PROELITE.COM WEEKLY UPDATE
Posted on | September 12, 2007 | No Comments
We have a big live forum chat coming up along with LIVE streaming EliteXC fights!
· Last week’s live chat with KJ Noon’s was our best chat yet. It had a tremendous turnout and was extremely successful. There are two major live forum chats coming up in the next couple weeks, all of which can be easily found on the ProElite.com Forums (www.proelite.com/forums). On September 13th we’ve got a huge chat for the upcoming EliteXC Uprising event in Hawaii. Tentatively, we have Robbie Lawler, “Ninja” Rua, Nick Diaz, Gina Carano, and Jake Shields scheduled for the forum chat. They will be logging on at various points throughout the day. Lastly, we have a September 20th chat scheduled with Paul Daley to promote the upcoming Cage Rage 23 show. Stay tuned for more specific time schedules as they become available.
If you haven’t had the chance yet, make sure to start your page today: www.proelite.com/registration
· ProElite.com LIVE
The next ProElite.com live streamed event will be the undercard of the HUGE EliteXC Uprising event on September 15th featuring EliteXC Middleweight World Champ Ninja Rua vs. Icon Sport’s Middleweight Champ Robbie Lawler. Also on the EliteXC card are Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, Joey Villasenor, Gina Carano, Charuto, and more. The main card will once again be on Showtime, with the undercard airing on ProElite.com immediately after the Showtime show.
The ProElite.com live fight interface is now open with pre-fight entertainment! http://proelite.com/live/12
On September 22nd we will be streaming Cage Rage 23 in its entirety. The upcoming Cage Rage card will feature EliteXC fighter Paul Daley as he defends his British & World Welterweight Titles against Mark Weir. Chris Brennan, Jean Silva, and Vitor Belfort are also featured on the card.
That wraps it up for this week’s ProElite.com happenings. Stay tuned for more ProElite.com news and updates next week.
HDNET FIGHTS: IT’S OFFICIAL
Posted on | September 12, 2007 | No Comments
HDNet FIGHTS PREMIERE SET FOR DALLAS
SATURDAY, OCT. 13 – AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER
FEATURING ERIC PAULSON VS JEFF FORD
DALLAS, TEXAS…SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 — Mark Cuban announced today 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.
For more information, go to www.hdnetfights.com.
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.”
GINA CARANO BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR NEXT ELITEXC EVENT
Posted on | September 12, 2007 | No Comments
POPULAR, SEXY GINA CARANO TO MAKE
ANXIOUSLY AWAITED RETURN TO CAGE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 15, IN HAWAII
Face Of Women’s MMA Will Take On Tough-Talking Tonya Evinger In One Of Top Fights
On EliteXC’s Sensational “Uprising” MMA Fight Card On SHOWTIME at 10 P.M. ET/PT
HONOLULU (Sept. 12, 2007) – Anyway you look at her — Cover Girl, Smother Girl, Golden Girl or Girl Next Door — Gina Carano is a knockout. She will stop you in your tracks with her charismatic, vibrant personality and gorgeous looks, or she will floor you with her devastating kicks and fists.
It is apparent the moment you meet the popular, personable Carano that she is special, not just because she is a woman in a predominantly male sport, but because she is the epitome of strength: a mentally, spiritually and physically strong young woman by any measure both in and out of the cage.
The word is out. It’s a secret no more. Carano is more than a pretty face with a cute smile. She is a genuine athlete and legitimate fighter — talented, exciting and improving, too.
“We said from the very beginning that our intention was to make Gina Carano the face of women’s Mixed Martial Arts and so far she has done nothing to dispel that notion,” EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw said. “If anything, she has exceeded all expectations.
“The thing about Gina – and one thing you should never lose track of – is that she is truly a beautiful person, inside and out. She’s generous and gracious and has a heart of gold. Make no mistake, though. She is an exceptional fighter who not only is an inspiration to young women but to all MMA fans.
“Gina has always had the looks of a superstar, but what she has accomplished in a relatively short amount of time is remarkable. The exciting part is, she has only just begun.”
One would be hard pressed to find an athlete in any sport whose star has risen as quickly as the personable, classy Carano, who is signed to a multi-year contract with EliteXC, the respected live fight division of Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.
