Bellator MMA returns to the WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma with a stacked card to start their Summer Series tournaments. The fight card includes the semifinal rounds of the light heavyweight and heavyweight tournaments, as well as, a lightweight title clash between champion Michael Chandler and Season 7 tournament winner Dave Jansen.

The heavyweight pairings will feature undefeated Vitaly Minakov (10-0) squaring off against Ron Sparks (8-1) and Vinicius “Spartan” Queiroz (6-3) taking on Rich Hale (21-5). The four heavyweights have their sights set on a title shot against current champion Alexander Volkov.

Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (9-2) returns to action against Seth Petruzelli (14-7) in a light heavyweight tournament semifinal bout. MMA veteran Renato “Babalu” Sobral (37-10) will battle Jacob Noe (11-2) on the other side of the 205lb bracket.

The main card of Bellator 96 will be televised live on Spike at 7:00pm ET and the preliminary card will begin streamed free on Spike.com at 6:00pm ET.

Bellator 96 Summer Series – Fight Card

Main Card (Spike TV)

Michael Chandler (11-0) vs. Dave Jansen (19-2) – Lightweight Title Fight

King Mo Lawal (9-2) vs. Seth Petruzelli (14-7) – Light Heavyweight Tournament

Renato “Babalu” Sobral (37-10) vs. Jacob Noe (11-2) – Light Heavyweight Tournament

Vinicius “Spartan” Queiroz (6-3) vs. Rich Hale (21-5) – Heavyweight Tournament

Vitaly Minakov (10-0) vs. Ron Sparks (8-1) – Heavyweight Tournament

War Machine (12-4) vs. Blas Avena (8-6)

Preliminary Card (Spike.com)

Brandon Halsey (3-0) vs. Mike Brown (3-1)

Justin McNally (1-1) vs. Steven Artoff (5-1)

Keith Miner (5-4) vs. Damon Jackson (4-0)

Mike Maldonado (4-0) vs. Jason Sampson (10-1)

Brandon Girtz (8-2) vs. TBA (0-0)

Keith Berry (14-10) vs. Cortez Coleman (9-3)

They say, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”. But in the world of mixed martial arts, hell hath no fury like a woman fighting on national television! On June 14, 2013, Live from the USF Sun Dome in beautiful Tampa, Florida, Xtreme Fighting Championships keeps its promise and tradition of showcasing Women’s MMA, by adding a Flyweight showdown between Cortney Casey and Kelly Warren.

Cortney “Cast Iron” Casey (0-0) is wasting no time making a name for herself as a professional fighter. The former professional soccer player’s decision to jump right into the fire and face WMMA veteran Kelly Warren has almost everyone scratching their heads. However, if you ask anyone that knows Casey, this is just typical Cortney. Kerry Hartney, matchmaker for the Las Vegas amateur super show, Tuff Nuff, had this to say about the debuting Casey: “Cortney Casey doesn’t want easy fights. She doesn’t get motivated unless there is a tough challenge in front of her. The girl never backs down from a challenge, so it doesn’t surprise me one bit that she is fighting Kelly Warren in her debut. Mark my words, soon everyone will know Cortney Casey’s name.” Casey closed out her amateur career with three dynamic performances for the famed Vegas promotion, which included a title win and defense of their Flyweight Championship. Her most spectacular win as an amateur came in her last bout, when she submitted Rachael Cummings with a highlight reel flying armbar in November of 2012. On June 14th, the question will be answered, will “Cast Iron” Casey turn up the heat on Kelly Warren and start her journey to XFC gold with a huge win, or will Warren leave her second guessing her opponent choice?

Continue reading at OfficialXFC.com

ONE Fighting Championship heads to the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila for “Rise to Power” on May 31st. The fight card features five of the top fighters from the Philipines including ONE FC featherweight champion Honorio Banario, as well as, Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, Rey Docyogen and Geje Eustaquio.

ONE FC Rise to Power
Honorio Banario vs. Koji Oishi
Bibiano Fernandes vs. Koetsu Okazaki
Masakatsu Ueda vs. Kevin Belingon
Yasuhiro Urushitani vs. Rey Docyogen
Phil Baroni vs. Nobutatsu Suzuki
Kamal Shalorus vs. Eduard Folayang
Andrew Leone vs. Geje Eustaquio
Ryan Diaz vs. Yusup Saadulaev
Felipe Enomoto vs. Lowen Tynanes
Tony Johnson vs. Tim Sylvia Tim Sylvia

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (May 6, 2013) – The true “Queen of Boxing,” 14-time world champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm, may be hanging-up her gloves Saturday night but she’s only switching from a ring to a cage as she pursues her very promising mixed-martial-arts career.

