WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING® ANNOUNCES FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT ON SEPT. 30 IN COLORADO

July 26, 2010 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

Jose Aldo vs. Manny Gamburyan

Plus, Donald Cerrone vs. Jamie Varner

Miguel Angel Torres vs. Charlie Valencia

Leonard Garcia vs. Mark Hominick

Chan Sung Jung vs. George Roop

Tickets on Sale Saturday, July 31, at 10 a.m. MT

From 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colo.

Thursday, Sept. 30

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – One of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite returns this fall to defend his title against one of the division’s most dangerous fighters. Featherweight champion Jose Aldo, universally recognized as the number one ranked lighter weight fighter in MMA, makes the second defense of his crown against judo ace Manny Gamburyan when World Extreme Cagefighting® invades the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colo. on Thursday, Sept. 30.

WEC follows the lead of its sister company, the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, which has put on two successful events in Broomfield in recent years.

In addition to the featherweight title fight, WEC General Manager Reed Harris confirmed today that Denver native Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone will meet former lightweight champion Jamie Varner in a long-awaited grudge match. Plus, former bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres returns to the cage to take on the red-hot Charlie Valencia. If those fights weren’t enough, Sept. 30 also features featherweight bouts pitting Leonard Garcia vs. Mark Hominick and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung vs. George Roop.

“From top to bottom, this card is stacked with Fight of the Year-caliber matchups,” Harris said. “In addition to having a title fight, a grudge match, and a bantamweight war, this card features warriors like Garcia, Hominick, and ‘The Korean Zombie.’ These guys have all been in some of the most memorable fights in WEC history. Now, they have a chance to put on epic fights in front of the great Colorado fans.”

Tickets for WEC: Aldo vs. Gamburyan go on sale Saturday, July 31 at 10 a.m. MT and will be priced at $185, $135, $75, and $40. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to WEC newsletter subscribers on Thursday, July 29 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the WEC newsletter through wec.tv. Tickets will be available online at www.TicketHorse.com or by phone at 866.461.6556. TicketHorse kiosks are also located at all Colorado Dick’s Sporting Goods Stores (credit cards only). In addition, tickets are also available at 1STBANK Center Box Office on July 30 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. MT or at Pepsi Center during normal box office hours.

WEC: Aldo vs. Gamburyan will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.  All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.

Ranked as one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, featherweight champion Jose Aldo (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is unbeaten at 7-0 in WEC and on course to become the most dominant 145-pounder ever. Fresh off a dominant performance over former division kingpin Urijah Faber in April, the 23-year-old knockout sensation Aldo (17-1) has his sights set on his 10th consecutive victory.

“I’m excited to fight Manny Gamburyan, who is a really good fighter,” Aldo said. “I know that he has good judo and punching power, but I expect to knock him out. He’s not taking my belt.”

Unbeaten at 3-0 since dropping to featherweight last year, Manny Gamburyan (fighting out of Hollywood, Calif.) stunned many observers in April by knocking out former champion Mike Brown. The win earned the Armenian judo practitioner a shot at Aldo, and more importantly, the opportunity to realize a lifelong dream. With a world title in his crosshairs, Gamburyan (13-5) expects to shock the world when he meets the Brazilian champion in Colorado.

“I feel blessed to have this opportunity,” Gamburyan said. “This is a fight featuring the number one and number two fighters in the world in this division, so there are no secrets to my game plan. I’ve gotta’ bring my ‘A’ game. I have to be in top-notch shape, I’ve got to have good standup, ground and wrestling. Everything has to be perfect. I think he’s a great fighter and I respect him as a champion, but I fight to destroy. It’s my time and I’ve got to shine.”

Ask Donald Cerrone (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M) which fight he’d like the most and he’d undoubtedly tell you that it’s a rematch with former world champion Jamie Varner. Since their first fight in Jan. 2009 ended in a controversial decision loss for Cerrone – a loss than came when Varner was struck with an illegal knee and could not continue – the Denver-born fighter has made no qualms about his desire to get back inside the cage with Varner. Now, on Sept. 30, “Cowboy” gets his wish and he gets it in his backyard of Colorado.

