Tag: XFC

Press Release – Challenge made, challenge accepted. The stage has been set. The XFC’s past meets the present, to determine their future. On June 14th, Live from the USF Sundome in Tampa Florida, Scott “Hotsauce” Holtzman will take on John “The Mulatto Mauler” Mahlow for XFC Lightweight gold.

Since hanging up his hockey skates in 2008, University of Tennessee and Knoxville Ice Bears Forward Scott Holtzman (4-0) has only had one thing on his mind, a mixed martial arts title. After an undefeated amateur career, that never saw a 3rd round, and four impressive professional wins, Holtzman finds himself one step closer to reaching his goal, when he faces off against John Mahlow at XFC 24: Collision Course. The often quiet Holtzman recently found himself at the center of media attention, after former XFC Lightweight Champion Nick Newell refused to defend his belt based on the merit that Scott was “an up and comer.” Media headlines soared as Newell was abruptly stripped of his title, leaving “Hotsauce” without an opponent for his June 14th title fight. While fielding hundreds of questions, the XFC’s #1 contender made one thing clear, his goal was never to beat Nick Newell, his goal was to become a champion, and Nick Newell just happen to be the man holding his belt. “The man across from me in the cage has changed, but the plan is still the same…get my belt.” Will Scott Holtzman continue his unbeaten rise to the top or will John Mahlow close the curtain on the “Hotsauce” show?

When XFC President John Prisco announced that the Main Event at XFC 24 would still be for the promotion’s Lightweight Title, the first man to reach out to him and challenge Scott Holtzman was John Mahlow (13-13). Mahlow was the company’s first ever Lightweight Champion and now wants his shot once again at the belt that Holtzman and Newell were fighting over. “The Mulatto Mauler” has been fighting professionally for more than 10 years. He has stood in the cage with the likes of Antonio McKee, Mac Danzig, Mark Bocek, Jeff Curran, Luis Palomino, and Junior Assuncao. His wins read like chapters in the BJJ handbook: Rear Naked Choke, Triangle Choke, Ankle Lock, Arm Bar, Guillotine. On June 14th, Mahlow will look to add one more victim to his list and wants to show Scott Holtzman he is ready to be champion again.

When asked about the changes to the XFC 24 Main Event, John Prisco had this to say: “It just felt right. I went through all the emails and phone calls that were coming in asking for the shot at Holtzman and this title, and I kept going back to one guy, actually the first guy that reached out to me, John Mahlow. It just seemed fitting. If Scott Holtzman wants to be the future of this division, then why not fight the man who first held the belt? This is a tough fight for Scott. Mahlow has 26 professional bouts to his name. He has fought some of the best in the business and been through wars. He’s back and better than ever from an injury that took him out of the game for a while, and he is ready to go. Scott is still young in this sport, but he’s hungry and talented, a dangerous combination. I’ve never seen anyone as focused as Scott Holtzman is right now, the guy is on a mission. This is going to be an interesting fight. Scott’s rough, ground and pound style versus John’s slick submissions…I honestly don’t know how this one is going to turn out, but I am excited to get a Champion crowned and continue our promotions Lightweight chase.”

Xtreme Fighting Championships makes its way back to Tampa, Florida for XFC 24: Collision Course on June 14, 2013. The event is presented by ICRealTime Security Solutions and ThroatPunch Ind. Apparel. The event will be broadcast Live on AXS TV from the beautiful USF Sun Dome, beginning at 9pm. For more information on the event, or to purchase tickets, visit www.officialxfc.com. For daily updates and news, follow this event and the XFC on Facebook and Twitter @OfficialXFC.

Article by J. Hobbs

Press Release – Xtreme Fighting Championships next nationally televised event Live on AXStv will be April 19 for XFC 23: Louisville Slugfest and included in the event is a middleweight bout between Dominique Steele and XFC favorite Gerardo Julio Gallegos. Gallegos returns to the XFC cage for the first time in over a year, looking to bring the fans in his home state of Kentucky and those watching on AXStv yet another exciting fight.

Gallegos brings a pro record of (6-3) into the bout, following two consecutive wins. Both of his most recent wins are by way of submission in the first round, giving Gallegos four career first round finishes, and 4 career submission wins.

Fighting out of Lexington, Kentucky, Gallegos has been competing in the XFC since 2009 when he took his second pro fight against Robert Turner. Turner was a strong favorite, with eight pro fights to his name, but that didn’t keep Gallegos from bringing it to Floridian when the two met at XFC 8. Gallegos submitted Turner in the second round via guillotine. That would be the first of three consecutive wins for Gallegos, including another submission win over Hayder Hassan at XFC 9, followed by one of the quickest KO’s in XFC history (:34 seconds) against TUF vet Shane Primm.

Following back-to-back losses from Mike Bernhard and Amaechi Oselukwue at XFC 11 & 16, Gallegos went back to the regional scene to tune his skill set and gain some additional experience. In December, he worked his way back into the win column with a knee-bar submission, and then followed that performance with another submission victory in January. With two consecutive first round wins, XFC President John Prisco saw it was time for Gallegos to return the national spotlight and Julio will get another challenging opponent in his return to AXStv, as he takes on Dominique Steele (7-3).

