0) versus Shawn Bunch (4-1) and heavyweight action seeing Chase Gormley (12-4, 1 NC) against Dan “The Man” Charles (9-3).

 

The contests will take place during the prelims of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. LI/8 p.m. I, while the opening portion of the event will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. LI/6 p.m. I.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which start at just $20, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the State Farm Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. I local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after. Additional preliminary bouts will be announced shortly.

 

Caldwell remained undefeated with an impressive unanimous decision win over Rafael Silva at “Bellator 137: Halsey vs. Grove.” The standout collegiate wrestler has made it clear that he hopes to have Bellator MMA championship gold on his mantle before the year is out. “The Wolf” plans to remain at bantamweight for the foreseeable future even though he was unbeaten at 145-pounds as well.

 

Standing opposite of Caldwell will be Bunch, a 32-year-old Ohio native who has seen all six of his professional fights take place in Bellator MMA. A member of American Kickboxing Academy in Northern California, “Bunch The Great” wants nothing more than to give Caldwell his first defeat as a pro.

 

In heavyweight action, former Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor Chase Gormley will look to keep his five-fight winning streak intact when he competes on September 25. The Titan Fighting Championship heavyweight kingpin won the regional promotion’s title in his last outing with a unanimous decision win over Jon Madsen in March.

 

Dan Charles will return to action for the first time since his matchup with Bobby Lashley tom “Bellator 138: Unfinished Business,” a bout that “The Man” took on short notice after James Thompson was forced out due to injury. The 29-year-old will be making his fifth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner and has earned victory via finish in seven out of nine wins.

 

“Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” Updated Fight Card

 

Main Card: (Spike – 9 p.m. LI/6 p.m. PT)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Joe Warren (12-4) vs. L.C. Davis (23-6)

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Joey Beltran (16-11, 1 NC) vs. Kendall Grove (21-15, 1 NC)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Henry Corrales (12-1) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (10-2)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Vinicius Queiroz (7-3) vs. Ewerton Teixeira (3-0)

 

Preliminary Card: (Spike.com – 6:30 p.m. LI/3:30 p.m. PT)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Darrion Caldwell (7-0) vs. Shawn Bunch (4-1)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Dan Charles (9-3) vs. Chase Gormley (12-4, 1 NC)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Gleristone Santos (27-4) vs. John Teixeira (18-1-2)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Jose Flores (3-0) vs. Guillermo Gonzalez (3-0)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Guilherme Farias da Costa (3-0) vs. Jared Chaffe (4-1)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Bryce Mejia (3-0) vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan (3-0)

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

 

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

CHASE GORMLEY MAKES HIS BELLATOR MMA DEBUT AGAINST DAN CHARLES

MONICA RAUG, Calif. (September 2, 2015) – Not one, but two must-see bouts have been added to the preliminary portion of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” rau September 25 at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, with the addition of undefeated Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (7-0) versus Shawn Bunch (4-1) and heavyweight action seeing Chase Gormley (12-4, 1 NC) against Dan “The Man” Charles (9-3).

 

The contests will take place during the prelims of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. LI/8 p.m. I, while the opening portion of the event will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. LI/6 p.m. I.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” which start at just $20, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the State Farm Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. I local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after. Additional preliminary bouts will be announced shortly.

 

Caldwell remained undefeated with an impressive unanimous decision win over Rafael Silva at “Bellator 137: Halsey vs. Grove.” The standout collegiate wrestler has made it clear that he hopes to have Bellator MMA championship gold on his mantle before the year is out. “The Wolf” plans to remain at bantamweight for the foreseeable future even though he was unbeaten at 145-pounds as well.

 

Standing opposite of Caldwell will be Bunch, a 32-year-old Ohio native who has seen all six of his professional fights take place in Bellator MMA. A member of American Kickboxing Academy in Northern California, “Bunch The Great” wants nothing more than to give Caldwell his first defeat as a pro.

 

In heavyweight action, former Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor Chase Gormley will look to keep his five-fight winning streak intact when he competes on September 25. The Titan Fighting Championship heavyweight kingpin won the regional promotion’s title in his last outing with a unanimous decision win over Jon Madsen in March.

 

Dan Charles will return to action for the first time since his matchup with Bobby Lashley tom “Bellator 138: Unfinished Business,” a bout that “The Man” took on short notice after James Thompson was forced out due to injury. The 29-year-old will be making his fifth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner and has earned victory via finish in seven out of nine wins.