Holm (32-2-3, 9 KOs) will defend her International Boxing Association (IBA) and World Boxing Federation (WBF) junior lightweight titles against former NABC World lightweight title-holder “Merciless” Mary McGee (20-1, 11 KOs) in the 10-round main event headlining the “Mayhem” card, presented by Fresquez Productions, at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque.

Rather than announce her retirement from boxing right after Saturday’s fight, Holm went public several weeks ago, in order to let her boxing fans realize that this would be their last opportunity to watch her box. It certainly would have been easier and less stressful to wait, but the New Mexico sports icon has always appreciated her fans to the maximum. Plus, she’s still going to be fighting, only in a different combat sport.

“I am dealing with some pressure being in my final time in boxing,” she explained, “and knowing that I’ll be in MMA. So, I’m focusing on this last fight and feeling some pressure, but there’s always some pressure in a fight. I want to end things on a good night. I didn’t want to just cruise through my last fight in boxing. This isn’t bad pressure. I did want to let people know and there will be a lot of people there Saturday night who may not have been if I hadn’t made my announcement.”

Holm nearly retired two years ago but, at that time, she wasn’t quite ready to make the fulltime switch to MMA. Her plan was to first fight and defeat European starts, Ann Sophie Mathis and Cecelia Breakhus.

“This has been a long time coming,” Holm noted. “I talked with my coach (Mike Winkeljohn) about leaving boxing for MMA back in 2011. I told friends how much I really enjoyed MMA. In a perfect world, I would have but I still wanted to fight Ann Sophie and Cecelia. Then, I could focus 100-percent on MMA. I’ve always been excited about MMA. Plans changed, though, when I lost to Ann Sophie. I knew I had to have a rematch (Holm won by decision). I started enjoying MMA training even more but thought I’d be fighting Cecelia in April, and then would focus on MMA. That fight didn’t go through and when she chose to fight Mia (St. John), I jumped at an MMA fight in February. I really enjoyed it. The fight with Cecelia didn’t happen and here we are. I always told myself I’d stop boxing if my passion wasn’t there 100-percent. I found myself getting less motivated in the gym to box, more motivated by MMA.”

Holm met every challenge during her 11+ year boxing career, finally exhausting all of her options, in terms of fighting world-class opponents. She has an incredible 21-1-1 record in world title fights (212 of her career 275 rounds fought have been in world championships), and 14-1-1 against other world champions, defeating a virtual Who’s Who list of woman boxers from the 140 through 154-pound weight classes, including Mathis, Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, St. John, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice).

Her promoter, Lenny Fresquez, negotiated with Braekhus’ promoter, Sauerland Boxing, for two years but the final straw for Holm was the announcement that Braekhus would instead be fighting 45-year-old St. John, which came one day after the World Boxing Council mandated a mandatory title fight between WBC champion Braekhus and No. 1 contender Holm.

Like most elite athletes, seeking a new challenge was paramount in her decision to leave boxing for MMA, in which she is undefeated in three fights with three knockouts. Now, her ultimate challenge is to develop into a world-class MMA fighter, one worthy of challenging UFC champion and MMA superstar, Ronda Rousey. “A new challenge was a big part of it,” Holly explained what thinking went into her decision. “She (Rousey) has opened doors for women in MMA. She’s the one to beat and she’s in my weight class, but I’m not ready to fight her tomorrow. I have MMA strengths but I need to build on my weaknesses. She’s world champion now and but that next girl may take her out (before Holm fights Rousey). I do think she’ll be champ for a long time….but you never know.

“I’m also going to turn 32 soon and, if I’m going to make it in MMA, I need to start now. I don’t know where I’ll be in a year, two years, or five years. I’m also married now and someday I want to start a family. Maybe not now but that was another consideration (to now go into MMA fulltime).”

Her fight with McGee had been signed prior to Holm making her decision to leave boxing. She will bring the same class and dignity into the ring against McGee that she has for her previous 37 professional fights.

