Shine Fights Wants You To Choose The Matchups For Eight Man Tournament

Here’s your chance, Shine Fight promotions wants you, the fans, to choose the matchups for their upcoming Sept. 10th eight-man lightweight “Grand Prix” style tournament.
Fans can email their vote to [email protected].
Here’s the full Press Release.
FAIRFAX,VA (August 23, 2010) – In their quest to mold Shine Fights Promotions into MMA’s most fan-friendly organization, CEO Devin Price […]

Shine Fight
Here’s your chance, Shine Fight promotions wants you, the fans, to choose the matchups for their upcoming Sept. 10th eight-man lightweight “Grand Prix” style tournament.

Fans can email their vote to [email protected].

Here’s the full Press Release.

FAIRFAX,VA (August 23, 2010) – In their quest to mold Shine Fights Promotions into MMA’s most fan-friendly organization, CEO Devin Price and COO Jason Chambers have taken the unprecedented step of allowing Shine fans to play matchmaker for the company’s upcoming Lightweight Grand Prix Tournament, which will be televised nationally on Pay Per View.Eight of the fight world’s best 155-pound competitors have been selected to put their skills to the test against one another on Sept 10th at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA.History will be made, as fans have never been given the opportunity to actually choose the fights they want to see. Now, they can mix and match those eight fighters in order to create the four opening-round bouts that they want to see.The combination’s with the most votes will be selected as the official bouts.Suggestions should be emailed to [email protected].

“Every MMA organization tells fans what fights they are going to see, even though the fans are the ones paying the money,” said Chambers.”We are saying, ‘You are buying the PPV, you are buying the tickets, so you tell us what you want to watch. We feel it’s one of the most unique opportunities fight fans have been given to date!”

“We decided to go with a one night eight man tournament because we wanted to give fans what we knew they really wanted”, said Devin Price. “By having the fans choose the first round fighters we are involving them in a direct way. We value their opinion and respect their knowledge.”

Below is a list of the eight competitors who are eligible to be matched by fans:

·Rich “Cleat” Crunkilton: 16-3 (7 TKO/KOs, 6 submissions). The30-year-old Ft. Lauderdale, Florida native is known for his devastating throws and slams, high kicks, and wild punches. A product of the famed American Kickboxing Academy,“Cleat” has faced top 155ers during the course of his career, including Bao Quach, Hermes Franca, former WEC Lightweight Champion “Razor” Rob McCullough,and “The Fugitive” Dave Hansen.

·Josh Shockley: 6-0-1 (3 TKO/KOs, 2 submissions). Only19 years of age, Shockley has made a name for himself through his athleticism and skills. Never beaten, this rising star is the youngest entry in the tournament. He is also a finisher, with five of his victories coming via stoppage. He fights out of Duneland Vale Tudo with training partners Keith Wisniewski, Darren Elkins, and Mark Burch.

·Drew Fickett: 37-13 (3 TKO/KOs, 26 submissions).This Tucson, Arizona native is only 30 years old but has competed in fifty professional fights. A submission specialist, he holds notable victories over UFC stalwarts Josh Koscheck, Kurt Pellegrino, Dennis Hallman, and Kenny Florian, as well as UFC veterans Josh Neer, Edwin DeWees, Keita Nakamura, Mark Weir, and Derrick Noble. In addition, he defeated fellow tourney entrant Carlo Prater via submission in their first bout back in 2004.

·Carlo Prater: 24-7-1 (2 TKO/KOs, 12 submissions). Hailing from Sao Paolo, Brazil, Prater began competing in professional mixed martial arts in 2002. The ground fighter challenged then-WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit for the title at WEC 32 in 2008, putting upa valiant effort before succumbing to his bigger opponent. Now based in Texas, Prater has set his eyes on the Shine title. He possesses notable victories over UFC lightweight Spencer “The King” Fisher, Condit (in their first bout), Strikeforce fighterPat Healy, and UFC veteran Keith Wisniewski.

·James Warfield: 21-6 (15 TKO/KOs and 6 submissions).A veteran of many MMA organizations, Warfield is known for his reputation as a finisher, having never won by anything other than a stoppage. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin native trained in Jeet Kune Do and karate as a child, but has blossomed into a full-fledged mixed martial artist. He’s facedquality competition throughout his six-year fight career, including UFC veteranRory Markham, former TUF contestantSeth Baczynski, and former top ten-ranked lightweight Yves Edwards.

