SHOXC RETURNS TO SHOWTIME
WITH SENSATIONAL CAGE FIGHT CARD
FRIDAY, OCT. 26, AT CHUMASH CASINO RESORT
Aaron Rosa Faces Jared Hamman In Battle Of Unbeatens; Javier Vazquez
Meets JC Pennington In Co-Featured Bout On Showtime At 11 p.m. ET/PT –
Additional Fights Also Will Be Shown On ProElite.com Before Telecast
NEW YORK (Oct. 19, 2007) – Two undefeated 205-pound fighters with nearly identical records will clash when Aaron Rosa (10-0) faces Jared Hamman (9-0) in one of the co-featured bouts on ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series on SHOWTIME Friday, Oct. 26, at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
In another excellent matchup in the other co-feature, Javier “Showtime” Vazquez (11-2) will meet JC “Crayola’’ Pennington (14-3-1) in a 150-pound fight.
Other fights on a telecast presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s Live Fight Division, EliteXC: Malaipet (2-1) collides with Kaleo ‘’Lights Out’’ Kwan (8-6) at 155 pounds; Taurus “Mushin” Corbbrey (11-2, 1 NC) battles Bobby “Wolverine” McMaster (8-1) at 155 pounds; and in a bout that further illustrates EliteXC’s commitment to women’s MMA, Shayna Baszler (9-4) takes on Jennifer “Rosebud’’ Tate (4-0) at 135 pounds.
The televised fights at Chumash Casino Resort at Santa Ynez, Calif. are scheduled for three, 5-minute rounds with the exception of Baszler-Tate, which is slated for three, 3-minute rounds.
Four additional fights will be streamed live on the Internet at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT on the premier MMA social networking and entertainment site, ProElite.com: In scheduled three, 3-minute round contests: Chris Caraiso (5-0) faces Rick McCorkell (3-3) at 155 pounds; Jaime Fletcher (5-2) meets Giva Santana (8-0) at 185 pounds; Fabricio “Morango” Camoes (7-3) takes on Josh Gaskins (3-1) at 155 pounds; and Shane Del Rosario (2-0) collides with Amedeo Viola (debut) at 265 pounds.
This is the third ShoXC cage fight card, which is patterned after the popular SHOWTIME boxing series ShoBox: The New Generation, which has been a springboard for many young boxers.
“These kids deserve an opportunity to make a name for themselves and to prove they can compete on a worldwide stage,’’ EliteXC Lives Events President Gary Shaw said. “They work just as hard as the established stars in MMA. Personally, I love to watch the progress of young athletes as they develop into future champions and ShoXC is the place where they can do it.’’
Rosa, of San Antonio, Tex., by way of Del Rio, Tex., made such a strong impression with a first-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) over the more heralded Jefferson Silva on the premiere of ShoXC on July 27, 2007, that shortly thereafter he became a full-fledged member of Tito Ortiz’s Team Punishment.
Going in, the rugged six-foot-three-and-one-half-inch Rosa had been a sparring partner of Ortiz. “I got promoted,’’ said Rosa, who trains with Ortiz in the mountains at Big Bear, Calif.
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TREMENDOUS ELITEXC CAGE FIGHT CARD FRIDAY, OCT. 26, AT CHUMASH ON SHOWTIME
Rosa, 24, played high school and college football so he had no disciplined fighting experience before entering MMA a little more than three years ago. But after going 3-1 in the amateurs, he turned pro on Oct. 5, 2005, and has not had many anxious moments since.
Possessing decent size for a light heavy, Rosa is an excellent striker with good knees from a Thai clinch position. He does not possess great submission skills, but has worked on his anti-Jiu-Jitsu game so he has a defense for it. A fine counter fighter, his primary weapons include leg kicks and a jab.
While stile mostly untested, an impressive victory and Rosa could become the first ShoXC fighter to graduate to an EliteXC card.
Hamman, of San Bernardino, Calif., has won all his fights inside the distance. Like Rosa, the six-foot-three-inch 25-year-old also hails from a football background. Hamman played middle linebacker for the University of Redlands (Calif.) for two seasons while pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in History.
In 2003, Hamman made the All-SCIAC Second Team. The same year he earned the team’s most inspirational award and was named Redlands’ Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Before coming to Redlands, Hamman attended Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif., where he earned his associate’s degree while playing football. He received the school’s top scholar-athlete award for his excellence in the classroom and on the field.
Hamman, who is currently the defensive line coach at Redlands, hopes to one day become a head football coach. First, however, the quick, agile, well-conditioned young man continues to tackle MMA with the same ferociousness, determination and dedication he displayed on the football field.
The highlight of a career that began in April 2006 came in July 2007 when the improving, well-rounded fighter won a cruiserweight tourney — by knocking out first, Roger Lloret, and then, Travis Wiuff, on the same night. Both fights ended by second-round knockout.
“In some ways, MMA is a lot like football,’’ said Hamman, a two-year veteran who brings more athletic skills into the cage than the average MMA fighter and is stronger on his feet than on the ground.
