NORTH AMERICAN FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP BRINGS “MAYHEM” TO MILWAUKEE
UFC fighter “Danny Boy” Downes headlines exciting event
Press Release – Thursday, April 11, 2011 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA): Rising MMA fight promotion North American Fighting Championship (NAFC) has announced its next event, entitled “MAYHEM,” which will take place on Friday, May 6th at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Expo Center, located at 1721 West Canal Street, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The main event of the evening features rising UFC lightweight Daniel “Danny Boy” Downes (7-1) as he battles an opponent to be determined. A noted finisher, Downes has stopped five of his seven victims, and will surely put on an electrifying performance as he looks to continue his success in his young career. Over fifteen bouts are scheduled to take place at “MAYHEM.”
Doors will open at 5 PM, with the undercard starting at 6 PM, and the main card starting at 8 PM. Tickets for this amazing event cost $35.00, $60.00, and $100.00 in advance, and $40.00, $70.00 and $110.00 the night of “Mayhem.” Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com (event listed under “MAYHEM”) or at Potawatomi’s Northern Lights Theater Box Office. Fans can also purchase tickets by calling by Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Must be 21 or over.
“Danny Boy” Downes turned professional in 2007, and gained experienced in promotions such as King of the Cage and the NAFC’s predecessor, Gladiators Cage Fighting. The talented young fighter punched out five of his six first opponents, earning his way into World Extreme Cagefighting, where he made his debut in 2010. Downes first took on Chris Horodecki in the WEC, replacing the injured Ed Ratcliff on just a few day’s notice. After a rough-and-tough bout, Downes succumbed to a third round submission. Yet, “Danny Boy” showed enough talent and determination to garner a return trip to the WEC cage. In December 2010, the Roufusport product competed on the last-ever WEC event, gaining a unanimous decision victory over Chinese MMA star Tiequan Zhang. Now part of the UFC, “Danny Boy” is poised to burst onto the fight scene impressive fashion.
The co-main event showcases another highly anticipated bout between UFC veteran Sean Salmon (17-9) and fast-rising up-and-comer Joe Cason (7-0), who wrestled with UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones at Iowa Central Community College. Cason appears to be on a similar career trajectory as his former teammate, finishing all seven of his fights in the first round. He has five T/KOs and two submissions, and five times his opponents have failed to escape the first minute of the fight. His last fight ended in a 15-second TKO at Iowa Challenge 62.
Salmon, a Milwaukee native hoping to do his hometown proud, has hit a rough patch in his career, dropping his past three fights, and will look to get back on track against his super-talented opponent. Salmon’s stint in the UFC included losses to two top contenders, former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and middleweight contender Alan Belcher. In his 18 career victories, Salmon has finished his opponents with 6 T/KOs and 7 submissions. He possesses strong wrestling, and is always a threat to finish a fight.
With these two captivating bouts headlining Wisconsin’s most talent-filled pro MMA card in history, NAFC’s “MAYHEM” is sure to excite local fight fans!
Also featured on the card is WEC veteran John Hosman (16-7-1), as well as Strikeforce veterans Zach Underwood (8-3) and Gerric “The Silent Assassin” Hayes (7-6). Hosman faces undefeated local Wisconsin fighter Matt Brown (5-0), while Underwood takes on Milwaukee prospect Jose “Te Mano” Pacheco (2-1) and Hayes squares off with undefeated Milwaukee prospect Jason “Kaz” Kazmierczak (2-0).
North American Fighting Championship is presented by Potawatomi Bingo Casino, CONCEDE Fight Gear, Combat Corner Fight Shop, and Bell Ambulance.
The full fight card for “MAYHEM” as it stands now includes:
Lightweight – 155 lbs.
Daniel “Danny Boy” Downes (Milwaukee, WI) vs. TBD
Light Heavyweight – 205 lbs.
Sean Salmon (Milwaukee , WI) vs. Joe Cason (Milwaukee, WI)
Bantamweight – 135 lbs.
Matt Brown (Appleton, WI) vs. John Hosman (Schaumberg, IL)
Middleweight – 185 lbs.
Matt Masterson (Cleveland, OH) vs. Kyle “Wicked” Weickhardt (Milwaukee, WI)
Featherweight – 145 lbs.
Jose “Te Mano” Pacheco (Milwaukee, WI) vs. Zach Underwood (Milwaukee, WI)
Middleweight – 185 lbs.
Gerric Hayes (Nashville, WI) vs. Jason “Kaz” Kazmierczak (Milwaukee, WI)
Bantamweight – 135 lbs.
Giovanni Moljo (Chicago, IL) vs. Joao “Mosquito” Bosco (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Bantamweight – 135 lbs.
Thiago Vega (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) vs. TBD
Featherweight – 145 lbs.
Chris “Swiss” Befera (Portage, WI) vs. David Rhoads (Allenton, WI)
Amateurs
Catchweight – 220 lbs.
Jordan Szeufzer (Lowell, WI) vs. J.R. Briones (Waukesha, WI)
Middleweight – 185 lbs.
Tom Angeloff (Kenosha, WI) vs. Tom Pail (Waukesha, WI)
About NAFC
The NAFC is operated by famed fight trainer Duke Roufus and his business partner and producer Scott Joffe. Roufus is one of the most recognizable striking coaches in North America, and is considered to be one of the top trainers of Muay Thai Kickboxing outside of Thailand. He also runs the Roufusport Fight Club team, which includes UFC stars Alan Belcher, Patrick Barry, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Erik Koch, “Danny Boy” Downes, Ben Rothwell, and Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren. Former students include former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver and The Ultimate Fighter season one star Stephan Bonnar. Roufus and Joffe operate the Roufusport MMA Academy with multiple locations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
North American Fighting Championship creates and produces events that feature combatants who have fought in the UFC, WEC and other top level organizations, as they take on local fighters looking to make it to the next level.
The NAFC’s unofficial motto is “To get to the big show, you have to win on our show!,” which sums up the focus and purpose of the promotion. UFC and WEC fighters who have fought on past NAFC (and NAFC’s predecessor, Gladiators Fighting Championships) shows include former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne, current UFC stars Ben Rothwell, Pat Barry, Eric “Red” Schafer, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Adrian Serrano, Jesse Lennox, Bart “Bartimus” Palaszewski, Jason “Dynamite” Dent, Rex Holman, Joe Doerksen, Dan Bobish, Ryan “The Lion” Madigan, Jody Poff, Josh “Heavy” Hendricks, Sherman “The Tank” Perdergarst, and Geza Kalman.
For additional information on NAFC, please visit http://www.nafc.tv