Few people outside of hardcore fans following mixed martial arts will know the name Douglas Lima.
But the Brazilian-born, Atlanta-trained fighter is aiming to change all that with one eye-popping first impression in his organizational debut at MFC 26: Retribution. It certainly won’t be an easy task as Lima, who represents the American Top Team, takes […]
Few people outside of hardcore fans following mixed martial arts will know the name Douglas Lima.
But the Brazilian-born, Atlanta-trained fighter is aiming to change all that with one eye-popping first impression in his organizational debut at MFC 26: Retribution. It certainly won’t be an easy task as Lima, who represents the American Top Team, takes on one of the most popular fighters reared on Canadian soil in Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford, a two-time challenger for the MFC’s welterweight championship.
But “The Phenom” believes that MFC 26 is the perfect occasion for a massive coming-out party.
“I like that the winner of this fight is line for a title shot. Ford has his chance. It’s my time now,” said Lima, who has only let two of his victories get to the judges’ scorecards. Eight of his wins have come via submission with four more coming by way of knockout.
“The MFC is a great organization and I would be honored to get the opportunity for a title fight.”
Lima, who trains and coaches alongside Roan Carnerio at ATT’s Atlanta headquarters, isn’t coming into the Ford fight as a household name or, for that matter, even as a narrow underdog. The native of Goainia, Brazil, is just fine with the fact that the Ford camp didn’t view him as a name enough rival and he doesn’t care that there are many insiders who are predicting that Ford’s recent path of destruction will continue on Sept. 10 in Brandon, Manitoba.
Instead, Lima is inviting the live audience in the Keystone Centre and those watching on HDNet Fights to give him the opportunity to make a name for himself.
“We’ll see what Ford and his people have to say after the fight,” said Lima. “This is a big opportunity for me and I’m going to make the most of it. I’m ready to show the world what I can do.
“I’m not (Pete) Spratt, (LaVerne) Clark or (Tommy) Speer. I am a different fighter than those guys. It doesn’t matter to me who he beat before. I like that people think Ford will have no problem with me. The pressure is all on him.”
Lima certainly does present different – and likely more difficult – challenges than anyone Ford has faced before. He’s more multi-dimensional than those in Ford’s past, and while opponents have never come right out and said it, it didn’t go unnoticed that at least a couple have been intimidated by the Edmonton, Alberta, product’s tough demeanour.
But Ford’s rough presence and rugged in-ring aggression hasn’t fazed Lima, a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a dangerous Muay Thai practitioner.
“I train with people tougher, stronger, and bigger than him,” said Lima. “Nothing he will do will intimidate me. I’m a fighter. I won’t back down to anybody. Man, if I get intimidated by looks or how tough somebody is I might as well not fight.”
And Lima is not concerned about what type of fight the encounter with Ford turns out to be. Styles make fights and Lima will take Ford head-on any way he wants.
“September 10 is on!” declared Lima.
“Game plans always change. I train everything. The ground is my favorite but I love to keep the fight standing too. Wherever it takes place, I’ll be comfortable. I have been training for a long time, my camp has been great, and I’ll be ready for a stand-up war and to do some good scrambling on the ground.”
New York City, New York (August 11, 2010) – Coming off Saturday’s spectacular Semi Final event, M-1 Global’s highly anticipated M-1 Selection 2010 – Americas Finals tournament bouts are announced; the live event takes place Saturday, September 18th, 2010 at Bally’s Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“M-1 Global has provided the proving ground for […]
New York City, New York (August 11, 2010) – Coming off Saturday’s spectacular Semi Final event, M-1 Global’s highly anticipated M-1 Selection 2010 – Americas Finals tournament bouts are announced; the live event takes place Saturday, September 18th, 2010 at Bally’s Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“M-1 Global has provided the proving ground for these young fighters and they have seized this opportunity,” says Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations of the mixed martial arts powerhouse, M-1Global. “The semi-finals proved that the caliber of competition is remarkable. The Selections tournament has laid a successful foundation around the world and the American Finals will be a great event.”
