Press Release – June 14, 2011 – SAN JOSE, Calif.: In 2010, Bobby Voelker and Roger Bowling engaged in two of the most exciting contests of the year, splitting victories and leaving fans craving a third fight to settle the score. On July 22, the wait will come to an end as STRIKEFORCE® Challengers presents the rubber match at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). If that wasn’t enough, STRIKEFORCE® Challengers also features Sarah Kaufman taking on Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche in a women’s welterweight matchup, a heavyweight contest between Lavar “Big” Johnson and Devin Cole, as well as a 185-pound bout between Adlan Amagov and Ronald “The Choir Boy” Stallings, and one yet to be announced bout that will air on Showtime.
The event will mark STRIKEFORCE’s debut at the Palms and the organization expects to put on several events at the fight-friendly venue throughout 2011.
“The rubber match between Voelker and Bowling will not only settle the score between the two, but it will also help determine another rising contender in the welterweight division,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “This event on July 22 is loaded with potentially explosive fights and we’re excited to kick off our relationship with the Palms with such a great card.”
Tickets for STRIKEFORCE® Challengers are on sale now and are priced at $150, $85 and $50. Tickets will be available at the Pearl box office, online at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices do not include service charges.
STRIKEFORCE® Challengers is presented by Rockstar Energy Drink.
Kansas City’s Bobby Voelker (23-8) has proven that defeating him is no easy task, as he’s shown by winning three of his last four, including the last fight with Bowling in October. This July he’ll have his sights set on Cincinnati’s Roger Bowling (9-1), who earned his nickname “Relentless” thanks to scoring seven of his nine professional victories by way of stoppage. Fresh off a win over Josh Thornsburg in March, the 28-year-old now turns his attention to winning the trilogy.
Former welterweight champ Sarah Kaufman (13-1) returns for a pivotal fight that could determine the division’s next title challenger. With her only career loss coming to Marloes Coenen last year, the 25-year-old Canadian Kaufman is a tremendous finisher with 10 of her 13 wins coming by way of knockout. Former U.S. Marine Liz Carmouche (5-1) steps back into the cage for the first time since battling STRIKEFORCE women’s welterweight champion Coenen in an exciting bout last March. The aggressive striker, who currently trains in San Diego, Calif., meets Kaufman in what should be an explosive 135-pound women’s bout.
Lavar Johnson (15-4), having lost only once since August of 2008, holds wins over the likes of Shane del Rosario and Virgil Swicker. He looks to spark a run up the heavyweight ladder when he meets Team Quest product Devin Cole (18-9-1), in what will surely be an explosive matchup. Cole, a wrestling standout who won a national championship with Southern Oregon University, is 5-2 in his last seven bouts.
Since losing his first and only bout, Russian Adlan Amagov (7-1-1) has gone unbeaten in his last eight fights. On July 22, he debuts in STRIKEFORCE and looks to continue his impressive run. Currently riding a two-fight win streak, Ron Stallings (9-3) has made quick work of his opponents. With all of his wins coming by either by KO or submission, expect fireworks from the Temple Hills, Md. product in this bout.
For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit www.strikeforce.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
About STRIKEFORCE® – www.strikeforce.com
Owned and operated by Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC, which also owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand, STRIKEFORCE® is a world-class mixed martial arts promotion based in San Jose, Calif. that currently holds 16 live events annually across the United States. First established as a mixed martial arts entity in 2006, STRIKEFORCE now broadcasts its events live on Showtime® Networks, Inc. and has produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network. With a growing roster featuring the world’s elite competitors, STRIKEFORCE has cemented its place as a leader in providing quality mixed martial arts action.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
About the Pearl
The Pearl is Las Vegas’ premier concert theater boasting accommodations for up to 2,500 ticket holders. Featuring a stage just four feet from the floor and the furthest seating area being a mere 120 feet from the stage, The Pearl offers the utmost in intimate viewing of your favorite acts. Private and semi-private skyboxes are located on each side of the venue offering private bars, lounges and restrooms. The Pearl is a marvel of modern technology using only top quality sound and video equipment throughout. Hard wired to The Studio at The Palms, The Pearl allows artists to create a cost-effective live album with efficiency and without additional venue set-up. For more information, please visit www.palms.com.