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Watch Wladimir Klitschko’s First world title defense from 2001 Monday night on Fight Network USA
 NEW YORK (Feb. 5, 2015) — This coming Monday night (Feb. 9) at 11:30 p.m. ET, Fight Network USA will air the great Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer”Klitschko’s first world heavyweight title defense, from 2001 against challenger Derrick “D-Train” Jefferson, as part of its InterBox Classics series. Klitschko vs. Jefferson will be replayedTuesday, Feb. 10 (9 a.m. ET) on 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. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes throughout America and streaming live on website KlowdTV.com.
Klitschko captured his first world title by defeating World Boxing Organization (WBO) defending champion Chris Byrd, by way of a one-sided 12-round decision, five months prior to Klitschko’s aforementioned March 24, 2011 title defense in Munich, Germany against Jefferson.
On the eve of his 25th birthday, the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning Klitschko (35-1) destroyed Jefferson (23-2-1), who was dropped three times for a technical knockout in the second round.
Klitschko (63-3, 53 KOs) will defend his WBA Super, WBO, IBF and IBO world titlesApril 25 against undefeated Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Demand Fight Network if your cable or satellite provider doesn’t offer it!
INFORMATION:
Twitter & Instagram @fightnet
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Dana White and the Women
Photo Credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting
Saturday, Feb. 28, is going to be a landmark day for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. All the fighters on the pay-per-view card that day will pass their pre-fight drug…….never mind. That’s too easy.
That day will be the first time a UFC card features women’s bouts in both its co-main event and main event. After middleweight champion Chris Weidman was forced to withdraw from his fight against Vitor Belfort due to injury, the new main event at UFC 184 is Ronda Rousey defending her women’s bantamweight belt against Cat Zingano. In the co-main event, much-heralded prospect Holly Holm will make her UFC debut against Raquel Pennington in another women’s bantamweight fight.
As I’ve mentioned before, UFC has come a long way from when Dana White told TMZ that women would “never” fight in his organization. Rousey will main event her third consecutive February PPV and Holm is widely believed to be the next in line for a shot at the title, should she defeat Pennington. Holm is still very raw in mixed martial arts, but trains with the world renowned coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn.
Rousey is carrying the flag for women’s MMA and for women in the UFC. Other female fighters have followed her into the Octagon, including Miesha Tate, Liz Carmouche and Alexis Davis. What do those three have in common? They all also fell to Rousey – Tate twice in Strikeforce and the UFC, and Carmouche and Davis both in the first round at UFC PPVs in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Rousey and Tate’s feud is well-chronicled. It led to the two being coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, which included female fighters for the very first time who greatly outshined their male counterparts on the show that season.
Given that season’s success, the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter featured ALL female fighters and the debut of the UFC’s newest division, women’s strawweight. Carla Esparza, the former Invicta FC strawweight champion, won the inaugural UFC version of that belt after defeating Rose Namajunas.
So in the span of four years, UFC goes from having no female fighters and White emphatically stating that it never will, to being home to TWO female weight classes and undoubtedly the promotion’s biggest star right now in Rousey. Don’t believe me? Did you see the third Expendables movie? Or do you plan on seeing the film version of Entourage this summer? You might notice a familiar face.
So where does women’s MMA go from here? I am personally a big fan of female fights, as they tend to be among the more entertaining and action-packed fights on a UFC card. As I previously stated, female fighters are more than capable of outshining their male contemporaries. Why is that? Maybe female fighters feel they have more to prove inside the Octagon and always go for broke. Maybe they go into the Octagon with more of a “go for broke” mentality and actively seek a finish as opposed to “playing it safe.”
The fight between Rousey and Zingano on Feb. 28 will also go a long way toward determining the future of women’s MMA. Should Rousey defeat Zingano – which all signs indicate she will – she will have essentially cleaned out her division, with only unknown challengers like Holm and Bethe Correia left. If Zingano pulls the upset, then the division has a fresh batch of exciting matchups waiting.
But who knows what would have happened if Dana White kept his promise to TMZ?
Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.
Klitschko – Jennings Press Conference Photos & Quotes From Madison Square Garden
Photo Credit, Will Hart / Klitschko Management Group
New York City (February 4, 2015) – IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO and “The Ring Magazine” World Heavyweight Champion WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO and top rated challenger BRYANT JENNINGS along with their respective teams held the Kick-Off Press conference for their highly anticipated battle set for Saturday, April 25 at Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
“THE CHAMPION RETURNS” will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT in the United States and RTL in Germany among the more than 150 countries which will telecast the event.
Presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group in association with Gary Shaw Productions, tickets priced at $1000, $600, $300, $200 and $100 can be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office,www.TheGarden.com and www.Ticketmaster.com.
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
“Let us, Bryant and me, entertain you on April 25th here in New York at Madison Square Garden. I see how Bryant Jennings acts. I see how he walks, I see how he shakes hands, I see how he speaks, and he has the qualities of Rocky Balboa from Philadelphia.”
“Thank you to HBO. Eventually you believed in me. I’m back on your network and I’m happy about it. Like Sinatra said, ‘If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Right event, right venue and right city. I fought here for the first time 15 years ago and I’m so happy to come back here and fight.”
BRYANT JENNINGS:
“This is it. I like to thank everyone involved with this promotion and my city of Philadelphia. It took a long time to make this fight happen and through it all I stayed calm. I commend my team for allowing me to be the athlete that I am while these negotiations were going on. On April 25th history will definitely be made and it will be made by me. One of us has to lose and it isn’t going to be me. Enough of the talking, I’m ready to fight.”
BERND BOENT/CEO, KMG Management:
“This is Wladimir’s 27th world title fight, it was 15 years ago when he first fought here. I’d like to thank Joel Fisher and his terrific team here at Madison Square Garden, this venue truly is the home of heavyweight champions and we are very excited to have this event here. I’d also like to thank our broadcast partners HBO and RTL without whom events like this would be possible.
TOM LOEFFLER/K2 Promotions:
“This is K2 Promotions’ eighth event at Madison Square Garden and we’re honored to work with the outstanding team here. We’ve already sold over 5,000 tickets which is just an incredible response to announcing this event.”
GARY SHAW/Gary Shaw Productions:
“Madison Square Garden is the mecca of boxing, the ring is in the Hall of Fame, this is what heavyweight boxing is all about. 25 years ago on February 11, 1990, Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson. I believe on April 25th history will once again be made for an American heavyweight to do something spectacular, but this time instead of being overseas, it will be here in the United States at the Madison Square Garden. I believe Bryant Jennings will become the unified heavyweight champion of the world on April 25th.”
JAMES PRINCE, Manager of Jennings:
“This is a dream come true for us and we can’t wait. There are a lot of doubters out there right now and they believe there is no way Bryant Jennings is going to be able to deliver a victory on April 25th. I would like for you all to show up because Bryant Jennings is going to show out, and we shall be champion.”
FRED JENKINS, Trainer of Jennings:
“I do know the pedigree of where Bryant Jennings comes from, he’s going to give it all he’s got. This is a one sided fight and I believe its going to be all Bryant “By-By” Jennings.”
Bellator MMA Lightweight World Champion Will Brooks meets Dave Jansen on April 10 at Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif.
Easy Tweet: “Title Defense Time! @illwillbrooks86 v @
@RafaelCarvalh74 is set for April 10 @brencenter in Irvine, CA “
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| Bellator MMA: Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen Coming to SPIKE! |
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (February 4, 2015) – Bellator MMA Lightweight World Champion “Ill” Will Brooks (15-1) returns to action on April 10, when he faces top contender Dave “The Fugitive” Jansen (20-2) at Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif on April 10.
The two men compete in the headlining bout of the newly announced “Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen” event, which also features a middleweight affair between Brazilian knockout machine Rafael Carvalho (10-1) and another man known for his sensational striking in Joe Schilling (2-3)
Both bouts take place on the evening’s main card, which airs live and free on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.
Tickets for “Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen” go on sale next Friday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. PT and are available online at www.ucirvinetickets.com (under the Bren Events Center tab) and through the UC Irvine Ticket Office.
“I’m really looking forward to this one,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “Brooks and Schilling were two huge components to our successful show last November, and I wanted to get them another fight as quickly as possible.” With Will Brooks, you’ve got a phenomenal athlete with a tremendous personality. He is someone who brings it each and every time he gets in the cage. Joe Schilling is one of those incredible strikers who just has danger written all over him. I think our team has really done a great job in finding both of these guys extremely tough opponents in Jansen and Carvalho respectively, and I’m happy that I’ll have one of the best seats in the house..
Additional bouts will be announced shortly.
