http://fightnetwork.com Canada's only 24/7 Combat Sports Broadcast Network Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:56:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/ufc-144-preview-predictions/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/ufc-144-preview-predictions/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:56:29 +0000 Ariel Shnerer http://fightnetwork.com/?p=29838 Main Bouts (on Pay-Per-View): -Frankie Edgar (14-1-1) vs. Benson Henderson (15-2) The undisputed UFC lightweight champion Edgar is finally faced with a new challenge when he takes on the former WEC king Henderson. Edgar, 30, has spent the better part of two years training for familiar opponents in Gray Maynard and B.J. Penn. After decisive victories, the Renzo Gracie-trained New Jersey native is now moving on to new challenges in the increasingly deep 155-pound division. Heading into his title shot against then-champion Penn at UFC 112 in April 2010, Edgar was a massive underdog. The speedy 5-foot-6 former NCAA Division I wrestler took the Hawaiian legend to the limit, emptying his gas tank as the fight entered championship rounds. The end result was somewhat controversial as Edgar outpointed Penn via razor-thin decision to claim the title, but the subsequent rematch was a largely one-sided affair. ]]> http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/ufc-144-preview-predictions/feed/ 0 http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/fight-network-extends-live-broadcast-deal-cage-warriors-fighting-championship/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/fight-network-extends-live-broadcast-deal-cage-warriors-fighting-championship/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:46:34 +0000 Press Release http://fightnetwork.com/?p=29834 Toronto – Canada’s Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, announces that it has extended its multi-platform programming partnership with the European mixed martial arts organization Cage Warriors Fighting Championship. The deal will include live broadcasts of all Cage Warriors Fighting Championship events until 2013, including “Fight Night” events held throughout Europe and the Middle East. Cage Warriors Fighting Championship's next event is set for Thursday, February 23 at 2 p.m. ET as Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 46 will invade Kiev, Ukraine with an intriguing heavyweight bout taking place between Andreas Kraniotakes and Dmitry Poberezhets.]]> http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/fight-network-extends-live-broadcast-deal-cage-warriors-fighting-championship/feed/ 0 http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/tristar-gym-heavily-represented-instinct-mma-3/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/tristar-gym-heavily-represented-instinct-mma-3/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:38:33 +0000 Press Release http://fightnetwork.com/?p=29826 MONTREAL (QUEBEC) February 22nd, 2012 – There are many people playing a variety of roles that are required to make a mixed martial arts event come together. As with any successful business, Instinct is always looking to work with elite people whether they be on-camera talent, event coordinators, fighters, media, etc. That is why when an occasion comes along where a partnership with a world leader in their chosen field is at hand, it is an opportunity that cannot be passed up. Such is the relationship that Instinct MMA has with Montreal’s Tristar Gym and its head trainer Firas Zahabi. Tristar Gym gained worldwide recognition over the last few years for being home to the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Georges St-Pierre. Their roster of fighters is a veritable who’s who of international stars and blue chip prospects as men and women come from the four corners of the globe for a chance to learn from Zahabi and his team. With Instinct MMA in a state of exponential growth, the partnership with Tristar proved a natural fit, bringing together the elite fighter factory and the promotion that could provide the stage for them to achieve their potential. The latest Tristar fighter to join Instinct MMA is France’s Moise Rimbon who said: “Signing with Instinct was definitely the best business move at this stage of my career, I am very proud to join such a serious and professional organization.” A very strong statement coming from a man whose talents are in high demand and who has competed all over the world from Japan to the US to Europe and Australia. “I am very glad to have Moise and all my Tristar fighters fighting for Instinct MMA. This promotion is already a premier organization in the world of MMA, and that after only a few months of existence. I’ve had the chance to work with Stephane Patry for over 10 years and he’s one of the best promoters in the business, he know exactly what he’s doing.” added head trainer Firas Zahabi. ]]> http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/tristar-gym-heavily-represented-instinct-mma-3/feed/ 0 http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/bellator-returns-casino-rama-4/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/bellator-returns-casino-rama-4/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:26:43 +0000 Press Release http://fightnetwork.com/?p=29821 CHICAGO, Ill. (February 22, 2012) — After two hugely-successful shows in 2011, Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that the world’s leading tournament-based promotion will be heading back to the sold-out, raucous Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada on Friday, May 4 for Bellator 67. The night will be loaded with tournament action, as well as a bevy of preliminary fights filled with local stars sure to make the Canadian faithful proud. Tickets for this event are on sale now and are available at Ticketmaster.com and in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office. Tickets are priced from $25-$175 Canadian. “We’re thrilled to be able to partner once again with this world leader to bring Ontario MMA fans another edge-of-your-seat action packed fight night,” said Jeff Craik, Vice President of Marketing, Casino Rama. “This is exactly the type of Big Time Excitement customers have come to expect from us.” The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring the area’s top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.]]> http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/bellator-returns-casino-rama-4/feed/ 0 http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/jackson-rampage-japan/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/jackson-rampage-japan/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:22:39 +0000 Press Release http://fightnetwork.com/?p=29796 Las Vegas, Nevada - Former unified UFC & PRIDE light heavyweight champion ‘Rampage’ Jackson is pumped to finally be fighting again in Japan - where he made his legend - after an absence of exactly six years. Jackson last fought in the Land of the Rising Sun in February 2006, defeating elite judo competitor Yoon Dong-Sik at the PRIDE® 31 event. Since then, Jackson has predominantly fought in Las Vegas, where the Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization is headquartered; and he is reveling in finally getting another chance to return to the scene of some of his career-defining victories. “I had a lot of success here, but the real reason I was so anxious to be on this UFC 144 card is that have a special bond with the Japanese fans,” Jackson said from his hotel room in Tokyo. “I’ve really missed fighting here, just the whole energy of the place and how they go crazy but they are also so respectful at the same time. I was so determined to make sure I was on this card. I must have asked Dana (White, UFC President) about it a thousand times. I guess he got tired of me asking and put me as the co-main event with Ryan Bader. Honestly, I’d have been cool as a prelim guy for this fight, just put me on the card! ]]> http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/jackson-rampage-japan/feed/ 0 http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/barnatt-long-in-hooker-smith-bamma-9/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/barnatt-long-in-hooker-smith-bamma-9/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:40:14 +0000 Press Release http://fightnetwork.com/?p=29816 (Feb. 22, 2012) BAMMA, Europe’s leading Mixed Martial Arts promotion, is proud to announce that Luke Barnatt is to replace Sam Hooker; and Lewis Long is to replace Rus Smith in two fiery matches at BAMMA 9, which take place on 24th March at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena. Stepping in just 5 weeks before the fight, upcoming talent Luke ‘Bigslow’ Barnatt takes Sam Hooker’s place in a bout against Hyde MMA’s Lee Johnson. Lee Johnson is the more experienced fighter with a record of 5-1 and all wins secured by submission within the first 2 rounds. However, fighting out of Cambridge’s Tsunami Gym -home to respected UK talent that includes John and Tommy Maguire, and Robby Olivier –Barnatt, though just 2 fights and 2 wins into his career, shows promising talent and comes from a renowned camp whose star continues to rise. With Rus Smith out due to injury, Birmingham home-boy Tom Breese will now face new opponent, Lewis Long. Welterweight, Breese, fights out of distinguished referee, Marc Goddard’s gym; and with three rapid submission wins at BAMMA plus a flawless 8-0-0 Semi-Pro record, Breese is a daunting prospect for any undercard fighter. One man brave enough to step up to the challenge is Lewis Long who can boast to have had just one loss in his 6 fight pro-career. With most of his wins also by submission, expect sparks to fly over some pacey, polished ground game in this hot technical match-up. ]]> http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/barnatt-long-in-hooker-smith-bamma-9/feed/ 0 http://fightnetwork.com/news/boxing/povetkin-huck-promise-exciting-wba-heavyweight-title-fight/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/boxing/povetkin-huck-promise-exciting-wba-heavyweight-title-fight/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:38:44 +0000 Press Release http://fightnetwork.com/?p=29830 Photo: Andreas Sauer WBA Heavyweight Champion Alexander Povetin (23-0, 16 KOs) and WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck (34-1, 25 KOs) faced the media today at the final press conference ahead of their showdown in Stuttgart on Saturday night. “I´m ready to become heavyweight champion,” Huck said. “I would not have taken the fight if I didn´t believe in myself. Povetkin is good, but I can beat him. We once did sparring together and he has bad memories of me. On Saturday I will be the new champ. He is going down!” While Huck tried his best to provoke Povetkin, the 32-year-old Russian remained calm. “At first I was surprised about Huck´s challenge because he has never fought at heavyweight before. But I am happy to defend my title against anybody out there. I am in great shape and I will win.” Huck´s coach Ulli Wegner expects a hard-fought battle. “This will be an exciting fight,” he said. “It´s time to bring back some excitement to the heavyweight division and Saturday will be the first step. We believe that Marco has a better stamina than Povetkin but we will find out about that in the ring.” ]]> http://fightnetwork.com/news/boxing/povetkin-huck-promise-exciting-wba-heavyweight-title-fight/feed/ 0 http://fightnetwork.com/news/boxing/homecoming-dominik-britsch-germany/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/boxing/homecoming-dominik-britsch-germany/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:35:55 +0000 Press Release http://fightnetwork.com/?p=29811 Photo: Photo Wende Another title is on the line on February 25 at Porsche-Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, when regional hero Dominik Britsch (26-0, 9 K.O.) is trying to win the vacant EBU-EU middleweight title versus Roberto Santos (17-6-1, 9 K.O.) from Spain. “It’s pretty cool to fight right on my doorstep as lots of fans are going to show up supporting me. I can’t wait for it!” says the 24 year-old Neckarsulm-native. His promoter Sauerland Event was clearly aiming for such a homecoming. “Dominik is one of the fastest rising fixtures in German Boxing and we are pleased to present this fight in Stuttgart” states its CEO Chris Meyer with continuing, “Dominik has a bright future ahead of him as the EBU-EU belt can easily be a stepping stone to a European Championship or even a World Championship fight.” To get there, Britsch has to sweep Santos out of the way. Actually, the multiple national boxing champion would have had a fight in his native Spain 2 weeks ago, but as soon as he was asked to fight Britsch, he cancelled his then-upcoming bout and signed a deal for this challenge. Whereas the protégé of famed coach Ulli Wegner can count on a partisan crowd from around the Baden-Wuerttemberg region, Santos will have to count solely on his skills inside the squared circle. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old and his team around coach Jesus Antonio Labrador Felipe are coming with a lot of confidence to the German’s backyard.]]> http://fightnetwork.com/news/boxing/homecoming-dominik-britsch-germany/feed/ 0 http://fightnetwork.com/news/boxing/pacquiao-bradley-official-tickets-sale-friday/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/boxing/pacquiao-bradley-official-tickets-sale-friday/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:23:13 +0000 Press Release http://fightnetwork.com/?p=29800 LAS VEGAS, NEV. (February 21, 2012) – Eight-division world champion MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO and undefeated two-time unified junior welterweight champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY, JR. will go mano a mano in a battle of Top-10 pound-for-pound world champions. The Pacquiao vs. Bradley World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship collision will take place Saturday, June 9, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, tickets to Pacquiao vs. Bradley go on sale This Friday! February 24 at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT, and are pricedat $1,200, $900, $600, $400, and $200. Ticket sales at $1,200, $900, $600 and $400 are limited to 10 per person and ticket sales at $200 are limited to two (2) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. “Timothy Bradley is the king of the junior welterweight division in search of new worlds to conquer. I know how he feels,” said Pacquiao. “I admire his ambition and his self confidence to risk his undefeated record by moving up in weight to challenge me. Freddie Roach and I will need to make the most of every training day to prepare for Timothy. When I walk into the ring on June 9, it will be more than a world title defense for me. It will be another opportunity to bring honor and glory to my country and to my fellow Filipinos in the Philippines and around the world.” ]]> http://fightnetwork.com/news/boxing/pacquiao-bradley-official-tickets-sale-friday/feed/ 0 http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/latest-mma-schedule-jones-vs-evans-set-ufc-145-headliner/ http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/latest-mma-schedule-jones-vs-evans-set-ufc-145-headliner/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:21 +0000 Ariel Shnerer http://www.fightnetwork.com/?p=18545 http://fightnetwork.com/news/mma/latest-mma-schedule-jones-vs-evans-set-ufc-145-headliner/feed/ 0