$25,000 10th Anniversary Grapplers Quest Joins The Fight Expo, March 21-22 in Del Mar, CA

Posted on | March 10, 2009 | No Comments

DEL MAR, Calif. (March 10, 2009) — Recognizing the dedicated grappling fan base worldwide, “The Fight Expo,” the world’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA), grappling and extreme sports family-oriented supershow, announced today a landmark partnership with Grapplers Quest. Under the terms of the five-year deal, “The Fight Expo” will be the exclusive home of all Grapplers Quest Supershows, featuring $25,000 of more in prizes at each event starting with the first co-op event Saturday and Sunday, March 21t-22 in Del Mar, California.

On Saturday, March 21, starting at 2:00 PM, they will showcase a 16-Man No-Gi Superfight Absolute presented by Gameness, Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear, Bud Light and Grapplers Quest includes: Fabricio Werdum (UFC & Pride Veteran), Jeff Glover (21-Time Grapplers Quest Champion), Lucas Leite (BRASA, World Champion), Carlos “Sapao” Ban (Ralph Gracie), Vinicius “Pezao” Magalhães (TUF Season 8 Finalist), Bruno Bastos (Nova Uniao), Bill “The Grill” Cooper (Paragon Jiu Jitsu), Roberto “Tussa” Comargo (Gracie Barra), Roberto “CYBORG” Abreu (Fight Sports), Leo Santos (Saulo Ribeiro JJ), Romulo Barral (Gracie Barra BH), Kevin Lutz (Marine Wrestling/NJMA), Cristiano ´Thite´ Lazzarini (Gracie Barra) and many more.

On Sunday, March 22, starting at 2:00 PM, The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Challenge presented by Gameness and Bud Light includes: Adriano Camolese (Godoi Jiu Jitsu Black Belt), Jeff “Pipelayer” Glover (Paragon Jiu Jitsu/Franjinha Black Belt), Nivaldo De Oliveira Lima (Leo Vieira/Check Mat), Bill “The Grill” Cooper (2005 Grapplers Quest All-Star Champion), Vinicius Magalhães (TUF Finalist), Bruno Bastos (Nova Uniao, 3-Time World BJJ Champion), Carlos “Sapao” Ban (CBJJ Pan American & World Champion), Romulo Barral (Draculino/4-Time GQ Champ), Roberto “CYBORG” Abreu (2008 GQ Advanced Absolute Champion/Koral Team), Roberto “Tussa” Comargo (Gracie Barra Black Belt) , Lucas Leite (2007 GQ All-Star Pro Champion/Team KORAL), Asa Fuller (Cleber Luciano Black Belt) and many more.

Under its founder and CEO, Brian Cimins, Grapplers Quest has become the leading grappling fight organization focused on delivering high-profile professional grappling superfight tournaments, the world’s largest amateur open events for all ages and skill levels; branded Grapplers Quest fight videos and DVDs, photos and products; a searchable database of over 32,000 qualified grappling academies; and news and forums. The partnership brings together Fight Expo’s all-encompassing MMA, Grappling and Extreme Sports Supershow with the leading ground fighting competition in Grapplers Quest.

“What Brian Cimins has built with Grapplers Quest over the past 10 years is remarkable and pioneering,” said Lori Andrews, Fight Expo producer. “This deal marks a significant milestone for Fight Expo as the Grapplers Quest brand is a necessary and natural fit for the rapid expansion of this supershow. Grapplers Quest is recognized the world over as the leader in the grappling world and we are proud to be associated with it. There is tremendous cross-over between submission grappling, MMA and of course other extreme sports like motocross, all of which is accessible and interactive at The Fight Expo. Grapplers Quest, together with The Fight Expo, can now show today’s MMA stars in their early grappling tournaments, as well as introduce fans to the stars of today and the future.”

Grapplers Quest, The World’s Largest Ground Fighting Tournament celebrates its 10th Anniversary on March 21-22 at THE FIGHT EXPO, The World’s Largest MMA, Grappling and Extreme Sports Expo in Del Mar, California at The Del Mar Fairgrounds. Grapplers Quest will feature 300 No-Gi Submission Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Divisions for Men, Women, Children, and Teens of All Ages and Skill Levels and amazingly $25,000 in Cash & Prize Packages.

Competitors can save up to $30 and get a Limited Edition Fighter T-Shirt when they pre-register online at: http://www.grapplers.com/store/midscreen.cfm

Spectators can save $25 on Weekend Passes, plus get to enjoy “The Fight Expo” at no additional cost, go to: http://www.grapplers.com/store/content.cfm?product_type=ticket

Salesfish, the official sales and marketing, sponsorship agency of “The Fight Expo” will provide sponsorship of all Grapplers Quest event elements including competition medals, mats and banners; co-branding on Grapplers Quest product packaging; and redeveloping GrapplersQuest.com, including hosting of interactive forums connected with Grapplers Quest events and content. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities at “The Fight Expo” featuring Grapplers Quest, contact Ken Schmitz, Chief Marketing Officer of Salesfish at: kschmitz@salesfish.com.