The 28-year-old Brooks looks to make the first defense of the undisputed Bellator MMA Lightweight World Title he earned in November with a thrilling, fourth-round finish of former champ Michael Chandler. Prior to the win, Brooks boasted Bellator MMA’s Interim Lightweight World Title, which he also earned with a victory over Chandler. Overall, Brooks – an American Top Team athlete – is on a seven-fight winning streak and has lost just once in his 16-fight career.
Across the cage from him, the 35-year-old Jansen also brings a seven-fight winning streak to the cage. An eight-year veteran of the sport, Jansen earned his shot at the belt with a 2012 tournament victory after registering wins over Marcin Held, Ricardo Tirloni and Magomed Saadulaev. He was scheduled to fight for the title in 2013, but an injury forced him to withdraw from the contest. Once healthy, rather than sit around and wait for a rescheduled title shot, Jansen chose to remain active, scoring an October 2014 win over Rick Hawn.
Carvalho is a 28-year-old Brazilian who made an immediate impact in his promotional debut, scoring a first-round TKO win over nine-time Bellator MMA veteran Brian Rogers. Carvalho is quickly establishing himself as one of the most devastating strikers in the world today, notching nine of his 10 career wins by knockout, including five that came in the first round. Carvalho lost his professional debut in 2011 but has since earned 10 straight victories.
The 31-year-old Schilling has been fighting professionally since 2006, starting his combat sports career in kickboxing, where he earned both U.S. national and world titles in Muay Thai. While he’s since turned his focus to MMA, Schilling continues to compete in striking events, as well, working his way to GLORY’s Last Man Standing tournament this past June, competing three times in a single evening. Schilling made his Bellator MMA debut in November, scoring a “Knockout of the Year” candidate with his stoppage of noted striker Melvin Manhoef.
“Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen” – Friday, April 10, Bren Events Center, Irvine, Calif.
Bellator Lightweight Title Fight: Champ Will Brooks (15-1) vs. Dave Jansen (20-2)
Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Rafael Carvalho (10-1) vs. Joe Schilling (2-3)
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 TV, 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 TV:
Spike TV 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 TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.
Access the application for each fight by clicking on the proper banner
Training camp quotes from Boxcino jr. middleweight participants
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PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS DEBUTS ON SPIKE TV ON FRIDAY, MARCH 13 AT CITIZENS BUSINESS BANK ARENA IN ONTARIO, CALIF.
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Roc Nation Sports signs Mexican prospect, Miguel ‘Zurdo’ Sanchez
The undefeated and promising Mexican prospect, Miguel ‘Zurdo’ Sánchez from Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico has signed with Roc Nation Sports and is now a member of the long list of elite boxers and athletes that have signed with the newly developed sports promotional company which was founded in spring of 2013, and launched their boxing division in August of 2014. Roc Nation Sports was founded by none other than the successful, and famous singer, artist, song writer, producer, and now boxing’s newest promoter, Jay Z.
The 25 years old Sanchez ( 9-0, 7 KO’s ), who is campaigning in the welterweight division ( 147lbs ), trains at the ‘House of Boxing Training Center’ gym located in San Diego, California under the tutelage of veteran trainer, Carlos Barragan, who also trains the undefeated junior welterweight, Antonio Orozco.
“I am very satisfied with my team and with myself because of all the hard work we do”, stated Miguel Sanchez, who added, “In less than a year, and with less than 10 fights, I signed with a huge company that is giving me full support, and in return, I will do the same in the gym by training as hard as I can. I will not disappoint my people or the opportunity that Roc Nation Sports has given me”.
Sanchez is managed by Benjamin Lieblein and Alfredo Rodriguez.
“We are pleased to announce this major step in Sanchez’s career. He is expected to have his pro-debut under the Roc Nation Sports banner in March”, said co-manager Benjamin Lieblein, who continued, “In the year 2015, the boxing fans will know for sure who ‘Zurdo’ Sanchez is”.
More details on Miguel Sanchez’s next fight will be available soon.