The Final round bouts feature rising American stars who are one victory away from being crowned the M-1 Selection champion in their respective weight classes.
Tournament Finalists and matchups include:
Jose Figueroa and George Sheppard Lightweight Division
Tom Gallicchio and Len Bentley Welterweight Division
Tyson Jeffries and Mike Geurin Middleweight Division
Byron Byrd and Daniel Vizcaya Light Heavyweight Division
Kenny Garner and Pat Bennett Heavyweight Division
Additional bouts to be announced
The M-1 Selection 2010 – Americas Finals match-ups go down Saturday, September 18th and the 2010 M-1 Selection Americas Champions will be crowned.
The “M-1 Selection” is the world’s premiere MMA competition where the next generation of superstars are given the opportunity to showcase their skills on the world stage with fighters being eliminated after only one loss; victory will advance the winning fighters throughout the tournament and earn them a trip to the championship event where they will compete for the coveted “M-1 Selection” title.
The “M-1 Selection” tournament is broken down into global regions: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Americas with each region hosting three rounds and a final of the “”M-1 Selection” tournament. The winning fighter in each weight class will gain the opportunity to fight on the larger international stage.
The tournament features some of the best up-and-coming fighters from each region as they begin the journey towards a tournament victory.
How to see the fights:
The Finals of the M-1 Selection tournament will take place live on September 18 at the coveted Bally’s Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Tickets are priced from $35.00-$125.00 and are available to purchase through www.TicketMaster.com.
Doors open at 7.00 pm, first fight at 7:30 PM/ET.
Free broadcast coverage of the entire 2010 M-1 Selection tournament will be available at a later date to viewers worldwide on www.M-1global.com and selected affiliate partner sites.
Go to www.M-1Global.com for additional information.
About M-1 Global:
Founded in 1998 by Vadim Finkelchtein and Sergey Matvienko, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of mixed martial arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles and affiliates in Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand stages its M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Breakthrough events worldwide and its co-produced Strikeforce events in the United States; captivating the live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups.
M-1 Global’s greatest asset is the number one heavyweight fighter in mixed martial arts history, Fedor Emelianenko. With daily coverage on all MMA-related websites in the world, and articles in Time Magazine, LA times and New York times, Fedor and M-1 Global make a lifetime match serving as the catalyst to grow MMA in the 21st century.
Strikeforce Press Release
“A famous father means that in order to prove yourself you have to work three times harder than the guy off the street.” – Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Offspring following in the footsteps of their well-known parents is nothing new. Sometimes, the child ends up eclipsing their mother or father in stature, and sometimes […]
Strikeforce Press Release
“A famous father means that in order to prove yourself you have to work three times harder than the guy off the street.” – Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Offspring following in the footsteps of their well-known parents is nothing new. Sometimes, the child ends up eclipsing their mother or father in stature, and sometimes they fall short. In the case of Frank Sinatra, Jr., it was the latter. His father was one of the most recognizable figures in music history, and is considered an American legend. Unfortunately, though Frank, Jr. followed his dad’s footsteps into the music world and carved out his own career, he simply was never able to reach the heights enjoyed by “Ol’ Blue Eyes.”
There are several fighters that can be considered a “legend” in the sport of MMA, but few command the respect of Randy “The Natural” Couture. A pioneer and one of the most revered fighters in the game, Couture has built a legacy in the sport. Now his son will attempt to succeed where others have failed. 27 year-old Ryan Couture makes no bones about knowing where he comes from. “I’d have to be a fool to think coming into this sport that others wouldn’t focus on who my father is. But I accepted that and embrace it. Truly, I couldn’t spend time talking about a better person. I’m pretty sure he would be my favorite fighter even if he wasn’t a blood relative.” Clearly, Ryan is ready to make a name for himself in the sport his father helped popularize.
