World Cagefighting Alliance Announces First MMA Fight at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and Names Derek Panza PresidentEast Coast Fighters to have new platform to display skills NEW YORK, December 3, 2008 – World Cagefighting Alliance (www.WCAfights.com ) has formed a Mixed Martial Arts Organization that will establish their fight promotions on the east coast. Their first event called “Pure Combat” will be premiering in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday, February 6, 2009 at the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom. Tickets on sale now, priced at $100, $75, $60 and $50. Cageside seats are available at $150. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, at ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-736-1420. More information on fighters, tickets and a seating chart can be found at out www.WCAfights.com. The first fight begins at 7:30 PM.
The World Cagefighting Alliance, “Pure Combat” event will feature some of the best East Coast rising talent in the sport. The Co-Main Event fight will feature a New Jersey Flavor pitting Welterweights Rich Ashkar (Team Oliveira) fighting out of Redbank, NJ against USKBA Champ Tom Gallicchio (Team Pellegrino) out of Toms River, NJ. Included in other match-ups will be Vineland, NJ standouts and former Cage Fury Lightweight champ, Al Buck (Team Evolution) taking on Jose Rodriquez (Rhino Fight Team) out of Keansburg, NJ. Other Welterweight bouts include; Doug Gordon (Team Rush) from Maryland will go against Mike Medrano (Rhino Fight Team) from New Jersey and Brian Demuro (Team Balance) out of New Jersey will fight Cortland, NY’s Eric Henry (Bombsquad MMA). Featherweights Doug Solnier (Fight Firm / Fight Unit) fighting out of Philadelphia, PA. will fight Steve D’Angellis (Bombsquad MMA) out of Tom’s River, NJ.
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February 6, 2009 Fight Card (order TBD):
170 lbs.: Tom Gallicchio (Toms, River, NJ) (Team Pellegrino) (9-3) vs. Rich Ashkar (Redbank, NJ) (Team Oliveira) (5-1)155 lbs.: Matt Lee (Worcester, MA) (MMA Training Center) (11-6) vs. tba170 lbs.: Al Buck (Vineland, NJ) (EVO Fight Club) vs. Jose Rodriquez (Keansburg, NJ) (Rhino Fight Team) 170 lbs.: Doug Gordan (Maryland) (Team Rush) (8-6) vs. Mike Medrano (Clifton, NJ) (Rhino Fight Team) (4-2)155 lbs.: Chris Schlesinger (NJ) (Bellmore Boxing Club) (5-3) vs. Andrew Calandrelli (Connecticut) (Ultimate MMA) (4-2)265 lbs.: Mahnseah Boley (Cortland, NY) (Team Bombsquad) (1-0) vs. Pat Collins (NJ) (AMA Fight Club) (1-0)145 lbs.: Kevin Roddy (Bricktown, NJ) (Team Pellegrino) (9-6) vs. tba170 lbs.: Ryan Smith (Delaware) (Team Rush) (1-0) vs. Anthony D’Angello (NY) (Panza MMA) (4-4)145 lbs.: Steve D’Angellis (Toms River, NJ) (Team Pellegrino) (6-4) vs. Doug Solnier (Philadelphia, PA) (Fight Firm / Fight Unit) (4-0)145 lbs.: Lester Caslow (Tom’s River, NJ) (Team Pellegrino) (2-2) vs. Patrick White (Vineland, NJ) (EVO Fight Team) (debut)170 lbs.: Brian Demuro (Blackwood, NJ) (Team Balance) (4-4) vs. Eric Henry (Cortland, NY) (Team Bombsquad) (8-6)145 lbs.: Anthony Leone (Cortland, NY) (Team Bombsquad) (2-0) vs. Joey Comacho (NJ) (AMA Fight Club)155 lbs.: Daniel Tavares (NJ) (KPOZ Fight Team) vs. Brian Danner (NJ) (EVO Fight Club (debut)
Fight Card subject to change and approval by the NJSAC.
In addition, Derek Panza, a 10-year veteran of the mixed martial arts industry and owner of Panza Mixed Martial Arts, is named President of the start-up MMA organization.
“We are excited to announce the formation of the WCA and the new vision for the sport on the east coast” said Derek Panza, President of WCA. “Mixed Martial Arts is the fastest growing sport in America, It is the boxing of the 21st century.” “We have seen the success and growth of Mixed Martial Arts globally and are looking forward to bringing a new and exciting perspective to it. We have put together a strong team to lead our organization.” Gary Marino formerly with Cage Fury and other fight organizations will head up the Matchmaking. Keith Evans formerly with the UFC and IFL will handle operations. “We are looking forward to our Inaugural Event. It’s our mission to create excitement in the cage and it’s our goal is to take MMA to a new level on the East Coast. We are excited to have HDnet’s “Inside MMA” scheduled to cover this event and we are currently looking into television and other broadcast partnerships,” he went on to say.
Media interested in covering the event or who require additional information should contact Mary Godleski, Marketing Manager for Boardwalk Hall, at 609-348-7021 or mgodleski@accenter.com