Press Release – HONOLULU, HI. (January 18, 2012) – Miller Lite takes ‘Center Cage’ Saturday, January 21 when ProElite MMA (PK:PELE) Presents “DA SPYDER VS. MINOWAMAN” at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. “The Miller Lite flagship brand extends our sponsorship and advertising relationship with MillerCoors and Paradise Beverage in Hawaii,” said Paul Feller, Chairman […]
Press Release – HONOLULU, HI. (January 18, 2012) – Miller Lite takes ‘Center Cage’ Saturday, January 21 when ProElite MMA (PK:PELE) Presents “DA SPYDER VS. MINOWAMAN” at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.
“The Miller Lite flagship brand extends our sponsorship and advertising relationship with MillerCoors and Paradise Beverage in Hawaii,” said Paul Feller, Chairman of ProElite and CEO of Stratus Media Group. “Coors Light sponsored our initial Honolulu fight in August, and we’re pleased that the Miller Lite brand takes our center mat cage placement for Saturday’s event. The MillerCoors relationship in Hawaii reinforces the connection we have with the dynamic MMA fan base we have built on the Islands.”
Saturday’s ProElite main fight card will be televised live on HDNet at 10:00 P.M. EST. Tickets are on sale at the Neal Blaisdell Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), www.ticketmaster.com, and www.proelite.com.
The fight’s main event features the rugged Hawiian Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (13-9) taking on the long-awaited North American debut of Japanese and international fan favorite Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa (51-32-8). The co-main event features Olympic silver medalist and #9 world-ranked Sara McMann (4-0) against #5 ranked Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano (18-8), also from Japan. The card underscores the recently announced promotional partnership and fighter exchange with ProElite and DREAM, Japan’s largest MMA fight organization.
The semi-finals of ProElite’s Heavyweight Grand Prix will also be contested at the Honolulu event. The first match pits hard-nosed Ryan Martinez (6-1) against headhunter Cody Griffin (5-2), while the second match sees heavy hitting Jake “The Honey Bear” Heun (2-1) take on 6-foot-5, Richard “The Black Eagle” Odoms (6-0). The winners of the respective bouts will square off in early Spring to determine the ProElite Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion
Filed under: Fighting, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, HDNet, ProEliteOn Wednesday, it was announced that HDNet, a channel that was launched in 2001 and has regularly broadcast MMA since 2004, would undergo a change in name and identity.
On Wednesday, it was announced that HDNet, a channel that was launched in 2001 and has regularly broadcast MMA since 2004, would undergo a change in name and identity.
Around the summer, the channel will be rebranded AXS — a joint venture between entrepreneur Mark Cuban, TV host and producer Ryan Seacrest, talent agency CAA and venue owner/tour promoter AEG — and feature a heavy rotation of lifestyle and live entertainment programming. That led to fears about the future of mixed martial arts on the channel, but late on Wednesday night, Cuban told MMA Fighting via email that the sport will still be a major component of the new network.
In fact, he said it may lead to even more coverage of the sport.
“Yes, and more,” he said when asked if AXS would show as much live MMA as HDNet currently does.
“Inside MMA will move to our new studio at LA Live overlooking the plaza and we will have access to AEG venues hosting fights without truck pools,” he said. “Which means we can do more live.”
HDNet first broadcast MMA on January 23, 2004 — even before The Ultimate Fighter debuted on Spike — with a tape-delayed offering of a World Extreme Cagefighting event.
Since then, it has become the TV home to several promotions, and has featured live events from locales around the world. Among the many promotions that are expected to continue being featured on AXS are ProElite, DREAM, Maximum Fighting Championship and Titan Fighting Championship. Inside MMA will also continue on as a weekly news show.
When the network relaunches with a new name in the summertime, it will be available in around 35 million homes, an increase of 8 million over its current distribution after an expanded deal with Dish kicks in.
“This is very good for our MMA business,” Cuban said.
Press Release – OS ANGELES–(BUSINESSWIRE)– ProElite MMA (PK:PELE.PK – News) and DREAM, the largest Japanese MMA organization, have initiated a promotional partnership and fighter exchange program, jointly announced today. The alliance will foster co-promoted events, both in the United States and in Japan with fighter exchanges featured on the cards of both fight promotions, respectively. […]
Press Release – OS ANGELES–(BUSINESSWIRE)– ProElite MMA (PK:PELE.PK – News) and DREAM, the largest Japanese MMA organization, have initiated a promotional partnership and fighter exchange program, jointly announced today. The alliance will foster co-promoted events, both in the United States and in Japan with fighter exchanges featured on the cards of both fight promotions, respectively.