Grappling came natural to Ryan, as he participated in wrestling in both junior high and high school. Eventually, he entered Western Washington University, where he got his degree in mathematics. Then, about four years ago, Ryan started training in jiu-jitsu. He also began to manage his father’s gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, and before long, he was studying MMA…and became hooked. An offer for an amateur fight came in, and Ryan took it. After compiling a 4-0-1 record, he’s now ready to make his professional debut, which will come this Friday in Phoenix, Arizona at STRIKEFORCE Challengers, live on SHOWTIME®. Couture will take on Lucas Stark in a bout that will be featured on the televised main card.
Randy Couture is known for his tremendous preparation for a fight, and this has not been lost on his son. “There are tough guys [at Xtreme Couture] everyday helping me get ready. Several of the amateur team members have been a big help, including some of our up-and-comers who are getting ready to turn pro, as well as Tyson Griffin and Steve Lopez. Tim Lane’s been helping me with my striking, getting me sharp, and my grappling coach, Neil Melanson, has been with me for several fights. My camp’s been great. I am ready.” Though he’s clearly focused on improving his all-around game, Ryan knows where his best chance of winning this weekend lies. “All of my wins have come via submission, so I’d have to go with that. But I feel like I’m pretty dangerous everywhere. My wrestling’s not where it should be yet, so there are a lot of guys that are going to beat me there. But with my submission game and decent striking, I feel like I make up for that.”
So, what should fight fans expect to see from Ryan this Friday night on SHOWTIME? “I’m planning on getting in there and mixing it up, and hopefully showing a variety of skills. I think Lucas will be looking to take me down, so I expect to be able to show my submissions. If it stays standing, I hope to utilize my length and hopefully score my first KO.” Still, despite his level-headed confidence, being the son of an MMA pioneer is not easy. Expectations are high for Ryan, being Randy’s son, and in addition, he’ll be making his pro debut on a televised STRIKEFORCE card. Does he feel that extra pressure? “Being who I am, I feel like I get a lot of extra attention, but the only extra pressure I feel is the kind that I put on myself from trying to perform to the level that I know I can. There are going to be very few people that have the kind of impact on the sport that my dad has, so thinking I will equal that would be unrealistic. So I’m just trying to do everything I can to make sure I perform to the best of my abilities. The rest will take care of itself.”
With that kind of mental approach, it appears Ryan Couture is well on his way to carrying on his father’s legacy while carving out his own career. And he’s not afraid to work hard enough to make it happen.
NEW YORK, NY (August 12, 2010) – Shine Fights Promotions’ highly-anticipated return to the MMA ring will take place on September 10 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA, it was announced today by Shine Fights COO Jason Chambers. The Grand Prix format–an eight-man, single-elimination tournament taking place in one night–will be the first such […]
NEW YORK, NY (August 12, 2010) – Shine Fights Promotions’ highly-anticipated return to the MMA ring will take place on September 10 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA, it was announced today by Shine Fights COO Jason Chambers. The Grand Prix format–an eight-man, single-elimination tournament taking place in one night–will be the first such event held in the United States in more than 15 years. The bout will be broadcast live on PPV by MultiVision Media, Inc., beginning at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST. The suggested retail price is $29.99.
Tickets, priced at $350, $154, $94, $74, $64, $44, and $24, will go on sale Saturday morning (August 14) at 10a.m. EST and will be available at tickemaster.com. There will also be an “Early Bird Special” where those who purchase tickets in the first 48 hours will receive a 15% discount off the face value of the ticket, which will be available through the Patriot Center Box Office from 10am-5pm (Closed Sunday) and through ticketmaster.com.
“The Grand Prix format can be traced back to the grassroots of MMA,” said Chambers. “Fans will be given the unique opportunity to witness some of the world’s most talented athletes go head to head, more than once, in a single evening. And they will see first-hand the intense conditioning, determination, and will that is needed to survive in such a demanding format. Fans better purchase their tickets quickly because we are expecting a sellout.”
Shine Fights CEO, Devin Price added, “Shine Fights has always believed in offering MMA fans a different and compelling fight card. I am as anxious as any other MMA fan to see a compelling tournament with eight tough fighters culminating with one champion, all in one night.”