“I had told my dad, ma, coach and friends what an honor it would be for me to be able to be in the ring with Mary McGee for my last fight,” Holm concluded. “She’s not only a great champion, but a good person, a tremendous person, both in and out of the ring. This fight was scheduled before my (retirement from boxing) decision and that was it. I’m glad to be sharing the ring with her. She’s accomplished a lot and stayed humble. I’m very happy.”

Also fighting on “Mayhem” is a group of New Mexico’s most promising prospects. Albuquerque lightweight Matthew Baca (2-1, 2 KO’s) takes on Armando Gonzales (2-2, 1 KO) in a six-round bout. On the undercard in four rounds matches are welterweight Rocky “El Torito” Romero (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. 11-fight veteran Michael Coca Gallegos, light middleweight Cris Leyva (1-0) vs. Manuel Eastman (1-3), lightweights making their professional debuts, Gabe Gabaldon vs. Brandon Salazar, and cruiserweights making their pro debuts, Manny Rocha vs. Floyd Olguin, Jr. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, ranging between $25.00 and $200.00, are on sale and available to purchase at the Route 66 box office, going online to www.rt66casino.com, or calling 505.884.7484.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. MT, first bout scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. MT.

Go on line to www.FresquezProductions.com or www.rt66casino.com for more information about “Mayhem.”

Pacific X-treme Combat (PXC) 37 is set to go down on May 18th from the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. Headlining the action is a bantamweight title clash between champion Crisanto Pitpitunge (4-1) undefeated challenger Michinori Tanaka (7-0). Also scheduled are a pair of featherweight bouts matching Mark Striegl against Takumi Nakayama and Jang Yong Kim against Nate Thorell.

(Tampa, FL) – Summer just got hotter! Xtreme Fighting Championships has announced the co-main event, for their already highly anticipated return to The Sunshine State. Things will surely heat up, when Nicolae Cury faces off against fellow Floridian Reggie Pena, in a middleweight showdown at XFC 24, Live on AXS TV. The event takes place at the USF Sundome, in Tampa, Florida on June 14th.

The last time we saw Reggie “The Regulator” Pena (10-5), he silenced a rowdy Nashville crowd at XFC 18: Music City Mayhem, when he pulled off an impressive guillotine submission on UFC veteran John Salter. Pena has won 8 of his last 10 bouts, and looks to jump right into the XFC Middleweight Title picture with a win over the dangerous Nicolae Cury.

Nicolae “The Armor” Cury (7-4) last entertained the XFC fans at XFC 19: Charlotte Showdown, when he won a unanimous decision over last minute opponent replacement Roger Carroll. With 5 of his last 7 wins coming via submission, it’s no secret that Cury will look to get this fight to the ground, in hopes of adding Pena to the list of opponents who have tapped to the Jiu Jitsu & Judo Black Belt.

When asked about the Cury/Pena match up, XFC President John Prisco had this to say. “This bout could easily steal the show. Both these guys are well rounded and tough to finish. They are both main event fighters who have faced adversity and pulled out big wins in their last XFC fights. Cury is so dangerous on the ground with his submissions and Pena…Pena just has something about him that’s hard to explain. He is never out of a fight. He fights with such heart and has a never say die attitude. It’s going to come down to who enforces their game plan better. Will Cury get it to the ground and work his submissions, or will Reggie be able to keep the fight at a distance and work his combinations? It’s going be exciting. The winner of this fight will find themselves near the top of our middleweight division.”

Don’t miss a minute of the action! Xtreme Fighting Championships makes its way back to Tampa, Florida for XFC 24: Collision Course on June 14, 2013. The event is presented by ICRealTime Security Solutions and ThroatPunch Ind. Apparel and will be broadcast Live on AXS TV from the beautiful USF Sundome, beginning at 9pm. For more information on the event, or, to purchase tickets, visit www.officialxfc.com. For daily updates and news and to follow all the XFC fighters as they train towards the title, “Like” us on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter @OfficialXFC.

HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 22, 2013) – FIGHT NOW TV TM – America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel – is set to deliver hard-hitting MMA action this Friday (Apr. 26), starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, live from Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, Louisiana.

Fight fans across America will have two ways to catch all the battles coming this Friday from the Bayou State:

1. The action can be seen live on FIGHT NOW TV via channel 464 on Cablevision where FIGHT NOW TV is offered in the Optimum gold package.

