IT’S MEXICO VERSUS GUATEMALA AT MMAX’S TEAM QUALIFIER AT THE JOINT INSIDE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO THIS FRIDAY
Mexican Independence Day and Guatemalan Independence Day both take place this weekend
Press Release – Las Vegas, Nevada – As the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) explodes more and more in growth, the cream of the next crop of fighters is beginning to rise to the surface. This Friday, September 16th, the two best 145-pound amateur fighters in Las Vegas will lock horns with national pride and their futures on the line when Cesar Campos and Rudy Morales battle as MMA Xplosion (MMAX) presents its Team Qualifier event. This electrifying fight card, presented by Millennium Events, will take place at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
The MMAX Team Qualifier will feature an all-amateur card, with teams coached by UFC® veterans Tony “The Freak” Fryklund and Marvin “The Beastman” Eastman, respectively. In addition, the fighters will be competing for an opportunity to become part of two newly established Las Vegas home teams, named the Las Vegas Spiders and the Las Vegas Scorpions, who will compete against each other at the next scheduled team event in October.
This Friday’s main event features two fan favorites in Campos (8-1) and Morales (7-1) in an excellent match-up between rising local stars.
Cesar Campos was born in Los Angeles, and raised in Oregon. He is full-blooded Mexican, and is extremely proud of his heritage. The 5’11” 145-pounder trains at TapouT Training Center in Vegas…which is also where his opponent trains, though they train at different times in different classes. Though he’s only been training in MMA for a couple years, Campos has already made a name for himself, and at 26 years old, his future is quite bright. But first, he’s got to get past Morales.
“I’m still working on my game plan, but my mentality is that no matter which way the fight goes, I’m going to be in it,” states Campos. “But I’m going to try to finish Rudy as soon as the bell rings for the first round.”
“I think it’s going to be a good fight. I know Rudy’s training hard, I’m training hard, and we’re two of the best featherweights in Vegas right now. I know it’s a fight I’d like to see.”
Also looking to display his talents this Friday is Rudy Morales. At 26 years old, just like his opponent, Morales has carved out a reputation as an ultra-tough competitor. Born and raised in Guatemala, he began training Kenpo karate at the age of eight. He later picked up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and started doing MMA over the last few years. With his thoughts on turning pro in 2012, Morales is planning to leave it all in the cage this weekend. “My style for this fight will be something like Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, and I want to make sure the crowd gets their money’s worth. I will put my health on the line to accomplish that. And so far, I haven’t been able to finish an opponent. I don’t want to let this fight go to the judges.”
This weekend, both Mexican Independence Day and Guatemalan Independence Day take place. As such, both Campos and Morales will be proudly representing their respective heritages. “Mexican fighters have a lot of heart. They’ll fight,” explains Campos. “It doesn’t matter if they’re hurt, they’ll keep going. And I want to show that part of me this Friday…that part of my heritage.”
“I’m trying to avoid the Guatemala versus Mexico angle…we’re all Latino Americans,” says Morales. “But representing Guatemala this weekend is pretty much one of my biggest achievements, other than being a father. It’s a lot of pressure, but life without risk is no life. If I don’t risk it all, I won’t be able to accomplish anything.”
Here is the Team Qualifier fight card as it stands now:
MAIN EVENT
Featherweight: Cesar Campos (8-1) vs. Rudy Morales (7-1)
Lighweight: David Jordan (8-1) vs. David Tompkins (4-1)
Welterweight: Joe Angelo (7-5) vs. Daniel Cuison (2-0)
Light heavyweight: Mike Florio (5-1) vs. Weston Duschen (6-6)
Light heavyweight: Prentice Williams (5-1) vs. Khalil Roundtree (2-0)
Lightweight: Jimmy Like (1-2) vs. Christian Cardona (2-2)
Lighweight: Kevin Smith (0-1) vs. Jason Rivera (1-3)
Featherweight: Shane Benbow (2-1) vs. Boostayre Nagarios (2-1)
Flyweight: Richard Patini (0-0) vs. Cruz Ramos (0-0)
(140 lbs): Ramsen Merza (1-2) vs. Hugo Gonzalez (0-0)
Middleweight: Aaron Fonseca (0-0) vs. Nate (0-0)
Lightweight: Jamie Sanchez (0-1) vs. Jake Malili (2-0)
Bantamweight: Joshua Lopas (0-0) vs. Sean Cantor (3-0)
Flyweight: Junior (15 fights) vs. Arthur Nicholas (2-0)
Bantamweight: Rick Fell (0-0) vs. Eddie Guerrero (0-2)
*Fight card is subject to change
For more information on MMAX, please visit our website at http://www.mmaxplosion.com/
About The Joint
The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a 4,000-person capacity venue that serves as a sophisticated, intimate and unparalleled destination. The Joint features seven Luxury Suites, a VIP Studio Level, state-of-the-art sound system, superior video system and a production package tailor-made for artist comfort. It has received numerous accolades including “Best Concert Venue” in Las Vegas Review-Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” awards in 2010 and 2011, “No. 1 Hottest Club in America” award by Billboard Magazine in 2011, “Best New Major Concert Venue” at the 2010 Pollstar Awards, and “Best Live Music Venue” in AOL City’s Best 2010 awards. The Joint delivers unforgettable live music experiences with an ongoing roster of legendary artists taking its stage including the first rock ‘n’ roll residency in Las Vegas with Carlos Santana’s Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits, Paul McCartney, The Killers, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Arcade Fire, Motley Crüe, Avenged Sevenfold, Alice in Chains, Paramore, Muse, Drake and No Doubt. The venue is also home to Tiësto In Concert, a groundbreaking live show created exclusively for The Joint featuring the world’s No. 1 electronic DJ and producer Tiësto. For additional information, call 702.693.5583 or 702.693.5000. HardRockHotel.com/ TheJointLasVegas.com. Keep up with the latest updates on The Joint via Facebook and Twitter.
About Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a premier destination entertainment resort in Las Vegas, owned by Brookfield Real Estate Finance Fund II, a division of Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) and managed by WG-Harmon, LLC, a subsidiary of Warner Gaming, LLC. Built in 1995, the property completed a $750 million expansion in 2010. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers an energetic entertainment and gaming experience with the services and amenities associated with a boutique luxury resort hotel. The property is known for its innovative nightlife and music scene where acts such as The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney, Incubus, Linkin Park, Foo Fighters and The Killers have all performed. Features of the property include an 11-story Hard Rock Hotel tower with 640 guest rooms, 17-story Paradise Tower with 490 rooms and suites and the all-suite HRH Tower with 359 suites, eight spa villas and seven penthouse suites; 72,000 square feet of casino space; 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting and convention space; more than $3 million in rare music memorabilia throughout the hotel; the luxurious Vanity Nightclub; Reliquary Water Sanctuary & Spa; Reliquary Salon; 4.8 acres of tropical pool paradise; REHAB, the trendsetting Sunday afternoon pool party; The Joint concert venue; Hart & Huntington Tattoo Co.; restaurants including the newest dining destination, 35 Steaks + Martinis, casual Italian eatery LTO, Pizzas & More, world-renowned Nobu, Johnny Smalls, Pink Taco and Mr. Lucky’s 24/7 diner; numerous cocktail lounges; several retail stores; and a state-of-the-art Fitness Center. For room availability and additional information call 800.HRD.ROCK (800.473.7625) or visit www.hardrockhotel.com