“We are very excited to introduce this exciting, cutting edge format in High Definition,” said Executive Producer Brian Ricco. “Being surrounded by our team of network veterans and buoyed by Bruce Beck, we are looking forward to the highest level of sports broadcast.”
“The Patriot Center is very pleased to host Shine Fights’ Grand Prix Lightweight Tournament on Friday, September 10, 2010. We look forward to a fantastic Mixed Martial Arts tournament and feel it will be great for fans in the Washington, D.C. area”, said Barry Geisler, General Manager of the Patriot Center.
The Grand Prix tournament is sanctioned by the Virginia State Athletic Commission, but will be contested under Nevada State Athletic Commission rules. Each of the eight 155 lb fighters will be paired-off in the tournament’s opening round, with the four winners moving on to round two. The two winners of round two will move on to the tournament’s final round and battle for the championship. The single-elimination format means that the tournament winner will need to win three bouts that evening. (In case of injury there will be two alternate bouts)
Rounds one and two of the tournament will be composed of two 5-minute rounds. They will also have a 3-minute overtime if needed to decide a winner. Round three (Finals) will increase to three 5-minute rounds.
Below is a list of the eight competitors:
-Rich Crunkilton: 16-3 with 7 TKOs, 6 Submissions, and 3 Decisions. The 30-year-old Ft. Lauderdale, FL native is known for his devastating throws and slams, high kicks and wild punches.
-Josh Shockley: 9-0. Only 19 years of age, Shockley has made a name for himself through his athleticism and skills. He fights out of Duneland Vale Tudo with training partners Keith Wisniewski, Darren Elkins, and Mark Burch.
-Drew Fickett: 37-13 with 3 TKOs, 26 Submissions. The 30-year-old Tucson, AZ native has notable victories over Josh Koscheck, Kurt Pellegrino, former UFC lightweight title contender Kenny Florian and Josh Neer. Drew won his last fight against fellow UFC veteran Derrick Noble by submission.
-Carlo Prater: 24-7-1 with 2 TKOs, 12 Submissions. The Sao Paolo, Brazil native began competing in professional mixed martial arts in 2002. He amassed an undefeated record of 10-0, with a notable win over Melvin Guillard, before losing his first bout. He is the former PFC Lightweight Champion.
-James Warfield: 20-6 with 15 TKOs and 5 Submissions. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin native trained in Jeet Kune Do and Karate as a child. He has since fought for many MMA organizations, such as Shine Fights, International Fighting Championship, Freestyle Combat Challenge, Warriors 4 Warriors, Extreme Cagefighting Organization, Combat USA, Downtown Destruction, EVO MMA, Ultimate Battleground, Xtreme Kage Kombat, Ring Of Fire, and Ultimate Combat Sports. His nickname is The Unbreakable Heavy Hitter.
-Marcus Aurelio: 20-8 with 4 TKOs, 13 Submissions, and 3 Submissions. The 36-year-old Brazilian native is an expert in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has never been stopped. All eight losses were by decision.
-Hector Muñoz 9-3, 3 TKOs, 6 Submissions. Muñoz is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blackbelt. He is a 2x Grapplers Quest Champ, Pan Am Bronze Medalistas well as a Fight Fest Champion and Katana Cagefighting Champion.
-Charles Bennett: 22-17-2 with 14 TKOs, 5 Submissions. The 30-year-old Ocala, FL native is known as a hell-raiser. He insults other fighters, disrespects referees, and has even brawled with other fighters backstage. He holds notable Knockout victories over former EliteXC Lightweight Champion KJ Noons, UFC veteran Gerald Strebendt, and WEC Bantamweight contender Yoshiro Maeda. He was once quoted stating that ground fighting ” is like making love, it’s not real fighting.”
The MMA showdown will be beamed on PPV on cable and satellite in the United States and Canada. The event will be in High Definition and it will be available in both English and Spanish (where available). The MMA showdown will be distributed live on Pay Per View beginning at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST by Multi Vision Media, Inc. The suggested retail price is $29.95.