 

“Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” Updated Fight Card

 

Main Card: (Spike – 9 p.m. LI/6 p.m. PT)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Joe Warren (12-4) vs. L.C. Davis (23-6)

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Joey Beltran (16-11, 1 NC) vs. Kendall Grove (21-15, 1 NC)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Henry Corrales (12-1) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (10-2)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Vinicius Queiroz (7-3) vs. Ewerton Teixeira (3-0)

 

Preliminary Card: (Spike.com – 6:30 p.m. LI/3:30 p.m. PT)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Fight: Darrion Caldwell (7-0) vs. Shawn Bunch (4-1)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Dan Charles (9-3) vs. Chase Gormley (12-4, 1 NC)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Gleristone Santos (27-4) vs. John Teixeira (18-1-2)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Jose Flores (3-0) vs. Guillermo Gonzalez (3-0)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Guilherme Farias da Costa (3-0) vs. Jared Chaffe (4-1)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Bryce Mejia (3-0) vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan (3-0)

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

 

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

mixed martial arts, Ntiaj teb Series ntawm sib ntaus

CHAEL SONNEN JOINS WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING AS COLOR COMMENTATOR FOR LIVE NBCSN TELECASTS

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Decorated MMA superstar to call the world championship action
at WSOF 23: “Gaethje vs. Palomino II” in Phoenix, Ariz. rau Hnub vas Xuv, Sept. 18

LAS VEGAS (September 1, 2015) –Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar Chael Sonnen has signed on with World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) as a color commentator for multiple events, and will call his first action with veteran play-by-play announcer Todd Harris, at the highly-anticipated “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” world championship doubleheader mega-event, live on NBCSN from Phoenix, Ariz. rau Hnub vas Xuv, Sept. 18 tom 10 p.m. LI.

“I am stoked to join the powerhouse team at World Series of Fighting, and call their fights that feature some of the best mixed martial artists on the planet,” said Sonnen “World Series of Fighting has done an outstanding job of building their organization into a top-tier franchise in a very short span of time, and I am just proud to be a part of such a fast-growing company.

“We are thrilled to have Chael Sonnen, one of the most colorful individuals in professional sports, join our production,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo. “We are confident Chael will enhance the fan viewing experience both for our growing national audience on NBCSN and across the globe by providing the insights he learned competing at the highest level of the sport.”

The 38-year-old Sonnen is a former three-time UFC world championship challenger, NCAA Division I All-American wrestler and two-time PAC-10 runner-up for the University of Oregon and 2000 Greco-Roman World University championships silver medalist.

As an analyst, Sonnen has covered the sport of MMA for ESPN and FOX Sports 1.

The live NBCSN telecast of “WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II” begins at 10 p.m. LI/7 p.m. PT on Hnub vas Xuv, Sept. 18 from Comerica Theatre. Nyob rau hauv cov kev tshwm sim loj, undefeated reigning World Series of Fighting Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (14-0) will put his coveted title on the line for the second time against hard-hitting challenger Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-10), six months after the two engaged in an all-out slugfest that is widely regarded as a “Fight of the Year” candidate.

In the co-main event, David Branch (16-3) will attempt to become the promotion’s first two-division champion and first World Series of Fighting light heavyweight (205 pounds) champion in history when he squares off with determined, hard-hitting KO artist Teddy Holder (9-1) in the championship round of the four-man, multi-event tournament that kicked off at Comerica Theatre on Lub peb hlis ntuj 28.

About World Series of Fighting (WSOF)
“Ntiaj teb Series ntawm sib ntaus” (WSOF.com) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “Ntiaj teb Series ntawm sib ntaus” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries thiab “Ntiaj teb Series ntawm sib ntaus” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.
Bellator, HWJCHIM CI NTSA IAB, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, Ntsia hlau loj TV

GLORY KICKBOXING BOUT PITTING KERI ANNE TAYLOR-MELENDEZ VS. HADLEY GRIFFITH ADDED TO MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR MMA: DYNAMITE 1’

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MONICA RAUG, Calif. (September 1, 2015) – A 120-pound Glory kickboxing bout pitting Ker Anne Taylor-Melendez (2-1) against Hadley “Relentless” Griffith (pro debut) completes the Spike-televised card of “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” on September 19 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

 

For the first time ever, “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” will feature both a Bellator MMA cage and a Glory kickboxing ring on one arena floor at the same time. In the evening’s main event, Tito Ortiz (18-11) will challenge the undefeated Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion, Liam McGeary (10-0) for the title.