“I’ve wanted this fight for a long time,” Cerrone (11-3, 1 NC) said. “There’s definitely bad blood there. Jamie is definitely the perfect fight for me to get motivated and come back stronger than ever. Plus, I’ve never lost in Broomfield and I have a lot of support there. It will be good to feel that energy and fight Jamie Varner in Colorado.”

One of the most division’s most talented athletes, Jamie Varner (fighting out of Tempe, Ariz.) is on a quest to reclaim the WEC lightweight title. After battling unbeaten Kamal Shalorus to a draw in June, the 25-year-old Varner (16-3-3, 2 NC) has his sights set on a rematch with Cerrone and the opportunity to silence the former pro bull rider once and for all.

“This Cerrone fight has been a question mark in my career and everybody has question marks in their life,” Varner said. “So this fight is the opportunity to turn that question mark into a period or an exclamation mark. This is a good opportunity to shut him up and silence the critics and let them see that I’m the real deal.”

Once the most dominant bantamweight on the planet, Miguel Angel Torres (fighting out of East Chicago, Ind.) believes he has recaptured the formula that led him to becoming world champion. Fueled by a new training regimen that includes refining his aggressive striking and high-level jiu jitsu, the 29-year-old Torres (36-3) is as motivated as ever and hopes to prove that point on Sept. 30 when he locks horns with Valencia.

“Charlie is tough and he’s been around a long time like me,” Torres, a Carlson Gracie black belt, said. “I can’t underestimate him, but I match up well with him in all areas of the game. I’m looking to make a statement with this fight and I have to show everybody that I haven’t gone anywhere. I’m still here and I’m dangerous. I’m not looking to just beat Charlie. I want to put him out”

Riding consecutive victories over Seth Dikun, Ox Wheeler, and Akitoshi Tamura, Charlie Valencia (fighting out of Ontario, Calif.) is knocking on the doorstep of world title contention. As the explosive 35-year-old gears up for his biggest fight to date against Torres, Valencia (12-5) predicts one of the year’s best fights.

“I’m usually the underdog and I relish that role,” Valencia said. “In MMA, anything can happen. I’m out there to win and put on exciting fights. I respect him for what he’s done for the bantamweight division. I expect this fight to be fast-paced and entertaining.”

Sept. 30 also marks the return of Leonard Garcia and Chan Sung Jung, who waged war against one another in the “Fight of the Decade” in April. Garcia (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) heads to Broomfield to take on Canadian star Mark Hominick (fighting out of Thamesford, Ontario, Canada), who had his own epic clash in June with long-time rival Yves Jabouin. Meanwhile fan favorite “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (fighting out of Po-Hang, South Korea) looks to leave Colorado buzzing when he locks horns with gritty featherweight George Roop (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.).

Remaining bouts for WEC: Aldo vs. Gamburyan will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit www.wec.tv. Follow WEC at http://twitter.com/WEConVERSUS.

About World Extreme Cagefighting®

The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. WEC, founded in 2001, is the sister organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and today features the most prominent light weight fighters in the world. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network.WEC programming is also available on Fox Sports en Espanol. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on The Score network in Canada, Setanta Sports in Australia, Globosat in Brazil, and Cadena Tres in Mexico. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. World Extreme Cagefighting® and WEC® are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

About VERSUS

VERSUS, the fastest growing sports cable network in the country, prides itself on super-serving passionate sports fans across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD).  The network is the cable television home of the National Hockey League (NHL), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Professional Bull Riders (PBR).  VERSUS also has partnerships with top sports leagues such as NASCAR, NBA and UFC and airs collegiate sports featuring nationally-ranked teams from top conferences such as the Pac-10, Big 12 and Mountain West.  The network is also home to the best outdoor programming on television and airs original programs not available anywhere else, including Sports Soup and Sports Jobs with Junior Seau.  VERSUS, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

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WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING® CONFIRMS REMAINING BOUTS FOR PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT ON APRIL 24

April 2, 2010 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

Shane Roller vs. Anthony Njokuani

Scott Jorgensen vs. Antonio Banuelos

Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia

Anthony Pettis vs. Alex Karalexis

Demetrious Johnson vs. Brad Pickett

Anthony Morrison vs. Mackens Semerzier

Rani Yahya vs. Takeya Mizugaki

Tyler Toner vs. Brandon Visher

Aldo vs. Faber

From ARCO ARENA in Sacramento, Calif.