Ticket Information: Tickets for the Mixed Martial Arts Tournament at the Patriot Center on Friday, September 10 at 8:00 p.m. are $350.00, $154, $94.00, $74.00, $64.00, $44.00 and $24.00 (plus applicable service charges) and go on sale August 14 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets will be available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the Patriot Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 703-993-3035. For more information please visit www.patriotcenter.com. Follow us on Facebook (PatriotCenter) or on Twitter (@patriotcenter).
To learn more about Shine Fight Promotions, visit www.shinefights.com or follow the organization on Twitter @ShineFights, Myspace (www.myspace.com/ShineFights), YouTube (www.youtube.com/ShineFights) or become a fan on Facebook.
About Shine Fight Promotions
Shine Fight Promotions, LLC is a U.S.-based organization that seeks to deliver the art, discipline, respect, and passion that is mixed martial arts (MMA) to the global market. Shine is committed to the growth of MMA, and is focused on creating a positive experience for both fighters and fans. Organizing the fights that fighters and fans want to see by arranging the most competitive and interesting matches available is the foremost goal of the promotion. Shine Fight Promotion seeks to grow through innovation, high production values, dramatic and engaging fights, and the promotion of authentic MMA. Above all, Shine is committed to letting fighters, fans, and the sport “shine” through dynamic events. For additional information on Shine Fights, please visit http://www.shinefights.com/
Top Canadian fight promotion The Fight Club (TFC) today announced the addition of a clash between top Canadian welterweight Ryan “The Kid” McGillivray (10-4-1) and Strikeforce/WEC/IFL/KOTC veteran Adam Lynn (13-8) to it’s fight line-up for “TFC 11: Full Force,” which will take place on Friday September 10th. The “Full Force” main event will showcase a […]
Top Canadian fight promotion The Fight Club (TFC) today announced the addition of a clash between top Canadian welterweight Ryan “The Kid” McGillivray (10-4-1) and Strikeforce/WEC/IFL/KOTC veteran Adam Lynn (13-8) to it’s fight line-up for “TFC 11: Full Force,” which will take place on Friday September 10th. The “Full Force” main event will showcase a rematch between TFC Light Heavyweight Champion Martin “The Stress” Desilets and UFC veteran Victor “The Matrix” Valimaki. The belt will be on the line as these two lock horns once again, as TFC 11 will be held at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. Doors will open at 7 PM, and the fights will begin at 8 PM. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, http://www.thefightclub.ca/, or (780) 451-8000.
With the TFC World Welterweight Title declared vacant due to the departure of Ryan Ford from the organization, TFC’s top welterweight contender, Ryan “The Kid” McGillivray (10-4-1), is now in the spotlight. “The Kid” has only been competing in mixed martial arts for the past four years, but has quickly established himself as one of the top Canadian prospects in the welterweight division. All of Ryan’s fights have been in and around his hometown of Edmonton, so he is very well-known in the local MMA community, and he has built a loyal and enthusiastic fan base. And with eight of his ten victories coming via submission, fans know that they can always expect an exciting fight for McGillivray.
“We have a number of really talented welterweights competing now for a shot at our title. One of them is certainly Ryan McGillivray,” said TFC President Mark Sinclair. “Ryan is coming off a big win over Calgary’s Andrew Buckland, and will now get a chance at “TFC 11: Full Force” to test himself against a world class welterweight in Adam Lynn.”
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Adam Lynn (13-8) now lives in Orange County, California. Prior to getting into MMA, Adam served in the U.S. Marines from 1998 until 2002. Not surprisingly, with Adam’s MMA background, he wasn’t a cook or navigator in the Marines, but rather a heavy machine-gunner.
“It was a pretty cool job,” says Lynn, who also states he did not get into the fighting arts through the marines’ unarmed combat training. “I had a guy in my platoon who was a judo black belt – the marines really had nothing to do with it; during off-time, we would get together and he would show me some stuff, and that’s how I got started. Then I pushed it from there.”