Klitschko — Jennings First Photos From New York City
Photo Credit, Will Hart / Klitschko Management Group
New York City (February 4, 2015) – IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO and “The Ring Magazine” World Heavyweight Champion WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO and top rated challenger BRYANT JENNINGS met for the first time this morning at the Empire State Building in New York City ahead of today’s Press Conference to announce their battle set for Saturday, April 25 at Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
Presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group in association with Gary Shaw Productions, tickets priced at $1000, $600, $300, $200 and $100 can be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office, www.TheGarden.com and
RAONI BARCELOS vs. JAMAL PARKS BJJ BLACK BELT MEETS ALL AMERICAN WRESTLER IN FEATURE BOUT AT RFA 23
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RFA 23 – MURPHY vs. WARE
MAIN EVENT:
JOE MURPHY vs. TERRION WARE
LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
CO-MAIN EVENT:
GABRIEL CHECCO vs. JOE HENLE
MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
FEATURE FIGHT:
RAONI BARCELOS vs. JAMAL PARKS
FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6th LIVE ON AXSTV
Live at The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California
Tickets on Sale through CageTix.com/RFA
In MMA, like most sports, there is an old adage that was made popular by actor Will Smith that states, “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” That is one of the principles that Oklahoma native and blue chip MMA prospect Jamal Parks lives by. Parks put those words of wisdom into full effect this past week. Just five days removed from his fifth career MMA victory in five contests, Parks eagerly accepted the next challenge presented to him in his already spectacular athletic career. That challenge came when undefeated RFA star Sam Toomer was forced off of next week’s RFA 23 card in Costa Mesa, California with an injury sustained late in his training camp. Toomer was set to face Raoni Barcelos, who is one of the most highly-touted featherweight prospects in MMA. Barcelos is the son of 7th degree jiu-jitsu black-and-red belt Laerte Barcelos and has been groomed for greatness in combat sports since the age of two. That left many wondering who would be able to step up and challenge the Brazilian wunderkind adequately on such short notice. The answer to that question comes in the form of Parks, who is used to competing against elite athletes in wrestling and looks to continue the long legacy of Oklahoma State wrestlers who have blossomed into MMA stars. That list includes Randy Couture, Johny Hendricks, Daniel Cormier, Mark Muñoz, Jake Rosholt, Jared Rosholt, Shane Roller, Mo Lawal, as well as RFA vets Steve Mocco and Tyler Shinn. “This is a great opportunity and I’m ready to light it up,” stated an excited Parks, who is now set to travel to southern California this week to participate on the biggest stage of his promising MMA career. Parks was a three-time high school state wrestling champion in Oklahoma, while attending Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He then wrestled alongside Jared Rosholt and Shinn at Oklahoma State and became an NCAA Division I All-American his senior season. The proud Oklahoma State Cowboy then turned his attention to MMA after graduating and has seen his hand raised five times in five contests. However, this Friday will see him compete on national television (AXS TV) and international television (The Fight Network) for the first time. He will also be facing the toughest test of his career in Barcelos. You see, Barcelos is not your typical jiu-jitsu black belt. He is also an accomplished wrestler having once been a member of the Brazilian National Wrestling Team. Barcelos, who received his jiu-jitsu black belt at age 20, also won a Brazilian national title in freestyle wrestling the same year. Barcelos is also the main training partner to UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo. That pedigree is enough to scare away many potential opponents even with a full training camp to prepare. However, Parks fresh off his fifth win and newly signed multi-fight deal with RFA, feels he is more than ready for the challenge and is eager to participate in the most high-stakes MMA bout of his career.Parks and Barcelos meet in a featherweight bout on the main card of RFA 23 – Murphy vs. Ware onFriday, February 6th. The event takes place at The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. The main card will be televised nationwide on AXS TV and internationally on The Fight Network at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.
Tickets for RFA 23 Murphy vs. Ware are available at CageTix.com/RFA, prices range from $55.00 to $105.00.
Special 14-person All-You-Can Drink VIP SUITES can be reserved by calling 310-951-0867.
About RFA:
RFA is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. The RFA presents up to 10 fights annually around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Milwaukee. RFA can be seen live in over 40 million homes nationally through its television deal with AXS TV. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, RFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).
About AXS TV Fights:
AXS TV Fights is renowned for its universally recognized Friday Night Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing events. As Your Home For MMA, AXS TV utilizes an expansive network of promotions from the United States, Canada, and Europe. And Asia to broadcast more LIVE fights than any other television network. “The Voice” Michael Schiavello and five-time MMA world-champion Pat Miletich provide viewers expert play-by-play, in-depth fighter coverage, and extensive analysis to each fight card. AXS TV broadcasts world-class LIVE fight events from RFA, Lion Fight, Legacy FC, and MFC every Friday night at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET.
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