 

Additionally, the previously announced fight card features a Glory kickboxing title fight featuring Zack Mwekassa (13-2, 12 KO) thiab Saulo Cavalari (31-2, 19 KO) for the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship, as well as Bellator MMA competitors Paul “Semtex” Daley (37-13-2) thiab Fernando “The Menifee Maniac” Gonzalez (24-13) also competing in Glory action, when they trade-in the MMA gloves for kickboxing gloves.

 

On the mixed martial arts side, Bellator MMA will also conduct a four-man, one-night light heavyweight tournament to determine the No. 1 contender in the division that features Phil Davis (13-3) noj Emanuel Newton (25-8-1) thiab Linton Vassell (15-4-1) facing Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (15-4, 1 NC). Newly signed lightweight standout Josh “The Punk” Thomson (20-8, 1 NC) is also in action, when he makes his Bellator MMA debut against Mike “The Greek Assassin” Bronzoulis (18-8-1).

 

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” airs live and free on Spike at 9/8c. Tickets for the historic event start at just $30 and are on sale now at the SAP Center box office and are also available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

 

At only 31 years of age, Taylor-Melendez has previously competed in both kickboxing and muay Thai, but fully intends on transitioning to the sport of mixed martial arts in the near future. The spouse of former WEC and Strikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez and co-owner of El Nino Training Center in San Francisco, Taylor-Melendez first took up combat sports close to 10 xyoo dhau los, making a name for herself fighting in the Bay Area. After racking up a 4-1 amateur record, she took her talents to the professional circuit, where she currently holds a 2-1 kickboxing record.

 

A five-fight mixed martial arts veteran, Griffith will return to action for the first time in 2015, except this time it will be inside a Glory kickboxing ring. “Relentless” eagerly awaits her return to combat sports after being out of action for more than a year due to an injury that caused the amputation of the top of her middle finger. A native of Washington, and training in Colorado, Hadley will likely have plenty of fan support on September 19 in San Jose, Calif.

 

“Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” – Hnub vas xaum, September 19 – SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.

Bellator Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Tito Ortiz (18-11) vs. © Liam McGeary (10-0)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD

Glory Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Saulo Cavalari (31-2) vs. Zack Mwekassa (13-2)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Thomson (20-8) vs. Mike Bronzoulis (18-8-1)

Glory Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (37-13-2 MMA/20-3 Kickboxing) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (24-13/1-2 Kickboxing)

Glory Bantamweight Feature Fight: Kerri Anne Taylor-Melendez (2-1) vs. Hadley Griffith (Debut)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Phil Davis (13-3) vs. Emanuel Newton (25-8-1)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Fight: Linton Vassell (15-4-1) vs. Muhammed Lawal (15-4, 1 NC)

Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Alternate Bout: Francis Carmont (23-10) vs. Philipe Lins (9-1)

 

*Fight card subject to change

 

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New hais Fights

BARRETT INKS DEVELOPMENTAL DEAL; NEF BEEFS UP FLYWEIGHT DIVISION WITH SECOND SIGNING IN FIVE DAYS

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Lewiston, Maine (September 1, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, is proud to announce the signing of Kevin “.50 Cal” Barrett (2-1) to a multi-fight developmental deal. Barrett is scheduled to make his professional debut with NEF in November 2015 against an opponent to be named at a later date in the 125-pound flyweight division. His signing comes just days after it was announced that fellow flyweight “Sleepy” Norman Fox (4-2) had also inked a developmental deal with the promotion.

 

Barrett is a perfect 2-0 in the NEF cage. He won both of his bouts with the promotion via submission. Barrett has been inactive from competition since November 2013. He is a member of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine, and Barrett is certain he can replicate the success his teammates have had in the professional ranks of NEF.

 

“I’m 100% confident in my fighting style,” said Barrett. “I have the best gym in New England backing me – there is no doubt I’m going to put on exciting fights for NEF. This is my time. I will be the NEF flyweight champion.”

