LOMBARD SIGNS LONG TERM DEAL WITH ELITEXC

Posted on | April 18, 2008 | No Comments

HIGHLY REGARDED AUSSIE HECTOR LOMBARD
SIGNS LONG-TERM CONTRACT WITH ELITEXC

Talented Crowd-Pleaser Expected To Make Debut In Near Future

LOS ANGELES (April 18, 2008) – One of Australia’s most promising young fighters at both middleweight and welterweight and one of the world’s most prolific Judo players, Hector “Shango” Lombard, signed a long-term contract with Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s live division, EliteXC.

The formal announcement was made today by EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw. Terms of the long-term, multi-fight agreement were not disclosed.

“I am delighted to make it official that Hector has signed with us,’’ Shaw said. “He is an elite athlete, no doubt about that, and he was very sought-after, so for us, this is a very strong acquisition.

“Fans are in for a real treat. Hector is one of the most talented and explosive fighters I’ve ever seen. There may not be any other fighter in his divisions with more explosive strength and athleticism. He is a real crowd-pleasing fighter. It is unreal how he delivers those judo throws and power slams.

“Hector is definitely a tremendous addition to the EliteXC and ProElite family and I look forward to seeing him showing his skills in the near future.’’

The Cage Fighting Champion at middleweight, Lombard (http://hectorlombard.proelite.com) is 15-2-1. Before relocating to Australia, where he has become an Australian citizen, and turning to mixed martial arts, he was an Olympian for Cuba in the sport of judo.

Shaw credits Lombard’s former promoter for helping seal the deal. “Luke Pezzutti was absolutely instrumental in helping us put this together,’’ Shaw said. “Without his input and expertise, I seriously don’t think this deal would have happened.’’

Pezzutti, Cage Fighting Championship Director, said: “This is exciting news for Hector and for Australia. Our most exciting fighter will be on show to millions (of fans and viewers.) The contract also allows Hector to continue fighting for CFC, which is great news for his Aussie and CFC fans.

“I am very excited for Hector. I believe he is destined to be our most successful export and I see him fighting for the EliteXC title very soon. I’m also excited that Elite XC has agreed to work with CFC to give our other fighters international opponents and possible opportunities to fight overseas.”

Lombard, who turned pro in September 2004, is unbeaten (8-0-1) since November ‘06. The draw came against fellow Aussie Kyle Noke, who also fights for EliteXC. Rematch, anyone?

That Lombard can compete at 185 and 170 pounds should make for excellent opportunities since EliteXC is deep in talent in both weight classes.

“Signing with EliteXC should provide my career with a massive boost and is a great opportunity,’’ Lombard said. “I feel I am ready to fight the best they have to offer. The fact I have the freedom to fight outside EliteXC is huge for me, too.’’

For more information on EliteXC and other MMA-related stories, including bios, video-on-demand, photos, stats, Fantasy Fight Game TM and more, please visit ProElite.com and EliteXC.com.

About ProElite, Inc.

ProElite Inc. [PELE.PK] delivers the most exciting entertainment experience in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming on Showtime Networks and community-driven interactive broadband entertainment via the Internet. ProElite embraces MMA with the highest levels of honor, integrity, discipline and self-esteem all the while remaining inclusive for fighters, fans and schools. ProElite’s live fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that showcase the world’s top fighters [elitexc.com]. ProElite’s interactive business, ProElite.com, capitalizes on the growing popularity of the sport of mixed martial arts by building a community of mixed martial arts enthusiasts. In addition to streaming the most exciting live fights to the web, ProElite expands the fan base of the sport by providing a comprehensive set of online social networking tools for fans, fighters and organizations. ProElite.com – Empowering the Fight Community TM