TICKETS GO ON SALE TOMORROW/THURSDAY FOR ELITEXC’S FIGHT CARD FEATURING JOEY VILLASENOR SATURDAY, SEPT. 20, AT THE PIT IN ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

Posted on | August 6, 2008 | No Comments

World-Ranked Middleweight And Long-Time New Mexico Resident Will Make First Start In Front Of Hometown Fans In More Than Five-And-One-Half Years; Opponent For “Smokin Joe” To Be Announced In Near Future

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 6, 2008) – “Albuquerque is and has always been a great fight town. For sure, it is an accomplishment and especially an honor for me to fight before all my friends, family and fans. I am very excited about Sept. 20. This is going to be a great night for EliteXC, mixed martial arts and for this city.’’

The classy young man doing the talking is popular Joey Villasenor, aka “Smokin’ Joe,’’ who’ll be featured against an opponent to be announced on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M.

“I have heard a few names being tossed around, but I do not care who I fight,’’ said the talented, world-ranked middleweight (http://joeyvillasenor.proelite.com/), who will be making his first appearance in Albuquerque since he registered a first-round TKO over Joe Merit on June 14, 2003.

Villasenor, who registered a 1:11, first-round TKO (strikes) over Phil Baroni in his last start on May 31, has won three straight and four of five. Villasenor (26-6) has lived in New Mexico the last 25 years (first in Albuquerque, then Farmington and, for the last seven years or so, back in Albuquerque).

“For sure, the Pit will be rocking on Sept. 20,’’ Villasenor said. “Seriously, I can’t wait.’’

A limited number of $20 tickets are available for UNM attendees (first come, first served), who will sit in a special “student section.’’

Other tickets, priced at $30, $50, $65, $100, $150, $200 and $500 (VIP) can be purchased at the UNM/PIT box office (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday), online at http://www.unmtickets.com/ and by phone at (877) 664-8661 or (505) 925-5858. The pre-sale for tickets began Wednesday, Aug. 6.

The event is presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s live fight division, EliteXC. The remainder of the card, including the fights to be televised on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast), will be announced in the near future. The first live fight will begin at 6 p.m. MST.

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. For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video, photo galleries and complete telecast information, please visit http://www.SHO.com/Sports.

About ProElite, Inc.
ProElite Inc., the parent company of EliteXC, delivers the most exciting entertainment experience in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live arena-based entertainment events, network television programming on CBS Television Network, cable television programming on Showtime Networks Inc., and community-driven interactive broadband entertainment via the Internet. ProElite embraces MMA on 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.

About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.