Fight to Air Live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT

Tickets on Sale NOW

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – World Extreme Cagefighting® proudly confirms the remaining bouts of its pay-per-view card headed to ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday, April 24. If two world title fights featuring Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber and Ben Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone, as well as a clash between former featherweight champion Mike Brown and Manny Gamburyan weren’t enough, WEC General Manager Reed Harris has announced eight more explosive fights slated for this historic weekend.

The fights are Shane Roller vs. Anthony Njokuani, Scott Jorgensen vs. Antonio Banuelos, Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia, Anthony Pettis vs. Alex Karalexis, Demetrious Johnson vs. Brad Pickett, Anthony Morrison vs. Mackens Semerzier, Rani Yahya vs. Takeya Mizugaki, and Tyler Toner vs. Brandon Visher.

“This is one of the deepest cards we’ve ever put together,” Harris said. “From top to bottom, this event has the potential to produce some of the best fights of the year. And I’ve said all along that I think Aldo vs. Faber could be one of the best bouts of the decade. On April 24, fans are in for a real treat.”

Tickets for Aldo vs. Faber are on sale now and priced at $185, $135, $75, and $40. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the ARCO Arena Box Office. Tickets also are available online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com.

Aldo vs. Faber will be available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 ($49.99/Canada) for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

Having earned three consecutive “Knockout of the Night” honors, perhaps no lightweight striker is more feared than Anthony Njokuani (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.). With wins over Bart Palaszewski, Muhsin Corbbrey, and Chris Horodecki, “The Assassin” believes a fourth straight victory on April 24 will lead him to a world title shot. Standing in his way is three-time Division I All-American wrestler Shane Roller (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.). Riding back-to-back wins over Marcus Hicks and Danny Castillo, the 30-year-old Roller (7-2) will look to use his solid takedowns and vicious ground and pound to derail Njokuani (13-2). In a crowded lightweight division, both Njokuani and Roller plan to leave it all in the cage at ARCO Arena, with the winner taking a giant leap toward championship glory.

In a highly-anticipated rematch of their hotly-contested 2009 clash, bantamweights Scott Jorgensen (fighting out of Boise, Idaho) and Antonio Banuelos (fighting out of Arroyo Grande, Calif.) collide at WEC’s first pay-per-view event. A 12-fight WEC veteran, the 30-year-old Banuelos looks to prove that his split decision victory over Jorgensen last June was no fluke. Having soundly defeated Kenji Osawa in his last fight in November, Banuelos (18-5) hopes to earn a shot at 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz with a second victory over “Young Guns.” After racking up three consecutive victories since dropping a decision to Banuelos, former Boise State University wrestler Jorgensen (9-3) has skyrocketed up the bantamweight rankings. Hungry to avenge his loss to Banuelos, expect the fiery 27-year-old to come out swinging on April 24.

Korea’s finest featherweight prospect makes his WEC debut this month and is set to take on one of the organization’s most battle-tested veterans. Boasting an impressive record of 10-1, 22-year-old Chan Sung Jung (fighting out of Seoul, Korea) meets Leonard Garcia (fighting out of Lubbock, Texas) in an explosive 145-pound contest. With six submissions and two knockouts, Jung has a knack for finishing fights. He’ll need to be on point in his first WEC fight when he meets heavy-handed Garcia (17-5-1) in Sacramento. Training under the tutelage of Greg Jackson in Albuquerque, N.M., the 30-year-old is as motivated as ever to climb the featherweight rankings. Fresh off a slugfest with George Roop last month, Garcia thinks his well-rounded game will guide him past Jung in their pivotal fight at ARCO.

Lightweight Anthony Pettis (fighting out of Milwaukee, Wis.) has made quite the impression in his brief WEC career. Owning a slick submission victory over Mike Campbell and a devastating knockout win over Danny Castillo, many believe the 23-year-old is poised for superstardom. Enter Alex Karalexis (fighting out of Boston, Mass.) The 32-year-old, who competed on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter™, is ready and able to play spoiler and thwart Pettis’ rise to the top. A heavy-handed striker, Karalexis (10-4) returns to the cage for the first time since knocking out Greg McIntyre last year. Knowing that a second consecutive victory could push him toward a shot at a world title, Karalexis has vowed to make a big statement when he faces Pettis (8-1) later this month.