2. Hilia Fights is also being offered as a Pay-Per-View event on the following additional outlets:

• DIRECTTV channel 121 HD, 122 SD
• iN DEMAND *check channel listings
• Avail-TVN *check channel listings

Top regional mixed martial artists will be showcased, including a matchup between two of the Bayou’s biggest, baddest boys – super heavyweights (6′ 2″, 275 lbs.), Chaz Morgan (5-0-0) and (6′ 4″, 300 lbs.), Sammy Smith (3-1-0) – in a Southern-style throwdown of epic proportion.

MTV star and Caged Season 1 winner,Tony “Primetime” Kelly (5-1-0), takes on lightweight Kody Thrasher (1-1-0).

“Hilia Fights is committed to delivering great MMA action this Friday and beyond,” said Mike Garrow, GM & co-founder of FIGHT NOW TV. “We are excited to offer this emerging regional promotion to viewers across the country through our linear channel, as wells as via our pay-per-view distribution platform through Integrated Sports Media. FIGHT NOW TV stands by its goal to deliver all forms of live combat sports from across America and around the world.”

FIGHT NOW TV is available on Cablevision channel 464 as part of the Optimum iO gold package!

About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.

Founded by Channel Zero, Inc. and media entrepreneur Mike Garrow, FIGHT NOW TV is the only 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week combat sports channel in the nation. The network’s mandate is to bring the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW TV is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and matchups from around the globe.

For more information about FIGHT NOW TV go on line at www.fightnow.com, or follow on Twitter @fightnowtv and Facebook.com/fightnowusa.

About Hilia Fights: Owned and operated by successful businessmen and industry leaders throughout the United States and Internationally, Hilia Fights brings together years of experience in promoting, matchmaking, and business planning. LIVE event execution is what will determine the ultimate success of Hilia.

Go on line to www.hiliafights.com for additional information about Hilia Fights.

Listen to the awesome Wanderlei Silva as he discusses the recent tryouts for the Wand Fight Team.

Everyone of us is the same, the differential is the will of each one of us.
…Who keeps believing in it is going somewhere, who doesn’t is already defeated.

ONE FC: Kings & Champions is set for April 5th from the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Lightweight champion Kotetsu Boku will put his title on the line against Shinya Aoki. Also on the main card are the two semifinal bouts of the Bantamweight Grand Prix tournament. Jens Pulver will take on Masakatsu Ueda in one semifinal bout while the other features Kevin Belingon taking on Thanh Vu.

ONE FC 8: Kings & Champions – Fight Card

Kotetsu Boku vs. Shinya Aoki (Main Event)
Melvin Manhoef vs. Brock Larson
Jens Pulver vs. Masakatsu Ueda (Bantamweight semifinal)
Kevin Belingon vs. Thanh Vu (Bantamweight semifinal)
Eddie Ng vs. Arnaud Lepont
Leandro Issa vs. Yusup Saadulaev
Alex Silva vs. Rene S. Catalan
Bashir Ahmad vs. Shannon Wiratchai
Jake Butler vs. Nuur Muhammad
Chen Yun Ting vs. Ronald Low

Xtreme Fighting Championships will return to Tampa Bay on June 14 for XFC 24 at the USF Sundome. The promotion has been touring the United States, outside of Florida since December of 2011, and will return to the city where it all began for an event that is headlined with the first title defense for current Lightweight Champion “Notorious” Nick Newell (9-0) and rising star Scott “Hot Sauce” Holtzman (4-0).

After holding 10 events at the Tampa Bay Times Forum (then the St. Pete Times Forum), the XFC spent 2012 and the beginning of 2013 traveling the southeast and executing events in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Now, with a much larger & more dedicated fan base, the XFC returns to the city where its fans once set state attendance records for MMA; Tampa, Florida.

XFC President John Prisco made the announcement for the date and location after receiving thousands of messages & tweets wondering when the promotion would return to its stomping grounds. “I am excited to be coming back to Tampa. This is where it all began for us,” said Prsico. “We spent some time expanding our fan base and signing talent from across the country, now it’s time for the XFC to deliver another great show in Tampa.”

A full bout line up has not been announced, however the show is expected to feature some of the top fighters under the XFC banner, several top local standouts, a women’s bout, and recent Open Fighter Tryout winner Jeremiah Labiano. Numerous Florida fighters are under contract with the promotion and generally travel out of state to be a part of XFC events, so it is likely that a descent handful will be a part of the first event in their home state in almost 2 years.