“Our partnership with DREAM forms a promotional bond with the most prominent Japanese MMA organization,” said Billy Kelly, President of ProElite and COO of Stratus Media Group Inc. (OTCBB:SMDI.OB – News) — parent company of ProElite. “DREAM has developed a stable of great fighters on their roster and a strong team behind the scenes. With this exchange, the two organizations are building a cultural and fight-event bridge that our fans are sure to welcome.
The initial fighter exchange debuts this Saturday, January 21, in Hawaii when DREAM star and Japanese fan favorite Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa takes on Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove in the ProElite main event at the Neal Blaisdell Center.
“I’m really honored to join the partnership with ProElite,” said DREAM Event Producer Keiichi Sasahara. “It is important for us to exploit Asian or Pan-pacific markets by improving relationships with foreign organizations like ProElite. We would like to make this fighter exchange program a first step to generate synergistic success for both organizations.”
DREAM Light heavyweight tournament runner-up Tatsuya Mizuno will take on Ilima Maiava, also on the Honolulu fight card while the always exciting voice of Japanese MMA, Lenne Hardt, will be joining the shows as the fighter walk out announcer. The ProElite main fight card will be televised live on HDNet at 10:00 P.M. EST. Tickets are on sale at the Neal Blaisdell Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), www.ticketmaster.com, and www.proelite.com.
ABOUT PROELITE
Founded in 2006, ProElite has been a major global force in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). ProElite, based in Los Angeles, California, continues its legacy to hold key domestic and international live MMA events. The company owns U.K. based MMA brand Cage Rage and is a significant stakeholder in Spirit MC in South Korea. ProElite signed a broadcast deal with HD NET in October 2011 to show our fights live in the highest quality video for consumers and will continue this great partnership into our future events. ProElite also produced one of the highest rated televised broadcasts of a live major network MMA event.
www.proelite.com
ABOUT STRATUS
Headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with offices in Los Angeles, California; New York City, NY; Geneva, Switzerland; and Perugia, Italy, Stratus Media Group, Inc. (SMDI) is an owner, operator, developer, producer, and marketer of live entertainment events. In addition, the company owns Stratus White, a new standard in personal lifestyle and card services for the global affluent. Available by invitation only, Stratus White is a discreet, elite member & partner community providing exclusive and unparalleled service and access across the luxury product & travel, social, sporting, cultural and philanthropic areas of life, including events and experiences.
www.stratusmediagroup.com
www.stratuswhite.com
ABOUT DREAM
Headquartered in Tokyo, DREAM is the only major Japanese major mixed martial arts organization started in 2008 and has held 20 events since. World-class fighters such as Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Hiroyuki Takaya and Gegard Mousasi have been fighting for the organization. DREAM is widely regarded as the top MMA event in Asia and aiming for Asian market in 2012 in order to take a leadership to bring the Asian MMA scene to the next step.
www.dreamofficial.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, projections of results, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Acts of 1933 and 1934. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors. Although the company’s management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. The company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
ProElite and DREAM have entered into a partnership that will see fighter exchanges and possibly co-promoted shows.
T. Jay Thompson, the head of fighter operations for ProElite, leaked the news while stopping by Tuesday’s installment of The MMA Hour.
“We will be partnering with DREAM not only with a fighter exchange program,” Thompson told host Ariel Helwani. “But some serious talks about bringing DREAM to the U.S. and bring ProElite to Japan.”
On Saturday, UFC veteran Kendall Grove will take on popular Japanese fighter Ikushia Minowa in the main event of ProElite 3 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Thompson said DREAM officials will be in attendance and another DREAM competitor, light heavyweight Tatsuya Mizuno, has joined Saturday’s card to face Ilima Maiava.
Thompson plans on establishing ProElite as a fun company and is excited with its matchmaking options now that there’s a strong possibility of fighters such as Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri entering the fold.
“With the brain power and relationship between (ProElite matchmaker) Rich Chou and I, we’re going to put on high-quality MMA cards,” Thompson said. “And the matchmaking styles leads into some of these great Japanese fighters.”
ProElite is expected to announce details of its fourth card, most likely in early April, during Saturday’s event.