 

“We’re really looking forward to seeing the new additions to the professional flyweight division,” stated NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “With the signing of Norman Fox last week, and now Kevin Barrett, we’re expecting some explosive fights at 125-pounds. These guys are finishers—they compete to win and they do it with style. There are going to be some interesting matchups in the flyweight division inside the NEF cage in the months and years to come.”

 

“I’m very excited to be a part of the NEF family,” exclaimed Barrett. “It’s been a dream of mine for the last ten years to become a professional athlete and make a name for myself in this sport that I love so much. I can’t wait to put these 125ers on blast. Get ready because once I start, I’m not going to stop.”

 

New hais Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Hnub vas xaum, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Daim pib mus “NEF XIX” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. tsis tas li ntawd, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New hais Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Tua Network, Judo, kickboxing, martial arts, mixed martial arts

FIGHT NETWORK MMA, JUDO & KICKBOXING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2015)

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(U.S. only schedule.. For full Canadian schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com from your region.)

Fight Network is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, boxing, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.
Below find highlights of this week’s programming:
Monday, Aug. 31
6:30 p.m. LI – Judo Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix 2014 Highlights – Highlights from the Judo Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix from Lub Xya hli ntuj 4-6, 2014 in Mongolia.
7:00 p.m. LI – 5 Rounds – Fight Network’s John Ramadeen and Robin Black invite special guests to breakdown the weekend of MMA action.
7:30 p.m. LI – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
Hnub, Sept. 1
1:30 a.m. LI – XPTV – Coverage of regional U.S. professional and amateur MMA events.
6:00 a.m. LI – Toe 2 Toe with Javier Mendez – In-depth sit-down interview with American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez.
6:30 a.m. LI – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arena with three-level obstacle structures.
4:00 p.m. & 10 p.m. LI — – 5 Rounds Today – Video podcast with John Ramdeen and Robin Black breaking down a wide variety of topics in the MMA world, including previews of upcoming events and all the latest rumors and headlines.
5:00 & 5:30 LI – Xtreme Fighting Championship – Florida-based pro MMA featuring top American prospects, international stars and UFC veterans.
8:00 p.m. LI – 5 Rounds – Fight Network’s John Ramadeen and Robin Black invice special guests to breakdown the weekend of MMA action.
8:30 p.m. LI – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. LI — Fighting Spirit MMA Season 4 – Compilation of international fights from SFL, Legend, FFC, M-1 and others.
11:00 p.m. LI – Hard Knocks Fighting 43 – Featuring Jason Zentgraf vs. Nick Ring, Misha Cirkunov vs. Shaun Asher and Sergej Juskevic vs. LT Nelson from May 22, 2015 in Calgary, Canada.
Hnub peb, Sept. 2