“In several short months, under Lori Andrews event leadership and the Salesfish brand marketing and sales agency, ‘The Fight Expo’ has become the leader in mixed martial arts, Grappling and Extreme Sports Supershows drawing MMA Superstars like Gina Carano, Diego Sanchez, Brandon Vera, Bruce Buffer, Joe Daddy Stevenson, and many more to support the first charity MMA event to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego with $1 of every ticket sold, 80-percent of all charity auctions, and 100-percent of Greg Jackson’s MMA Seminar,” said Brian Cimins, founder and CEO of Grapplers Quest.

The first event of the 2009 FightExpo and Grapplers Quest season co-sponsored by Bud Light, Black Belt TV and Rogue Pictures is The 10th Anniversary Grapplers Quest Championships, Saturday, March 21 and 22 at Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California featuring $25,000 in prizes, followed by The 15th Grapplers Quest Las Vegas Championships on Saturday, May 9th in Las Vegas, Nevada, then the Official 2009 U.S. National Grappling Championships, Saturday and Sunday, June 27th and 28th in Morristown, New Jersey at the Mennen Arena, next the 2009 Southeast Grappling Championships, Saturday, August 8th in Coral Springs, Florida, followed by The 2009 Official North American Grappling Championships, Saturday, September 26th in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, next, The 2009 Official World Grappling Championships: USA vs. Japan, and finally closing out the 2009 season will be the 2nd installment of The Fight Expo and Grapplers Quest’s partnership on Saturday and Sunday, December 5th and 6th in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information on all upcoming events, visit www.GrapplersQuest.com.

About The Grapplers Company, Inc. (www.GrapplersQuest.com)

The Grapplers Company, Inc. is a multi-faceted live event and video production company that serves the submission grappling and mixed martial arts fight community through its renowned Grapplers Quest® and SportFighting brand names. Under the leadership of its founder and CEO, Brian Cimins, Grapplers Quest events have officially become known as the largest submission grappling tournament in the world — hosting 86 top tournaments for nearly 120,000 competitors, fans and coaches since 1999. Grapplers Quest live events are also distributed on DVD distributed worldwide through many retailers including Best Buy, Blockbuster Video, and Barnes and Noble. Fans and fighters can also visit www.GrapplersQuest.com to connect with fighter and tournament news, video, photos and interactive forums. The Grapplers Company, Inc. is headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey. Competitors can save up to $30 and get a Limited Edition Fighter T-Shirt when they pre-register online at: http://www.grapplers.com/store/midscreen.cfm – Spectators can save $25 on Weekend Passes, plus get to enjoy The Fight Expo at no additional cost, go to: http://www.grapplers.com/store/content.cfm?product_type=ticket

About The Fight Expo (www.TheFightExpo.com)

The Fight Expo, Inc. is the first event of its kind, infusing MMA, Grappling, Pankration, and several Extreme Sports — Motocross, Skateboarding, Harley Davidson Pulls and much more — into one giant entertainment supershow. The Fight Expo has chosen The Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego as its beneficiary with $1 of all ticket sales, 80-percent of charity auctions, and 100-percent of MMA seminars going to this worthwhile cause. UFC announcer, Bruce Buffer, “The Voice of the Octagon,” has joined the team to create a very special event for five Make-A-Wish children suffering from life threatening illnesses, which will include the children being escorted around by American Gladiator and the World’s Most Famous Female Fighter, Gina Carano, as well as getting publicly introduced by Bruce Buffer as Honorary Fighters in the Cage. They will also have an opportunity to meet their favorite MMA Superstars from a group including Brandon Vera, Joe Stevenson, Jake Shields, Cung Le, TUF Season 8 finalist Vinny Magalhães, Eliot Marshall, the Tapout Crew (Punkass, Mask and Skrape), Dean Lister, and many more. For Grappling and Pankration fans, “The Fight Expo” will host the 10th anniversary of Grapplers Quest Competition with 300 Submission Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Divisions, plus two mega-Superfight Divisions to crown The World’s Best Submission Fighters, totaling $25,000 in prizes. Bud Light presents the Pankration Team Battles on Saturday night (Mar. 21), pitting two military teams, 29 Palms vs. Camp Pendleton. For discount tickets, visit: http://www.TheFightExpo.com

-GQ-