Tag: XFC

Press Release – Two of the top XFC’s middleweights are looking to steal the show in Knoxville, TN live on HDNet when Josh Samman takes on red hot Mikey Gomez in the co-main event of XFC 16 : High Stakes. Gomez is looking to extend his current win streak to four, while Samman is looking to jump to the front of the middleweight pack with the win.

Mikey Gomez extended his win streak to three in Orlando at XFC 14, in a tough back and forth fight with Mike Bernhard. After the contest it was revealed that Gomez’s father had passed away earlier in the day. Despite the tragedy, Gomez never thought about dropping out but insisted on competing to honor his father.

“Mikey Gomez is a tremendous fighter,” said XFC President John Prisco. “When he came from behind in that fight with Mike Bernhard in October and submitted him, he showed what being a warrior is all about. That was a tough fight and Gomez was the underdog coming in. But when I found out after the fight that his father passed away just a few hours earlier, it blew my mind. What Mikey did at XFC 14 is unbelievable and I had to get him back on an XFC card as soon as I could. Mikey is everything that is right with MMA.”

Gomez has fought some of the best fighters in the world and holds wins over Ultimate Fighter stars such as Jeremy May, Charles Blanchard, and Matt Brown. With a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu and dynamic striking, Gomez is a threat wherever the fight goes.

“Mikey is a amazing on the ground,” said Prisco. “I’ve seen him in a lot of trouble and then a few seconds later have his opponent tapping. If Mikey gets you on the ground, you are going to be in a lot of trouble. But just because he has a black belt in jiu jitsu, don’t think he can’t knock you out and finish you standing. After his performance at XFC 14, I’m excited to see what a focused Mikey Gomez can do without any distractions.”

Standing in the way of Gomez’s feel good story is Josh Samman. Samman has won five out of his last six and has built a reputation as a guy who finishes fights. In a 10 month span, from 2009 to 2010, the Team Scarz product finished 4 straight fights in the first round.

“Josh is a very well rounded fighter,” said Prisco. “He rarely goes to a decision and is a guy who is known as a finisher. He has excellent striking and has very good submissions. This is a very intriguing fight and even though Josh is the favorite on paper, I think it’s dead even. Josh may have better striking, but Gomez is lethal on the ground and has a lot of momentum. However it shakes out, it’s going to be an exciting fight and I know the fans in Knoxville and those watching on HDNet will be entertained.

In addition to Gomez vs. Samman, XFC 16 : High Stakes will also feature Drew Fickett vs. Jamie Varner in the main event, female fighters Heather Jo Clark vs Marianna Kheyfets in the feature bout, and 7 other Pro MMA bouts. The show is sponsored by Sheets Energy Strips & Overthrow Gear and will air live on HDnet from the Knoxville Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, TN on February 10th, 2012. Tickets are on sale now through OfficialXFC.com. To learn more about the XFC, please visit www.officialxfc.com, “Like” them on Facebook, and “Follow” the promotion on Twitter (@officialxfc).

Press Release – Friday night in Knoxville, TN Drew Fickett will face Jamie Varner in the main event of XFC 16 ‘High Stakes live on HDNet. The two men came up together in Arizona on smaller shows, before each went on to find success on a national level. Fickett went onto defeat Josh Koscheck, Josh Neer, and Kurt Pelligrino in the UFC, while Varner burned through the WEC claiming their lightweight title, which he would come to hold for two years after.

Though the two fighters were close at one time, Varner went off in a different direction than Fickett and now it’s time for the student (Varner) to answer to “The Master”.

“I just want to set things straight,” explains Fickett. “It just sucks. I mentored the kid and now I have to beat his ass. Hopefully I can, to teach him a lesson. The sport isn’t about being a fighter. It’s about being a good person too. In my mind Jamie has become “Hollywood” and selfish. He’s in love with being a fighter. I fight because I like the sport. I wish more people took it seriously instead of just wearing a Tapout shirt and want to ‘flaunt being a fighter.’”

“There is a lot of animosity on my part because I’ve mentored a lot of kids like Efrain Escudero and Dominick Cruz and they’ve gone on to do big things, but they’ve had moments of being starstuck. I came up the hard way. I made it into the UFC after 27 fights. I like the sport and I wish and hope that fighters would respect the fact that they are athletes and realize it’s not about being all glamorous. It’s about being an athlete and a good person. At the end of the day I have nothing but love for Jamie but I want to beat his ass as a spectacular Athlete not a ‘Fighter’”.

To show his disdain for the “Hollywood” lifestyle that Fickett thinks Varner has, Fickett recently made some videos on Youtube poking fun at “C-4? that he hoped would ruffle some feathers.

“I was having some fun with the Youtube videos,” said Fickett. “I see Jamie as being Hollywood and this and that. It pisses me off. Everything he’s about. And I wanted to have some fun and get in his head hopefully.”

Fickett insists he hasn’t been slacking off, as he hints at in his videos. Despite his naps and unhealthy diet he showed on Youtube, Fickett says he will be ready for the Main Event Friday night in Knoxville for XFC 16.

“I’m ready to rock,” exclaimed Fickett. “I’ve been disciplined and dieting for this fight. I’ve been doing things I’ve never done before. I’m really excited and I’m going to show the fans and Mr. Prisco that they are getting their money’s worth. I’m going to show the world that Drew Fickett is back. I appreciate the XFC giving me the opportunity and I can’t wait to get in the cage on HDnet Friday.”

In addition to Fickett vs. Varner, XFC 16 : High Stakes will also feature Josh Samman vs Mikey Gomez in the co-main event, female fighters Heather Jo Clark vs Marianna Kheyfets in the feature bout, and 7 other Pro MMA bouts. The show is sponsored by Sheets Energy Strips & Overthrow Gear and will air live on HDnet from the Knoxville Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, TN on February 10th, 2012. Tickets are on sale now through OfficialXFC.com. To learn more about the XFC, please visit www.officialxfc.com, “Like” them on Facebook, and “Follow” the promotion on Twitter (@officialxfc).

