HDNet Fights and the Xtreme Fighting League team up to Highlight Mixed martial arts IN Oklahoma
Three fighters from Team Takedown featured LIVE from Tulsa exclusively on HDNet – Saturday March 15
DALLAS – (February 21, 2008) HDNet Fights announced today that it is teaming with the Xtreme Fighting League for the upcoming “HDNet Fights Presents: Xtreme Fighting League” on March 15 at the Expo Square Pavilion in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event will air live, exclusively on HDNet. This announcement is the latest is a series of new partnerships formed between HDNet Fights and many mixed martial arts organizations around the country and in Canada.
For the event, Team Takedown will send three of its fighters – and Oklahoma wrestling legends: Jake Rosholt, Johny Hendricks and Shane Roller. All are alumni of Oklahoma State University, so it won’t be too much of a stretch to hope for a partisan crowd. In addition, the remainder of the card will feature additional Oklahoma-based talent and young athletes from Osaka, Japan.
Team Takedown is a fighter management company based out of Texas. It is known for the unconventional method of putting fighters on salary, allowing them to focus on training full-time. In addition, its fighters are making the transition from all-star wrestlers to mixed martial arts athletes.
“I am excited about this partnership with HDNet Fights.” said XFL founder and promoter Dale Cook. “This card and the exposure on HDNet is tremendous for our League, our fighters and our city.”
HDNet Fights President Guy Mezger said Cook has been a long-time promoter of combat martial arts.
“Dale always has a strong regional show and we’re excited about partnering with him,” Mezger said. “He can continue to grow his shows and we’ll have high quality mixed martial arts programming for HDNet.”
Rosholt (3-0), will take on Chad Jay (7-2) in one of two main event fights. Rosholt is a three-time NCAA wrestling champion and four-time All American.
Hendricks, (3-0), will battle Blake McDaniels (5-0) in the second main event match-up. Hendricks is also a four-time All American and as well as a two-time NCAA wrestling champion.
Both main events consist of 3 five-minute rounds.
Roller (2-1) is a three-time All American and will face Kazuya Nishiyama, (4-2-1) out of Japan. The fight, one of three “U.S. versus Japan” bouts, will have 3 four minute rounds.
Of the Team Takedown members, Mezger said the former OSU Cowboys are the next generation of MMA superstars.
“This will be their first time on TV,” he said. “We really expect a lot of good things out of them.”
The remainder of the U.S. team consists of Demarco Powrill (6-1) who will square-off against Akira Ninjo (6-4). Also, Shane Waits, enters the cage against Kazuya Nishiyama (5-2-1) in another U.S. versus Japan match.
The Japanese team hails from the renowned Yamane Dojo, in Osaka.
Two Xtreme Fighting League championships will be featured on the card when XFL 170 pound champion Levi Avera (8-2) accepts the challenge of XFL challenger Brandon Newsone (6-1), and 155 pound champ Jon “King of Late Nite” Carson defends against top XFL contender Mike Budnick (8-0).
The rest of the card features HDNet Fights veteran Chris Bowles (7-2) against San Antonio’s Adrian Sanchez (5-3) at 155 pounds; Donnie “PitBull” Frye (5-2) versus Josh “Platypus” Pulsifer at 145 pounds; and Jason “Real Deal” Brazeal (4-1) against Warren Walkerd (4-2) of the Miletich Fighting camp, at 170 pounds.
The Bowles/Sanchez fight is the only undercard match-up of 3 five minute rounds. Every other is three rounds of four minutes.
Tickets for the event, at the Expo Square Pavilion in Tulsa, go on sale on February 25. Prices are $25, $35 and $55.
MMA legend and co-host of HDNet’s “Inside MMA.” Bas Rutten will be in attendance as a special guest and will conduct a seminar that same day at Apollo’s Karate & MMA in Tulsa.
About HDNet Fights
HDNet Fights (www.hdnetfights.com) is one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA organizations in the country. Founded by Mark Cuban, HDNet Fights promotes, produces and airs over 24 live MMA events annually for broadcast on HDNet. HDNet Fights is unique as a unifying force in the MMA industry partnering with leading promoters, including M1, Sportfight, IFL, Ring of Combat and others to offer the quality match-ups and productions that MMA fans demand.
Founded in 2007, HDNet Fights is led by CEO Andrew Simon while company operations are handled by Dallas MMA legend and former UFC champion, Guy Mezger.
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the home for HDNet Fights and is the leader in offering live MMA broadcasts and the leading news and information show for MMA fans, “Inside MMA”.
In addition, HDNet provides viewers with the best in original news, sports, music and entertainment programming. From “Dan Rather Reports”, to championship sports coverage from the NHL, NASCAR and Major League Soccer to “Guys Night In” every Friday and the HDNet Concert Series every Sunday, HDNet offers great programming with the world’s best picture quality.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager and COO 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.
About the XFL
The Xtreme Fighting League was founded in 1993 by former world kickboxing champion Dale “Apollo” Cook, and is one of the original MMA promotions that pre-dates the UFC. Some former XFL fighters include UFC star Ralph Gracie and former UFC heavyweight champion Maurice Smith.
Cook was a prolific kickboxing promoter in the 70s and 80s, before turning to MMA in the early 90s. He produced an event called the World Series of Combat Martial Arts, featuring fighter from Japan, Thailand, Holland and the U.S. in a clash of style match ups.
The XFL currently promotes 20-24 shows per year in Oklahoma.
For additional info: e-mail: APOLLOCOOK@AOL.COM
To purchase tickets or for information on the Bas Rutten seminar, call Jameie Harris at Apollo’s Karate and MMA: (918) 0627-7070.