HORWICH, VETELL EARN SPOTS ON USA GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM; IFL MEETS WRESTLING, GRAPPLING ATHLETES, COACHES, FANS
Both Reach Finals To Earn Berths On Squad Which Will Represent USA In Turkey; Partnership Strengthens As Hundreds Learn More About League Through Clinics, USA Wrestling Fan Fest
LAS VEGAS, June 10, 2007 – Three athletes from the International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s number one team-based professional mixed martial arts league, competed over the weekend at the USA Wrestling Team Trials, vying for spots in the Wrestling World Games in Ankara, Turkey, in September. Portland Wolfpack middleweight Matt Horwich (Portland, Ore.) and New York Pitbulls heavyweight Bryan Vetell (New York) both earned spots on the first-ever USA Grappling Team which will represent the USA by reaching the finals of their respective weight classes before falling, while Wolfpack assistant coach and former IFL athlete Dennis Hallman (Yelm, Wash.) advanced to the semifinals.
The IFL had a major presence at the event off the mat as well, participating at the 2007 USA Wrestling Fan Fest. Wolfpack Head Coach Matt Lindland (Portland, Ore.) conducted a pair of MMA clinics, along with IFL stars Horwich, Roy Nelson (Las Vegas) of the Reno Lions and Jay Hieron (Las Vegas) of the Los Angeles Anacondas. In addition to demonstrating grappling techniques as they apply to wrestling and MMA, the four also signed autographs and met hundreds of fans over the two days.
“This weekend further strengthened the partnership between the IFL and USA Wrestling,” said Kurt Otto, IFL Commissioner, who attended the matches and Fan Fest. “It was gratifying to see how many folks were already regular followers of the IFL, and I think we’ve made quite a few new fans as well.”
About the IFL
International Fight League™ (IFL) is the world’s number one professional mixed martial arts sports league. IFL has its headquarters in New York and offices in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv