INTERNATIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE TO HONOR THE MILITARY IN THE CHICAGO AREA AS PART OF ARMED FORCES DAY
Coaches and athletes to host self-defense clinic for local troops on Thursday, special promotions and ticket discounts for all military families for May 19 event at Sears Centre NEW YORK, May 10, 2007 – The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s first team-based professional mixed martial arts league, announced today a series of promotions honoring Chicago-area servicemen and women in conjunction with the first-ever “Windy City” IFL event at the Sears Centre on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m.
“This is the first in a series of partnerships with the servicemen and women that we will be announcing in the next few weeks, and we couldn’t think of a better way to kick this off than in conjunction with our Armed Forces Day event on May 19,” said Kurt Otto, IFL co-founder and commissioner. “Those who serve in the military protect us with their selfless dedication to duty, and it is our pleasure to assist them in any way we can.”
The events will begin on Monday, May 14, with the USO-sponsored “No Dough Dinner,” the pre-payday feast at USO Great Lakes which helps servicemen and women low on cash eat a hearty, healthy meal. IFL Razorclaws coach Frank Shamrock and Silverbacks star welterweight Rory Markham will attend, signing autographs, eating and talking with attendees and watching that night’s episode of “IFL Battleground,” the MyNetworkTV show which chronicles the life of IFL athletes and coaches, at 7 p.m.
On Thursday, May 17, IFL coaches and athletes will host a self-defense clinic and autograph session at the Freedom Recruit Training Site of the Great Lakes Base, beginning at 6 p.m. All on base will have an opportunity to attend the clinic and have a special meet-and-greet with some of the world’s greatest athletes and the next stars of the rising sport of Mixed Martial Arts. The IFL will also offer a special military discount to all members of the military for the May 19 event at the Sears Centre. Anyone presenting a military ID will be able to receive a discount on select tickets at the box office. For more information log on to www.ifl.tv.
The May 19 IFL event will have a distinct Chicago flavor, as the Quad Cities-based Silverbacks, coached by UFC world champion Pat Miletich, will meet the Chicago-based Red Bears, coached by world champion Igor Zinoviev. That five bout team match will follow the five-bout team match between the San Jose-based Razorclaws, coached by UFC champion Frank Shamrock, and the Orange County, Calif.-based Condors, led by world champion Marco Ruas. In addition to undefeated heavyweights Ben Rothwell of the Silverbacks and Antoine Jaoude of the Condors, the event will feature numerous athletes with military experience, including the Razorclaws’ Josh Odom and Brian Foster, the Red Bears’ Mark Miller and the Condors’ Adam Lynn.
About the IFL
International Fight League™ (IFL) is the world’s first professional mixed martial arts sports league. IFL has its headquarters in New York, NY and offices in Las Vegas, NV. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.