To stay updated with XFC news and further announcements for XFC24, visit www.OfficialXFC.com. Follow the promotion daily on Facebook and Twitter ‘@OfficialXFC’ for up to the minute updates and breaking news and check out the promotions Youtube channel for some great fight videos.

Xtreme Fighting Championships will return to the state of Kentucky for the first time since 2008, for the promotion’s next event XFC 23: Louisville Slugfest. Scheduled for Friday April 19, the AXStv broadcast will include the first ever XFC strawweight WMMA title fight between former US Boxing team member Stephanie “Snowflake” Eggink and veteran Angela Magana.

The XFC has been promoting Women’s MMA since 2007 and has featured at least one female bout on each of their events since. The strawweight division became one of the most active groups in 2012, which led to XFC President John Prisco’s decision to make the fight between Eggink and Magana a championship bout.

Eggink joined the XFC ranks in 2012, making her first appearance under the XFC banner in December taking on XFC vet Heather Clark. Eggink went the distance with Clark, earning a unanimous decision victory after three rounds that showcased all aspects of her game, from her boxing to her jiu-jitsu.

Magana signed with the XFC in early 2013 as the promotion planned to increase the number of women’s bouts featured on their events. With an (11-5) record, Magana is the most experienced fighter amongst the athletes currently signed to the promotion and her few losses come from champions that include Jessica Aguilar, Jessica Eye, and Jessica Penne. Magana is much more experienced than Eggink, with nearly 6 years of pro fights under her belt and wins over the likes of Barb Honchack, Lynn Alverez, and Aguilar.

Following the decision to make the bout a championship match, XFC President John Prisco spoke with officials about the first Women’s title fight in XFC history. “Following her performance against Clark, I thought that Eggink would be the best matchup for Magana. Eggink is experience beyond her years being a pro boxing vet and her jiu-jitsu training under a Royce Gracie black belt. Magana at the same time is one of the best fighters in the game, but hasn’t been getting the respect she deserves in terms of her abilities,” Prisco said. “We’re talking about someone who has beaten some of the best fighters in and out of her weight class, and if you look at her losses, you’re looking at a list of today’s champions. I’m confident that these are two of the best fighters at 115 lbs. and whoever wins is going to be a great representative of the XFC.”

XFC 23: Louisville Slugfest along with the Women’s Strawweight Championship bout will air live on AXStv April 19 from the Kentucky International Convention Center. XFC 23 is presented by ICRealTime Security Solutions and ThroatPunch Ind. Apparel. For more information on the event or to purchase ticket visit www.OfficialXFC.com. Also, follow the promotion on Facebook and Twitter ‘@OfficialXFC’ for daily news and updates.

Ronda Rousey capped off the UFC’s first-ever women’s fight with a first round armbar win over Liz Carmouche at UFC 157. Rousey remains undefeated as she improves her record to 7-0 while successfully defending her bantamweight title. All seven of her wins have come by armbar submission in the first round. Ryron and Rener Gracie walk-through how Rousey was able to pull off the submission win.

It is a historic night for the Ultimate Fighting Championship as women will enter the Octagon for the very first time at UFC 157. Undefeated Ronda Rousey will take on Liz Carmouche in the main event for the women’s bantamweight championship. The co-main event features a light heavyweight battle between Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida. The winner of that bout is said to get the next shot at the light heavyweight title.

UFC 157 takes place from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The main card will be televised on pay-per-view beginning at 10:00pm ET.

Preliminary Card Results (Online, 6:35pm ET)

Nah-Shon Burrell defeated Yuri Villefort by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

Neil Magny defeated Jon Manley by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

Kenny Robertson defeated Brock Jardine by submission at 2:57 of the first round.

Preliminary Card Results (FX, 8:00pm ET)

Sam Stout defeated Caros Fodor by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Dennis Bermudez defeated Matt Grice by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).

Michael Chiesa defeated Anton Kuivanen by rear-naked choke submission at 2:29 of the second round.

Brendan Schaub defeated Lavar Johnson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Main Card Results (PPV, 10:00pm ET)

Robbie Lawler defeated Josh Koscheck by technical knockout at 3:57 of the first round.

Court McGee defeated Josh Neer by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Urijah Faber defeated Ivan Menjivar by rear-naked choke submission at 4:34 of the first round.