2:00 a.m. LI – DEEP: 61 Impact – Featuring Kazunori Yokota vs. Shoji Maruyama and Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Young Choi from Feb. 16, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan.
5:00 p.m. LI – Texas Fight Night – MMA action from Texas featuring the Lone Star State’s top prospects in the cage.
6:00 p.m. LI – Best of Cage Rage – Featuring classic fights from the UK-based Cage Rage organization with Anderson Silva, Antonio Silva, Victor Belfort, Paul Daley and others.
7:00 p.m. LI – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and feature.
7:30 p.m. LI – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
8:00 p.m. LI – Tawb Warriors ntaus Championship 51 – Featuring Conor McGregor vs7:30 p.m. LI — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.from Dec. 31, 2012 in Dublin, Ireland.
11:00 p.m. LI – MMA Meltdown with Gabriel Morency – Gabriel Morency breaks down all the happenings in MMA, discussing odds, predictions, plus special weekly guests and exclusive interviews.
11:30 p.m. LI – TakeDown Wrestling – Extensive coverage of amateur wrestling events, including the latest news, behind-the-scenes coverage from events and exclusive interviews.
Hnub plaub, Sept. 3
1:30 a.m. LI & 1:00 p.m. LI – Ultimate Challenge MMA 23: Go 4 It – Featuring John Maguire vs. Peter Irving from Sept. 17, 2011 in London.
6:00 p.m. LI – Championship Fighting Alliance – Pro MMA from Florida featuring the likes of Josh Sampo, Mike Kyle, John Howard, Sean McCorkie, Luis Palomino and others.
7:00 p.m. LI – Fighting Rookies – Aspiring kickboxers climb the ladder of success in the sport as rookies compete for a chance to become professionals and get experience needed to succeed at a higher level.
8:00 p.m. LI – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.
8:30 p.m. LI — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. LI – SuperKombat New Heroes Mamaia 2015 – Featuring Alexandru Negrea vs. Dumitru Topai and Andrei Ostrovanu vs. Cristian Milea in kickboxing action from Aug. 1, 2014 in Mamaia, Romania.
Hnub vas Xuv, Sept. 4
12:00 a.m. LI – It’s Showtime Special – The world’s premier kickboxing organization featuring Badr Hari, Melvin Manhoef and Giorgio Petrosyan.
6:00 p.m. LI – M 1 sib tw – Pro MMA from Europe featuring top rising prospects and international stars.
7:00 p.m. LI – UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 Weigh In – LIVE coverage of the official weigh-in for UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 from Las Vegas.
8:00 p.m. LI – Toe 2 Toe with Greg Jackson – In-depth sit-down interview with renowned MMA coach Greg Jaackson.
8:30 p.m. LI – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arena with three-level obstacle structures.
9:00 p.m. LI – KSW 15: Khalidov vs. Irvin – Featuring Mamed Khalidov vs. Jamrs Irvin and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Jan Blachowicz form Mar. 19, 2011 in Warsaw, Poland.
Hnub vas xaum, Sept. 5
12:00 p.m. LI – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.
12:30 p.m. LI — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
6:00 a.m. LI – Best of TKO – Featuring Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Yan Pellerin from TKO 26 and Todd Gouwenberg vs. Martin Desilets from TKO 27.
7:00 a.m. LI – Best of Gladiator Challenge – Featuring Chael Sonnen vs. Jason Lambert from Gladiator Challenge 20.
8:00 a.m. LI – Best of SportFight – Top quality MMA from the Pacific Northwest. Hosted by UFC veterans Matt Lindland and Chael Sonnen.
3:00 p.m. LI – DEEP: 62 Impact – Featuring Satoru Kitaoka vs. Daisuke Nakamura, Daiki Hata vs. Yoshiro Maeda, Dan Hornbuckle vs. Yuya Shirai and Akihito Gono vs. Taisuke Okuno from Apr. 26, 2013 in Tokyo.
7:00 p.m. LI– UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 Pre-Show – LIVE pre-fight coverage, predictions and analysis for UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 from Las Vegas.
8:00 p.m. LI – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.
8:30 p.m. LI — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. LI – King of Kings: World Grand Prix Riga 2015 – Features a one-night, single-elimination welterweight tournament from May 22, 2015 in Riga, Latvia.
Hnub xya, Sept. 6
12:00 p.m. LI – MMA Platinum Gloves 9 – Featuring Shaquan Moore vs. Daniel Ochart and more of Long Island’s next generation of MMA prospects from Apr. 25, 2014.
1:00 a.m. LI– UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 Post-Show – LIVE post-fight coverage, predictions and analysis for UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 from Las Vegas.
6:00 a.m. LI – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Name Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.
11:00 a.m. LI – Best of ADCC – Featuring compilations of the greatest grappling matches ever held, featuring Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, Eddie Bravo, Fabricio Werdum, Marcelo Garcia, Ronaldo Souza and Royler Gracie.
12:00 p.m. LI – Elite Muay Thai: Thailand vs. Challenger – The biggest Muay Thai series in the world featuring premium international stand-up fighters taking on the renowned Thai National Team
5:00 p.m. – USA Wrestling Weekly – Host Scott Casber gives weekly news and analysis centering around USA Wrestling, the sport’s national governing body, including interviews, features, and a look back at the past.
5:30 p.m. LI – Judo Rabat World Masters 2015 Highlights – Highlights from the Judo Rabat World Masters from May 23-24, 2015 in Rabat, Morocco.
11:00 p.m. LI – Enfusion Live #30: Dublin: Philpott vbs. Jaraya – Featuring professional kickboxing from July 11, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland.
INFORMATION:
Twitter & Instagram @fightnet
ABOUT FIGHT NETWORK: Fight Network is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to 24/7 coverage, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available in the U.S. on Cablevision in parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Texas-based Grande Communications, Armstrong Cable in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, as well as on Shentel Cable in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of western Maryland, and Suddenlink Communications in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and North Carolina.. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes in the U.S. and Canada, streamed live on website KlowdTV.com, and available on all major carriers in Canada and more than 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.