Press Release – San Jose, California (USA): Crossfire Media Group (CMG) Owner/Publicist Phil Lanides announced today that his company has reached an agreement to represent renowned mixed martial arts commentator Mauro Ranallo as his public relations representative. Ranallo was the play-by-play broadcaster for Pride Fighting Championships and EliteXC, and currently works in the same role for Showtime’s Strikeforce programming.
CMG will provide PR and media relations services for Ranallo in order to expand his presence within the mainstream and combat sports worlds, while also developing media strategies to further his brand.
“Mauro possesses one of the most recognizable voices in MMA today, and it’s an honor to work with him,” stated Lanides. “From Pride to EliteXC to Strikeforce, Mauro’s voice is synonymous with many of the signature calls in MMA history. I’m excited to help further elevate his status as the best commentator in combat sports today.”
“Phil Lanides has built up a solid reputation in MMA, and I feel comfortable and confident placing my PR needs in his hands,” says Ranallo. “I look forward to a long and mutually-beneficial business relationship with CMG.”
Mauro Ranallo was born in Abbotsford, British Columbia on December 21st, 1969. The son of Italian immigrants, Ranallo grew up a huge pro wrestling fan. He played various sports, but always found himself being drawn to the role of an announcer. At the tender age of 16, he was offered the role of color commentator/“bad guy” manager with All-Star Wrestling, a nationally-televised show throughout Canada.
After a successful stint with the company, Ranallo utilized his distinct voice and energetic delivery to move into the mainstream sports world. After working for the Fraser Valley Radio Network, he bounced back and forth between wrestling and combat sports. In 2003, Ranallo received the opportunity of a lifetime when MMA legend and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Bas Rutten, who he had met in 2001 on the set of a movie, called the young broadcaster and offered him the position of play-by-play commentator for Pride Fighting Championships.
During his three year stint with the company, Ranallo called some of the biggest fights in MMA history. Ranallo left Pride FC shortly before the promotion was purchased by Zuffa. Ranallo then joined the fledgling Fight Network, the first 24-hour combat sports channel in North America. He also signed with Showtime Sports to serves a as the play-by-play man for its MMA telecasts, which led to him landing the same role for the first mixed martial arts cards on CBS. In addition to his commentating duties, he also currently hosts “The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo,” Canada’s first and most comprehensive weekly television program dedicated to MMA, and a daily podcast featuring the biggest names in MMA as his guests.
Ranallo joins the CMG stable of clients, which also includes Canadian fight promotion Aggression MMA, former world champion pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page’s workout brand, DDPYOGA, Bay Area-based combat sports promotion Elite Combat Sports, top MMA fight team Roufusport, and top-ranked Strikeforce welterweight Tyron Woodley.
For more information on Mauro Ranallo, please visit http://www.mauroranallo.com/. Mauro can also be found on Twitter @MauroRanallo.
About Crossfire Media Group
Founded in late 2008, Crossfire Media Group (formerly known as Fight of Your Life Communications) helped blaze a trail for freelance publicists in the world of MMA. The company has since expanded into the mainstream sports, literature, and videogame industries. CMG has worked with a virtual “who’s who” in MMA, including UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, MMA legend Frank Shamrock, former WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson, UFC fighter Brian Stann, UFC fighter Carlos Condit, Revgear, and Strikeforce. Clients of CMG have been also been featured on media outlets such as “The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon,” ESPN, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Sun-Times, Sherdog, MMAWeekly, MMAJunkie, Yahoo! Sports, amongst others.