·Marcus Aurelio: 20-8 (4 TKO/KOs, 13 submissions). This Brazilian put his name on the MMA map in 2006 when he put the top-ranked lightweight in the world at that time, Takanori Gomi, to sleep with an arm-triangle. A multi-time veteran of PRIDE and the UFC, the BJJ black belt has garnered a reputation for being difficult to stop, having never been knocked out or submitted. His ground game is second to none, and the 36 year-old holds wins over Gomi, Masakazu Imanari, Rich Clementi, and Daisuke Nakamura.

Dennis Bermudez 8-0 (3 TKO/KOs, 1 submission). An accomplished amateur wrestler, Bermudez utilizes his ground game to the fullest in the cage. He turned pro in 2009, and has already competed in MMA eight times. A training partner of top WEC star Urijah Faber, the compact Bermudez is a threat to any fighter on the ground.·Charles Bennett: 23-17-2 (14 TKO/KOs, 6 submissions).One of the most controversial fighters in MMA history, the 30-year-old Ocala, Florida native is known for his antics in and out of the cage. He’s been known to insult opponents, disrespect referees, and has even brawled with other fighters backstage. Once quoted at saying that ground fighting “is like making love…it’s not real fighting,” Krazy Horse has attempted to clean up his act in recent years. Regardless, fight fans know that they will be entertained when “Krazy Horse” is on the card. Bennett holds notable wins over former EliteXC Lightweight Champion KJ Noons, UFC veteran Gerald Strebendt, and WEC Bantamweight contender Yoshiro Maeda, and has faced some of the world’s best lightweights in Takanori Gomi, Tatsuya Kawajiri, JeffCurran, and Urijah Faber.

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 8:00p.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 Phone charge 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(Patriot Center) 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.

Shine Fights Grand Prix Set For September 10.

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 […]

Shine Fight

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/

Shark Fights Adds Paul Daley Vs. Jorge Masvidal For September 11 Show.

Amarillo, TX. – August 10, 2010 – Shark Fight Promotions announced today that UFC veteran Paul Daley will step into the cage with American Top Team fighter, Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal September 11th at Shark Fights 13 in Amarillo, Texas. This will be Daley’s first bout in the U.S. following his highly publicized departure from the […]

Shark Fights 13 poster

Amarillo, TX. – August 10, 2010 – Shark Fight Promotions announced today that UFC veteran Paul Daley will step into the cage with American Top Team fighter, Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal September 11th at Shark Fights 13 in Amarillo, Texas. This will be Daley’s first bout in the U.S. following his highly publicized departure from the UFC.

According to Brent Medley, president of Shark Fight Promotions, “Choosing the right opponent to face a high-level contender like Daley was not easy. Numerous A-list fighters were under consideration. When we heard that Jorge Masvidal wanted to return to the welterweight division after several grueling weight cuts from 185lbs to 155lbs, he became our clear choice. We immediately approached Masvidal about the bout and he did not hesitate to step up to the challenge.”

Medley went on to say, “We feel that this is a very compelling match up. Daley and Masvidal are both highly skilled marquee fighters, with fight styles that match up well. Masvidal, who has been a dominating force in the lightweight division, is determined to prove that he’s an even bigger threat as a welterweight. Defeating Paul Daley would send that message loud and clear, but it won’t be easy. This is going to be a very exciting fight!”

Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (20-5) is a former AFC Welterweight Champion and Bellator Fighting Championships veteran. He holds notable wins over UFC standout Joe Lauzon, former IFL lightweight champ Ryan Schultz, UFC and PRIDE veteran Yves Edwards, former Sengoku lightweight title-holderSatoru Kitaoka, and most recently Naoyuki Kotani.

In addition to Paul Daley vs. Jorge Masvidal, the impressive Shark Fights 13 main event roster includesKeith Jardine vs. Trevor Prangley, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Houston Alexander, Drew McFedries vs. Joey Villasenor, and a fifth fight yet to be announced. The event will be available on PPV.