Bantamweight Brad Pickett (fighting out of Coconut, Creek, Fla.) made waves in his WEC debut in December by defeating Kyle Dietz with the rarely-seen Peruvian neck tie. Now the submission ace returns on April 24 with his sights set on another flashy stoppage victory, this time over WEC newcomer Demetrious Johnson (fighting out of Parkland, Wash.). The task will be easier said than done though. The 23-year-old Johnson (5-0) has never been to a decision in his career, submitting three of his opponents and knocking out two. Known for his speed and grit, the Northwest-based fighter hopes to overpower Pickett (19-4) in a dark horse candidate for “Fight of the Night.”

An intriguing featherweight fight pits Anthony Morrison (fighting out of Philadelphia, Pa.) against Mackens Semerzier (fighting out of Virginia Beach, Va.). Nicknamed “Cheesesteak” in homage to his Philadelphia roots, Morrison is a witty, charismatic competitor with strong punching power. After making his WEC debut against former featherweight champ Mike Brown in January, Morrison (15-7) returns to the cage with the goal of knocking out Semerzier. A training partner of former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres, Semerzier (7-1) burst onto the scene last year with an upset win over Wagnney Fabiano. He looks to use his efficient grappling and superior athleticism to best Morrison when the two collide in California’s capitol city.

In a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, standup wizard Takeya Mizugaki (fighting out of Tokyo, Japan) takes on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ace Rani Yahya (fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) in bantamweight action. Known for his epic clash with then-bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres in 2009, Mizugaki (12-4-2) is a proficient striker who is dangerous in the clinch. He’ll look to keep the fight on the feet and avoid the dangerous ground work of his opponent. A winner of three out of his last four fights, Yahya (15-5) is perhaps the most seasoned grappler in the 135-pound division. With that said, the former Abu Dhabi world champion will look for submissions early and often when he collides with Mizugaki on April 24.

WEC’s pay-per-view event opens up with featherweight fireworks, as Brandon Visher (fighting out of Maui, Hawaii) takes on Tyler Toner (fighting out of Denver, Colo.). No stranger to throwing leather, Visher (13-0) scored a knockout win over Courtney Buck in his WEC debut in December. The 25-year-old, nicknamed “The Viper,” looks to join the 145-pound elite with a win over Toner. Training out of the same gym as UFC stars Shane Carwin and Nate Marquardt, Toner (9-1) is a seasoned veteran with five wins by way of knockout. The Denver native plans to kick of the pay-per-view card with a bang and end Visher’s climb up the featherweight ladder when the two lock horns in Sacramento.

For more information, visit www.wec.tv. Follow WEC at http://twitter.com/WEConVERSUS.

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WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING® ANNOUNCES PAY-PER-VIEW FEATURING #1 AND #2 RANKED FEATHERWEIGHTS IN THE WORLD

February 3, 2010 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

JOSE ALDO DEFENDS FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST

TOP CONTENDER URIJAH FABER

AT ARCO ARENA IN SACRAMENTO, CALIF.

PLUS, HENDERSON VS. CERRONE FOR LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

AND BROWN VS. GAMBURYAN

Saturday, April 24

WEC: Aldo vs. Faber

Tickets on Sale Saturday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. PT

From ARCO ARENA in Sacramento, Calif.

Fight to Air Live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – In what will be one of the biggest nights in MMA history, World Extreme Cagefighting® presents its most explosive card ever. On Saturday, April 24, live on Pay-Per-View from the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif., hometown hero “The California Kid” Urijah Faber attempts to capture the featherweight title from feared Brazilian knockout artist and ESPN’s 2009 Fighter of the Year Jose Aldo.

If that wasn’t enough, lightweight champion Ben Henderson collides with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in a rematch of the 2009 Fight of the Year. Their first bout featured five grueling rounds of nonstop action and both promise even more fireworks when they meet again in April. Plus, former featherweight champion Mike Brown locks horns with Armenian judo ace and The Ultimate Fighter™ finalist Manny Gamburyan in one of the most anticipated fights of 2010.