Lynn has competed for some of top MMA promotions, including the WEC, IFL, Strikeforce and King of the Cage. He has competed against some of the sport’s top names, including Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz, Jay Hieron, Rich Crunkilton, and Josh Thomson. After the disappointing loss to Thomson at Strikeforce’s “Playboy Mansion” event last year, Lynn has won two straight, with his most recent fight in May of this year at KOTC’s “Excessive Damage,” where he won a hard-fought decision over standout Ricky “IE Bad Boy” Legere, Jr. (12-4).
With both McGillivray and Lynn coming off the biggest wins of their careers, and with a possible title shot looming, the fans in attendance for “TFC 11: Full Force” on September 10th will be in for what is sure to be a tornado of a fight.
Here is the fight card as it stands now:
• 205 lbs: Champion Martin Desilets (10-2) vs. Victor Valimaki (16-6) for the TFC World Light Heayweight title
• 170 lbs: Ryan McGillivray (10-4-1) vs. Adam Lynn (13-8)
• 155 lbs: Mitch Clarke (7-0) vs. Josh Machan (7-3) for the TFC Canadian Lightweight title
• 170 lbs: Ryan Machan (11-5) vs. James McCutcheon (3-2)
• 170 lb: Rio Wells (3-0) vs. Chuck Pelc (2-1)
Look for additional fights to be announced for “Full Force” in the coming weeks. The event will be shown on The Fight Network on tape delay, and news on a press conference will be announced soon. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.thefightclub.ca/
O’FALLON, MO – The recently-formed Fight Me MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) league announced that its debut show, “Fight Me 1 – The Battle Begins! Finney vs. Neer,” will be broadcast in its entirety for free to fight fans on its website, www.FightMeMMA.com.
Fight Me 1 will take place on Saturday at the Family Arena in St. […]
O’FALLON, MO – The recently-formed Fight Me MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) league announced that its debut show, “Fight Me 1 – The Battle Begins! Finney vs. Neer,” will be broadcast in its entirety for free to fight fans on its website, www.FightMeMMA.com.
Fight Me 1 will take place on Saturday at the Family Arena in St. Charles, MO in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 10,000 people. The explosive main event will feature Strikeforce veteran Jesse Finney and UFC veteran Josh Neer in what will surely be an action-packed fight.
The free, all-access online video broadcast will feature every intense bout, from the opening round of the first fight to the final decision of the highly-anticipated Finney vs. Neer main event.
The live broadcast will also feature a high quality picture with multiple camera angles and incredible behind-the-scenes action in between each fight.
The full access includes pre- and post-fight interviews from all of the night’s winners and losers and exclusive training and locker room footage before each fight. The evening will feature entertainment from the Fight Me MMA Knockout Girls and live music, along with a variety of celebrity guests as well.
There will also be added incentive for the fighters to keep the fight entertaining, as fight of the night bonuses will be awarded during the night to ensure a night of memorable fights. In addition, head-kick knockout and knockout of the night will also be awarded.
“The best part for fight fans is they won’t have to pay at all to watch this incredible action. Instead of paying $40 for a pay-per-view, MMA fans can watch the entire Fight Me card free of charge thanks to our generous sponsors,” Fight Me President and CEO Kenny Nowling said.
Fight Me is the latest venture from the founders of the American Drag Racing League (ADRL), which has exploded in popularity. Its most recent event, the ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags III, drew more than 100,000 fans, and its free online video broadcasts have been a smash hit.
More than 200,000 live viewers tuned in at some point during the two-day Gateway Drags.
FIGHT ME 1 FIGHT CARD
Main Event: Jesse Finney vs. Josh Neer
Co-Main Event: Fransisco “Kiko” France vs. Cale Yarbrough
Lucas Lopes vs. Brendan Seguin
Rocky Vercher vs. Chuck Parmelee
Darryl Cobb vs. Sean Huffman
Booker DeRousse vs. Brian Green
Jimmy Donahue vs. Luke Gwaltney
Abel Trujillo vs. Dave Cochran
Josh Sampo vs. Eric Acuna