Filed under: News, ProEliteYou know that pair of red Speedos in your closet that you always think about wearing? Well, it’s time to dust them off because they’re your ticket to free MMA shows for life.
You know that pair of red Speedos in your closet that you always think about wearing? Well, it’s time to dust them off because they’re your ticket to free MMA shows for life.
ProElite’s head of fight operations T. Jay Thompson announced on Twitter recently that any fan who shows up to the organization’s Jan. 21 event in Hawaii wearing red trunks will receive free ProElite tickets for life. Yes, for life.
Of course, the publicity stunt is in honor of headliner Ikuhisa Minowa, who’s famous for fighting in plain, red trunks.
“It’s fun,” Thompson told MMAFighting.com. “I’d like to think I’m being innovative, but I’m a fan of promoters like Bill Veeck and P.T. Barnum. I like promoters that don’t take life too seriously.”
ProElite 3, headlined by Kendall Grove vs. “Minowaman,” airs live on HDNet on Jan. 21 from the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, HI. Below is a promo clip for the event.
Tweet ProElite Tickets Are Starting at Just $28! Also Two New Fights Added to the Event Press Release – LOS ANGELES, CA (December 14, 2011) – ProElite (PK:PELE) is coming back to the islands of Hawaii on January 21, 2012 at the Neal Blaisdell Center. The main card will be televised live on HDNet at […]
ProElite Tickets Are Starting at Just $28! Also Two New Fights Added to the Event
Press Release – LOS ANGELES, CA (December 14, 2011) – ProElite (PK:PELE) is coming back to the islands of Hawaii on January 21, 2012 at the Neal Blaisdell Center. The main card will be televised live on HDNet at 10 P.M. EST.
Returning to the ProElite cage after breaking into the world top ten rankings, 9th ranked Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (4-0) will be facing off against the 5th ranked Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano (18-8). Coming off a dominant performance capped off with a keylock submission in the third round against Raquel Pa’aluhi, McMann hopes to continue climbing the ladder of the world rankings. “This will be my biggest test since the Olympic Games, so I’m very excited to be competing against Hitomi. I’m confident I belong in the top 5 in the world and beating her soundly should put me there.”
Fighting out of Tokyo, Japan, Akano has fought the who’s who of women’s MMA. She possesses an extremely technical and effective ground game that is evident by 14 of her 18 victories coming by way of submission. This fight will carry heavy implications in the women’s 135 pound world rankings. Head of Fight Operations for ProElite T.Jay Thompson said this about the fight, “I’m as excited for this WMMA fight as I am for the Main Event. Two topped 10 ranked fighters putting all on the line. That’s what ProElite is all about!”
The main card is rounded out by a matchup between two heavy handed fighters that both won their last fights by KO. Brent Schermerhorn (4-1), currently serving in the U.S. Navy, put a beating on Jesse Lundgren with a barrage of punches, bringing an end to the fight at just 1:38 of the first round.
Standing across the cage from him will be B.J. Penn trained fighter Kaleo Gambill
(1-0). He turned off the lights of Eldon Sproat at 1:31 of the first round of their fight in August with some vicious ground and pound.
The main event features Hawaii native Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (13-9) facing off against Japanese star Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa (51-32-8). Also featured on the main card are the semifinals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix. The first semifinal match showcases the very tough Ryan Martinez (6-1) taking on headhunter Cody Griffin (5-2) and in the opposite bracket heavy hitting Jake “The Honey Bear” Heun (2-1) takes on the biggest competitor in the tournament at 6-foot-5, Richard “The Black Eagle” Odoms (6-0).
Tickets for “ProElite presents: Da Spyder vs. Minowaman” are on sale now to the general public at the Neal Blaisdell Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations (800)745-3000, Ticketmaster online and www.ProElite.com.
Press Release – HONOLULU, HI. (January 18, 2012) – Miller Lite takes ‘Center Cage’ Saturday, January 21 when ProElite MMA (PK:PELE) Presents “DA SPYDER VS. MINOWAMAN” at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.
On Wednesday, it was announced that HDNet, a channel that was launched in 2001 and has regularly broadcast 
ProElite and DREAM have entered into a partnership that will see fighter exchanges and possibly co-promoted shows.
You know that pair of red Speedos in your closet that you always think about wearing? Well, it’s time to dust them off because they’re your ticket to free 