“We are building the most action-packed card we’ve ever done for our first Pay-Per-View,” WEC General Manager Reed Harris said, adding that at least five fights will make the PPV broadcast. “The Jose Aldo-Urijah Faber fight is something fans have been talking about for a long time. When those two step inside the cage, it could be one of the best fights in the history of the sport. With the Cerrone-Henderson rematch and the Brown-Gamburyan fight also scheduled, this guarantees that fans get the most bang for their buck.”

Tickets for WEC: Aldo vs. Faber go on sale Saturday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $185, $135, $75, and $40. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to WEC newsletter subscribers on Friday, Feb. 5 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the WEC newsletter through wec.tv. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the ARCO Arena Box Office. Tickets also are available online through www.wec.tv or www.ticketmaster.com.

WEC: Aldo vs. Faber will be available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 ($49.99/Canada) for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

Named ESPN MMA Live’s 2009 Fighter of the Year, featherweight champion Jose Aldo (16-1) has proved to be one of the most devastating fighters to ever grace the WEC cage. After scoring consecutive knockouts in his first five WEC fights, Aldo earned a shot against then-champion Mike Brown last November. Using blazing speed and heavy strikes, the 23-year-old Brazilian upended Brown in two rounds to earn his first world championship. He now makes his first title defense against number one contender Urijah Faber and believes a win could serve as the beginning of one of the most dominant championship reigns in history.

“Urijah is a good fighter, but he’s not taking my belt,” Aldo said. “My dream has been to be the world champion. Now that I have the belt, I am not giving it up.”

Having already completed a two-year run as WEC featherweight champion in his stellar career, Sacramento, California’s Urijah Faber (23-3) is poised to recapture the belt when he takes on Aldo at ARCO Arena. Riding the momentum of his January victory over Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Raphael Assuncao, “The California Kid” believes he can diffuse the champion’s speed by using his top-notch wrestling and slick defense. What’s more, Faber has made it clear that when Aldo brings the belt to Sacramento on April 24, he’s leaving it at ARCO Arena.

“It’s Jose Aldo’s belt right now – but in my mind, that’s my belt,” Faber, who owns wins over Dominick Cruz, Jeff Curran, and Jens Pulver (twice), said. “My belief is that I should have that belt, and I’m gonna go in there and try to get it. I’m out here ready to prove it.”

“I think the guy that poses a threat to Aldo is a guy that’s just as fast as he is,” Faber continued. “That guy also has dangerous strikes, but has the advantage of dictating where the fight goes. That guy might just be me. I’ve got a proven record of submitting and grounding and pounding guys and I’m very difficult to knock out.”

WEC lightweight champion Ben “Smooth” Henderson (11-1) has defeated a Who’s Who of elite lightweights since joining the division in 2009. Owning wins over Anthony Njokuani, Shane Roller, Donald Cerrone, and most recently Jamie Varner, the 26-year-old has relied on his tremendous grappling and precision striking en route to capturing lightweight gold. The Glendale, Ariz. resident now turns his attention to a fight with Cerrone, who he battled for five grueling rounds last October.

“I expect another great fight and hopefully I’ll be able to end it this time, like I do with most of my fights,” Henderson, who unified the lightweight titles with a win over Varner at ARCO Arena in January, said. “Call me crazy, but I’m ready for another five-round war with Cerrone. Let’s have the exact same five-round, hard, all-out war. I love that, I’m not going to lie. But at the end, I want to finish it. I don’t want it to go to a judges’ decision, I don’t want any controversy; I don’t want any ifs, ands or buts. I want to end it.”

Fan favorite Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone is blunt when he speaks of his upcoming rematch with champion Ben Henderson. When the 26-year-old meets Henderson on April 24, he plans to pick up where the two left off last fall. Except this time, Cerrone doesn’t believe the fight will make it to the judges’ scorecards.

“What’s different this time is that I know what he has,” Cerrone, who scored a victory over Ed Ratcliff in his last fight in December, said. “He gave me everything he had last time. I know what I did wrong and what I need to fix. I feel like Ben can be finished and I’m ready to show the world that he can be put away.”

Former featherweight champion Mike Brown (23-5) believes a win over Manny Gamburyan in April will put him first in line for a crack at the winner of the Jose Aldo-Urijah Faber bout. With that said, the 34-year-old, who owns wins over Jeff Curran, Urijah Faber (twice), Leonard Garcia, and Anthony Morrison, plans to make a big statement when he fights the Armenian judo ace.