Press Release – Riding high off of his 69 second beatdown of Nate Jolly at XFC 14, Jamie Varner is looking for his second straight win in the XFC cage when he takes on Drew Fickett at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum at XFC 16: ‘High Stakes’. The two legendary lightweights will clash live on HDnet on Feb. 10th.

From 2007 to 2010 Varner ruled the WEC’s lightweight division with impressive wins over Rob McCullough, Marcus Hicks, and Donald Cerrone. Now just a few years later ‘C-4? is determined to show MMA fans that he is still one of the best in the world at 155. But standing in Varner’s way is Drew Fickett. Like Varner, Fickett has been at the top and competed against some of the best lightweights in the world. With wins over Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck, and Carlo Prater ‘The Master’ has built his reputation by beating the best. But according to Varner he won’t be added to that list next month in Knoxville.

“Drew is a tough and accomplished fighter,” explained Varner. “He has been around for awhile and is strong in all aspects of MMA. He has seen just about everything. This should be an exciting fight, but I am looking for another KO in the XFC cage! I have actually known him for awhile, since I was very young in the sport. We have both been around for awhile now, but I think my prime is still ahead of me. I plan to prove this by taking him out. ”

Recently Fickett posted a video blog of his training camp for the fight with Varner on Youtube. In the videos his camp consists of sleeping in and smoking cigarettes. Varner still hasn’t seen the videos but wasn’t impressed with Fickett’s attempt at humor. “I have heard about his video blogs but I really don’t care about them. He can do whatever he wants, all I can control is what I am doing. Everyday I look to grow as a person and fighter. Drew can smoke and sleep all day. “I’ll be ready when I get to Knoxville.

After a tough loss last year on short notice Varner considered retirement but after his win at XFC 14 he quickly changed his mind. “The XFC treated me great at my last fight,” said Varner. “I am excited to step back into their cage. Mark Cuban and HDNet are a great source for live MMA events, so it is nice to have my fight featured as a main event on their network. I plan to put on another exciting performance for the fans.”

XFC President John Prisco is thrilled to have Varner back and fighting Fickett in the main event at ‘High Stakes’. According to Prisco, “Jamie showed everyone in Orlando that he still has what it takes to be one of the best lightweights in the world. I’m excited to have him back and he’s going to get a step up in competition with Fickett. Drew has beaten some of the best fighters in the world and I think Jamie will be tested in this one. However it turns out I know it’s going to be an exciting fight and the fans in Knoxville and those watching on HDNet will enjoy the show”.

XFC 16 : High Stakes is sponsored by Sheets Energy Strips & Overthrow Gear and will air live on HDnet from the Knoxville Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, TN on February 10th, 2012. Tickets are on sale now through OfficialXFC.com. To learn more about the XFC, please visit www.officialxfc.com, “Like” them on Facebook, and “Follow” the promotion on Twitter (@officialxfc).

Press Release – January 2, 2012 – Former Ultimate Fighter star and UFC veteran Corey Hill will take on Nicolae Cury Feb. 10th live on HDNet, in a highly anticipated welterweight attraction at XFC 16: ‘High Stakes’ at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. Both men are coming off impressive wins in the XFC cage and are looking to build more momentum heading into the new year.

Corey Hill is 1-0 since his move up to 170 at XFC 15 “Tribute”. In his welterweight debut last month Hill ended Charlie Rader’s 6 fight win streak in the first round when he forced his fellow Ultimate Fighter alum to submit to a darse choke hold. With a win over Cury, ‘The Real Deal’ will likely establish himself as the top welterweight in the promotion.

“This is one of the biggest welterweight fights in XFC history,” explained XFC President John Prisco. “Corey destroyed Charlie Rader at our last show when a lot of people thought he was a huge underdog. Charlie was on a huge winning streak and Corey got him down and submitted him in the first round. Corey is so long and he uses those long limbs to his advantage. He’s a tough matchup for anyone on the ground or standing.”

Known primarily for his submission skills, Nicolae Cury has won two straight fights by armbar in the first round. Out of six professional wins, half of those have come by armbar in the first round. The American Top Team product successfully made his XFC debut at XFC 14 Resurrection, when he submitted Elijah Harshbarger in 87 seconds to improve his record to 6-2.

“Nicolae has some of the sickest armbars I have ever seen,” confessed Prisco. “It didn’t even take him 90 seconds to tap out Harshbarger in October. I was blown away by his performance that night and I know he wants to put on a show in Knoxville. Corey may be a bigger name but Nicolae wants to show everyone on HDNet that he is for real.”

“This fight is so intriguing for a lot of reasons. Both men are so good on the ground and they both have very underrated stand up. Corey actually has a couple of KO wins on his record and he will definitely have the reach advantage. But Nicolae is no slouch. What he lacks in reach he makes up for it in explosiveness and power. I actually think this fight could stay standing due to both men being at such a high level on the ground. If Corey can keep him off with the jab he will control this fight, but if Nicolae gets inside he could get the knockout. This is going to be exciting either way. The fans in Knoxville and live on HDNet are in for a treat when these guys step into the cage.” Prisco stated.

XFC 16 : High Stakes is sponsored by Sheets Energy Strips & Overthrow Gear and will air live on HDnet from the Knoxville Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, TN on February 10th, 2012. Tickets are on sale now through KnoxvilleTickets.com. To learn more about the XFC, please visit www.officialxfc.com, “Like” them on Facebook, and “Follow” the promotion on Twitter (@officialxfc).