Strikeforce Inks TV Deal With HDNET
Coverage begins with live telecast of “Strikeforce At The Dome”
Dallas, TX—- HDNet, the first television network to deliver programming in high definition format, will broadcast four Strikeforce mixed martial arts events in 2008, beginning with a live telecast of Bodog Fight Presents: “Strikeforce At The Dome” from Tacoma, Washington’s Tacoma Dome on Saturday, February 23rd.
The live HDNet broadcast of Bodog Fight Presents: “Strikeforce At The Dome” will begin at 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT).
“We’re excited about this new deal with Strikeforce ™ as they are such a well respected MMA organization,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “This announcement reinforces our commitment to deliver a minimum of 24 events in 2008 and the partnership between HDNet Fights and Strikeforce ™ guarantees many great match-ups for MMA fans.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to showcase our brand of mixed martial arts on HDNet,” said Scott Coker, President of Strikeforce. “HDNet delivers television content to viewers in the highest quality format possible and Strikeforce has worked diligently to produce the finest, world-class fights for mixed martial arts fans. Together, the two entities will be able to deliver a superior product.”
Bodog Fight Presents: “Strikeforce At The Dome” will be headlined by the long-awaited return of former NFL lineman turned martial arts fighting sensation, Bob “The Beast” Sapp (9-2-1), who will take on another monstrous human specimen in 6’11” K-1 star and undefeated professional boxer, Jan “The Giant” Nortje (25-17).
Former UFC and K-1 North America Champion, Maurice “Big Mo” Smith (73-20-4), will battle another heavyweight legend in six-time world kickboxing champion and former World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas Cruiserweight Champion, Rick “The Jet” Roufus (57-7). The matchup will mark Roufus’s debut under mixed martial arts rules.
Bodog Fight sensation Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (13-2) will collide with 2004 NCAA National Boxing Champion, “Diamond” Ryan Healy (9-2-1) in a 160 lb catch weight limit fight while “Bad” Brad Blackburn (10-9) will square off with Ray Perales (9-13) in a 170 lb. limit bout.
About The Tacoma Dome:
The Tacoma Dome is one of the largest wood domed structures in the world. It is owned and operated by the City of Tacoma’s Public Assembly Facilities Department. The Tacoma Dome hosts over one million guests annually. The Tacoma Dome Arena and its attached Exhibition Hall host over 300 days of events every year including WIAA high school sports, major concerts, family shows, and several tradeshows.
About Strikeforce:
Strikeforce is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, Strikeforce has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” Since then, it has produced the first SHOWTIME PPV mixed martial arts event in history with its world championship “Shamrock vs. Baroni” card on June 22nd of this year followed by the first-ever mixed martial arts event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion on September 29th.
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.