“It’s the perfect step for me right now to make my way back to the title,” Brown, who returns to scene of his last victory in Sacramento,” said. “We’re both solid takedown guys with solid jiu-jitsu, but I’m the bigger, harder puncher. I just have to crack him hard. If I hit him hard, I think he won’t want any part of it.”

Unbeaten since dropping to featherweight last year, Manny Gamburyan (12-5) considers himself among the best 145-pounders in the sport. Thanks to a dominant performance against Leonard Garcia in his last fight in November, “The Anvil” finds himself facing former champion Brown in a pivotal fight. The significance of the bout is not lost on the 28-year-old, and he believes fans will see the best Gamburyan ever on April 24.

“He’s a former world champion and I give him props,” Gamburyan said. “But I’m going to find his weaknesses and beat him. It’s going to be a good fight. I can’t wait for this fight.”

Remaining bouts for WEC: Aldo vs. Faber will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit www.wec.tv. Follow WEC at http://twitter.com/WEConVERSUS.

About World Extreme Cagefighting®

The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. WEC, founded in 2001, is the sister organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and today features the most prominent light weight fighters in the world. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network.WEC programming is also available on Fox Sports en Espanol. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on the TSN network in Canada, Setanta Sports in Australia, Globosat in Brazil, and Cadena Tres in Mexico. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. World Extreme Cagefighting® and WEC® are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

About Maloof Sports & Entertainment

Maloof Sports & Entertainment includes the Sacramento Kings (NBA) and ARCO Arena. Led by Joe and Gavin Maloof, and owned by the Maloof family with long-term, local partners, the organization is committed to the community in Sacramento and to making a positive, meaningful difference in the lives of families in need in the Sacramento region. Maloof Sports & Entertainment has donated more than $17 million to charities in 10 years of Maloof family ownership. For more information about Maloof Sports & Entertainment, please visit kings.com and arcoarena.com or call 916-928-0000.

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TONIGHT’S “INSIDE MMA” ON HDNET BRINGS TOGETHER SOME OF MMA’S HEAVIEST HITTERS

January 22, 2010 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

Jon Fitch, Jose Aldo and Ed Soares speak with Kenny and Bas, Friday, January 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET

WHAT: On tonight’s “Inside MMA,” on HDNet, UFC Welterweight contender Jon Fitch and Brazilian fighter Jose “Junior” Aldo, will sit down on the panel with Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten.  The panel will also feature one of the most significant managers in the business – Ed Soares.

Fitch (21-3-0), the UFC Welterweight Contender, has notable wins against Thiago Alves and Brock Larson.  Jose “Junior” Aldo, WEC Featherweight Champ has recently beat Mike Brown to win the belt. Aldo will defend his belt against Urijah Faber. Hear from both fighters about one of the most anticipated WEC fights ever!  Also joining the panel is Ed Soares, the MMA manager who is considered one of the most influential in the sport and has handled over 20 fighters including Aldo, Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria.

Also, Ron Kruck interviews UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, just before Couture’s headlining fight against Mark Coleman at UFC 109.

WHEN: Don’t miss this episode of “Inside MMA,” TONIGHT, January 22 at 9:00 p.m. only on HDNet.

About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and provocative content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television’s only HD news feature programs “HDNet World Report,” and the Emmy Award winning “Dan Rather Reports,” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather.  Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world.  HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant  – telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring five regular season games from the Premiere Season of the United Football League.  HDNet also features the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, “HDNet Fights” (www.hdnetfights.com).  “HDNet Fights” works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, M-1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline and more.  HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet’s “Inside MMA” is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA.

HDNet also delivers the world’s largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series.  The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more.  HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring “Art Mann Presents,” “New York Confessions,” “Deadline” and “Get Out!”  HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series.  “NASA on HDNet” presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.

Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters.  The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

Upcoming Sneak Preview films include “District 13:  Ultimatum.”

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Verizon FiOS and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliated companies.

