HDNet FIGHTS SET FOR SATURDAY LAUNCH
Posted on | September 12, 2007 | No Comments
HDNet FiGHTS PREMIER SET FOR DALLAS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13…AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER
(RELEASE/FACTS ALSO ATTACHED)
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DALLAS, TEXAS…SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 — Mark Cuban announced today (10:00 am Dallas Media Conf.) that his high definition network, HDNet will be entering into the mixed-martial-arts fighting circle, with the debut of “HDNet FiGHTS” in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m.
While HDNet has aired MMA events in the past, this will be the first venture into the MMA business for Cuban and HDNet, with the inaugural event set for the American Airlines Center, the premier sports and entertainment venue that is the home of Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks.
Slated for the light heavyweight main event will be former Shooto World Champion, Eric Paulson (10-4-1, Los Angeles) taking on 5-time World Kick Boxing Champion, Jeff Ford (7-2, Denver). The Paulson vs Ford fight will be one of ten bouts scheduled on the card.
Tickets for the event are priced starting at $10, $20, $30, $50 and $100 (VIP, which includes Platinum Parking, plus convenience charges. Tickets go on sale Monday, September 17at the American Airlines Center and all Ticketmaster outlets, including www.ticketmaster.com, and can be ordered by phone by calling 214-373-8000.
Highly regarded middleweights, Jason House (7-3, Dallas) and Freddy Espiricueta (6-2, Austin) square off in an all Texas shootout. Former UFC World Heavyweight title challenger, Justin Eilers (17-6, Las Vegas), will head up the undercard when he battles Justin Howard (7-1, San Antonio) in a 3-round Heavyweight contest.
Also featured on the card will be UFC Veteran, Sean Salmon (10-3, Los Angeles). Salmon is set to challenge Leopoldo Serao (14-6, Brazil).
According to Cuban, his fighting franchise will be a big plus for MMA fans at the live gate, as well as for his HDNet viewers.
“Mixed martial arts fighting is a fast, emerging business and there’s a lot of demand out there right now.” said Cuban. “It is in the best interest of HDNet that we provide the programming that the viewers want and MMA fighting has done very well for us. At the same time, we can serve the many fight fans in Dallas and other cities by bringing the sport to them in an arena atmosphere.”
But is he an MMA fan, himself? “Absolutely,” he quickly responded. “I don’t put my energy into anything I don’t enjoy. This is simply an exciting sport.”
Cuban has hired Dallas MMA legend and former UFC champion, Guy Mezger, to take charge of fight operations for his new company. For Martial Arts Hall of Fame member, Mezger, working with Cuban and HDNet will give him an opportunity to help build a solid fighting organization.
“Actually, it’s a dream come true for me to work with Mark and his HDNet team,” the 5-time World champion said. “I know that Mark is committed to producing the best MMA events possible and I’m going to do everything possible to help him do that. I’m looking forward to growing with the company and making some noise in this exciting business.”
As for HDNet FiGHTS first event, Mezger sees an entertaining fight card. “We have a solid main event in Eric Paulson against Jeff Ford,” he noted. “Both guys are former world champions in their respective fighting styles, so when you put them into the ring, together in an MMA fight, you can end up with some real fireworks.
“Justin Eilers and Sean Salmon are former UFC veterans that always put on great fights. We also have several Dallas area fighters that will be fighting on the card, so we have something for everyone — all kinds of fighting styles and all brave warriors, ready to go on October 13.”
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About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming.
HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically acclaimed original programming, including television’s only HD news feature programs “HDNet World Report”, “Dan Rather Reports” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather and “NASA on HDNet” (presenting live shuttle launches through 2010).
HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR Grand National Division, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup re-broadcasts, boxing and Mixed Martial Arts; groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series featuring leading artists and bands including U2, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani and more, plus original music programs “Sound Off with Matt Pinfield”, and “True Music w/Katie Daryl”; entertaining interview shows including “Face 2 Face with Roy Firestone” and “Higher Definition”, in addition to fun and irreverent lifestyle programming including “Geek to Freak with Dennis Rodman”, “Deadline!”, “Art Mann Presents”, and “Get Out!”
HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to the critically acclaimed and award winning programs such as the Emmy Award winning “Arrested Development”, “The Black Donnellys”, “Blade: The Series”, “Star Trek: Enterprise”, “Dead Like Me”, “Smallville”, “Joan of Arcadia”, “Boomtown” and “Andy Richter Controls the Universe”.
HDNet Movies also features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases – all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience.
Only HDNet Movies exclusive “Sneak Previews” bring feature films to viewers before they premiere in theaters! Some of the HDNet Movies “Sneak Previews” have included the Academy Award nominated “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”, Toronto Film Festival nominee “The War Within”, and “Bubble”, the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced exclusively for HDNet Films and, most recently, “Broken English”, from Zoe Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne. Upcoming Sneak Previews include “Quid Pro Quo”, starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, “Hunter”, the story of the life and death of infamous gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson from director Alex Gibney and producer Graydon Carter, “Cashback”, written and produced by Sean Ellis, “Flawless”, starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore, and “Closing Escrow”, a real estate mockumentary featuring April Barnett and Allen Friedman.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.
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