SCHULTZ TO REPLACE GUNDERSON AT INTERNATIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE “WORLD GRAND PRIX” DECEMBER 29
Gunderson Out With Hand Injury; Schultz To Take On Horodecki For Lightweight Championship
NEW YORK, December 14, 2007 – Veteran Ryan “The Lion” Schultz (North Platte, Neb.), will replace John Gunderson (Medford, Ore.) in the International Fight League World Grand Prix lightweight championship against undefeated (11-0) star Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki (London, Ontario) on Saturday, December 29, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Five Championship bouts will be contested that night, believed to be unprecedented in North America.
Gunderson aggravated a hand injury in training after being named as a replacement for the injured Shad Lierley (Seattle) on Wednesday.
Schultz, a member of the Wolfpack, based in Portland and coached by Matt Lindland, is 4-2 in IFL competition, including 3-0 in 2007. He earned decision victories over Joe Sampieri (New York) and Savant Young (Pasadena, Calif.) during the regular season, and topped Aaron Riley in a preliminary bout at the IFL team finals in September. One of his IFL defeats came at the hands of Horodecki via TKO in November 2006. Schultz’s overall MMA mark is a strong 17-9-1.
Tickets for the Finals can be purchased at the Mohegan Sun box office, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-860-886-0070.
Athletes were selected for the World Grand Prix based on their respective match records during the 2007 regular season. In the event of a tie, competitors with the fastest finishes or best strength of victories earned the higher seeds. The winners will defend their individual belts throughout the 2008 IFL season.
The updated card for the World Grand Prix Finals follows. Bout order will be determined prior to the weigh-in on Dec. 28.
Preliminary Bouts170 lbs.: Rory Markham, Silverbacks (Chicago) (2-0 IFL 2008, 6-1 IFL overall, 12-2 MMA overall) vs. TBD185 lbs.: Marcello Salazar (Brazil) (0-0, 0-0, 6-1-2) vs. Alex Cook (Whitehaven, England) (0-0, 0-0, 8-5)185 lbs.: Elias Rivera (Meriden, Conn.) (0-0, 0-0, 3-2) vs. Tim Kennedy, Red Bears (Fayetteville, N.C.) (2-0, 2-0, 8-1)
Championship Bouts145 lbs.: L.C. Davis, Silverbacks (Kansas City, Mo.) (2-0, 2-0, 9-0) vs. Wagnney Fabiano, Dragons (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (4-0, 4-0, 8-1)155 lbs.: Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) (3-0, 4-2, 17-9-1) vs. Chris Horodecki, Anacondas (London, Ontario) (4-0, 7-0, 11-0)170 lbs.: Jay Hieron, Anacondas (Las Vegas) (3-1, 5-2, 13-4) vs. Delson Heleno, Pitbulls (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (5-1, 6-2, 13-3)185 lbs.: Matt Horwich, Wolfpack (Portland, Ore.) (3-1, 5-3, 20-9-1) vs. Benji Radach, Anacondas (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) (5-0, 5-0, 17-3)265 lbs.: Roy Nelson, Lions (Las Vegas) (3-1, 3-1, 9-2) vs. Antoine Jaoude, Condors (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (4-0, 4-0, 8-2)
About the IFL
International Fight League™ (IFL) has its headquarters in New York and offices in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.