Since a memorable, breakthrough performance during EliteXC’s history-making debut on SHOWTIME on Feb. 10, 2007 – her epic victory over Julie Kedzie came in the first nationally televised women’s MMA bout and on the first MMA event to air on premium television – Carano has reached celebrity status. She has done fight commentary, interviews, photo shoots (Gina made the cover of Today’s Girl cover for Maxim Online) and starred in Oxygen’s “Fight Girls” reality television series.
Through it all, the 25-year-old Las Vegas resident has managed to stay humble and down to earth, although it hasn’t always been easy.
“My life has been a little chaotic in the last six months,” said Carano (ginacarano.proelite.com), who will face Tonya Evinger (tonyaevinger.proelite.com) Saturday, Sept. 15 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). “In a way, it is like I am living in two different worlds.
“I have my regular life, which really hasn’t changed, where I train, go home and stay with my family. Then, there’s the other life, where I’ve been super busy filming different things and meeting different people, signing autographs, going to functions, doing things like that.
“Being in the first women’s MMA bout on SHOWTIME was fantastic and the exposure I’ve had has been awesome. I knew that there was something special about my performance against Julie, but I had no idea it would be like this. I just take one day at a time and thank God for it. I love the fans and I love the people that give me positive energy back. I definitely appreciate it more than people will ever know.
“To have the opportunities I’m getting, to think about the adventures I’ve been on, I feel so blessed. I try to keep a level head, but it gets a little overwhelming at times. I know I definitely want to be a positive role model when I’m in the limelight, but basically I try and stay the same person all the time.
“I have to keep organized and keep myself together because if not, I’m not going to be able to fight well. So, for now, everything is nice for me. It’s beautiful. A lot people get wrapped up in himself or herself once people start noticing them. They start thinking they are more important than they really are.
“I will not get into that. I definitely won’t get wrapped into that.”
It may be difficult to refer to someone as an icon when they only have four professional fights, but the trail-blazing Carano, who also competed in the first female sanctioned MMA bout in Nevada and first event ever handicapped by the Las Vegas odds makers, has become the most famous and recognizable female fighter in the sports.
“This has all been awesome,” said Carano, who began her career in Muay Thay (kickboxing). “I want to thank everybody for accepting me and for the fans and the press for covering and for watching my fights and our sport. I’ve had so many people tell me how inspired they get about what we’re doing.
To illustrate what kind of difference Carano has made, she was approached one day recently by a young girl, a fan, who, after chatting with Gina for a few minutes, became overcome with emotion.
“We started talking; she was saying so many sweet things to me and telling me how I had really touched her inner self,” Carano recalls. “It was all so very touching. She was so appreciative of what I was doing in my life. Then, she just started to cry. I was so taken aback.
“Sometimes, I can’t believe what people say to me about making a difference. But when that girl started to cry, I was, like, no one could ask for more. For me, it was the ultimate reward.”
On Sept. 15, Carano will be making her initial start since February and her first since she began training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. She was scheduled to fight in June but withdrew with an illness.
“Joining up with Randy Couture was a big moment for me, and having my trainers, Master Toddy and Scott Barry remaining part of everything made it perfect,” said Carano, who is known for a no-nonsense work ethic. “Before, I didn’t have anybody to put it together for me. I still have a lot to learn and I am working very hard to improve my game in all areas.
“But when I went over to Randy’s, that all got put together for me. I got better. Team Couture is amazing. I feel very comfortable with Randy and everybody there. Everything is so professional. They put you in the best possible mental frame of mind. Randy is so inspiring, it’s amazing. He is truly an icon.’’
Carano, who got national notoriety for her quote — “We’re not hitting tennis balls. We’re hitting people. Isn’t that more exciting?” — is confident that conditioning will not be a factor on Sept. 15 despite being inactive for seven months.
“I’m not worried about the layoff,” she said. “I stay in the gym and sometimes going to the gym can be like having a fight. I always train with a couple of different girls, but I trained with guys for this.”
The confident Evinger (4-2, 4 KOs), of Oak Grove, Mo., is regarded as one of the meanest, roughest, toughest athletes in MMA.
A nationally recognized former grappling champion who participated in the Pan American Games, she doesn’t come to merely win, but to dominate and destroy. Evinger, a slammer and banger in the truest sense, moonlights as a construction worker at a cement factory.
“I have a lot of respect for Tonya and I expect a really hard fight, but she has the same mindset as all my opponents,” Carano said. “They see me as a target – a big target. I know Tonya will be coming hard at me. A win would be like winning the title for her.
