STRIKEFORCE and ISKA to host reception for Tennessee Promoters at STRIKEFORCE Nashville
NASHVILLE (April 12, 2010) –World championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE and global martial arts sanctioning body I.S.K.A. will host a joint reception for all 28 members of the I.S.K.A. Tennessee State Promoters Association at Bridgestone Arena, shortly before the first bout at the STRIKEFORCE Nashville: Henderson vs. Shields event on Saturday, April 17.
The ceremony, beginning at 6 p.m. CT, will bring together an ambitious and dedicated group of fight promoters that collectively produced over 150 MMA events in 2009 under the leadership of I.S.K.A. President Cory Schafer and I.S.K.A. Tennessee State Director Anthony Maness. STRIKEFORCE Founder and CEO Scott Coker as well as STRIKEFORCE superstars Cung Le, Brett “The Grim” Rogers, and Josh “The Punk” Thomson will attend the reception as guests.
“This event is a reflection of the success MMA has enjoyed in the state of Tennessee, something that Anthony Maness has played a significant role in through his sincere devotion to the sport,” said Schafer, who has presided over every STRIKEFORCE MMA card since the inaugural event, “Shamrock vs. Gracie,” which took place at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California on March 10, 2006. I.S.K.A. also served as the official sanctioning body of the ESPN2 televised STRIKEFORCE kickboxing series that launched in 1994.
“It has been a privilege working with STRIKEFORCE over the years and watching it grow from one of the most prominent kickboxing leagues in the world to one of the top two MMA promotions in the world.”
STRIKEFORCE Founder and CEO Scott Coker said, “We are proud to host the I.S.K.A. group at the first STRIKEFORCE event in the state of Tennessee. We have a long standing relationship with I.S.K.A, which has been instrumental in the success of our events over the years, so being able to put together an event like this before one of our fights is a pleasure.”
The event’s three world championship bouts will air live on the CBS Television Network, beginning at 9 pm ET/PT. In the main event, legendary MMA superstar and two-time U.S. Olympic wrestling competitor Dan Henderson (25-7) will challenge STRIKEFORCE World Middleweight (185 pounds) Champion Jake Shields (24-4-1), who has won 13 straight bouts dating back to November 2005.
STRIKEFORCE World Light Heavyweight (205 pounds) Champion Gegard Mousasi (28-2-1) will defend his crown against undefeated MMA star and two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestling star and Big 12 Champion “King Mo” Lawal (6-0).
STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (17-2) will risk his belt against his DREAM champion Shinya Aoki (23-4).
Middleweight star and MTV Bully Beatdown host Jason “Mayhem” Miller (22-7) will square off with road warrior Tim Stout (12-8) of Mountain City, Tennessee in a bout that will air on CBS in part or, time permitting, in its entirety.
A host of Nashville area fighters, including former University of Tennessee linebacker Ovince Saint Preux (4-4), will do battle on the event’s non-televised undercard. Saint Preux will face Chris Hawk (3-3) of Memphis, Tennessee at light heavyweight.
Rising star Hunter “The Future” Worsham (5-1), the son of MMA pioneer Cal Worsham and a member of the U.S. Army stationed at nearby Fort Campbell in Clarksville, will fight Nashville’s Zach Underwood (5-2) at middleweight.
In other preliminary card action, Nashville fighters Andy Uhrich (4-0) and Dustin West (2-2) will meet at welterweight (170 pounds); Josh Shockman (6-2) of Nashville will take on Cale Yarbrough (6-1) of Atlanta, Georgia at light heavyweight; Justin Pennington (0-0) and Dustin Ortiz (1-0), both of Nashville, will clash at 125 pounds; and undefeated Nashville competitors Cody Floyd (3-0) and Thomas Campbell (3-0) will collide at 145 pounds.
In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement to stage live MMA events on the
premium cable television network. The promotion made its live, primetime debut on CBS with the “Fedor vs. Rogers” mega-fight that it co-promoted with M-1 Global on Saturday, Nov. 7, and generated 5.46 million viewers for the main event between the world’s No. 1 heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko, and superstar Brett “The Grim” Rogers.
12 April 2010
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