Julio Gallegos gets the curtain call in his home state of Kentucky, as the XFC returns to the Bluegrass state for the first time since 2008; when the promotion set the state attendance record for MMA events. XFC 23 promises to be another great event with a stacked line up that will also include a main event between Shamar Bailey vs Luis Santos, who hold combined records of over 75+ Pro MMA Fights.

For additional information about XFC 23: Louisville Slugfest and the rest of the night’s bouts, visit www.officialxfc.com. Also, follow the promotion hourly on Facebook and Twitter ‘@OfficialXFC’. Keep up with Julio Gallegos and his GJG Foundation on Twitter ‘@GJGWorldWide’. XFC 23 is presented by ICRealTime Security Solutions and ThroatPunch Ind. Apparel and will air live from the Kentucky National Convention Center on AXStv, April 19.

Article by N. Ganster

Check out more current news at www.OfficialXFC.com

Press Release – (Tampa, FL) –Xtreme Fighting Championships will return to Tampa Bay on June 14 for XFC 24 at the USF Sundome. The promotion has been touring the United States, outside of Florida since December of 2011, and will return to the city where it all began for an event that is headlined with the first title defense for current Lightweight Champion “Notorious” Nick Newell (9-0) and rising star Scott “Hot Sauce” Holtzman (4-0).

After holding 10 events at the Tampa Bay Times Forum (then the St. Pete Times Forum), the XFC spent 2012 and the beginning of 2013 traveling the southeast and executing events in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Now, with a much larger & more dedicated fan base, the XFC returns to the city where its fans once set state attendance records for MMA; Tampa, Florida.

XFC President John Prisco made the announcement for the date and location after receiving thousands of messages & tweets wondering when the promotion would return to its stomping grounds. “I am excited to be coming back to Tampa. This is where it all began for us,” said Prsico. “We spent some time expanding our fan base and signing talent from across the country, now it’s time for the XFC to deliver another great show in Tampa.”

A full bout line up has not been announced, however the show is expected to feature some of the top fighters under the XFC banner, several top local standouts, a women’s bout, and recent Open Fighter Tryout winner Jeremiah Labiano. Numerous Florida fighters are under contract with the promotion and generally travel out of state to be a part of XFC events, so it is likely that a descent handful will be a part of the first event in their home state in almost 2 years.

To stay updated with XFC news and further announcements for XFC24, visit www.OfficialXFC.com. Follow the promotion daily on Facebook and Twitter ‘@OfficialXFC’ for up to the minute updates and breaking news and check out the promotions Youtube channel for some great fight videos.

Article by N. Ganster

Check out more current news at www.OfficialXFC.com

Press Release – XFC will make its first appearance of 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina for XFC 22: Crossing the Line. The fight card is set to feature a mix of the top local talents and some of the XFC’s biggest names in both the men’s and women’s divisions. The main event for the scheduled card will be a Lightweight matchup between South Carolina’s Jason “The Ronin” Hicks and Tennessee’s Scott “Hot Sauce” Holtzman.

The winner of the bout will reportedly be the first in line for a title shot with the newly crowned XFC Lightweight Champion, Nick Newell. The XFC Lightweight division has become one of the most active under the promotions banner during the 2012 season and was capped off with Newell’s victory over Eric Reynolds at XFC 21. Making their way through the division, with consecutive wins inside the promotions cage, Hicks and Holtzman turned heads and had fans eager for the matchup.

Hicks, an XFC Open Fighter Tryout Winner, holds a perfect record of 5-0 with four finishes. He is 2-0 under the XFC banner, including his most recent win, a second round Armbar over Shane Crenshaw at XFC 19. He had been scheduled to fight Kevin Forant in December, before Forant was pulled from the card due to a broken hand.

Holtzman, the X-series Tryout Winner, meanwhile holds and unblemished 3-0 record, with all three wins in the XFC. He most recently defeated Chris Coggins in a referee stoppage, when Gary Copeland was forced to step in and save Coggins from the brutal ground and pound of Holtzman in the closing seconds of the first round at XFC 20. Coggins is best known for taking current champion Nick Newell a full three rounds before losing a close decision.

This will be a matchup of Holtzmans’ strength and athleticism versus Hicks technical skills. So far there are mixed reports as to who should be the favorite in the bout, with each fighter holding an advantage in different aspects of their game.

XFC returns to Charlotte, North Carolina for its first event of 2013, XFC 22 ‘Crossing the Line’. Closing out a strong 2012 schedule with a new Lightweight Champion crowned, expect another year of entertaining shows from the fastest growing promotion in the MMA community. XFC 22 is presented byICRealtime and Throatpunch Apparel Ind. For more information on the 2013 schedule and XFC 22 go to www.officialxfc.com and follow the promotion on Facebook and Twitter ‘@OfficialXFC’.

Check out more current news at www.OfficialXFC.com