Vazquez, of Pomona, Calif., by way of Santiago, Cuba, is a former King Of The Cage champion. One of EliteXC’s first signings, he is making his second start since resuming his career after a three-year layoff due to injuries. Nicknamed “Showtime,’’ he will be making his network debut.
One of the top Jiu-Jitsu practitioners and most explosive and dynamic grapplers in the world, the colorful, 5-foot-seven-inch Vazquez, 31, won his comeback fight with a three-round split decision over Adriano “Nasal’’ Periera on the ProElite.com portion of EliteXC’s Feb. 10 fight card.
“I’m injury free,” said Vazquez, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, who was considered one of the sport’s hottest prospects before the layoff. “The timing is right to fight again in MMA. I’m ready.’’
A former King of the Cage champion, Vazquez has two straight and nine of 10. He tore the ACL in his right knee during a KOTC title defense against Alberto Crane on Feb. 21, 2003.
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TREMENDOUS ELITEXC CAGE FIGHT CARD FRIDAY, OCT. 26, AT CHUMASH ON SHOWTIME
“It was 10-15 seconds into the fight,’’ said Vazquez, who would go on to lose a split decision. “After the first punch I threw, I either miss-stepped or slipped on the mat. I finished the fight but it was only because I think the adrenaline of fighting had set in.’’
Southpaw Vazquez won a fight in November ‘03, but didn’t compete again until defeating Periera.
“During the time off, I competed in a couple Jiu-Jitsu tournaments to try and stay active,” said the Cesar Gracie-trained Vazquez, who teaches MMA at his own school in La Habra, Calif.
The husband of Rose Gracie, the daughter of Rorion and niece of Royce, Vazquez can move into the upper echelon of EliteXC’s top 155-160 pound fighters (Nick Diaz, KJ Noons, etc.) with a victory.
Pennington, of Slidell, Louisiana, is 5-1-1 in his last seven. In his last start on Juy 21, 2007, the 5-foot-10, 28-year-old fought a draw with Ruslan Machukov in a rematch of a match he lost by decision the previous March 3. On April 14, 2007, Pennington scored a split decision victory over Aaron Williams.
Highly regarded on the regional scene, the Louisiana October ‘07 Fighter of the Month’s strengths are his standup, strong submission skills and stamina. His specialty is the triangle. His takedown defense is questionable, however, which may be a factor against Vazquez, who’s known for his use of takedowns.
A Louisiana native, Pennington lived 30 minutes outside of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area a couple years ago. Pennington returned after the brutal storm had subsided to be welcomed by six-eight feet of water in the home he was renting.
Pennington stayed true to his roots, however, and continues to not only live but work, train and fights out of Louisiana as well. Pennington’s “day job’’ involves working for Forensic Investigation Group, a company which specializes in fire investigations. He took off a month to train for this fight.
Corbbrey, of Bluffton, S.C., by way of Tulsa, Okla., is a true martial artist who is coming off a unanimous three-round decision over “Lethal’’ Lee Gibson July 27, 2007, on SHOWTIME at Chumash.
Showing great skill, patience and smarts, while relying heavily on technique, the 5-foot-10-inch, 29-year-old convincingly outpointed the tough, willing Gibson by the scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28.
A smart, extremely competitive, well-rounded fighter who specializes in Muay Thai and Jiu- Jitsu and doubles as a professional boxer, Corbbrey also possesses an especially impressive ground game. He may not be a great striker but he continues to work at it and has competed and won in grappling tourneys.
The dedicated Corbbrey twice was scheduled to fight after whipping Gibson, but suitable opponents could not be found and the contests at Savannah, Georgia, were scratched.
“I really wanted to put on a show for my hometown (crowd),’’ said Corbbrey after one of his fights failed to transpire. The night wasn’t a total loss, however. Corbbrey’s Champion Training Center (Savannah)-coached fighters went 6-0.
McMaster, who was born and still resides in South Boston, has won eight in a row. A crowd pleaser who keeps fans on the edge of their seats, he is as tough as it gets.
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TREMENDOUS ELITEXC CAGE FIGHT CARD FRIDAY, OCT. 26, AT CHUMASH ON SHOWTIME
Days before a fight in 2005, McMaster suffered a broken nose. When he showed up at the weigh-in, both of his eyes were still black. Instead of pulling out, however, McMaster walked into the ring the next evening and won by guillotine choke in less than a minute and a half.
Seemingly coming out of nowhere, McMaster has been beating up guys since he lost his debut, a bout many felt he was winning until a bad cut opened up above an eye that forced the referee to stop it.
In his lone 2007 start and first since August ‘06, the 5-foot-eight-inch 26-year-old Muay Thai/Jiu-Jitsu specialist scored a spectacular overtime third-round knockout over Bobby Diaz Sept. 21, 2007.
Both fighters fought an exciting ground battle during the fast-paced initial two rounds at Wilmington, Mass., with each fighter reversing each other and constantly going for submissions.