“That’s why, between fights or whatever, I try to stay even-keeled and keep things in perspective. That’s what makes it special: win or lose, you remain who you are. Sure, there’s pressure, but I started fighting when nobody was watching and I’ll continue fighting whether people are watching or not.
“I just love the positive energy. I believe if you work and train as hard and diligently as you can, if you don’t cut corners, you remain who you are, like Randy does, than everything will fall into place.
“I have always loved to fight and to live the life of a fighter. I like the mentality of fighting and I like to be physical. I really love fighting in the cage and the ‘anything goes’ kind of stuff. MMA is one of the most honest sports. In basketball and other sports, you can fall down and over-exaggerate it.
“I know I still have a lot to learn, but I am working very hard to improve my game in all areas. People can put me wherever they want to put me and that’s fine. But all I can do is give my best in the cage and do my best to live up to expectations and be the best that I can be.
“If I wind up losing a fight some day, but know I did my best, that’s all I or anyone can ask for. But I plan on having a good fight on Sept. 15.”
The biggest MMA event in Hawaii’s history will mark the initial collaboration between EliteXC and Hawaii’s most prominent promoters, ICON Sport and ROTR (Rumble On The Rock). In other televised bouts: EliteXC middleweight champion Murilo “Ninja” Rua (murilorua.proelite.com) defends against hard-hitting, offensive-minded ICON Sport titlist Robbie Lawler (robbielawler.proelite.com) in a five, 5-minute round scrap; Nick Diaz (nickdiaz.proelite.com) faces Mike Aina; Jake Shields (jakeshields.proelite.com) meets Renato “Charuto” Verissimo (renatoverissimo.proelite.com); and Joey Villasenor (joeyvillesenor.proelite.com) will meet fellow tough guy, Riki Fukuda (rikifukuda.proelite.com).
With the exception of “Ninja”-Lawler, the televised bouts are slated for three, 5-minute rounds.
Immediately following the SHOWTIME telecast, additional undercard fights will be streamed live on the Internet on the premier mixed martial arts social networking and entertainment site, ProElite.com.
“I just want to say thank you to ProElite, Gary Shaw and EliteXC and SHOWTIME for putting me on this card,” Carano said. “It is really, truly a great card and an honor for me to be a part of it. I’m really planning on putting on a good fight and I’m looking forward to it.’’
Born in Dallas County, Texas, Carano is the daughter of former professional football quarterback Glenn Carano.
In high school, the younger Carano played basketball, volleyball and softball. She became interested in Muay Thai Boxing after entering the University of Nevada. She currently is around 18 units shy of obtaining a psychology degree.
“I have not given up on going back to school, but, right now, I am having so much fun,” Carano said. “We will just have to wait and see what happens.”
EliteXC announcer Mauro Ranallo will call the “Uprising” play-by-play with world wrestling star Bill Goldberg and Stephen Quadros, The Fight Professor, serving as color analysts. The executive producer of the telecast will be David Dinkins, Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.
For more information on EliteXC, ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series and other MMA-related stories, including bios, videos, photos, stats and more, please visit 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. 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
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® TOO™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND™ and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL® , a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. In addition, SNI manages and is the principal owner of Smithsonian Networks™, a venture with the Smithsonian Institution, which was formed to create networks showcasing scientific, cultural and historical programming. SNI is also the principal owner of On Broadband Networks LLC, a broadband game service provider, and OurChart.com LLC, provider of OurChart.com™, a social networking website featuring elements from the SHOWTIME hit series “The L Word®”. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV and is an equity investor in ProElite Inc., a Mixed Martial Arts event promotion company.
THIS WEEK ON TAKEDOWN RADIO
Posted on | September 12, 2007 | No Comments
America’s Wrestling Radio talk show is now heard around the world. From our Brute Adidas Studios now broadcast on the following internet outlets: Takedownradio.com, KXNO.com, Matchannel.com,
Mat-magazine.com. Please be sure to join our live broadcast each and every Saturday as we talk to the worlds greatest athletes. Wrestlers and MMA competitors alike join us each and every week. You should too! TDR is available LIVE, Archived and Pod Cast as well. Check out Takedownradio.com for more details.
This week we send A Big THANK YOU to Kemin Industries, Their Agricultural division and employees!
Joining us this week-
Georges St-Pierre “Rush”, MMA Star from Montreal, Canada. This 26 year old Canadian is training at Greg Jackson’s MMA camp in Albuquerque New Mexico. He stands only 5 ft 10 and weighs in at 170 pounds. He currently enjoys a 13-2 record. As you might guess he employs Takedowns and enjoys the ground and pound that is favored by most wrestlers. He’s looking forward to a rematch with Matt Hughes.
Robbie Waller- Asst Head Coach at University of Oklahoma. We’ll catch up with Robbie on the conference, The event held Sept. 7, 2007 as Generations of Sooner legends congregated in Norman to celebrate the annual wrestling alumni weekend on Friday. Coach Stan Abel, Danny Hodge, Gary Breece, Teyon Ware, Sam Hazewinkel, Michael Lightner, Dan Chaid and others.
Matt Pell- New Asst. Head Coach at CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia wrestling head coach Steve Garland has announced the hiring of Matt Pell as assistant coach. Pell comes to Virginia after an outstanding career at Missouri, where he was a two-time All-American and team captain in 2006-07 as the Tigers earned their best-ever finish (third) at the 2007 NCAA Championships. “Matt has been successful at every level in our sport,” Garland said. “His accomplishments on the wrestling mat are impressive, but more importantly Matt is an intelligent, personable and hard-working guy and his passion for becoming a successful college coach is contagious.”
Pell had a 121-35 career record at Mizzou. He was a four-time NCAA qualifier and earned All-America honors in 2005 at 184 pounds and 2007 at 165 pounds. In 2007, Pell took third place at the NCAA Championships and earned the Manuel Gorrarian Award after recording the most pins in the least accumulative time. Pell had four pins at the NCAA Championships as a senior, taking a combined 22:46 in those matches. He led the Tigers to the third-place trophy at the 2007 NCAA Championships, marking Missouri’s first team trophy in any sport since the 1965 indoor track and field team won the national title.
Dan Wirnsberger- Head Coach for the Bucknell Bison. His all freshmen squad last year took to the mat and to the conference tearing through all they could as if to prove a point. That’s exactly what they did. They also made a statement and that is the “Bison are here to stay, here to compete, here to contend”. We’ll catch up with Dan to find out who’s returning and who will be the new blood in the room this season.
Dr. Bill Welker, a legend on the East Coast, an educator, official and coach, Bill rejoins us to discuss his book “The Wrestling Drill Book”. You can find more information on Dr. Welker on WVMat.com
Robert Follis, Partner and coach for Matt Lindland’s Team Quest Training Facility in Oregon. TQFC is largely viewed by many as one of the top hardcore MMA training facility in the world.
Top athletes like: Ed Herman, Matt Horwich who has the honor of being USA’s 1st Grappling Silver Medalist, Ryan Shultz and is the home of the IFL Wolfpack now entering its 3rd year. Wrestling and Grappling reign
Sam Barber- Augustana’s Head Coach of the 10-time NCAA Division III National Champion Auggies! This years schedule is loaded as always. Sam looks to continue the Auggies winning ways. Will his strength of schedule be a plus or minus for this first year coach. Having Coach Swenson as the new AD is positive for the program and for wrestling. This will be Coach Barbers first visit with us. We look forward to more.
As we get closer to the beginning of the season, our road shows and tournaments we’ll honor our troops and dedicate this season of broadcasts to them and to the many service men and women who listen to this program on our affiliated web sites. Thank you to each of you for your dedication and service to your country and her people. What your doing is a difficult job. America stands taller because of you and your actions.
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)
—————————————————————————————————————
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.”
# # #
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.
# # #
SPONSOR TRISTAN YUNKER FOR STEELE CAGE BOUT ON SEPTEMBER 21
Posted on | September 12, 2007 | No Comments
Tristan Yunker is preparing for a bout on the next big event for Steele Cage Promotions. He is looking for sponsors to cover training expenses and the $1,000 he’ll need for medicals in Nevada. He’ll be squaring off against Rob Kimmons on the September 21 card at the Orleans Arena. Any support anyone can offer is greatly appreciated. Tristan is one of our writers here and will be putting together a couple reports on this fight in addition to being featured on the card. Here’s some highlights from Tristan’s already promising career:
TRISTAN YUNKER PROFILE:
Fight vs. UFC Vet, Clay Guida:
Fight vs. Human Weapon Host, Jason Chambers:
Fight vs. UFC Vet, John Halverson:
Grappling vs Josh Souder:
CLICK HERE TO VISIT TRISTAN’S MYSPACE PROFILE
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SPONSORING TRISTAN EMAIL HIM AT:
tyunker@hotmail.com
CITY BOXING NEWSLETTER
Posted on | September 12, 2007 | No Comments
CLICK HERE TO READ THE CITY BOXING NEWSLETTER
VITALY KLITSCHKO SIDELINED BY YET ANOTHER INJURY
Posted on | September 12, 2007 | No Comments
By: PATRICK MCELLIGOTT
The announcement that Vitali Klitschko had suffered another injury, which required immediate surgery on a disc in his back, came as little surprise to boxing fans. His bout with Jameel McCline, was not a clash of top
contenders. It was, however, the third interesting fight that had been scheduled for the month of September to be postponed, and in this case, probably canceled.