Lyoto Machida defeated Dan Henderson by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).

Ronda Rousey defeated Liz Carmouche by armbar submission 4:49 of the first round. Rousey remains undefeated as she defends the bantamweight title by winning her seventh fight by armbar.

One of the most anticipated fights of the night is a welterweight matchup between local favorite Roger Carroll and regional challenger Josh Eagans as Xtreme Fighting Championships returns to Charlotte for XFC 22: Crossing the Line on February 22. The fight will be Carroll’s second with the XFC and Eagans XFC debut. The two will face off on the live side of the promotions event, televised on AXStv.

Roger Carroll is a veteran of the sport, with nearly 7 years of pro fighting experience on his resume. He last fought for the XFC in the main event of XFC 19 where he fought to a decision against black belt Nicolae Cury. He followed that performance in January where he was able to squeak out a split decision victory against the previously undefeated Drew Kennedy. Carroll’s record is now (11-8) with experience against some of today’s toughest fighters including Urijah Hall and Clint Hester, both TUF veterans.

Locally in Charlotte, Roger is one of the biggest draws in the MMA scene. Though he is originally from Florida, he moved to North Carolina years ago and through his training with Renegade Fighting Systems and appearances on local promotions, he has quickly become a favorite for fight fans in Charlotte. Carroll will have a few advantages against Eagans including the hometown crowd. He is also a black belt in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and on paper has already beaten Eagans once before. Eagans and Carroll met back in 2011, in a fight that ended very early in the first round after Eagans sustained a serious shoulder injury just minutes into the fight. Carroll walked away the winner that night but he will now have to prove he is indeed the better fighter.

To see Roger “The Leprechaun” Carroll fight in front of his hometown crowd taking on South Carolina’s Josh Eagans visit www.OfficialXFC.com and purchase tickets to XFC 22: Crossing the Line. The event is presented by ICRealTime Security Solutions and ThroatPunch Ind. Apparel and will air live on AXStv from the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

XFC 22 – Crossing The Line

Main Card

Scott Holtzman vs. Jason Hicks
Joseph Corneroli vs. Ricky Rainey
Suzie Montero vs. Pearl Gonzalez
Josh Eagans vs. Roger Carroll
D’Angelo Bynum vs. Jimmy Fowler
D’Juan Owens vs. Nate Landwehr

The UK’s premier Mixed Martial Arts promotion, BAMMA, is proud to announce BAMMA 12, which takes place at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena in response to popular demand on Saturday 9th March 2013. Tickets will go on sale on Friday 1st February.

The event will feature in a two hour live broadcast on 5* in the UK with highlights to follow on Channel 5; and will be televised on AXS-TV in the US, The Fight Network in Canada, Red Media in Russia, TV Esporte Interativo in Brazil, Setanta in Africa and TDN in Latin America.

The event will also be the first BAMMA show conducted under the umbrella of independent UK medical body, Safe MMA. Membership requires all competitors to be Safe MMA registered, to have undergone standardized GP medicals and blood tests, and to be medically cleared to fight. On-the-night post-fight medical results will be submitted to a confidential, medical database held by Safe MMA at the Centre of Health and Human Performance at 76 Harley Street, London. For more information about Safe MMA go to http://www.safemma.co.uk

BAMMA’s director, David Green, said:

“Newcastle is a renowned hotspot for British fighting talent and in many ways a spiritual home to BAMMA: An array of BAMMA fighters have hailed from the region and Newcastle is home to our equipment partner Lonsdale and also to one of our official ring girls, Georgia Graham. There’s a strong MMA fan base up there and Newcastle is an energetic city that loves to party; it’s where the Fans have been calling for us to go for a while, so it is definitely the natural place for BAMMA 12 and the atmosphere is going to be immense.”

BAMMA’s Managing Director, Ashley Bothwell said:

“BAMMA is proud to be working with Safe MMA. It’s major step forward for MMA in this country and has brought the different promotions together for the first time to ensure that the safety of fighters comes first and to work for the greater good of the sport. Our continued programming with terrestrial Channel 5 also reflects the rising popularity of MMA in the UK and it’s exciting to be working in two partnerships that are helping shape the growth of the sport here. The North East is a hot bed for UK MMA and BAMMA in Newcastle has been a long time coming. We look forward to the opportunity to broadcast some of that talent to our global fan base and showcase some of the best that the region has to offer”.