Press Release – SAN JOSE, Calif.: The sport’s fastest-rising stars continue their budding careers when STRIKEFORCE® returns to ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash., on Friday, June 24. In the main event of STRIKEFORCE Challengers, lightweight Caros “The Future” Fodor (8-2) of nearby Kirkland, Wash. defends his home turf when he meets the hard-hitting James Terry (10-2), a protégé of middleweight star Cung Le.
The night’s co-feature is equally explosive, as Woodinville’s Ryan Couture (2-0), the son of UFC® Hall of Famer Randy Couture, looks for his third straight victory when he battles undefeated Matt Ricehouse (4-0).
STRIKEFORCE Challengers also features Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin (10-0) taking on Gian Villante (7-2) at light heavyweight, a middleweight bout between Antwain Britt (11-5) and UFC® veteran Danillo Villefort, as well as a women’s 145-pound contest between Julia Budd (1-1) and Germaine de Randamie (2-1).
STRIKEFORCE® Challengers, which is presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, will air LIVE on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
“Washington has become a hotbed for mixed martial arts and we’re excited to head back to Kent with this exciting card featuring local stars Caros Fodor and Ryan Couture,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “Our Challengers events have delivered some outstanding fights and we expect nothing less on June 24.”
Tickets for the event are priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges, and are on sale TODAY. Tickets are available at ShoWare Center’s Box Office in downtown Kent, online at ShoWareCenter.com, Facebook.com/ShoWareCenter or by phone at 253.856.6999 or 866.973.9613.
Caros Fodor (fighting out of Kirkland, Wash.), a 27-year-old former Marine, has won three straight STRIKEFORCE bouts, including a third-round TKO of David Douglas in April. Now, the grappling ace seeks his ninth professional win when he meets James Terry (fighting out of Livermore, Calif.) at ShoWare Center. A training partner of former middleweight champion Cung Le, the 30-year-old Terry is riding a three-fight win streak of his own. He would like nothing more than to spoil Fodor’s homecoming by scoring a knockout victory on June 24.
Ryan Couture (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.), the son of UFC pioneer Randy Couture, returns to his native Washington with hopes of carrying on his legendary family name. Two straight submission wins have kicked off Couture’s career, and now the 28-year-old faces the toughest test of his career when he locks horns with up-and-comer Matt Ricehouse (fighting out of St. Charles, Mo.) in 155-pound action.
Perhaps no fighter heads to Kent with as much momentum as undefeated light heavyweight Lorenz Larkin (fighting out of Riverside, Calif.) The 24-year-old Larkin has finished eight of 10 opponents, including a knockout of Scott Lighty in his STRIKEFORCE debut in April. “The Monsoon” hopes to keep his streak alive when he enters the cage against 25-year-old Gian Villante (fighting out of Bellmore, N.Y.), whose seven victories have all come by way of stoppage.
Former UFC competitor Danillo Villefort (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) makes his STRIKEFORCE debut on June 24 in search of his fifth consecutive victory. The American Top Team product, known for his slick submissions and heavy hands, expects a war when he meets knockout artist Antwain Britt (fighting out of Virginia Beach, Va.). The 33-year-old Britt has 11 victories, nine of which have come by knockout, and looks to fuel a run in the 185-pound division by besting Villefort.
An outstanding women’s 145-pound content pits Julia Budd (fighting out of Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada) against Germaine de Randamie (fighting out of Utrecht, The Netherlands). Nicknamed “The Jewel,” Budd is a devastating kickboxer with the ability to finish any and all opponents. Her bout with de Randamie could be a slugfest, as “The Iron Lady” has won two straight fights, including a brutal knockout over Stephanie Webber in January.
For more information, 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 ShoWare Center
North America’s first LEED® GOLD sports & entertainment arena, ShoWare Center in Kent, WA is home to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Club, Indoor Football League’s Seattle Timberwolves and Lingerie Football’s Seattle Mist as well as concerts, family shows, corporate events, tradeshows and other sporting events. Located just 17 miles from Seattle, Bellevue and Tacoma, ShoWare Center offers guests complimentary parking and is the crown jewel in a well-designed gathering place for the residents of the Puget Sound region. ShoWare Center is an SMG-managed facility.