Klitschko had a good record: 35-2, with 34 KOs. However, he had not fought since his December 11, 2004 victory over Danny Williams. Then came a series of injuries and postponements of a scheduled fight with Hasim Rahman. The fight was first scheduled for April 30, 2005; an injury to his thigh caused it to be postponed. It was then supposed to take place on June 18; his trainers said his injuries had not healed. So the third date was set for July 23; this time, his back was the official reason the bout was called off.
In January of this year, Vitali announced that he wanted to return to the ring, and challenged WBC champion Oleg Maskaev. The WBC champion was supposed to fight the powerful young contender Samuel Peter, but he seemed to think he had a better chance of victory, for more money, against the inactive Klitschko. In one of the few examples of the WBC making a fair ruling, it was determined that Maskaev would fight Peter, with Klitschko being in line for the winner.
Klitschko is an intelligent athlete, and he recognized the benefits of having a warm-up fight before getting in the ring with Samuel Peter. Thus, he opted to schedule a fight against Jameel “Big Time” McCline. In his last
fight, which was the same month that Vitali announced his plans to return to the ring, McCline lost a disappointing TKO to Nikolay Valuev, when he suffered a freak injury to his knee, and could not continue fighting.
Although Klitschko was the betting favorite as the 9-22 fight approached, I was confident that McCline would score an upset TKO if they fought. Although Jameel has lost a number of important fights in his career, these were frequently because he has had a “sparring partner” mentality in the ring. And that isn’t really surprising.
In the late 1980s, Jameel attended SUCO, the NYS University in Oneonta, a few miles from me. He played as a tight end on the football team, and as a power forward in basketball. Like Vitali, the guy is a talented all-around
athlete, and an intelligent man.
He got into some trouble as a young man, and served some time behind bars. And it was while he was incarcerated that he began to focus on boxing. Upon release, he had one amateur fight, then turned pro. Because of his size and athletic ability, Jameel was used as a sparring partner by guys like Lennox Lewis, Tim Witherspoon, Ray Mercer, and Michael Grant.
McCline lost fights he should have won. The best example was against undefeated prospect Calvin Brock. Jameel scored an impressive knockdown, and should have been able to stop Brock, but ended up dropping a decision. But he had also lost a highly disputed decision to Chris Byrd in his fight before Brock, in which he also decked the elusive IBF champion.
Vitali’s loses also offer a window allowing us to predict how he might have conducted himself against McCline. His first loss came when he quit after 9 rounds, against Chris Byrd in 2000. In a match where he had a large lead after 9 rounds, Klitschko failed to continue due to a shoulder injury. His second loss came in a 2003 war with Lennox Lewis. Vitali demonstrated heart in a fight he would have won, if not for a gash over his left eye.
Some of Jameel’s best wins came against tall, straight-up fighters, including Michael Grant, Lance Whitaker, and Shannon Briggs. Vitali’s weaknesses are serious injuries to his shoulder, back, thigh, and knee. As a
rule, professional athletes do not come back after being retired for several years after surgery, and compete at a high level in their mid- to late 30s.
Klitschko might have been able to get into good enough shape to gamble on KOing Maskaev in two rounds. But he wasn’t going to be able to get into the shape necessary to fight McCline, much less Peter, in a 10 or 12 round fight. Jameel would have TKOed him after 5 rounds.
Vitali’s people are saying that he will be able to begin training again after six weeks. Hopefully, this will be limited to the physical therapy he needs to recover from the surgery. He should never fight again.
McCline’s future holds more possibilities. In his victory over Terry Smith, before the loss to Valuev, Jameel looked the best he has since the Byrd fight. His age is an issue, and his knee injury could become one as well.
But in today’s division, he could still do quite well.
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