After the scorecards were even after two sessions, the fight went into overtime. After a cautious start from both, McMaster landed a devastating right hook that knocked out Diaz out cold.
McMaster, a self-described ‘’hood rat” and street-fighter, spent four years in the Marine Corps that included an eight-month tour of duty in Iraq. While most young fighters work full-time and train part-time, McMaster trains full-time out of Southshore Sportfighting and works part-time as a security guard.
Baszler, 27, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a tough fighter with a Muay Thai background, but has slick submissions and owns wins over Roxanne Modafferi and Julie Kedzie. The well-conditioned Baszler is comfortable striking, in the clinch and on the ground.
In her last outing, the five-foot-seven-inch Baszler impressively submitted Jan Finney (armbar) at 2:40 in the first round during a fight streamed live on ProElite.com on the Chumash July 27 fight card.
Baszler showed her class when she held her own with one of the world’s best women’s fighters, Tara LaRosa, on Feb. 18, 2007. Although she lost by second-round knockout, Shayna was absolutely competitive until getting caught with a left hook with two minutes remaining in the second.
Outside of combat sports, Baszler enjoys playing the cello and guitar, and video games.
A victory on Oct. 26 could put the talented, technically sound Baszler, who decided to get involved in MMA after witnessing Toughwomen shows in South Dakota, a step closer perhaps to a match with The Golden Girl Of MMA, popular Gina Carano.
Tate, of Lodi, Calif., fights out of Stockton, Calif. She is making her SHOWTIME debut. The five-foot-five-inch 27 year old has yet to put in a full night’s work: Three of her fights ended in submission; the other by knockout. This, however, figures to be the sternest challenge of her career.
In her last start, Tate triumphed by 1:09, first-round submission (armbar) over Angeles Hayes on Oct. 6, 2007. Tate, who also owns a pro victory over Tonya Evinger, went unbeaten (5-0) in the amateurs.
Tate fights out of Cen-Cal Combat in Stockton and features the same strong standup skills that landed her a spot on Oxygen’s reality TV show “Fight Girls” in which she starred in it second season.
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TREMENDOUS ELITEXC CAGE FIGHT CARD FRIDAY, OCT. 26, AT CHUMASH ON SHOWTIME
Malaipet, whose birth name is Monkhon WiWasuk, was born in a region (jungle) in Thailand that had no electricity. He lived in a wooden hut that featured a pet elephant for an alarm clock. He tells stories of everyone stopping what they were doing when a plane flew overhead and just watching with awe.
An extremely exciting, talented fighter, the five-foot-seven-inch 26-year is seeking his third MMA win in a row in this, his ShoXC debut. If you question his knockout ability, that would be your mistake. Malaipet often holds back to insure the fans get a good show. The way people see it, if he went all out, his career highlight reel would last maybe 30 seconds.
Malaipet, who fights out of Upland, Calif., is as tough as he is successful. He once beat a guy while fighting with broken bones in his foot. He injured his foot so close to the fight, he didn’t want to cancel. He knew he could beat his opponent with his hands and one leg.
Hailing from a fighting family, Maraipet started to fight at six and turned pro at eight. When he was 12, his parents sold him to a gym in Bangkok where he experienced modern civilization for the first time. The idea of being sold by your family is a common practice in Thailand’s third world environment.
From the age of 12-15, he had no contact with his family. Although, he was able to see them after three years when he was allowed to go back and visit their village, he remained property of the camp and eventually had to return. Malaipet would remain a member of the camp until he turned 22.
When Malaipet came to the United States, he didn’t speak English, but he quickly earned the language by reading childrens’ books.
Years later, Malaipet would teach Muay Thai at Combative Arts Academy in Beverly Hills, Calif. Numerous times, he had students running for the bathroom to upchuck because he pushed them so hard.
Known for unbelievable strength, awesome leg kicks and punching power, Malaipet is definitely one to watch.
Standing in his way is Kwan, of Waimanalo, Hawaii. A five-foot-eight-inch 34-year old is known for being a strong standup fighter after having accumulated a perfect 18-0 record as a kick boxer. An excellent striker also has outstanding knockout power in his hands.
Called “The Hawaiian Superman,’’ by Waimanalo residents, he has earned the respect of his peers through his years of outstanding work in the community. A family man with six children, he is also active in the Church, which is what you would expect from someone who is the son of a preacherman.
Dubbed the “Ambassador of Aloha” by his manager and trainer, Mike Malone, Kwan currently works in construction where he primarily does tile work. However, prior to that he was a dolphin trainer at the renowned Sea Life Park in Hawaii.
During the live show, Kwan’s role was to get launched into the air by a group of dolphins during the finale, as if he was shot out of a cannon. Being shot out of a cannon describes his exciting standup fighting style as he accumulated a perfect 18-0 record in kickboxing before transitioning into MMA.
For more information on ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series, EliteXC and other MMA-related stories, including bios, stats, interviews, videos, photos and more, please visit ProElite.com and EliteXC.com.