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet1, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

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WEC Quick Quote: Urijah Faber feels he has the ‘edge’ over Jose Aldo

January 12, 2010 by kenny · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

Written By: Nate Lawson (MMAmania.com)

“First off, you have to be able to match his speed, which I know I can do. Just be wary of all his tools. He’s got some really dangerous tools. Stand up, he’s got those low leg kicks that open things up for him. He’s got the knees that seem to reach people’s faces very, very easily, and he’s got really fast, powerful hands. So I’ll be aware of that, have good defense, and be ready to throw my own heavy punches and be able to dictate where the fight goes with takedowns. And I feel like, even though he’s a black belt, I feel like I still have the grappling edge.”

Urijah Faber sat down with Pro MMA Radio this past Monday (Jan. 11) to discuss his upcoming title fight with the young and dangerous WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Faber earned the title shot after his third round submission (rear naked choke) victory against Raphael Assuncao. This bout will be “The California Kid’s” second shot at retrieving his long lost featherweight title; a title he feels still belongs to him. Though the fight won’t take place for several months, Faber already is analyzing what he has to do to win and he feels he is exactly the kind of fighter to beat the champion. Is he?

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Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo and the rest of Team Brazil predict outcome for UFC 110 ‘Silva vs Bisping’ fight (Video)

January 12, 2010 by kenny · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

Written By: Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com)

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ALDO LOOKING TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SILVA, MACHIDA

November 23, 2009 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

BRAZILIAN SEEKS DOMINANT REIGN AS CHAMPION

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Newly-crowned World Extreme Cagefighting® featherweight champion Jose Aldo had dreamed of winning a world title since he was a young boy. Growing up poor in Manaus, Brazil, Aldo didn’t have many material possessions, nor did he always know when his next meal would come.

Simply put, Jose Aldo was hungry. Starving, actually. But what makes this story so unique is that Aldo’s hunger could not be fulfilled by a cheeseburger. Despite his less-than-ideal upbringing, Aldo was craving a taste of success. Aldo wanted to become an elite fighter and escape the life of poverty, leaving championship gold as his only way out.

“My dream has always been to win a world title,” Aldo said. “When I started my career, I set out to be the best. I wanted a better life for my family and for myself.”

In front of a packed house at The Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas last Wednesday, the 23-year-old Aldo realized his dream, scoring a second round TKO victory over Mike Brown to win the WEC Featherweight Championship. In doing so, Aldo knocked off one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport and claimed the title he long had an appetite for. Like his fellow countrymen Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida, Jose Aldo had finally achieved his goal of becoming a world champion.

“You could see how much the title meant to Jose when he was announced as the winner,” WEC GM Reed Harris said. “Behind the devastating strikes and knockout power, Jose is actually a very emotional, humble man. To see him well up with tears was an awe-inspiring moment for me. It was a rare look at one of the most feared athletes in the sport.”

At the post-fight press conference on Nov. 18, Aldo beamed with joy as Harris announced him as the new featherweight champion. However, as Harris told the assembled media that Aldo had the potential to be as dominant as Silva and Machida, Aldo admits that his thoughts drifted back to the days in which he struggled to stay afloat. He reflected on the shortage of food, clothes, and other necessities. While Harris was gushing about his new titleholder, Aldo, at least mentally, was back in Brazil.

“It’s just nice to finally be the world champion,” Aldo said shortly after the press conference concluded. “I am so happy that my dream came true.”

As Aldo left the press conference, he handed the title belt to a member of his team and let out a huge breath of air. When asked by a WEC official how he felt, the young Brazilian offered a humorous response via his translator.

“I’m pretty hungry,” Aldo said. “I think I want a cheeseburger.”

Aldo, to no one’s surprise, is still hungry.

*VERSUS WILL RE-AIR ALDO’S CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY TOMORROW, NOV. 24 AT 8PM ET*

For more information on Jose Aldo, visit www.wec.tv. Follow WEC at http://twitter.com/WEConVERSUS.

About World Extreme Cagefighting®

The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. WEC, founded in 2001, is the sister organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® and today features the most prominent light weight fighters in the world. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network.WEC programming is also available on Fox Sports en Espanol. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on the TSN network in Canada, Setanta Sports in Australia, Globosat in Brazil, and Cadena Tres in Mexico. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. World Extreme Cagefighting® and WEC® are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

About VERSUS

VERSUS celebrates real competition across all platforms (VERSUS.com, VERSUS on Demand and VERSUS HD).  Now in more than 75 million homes, the network is the national cable home of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the IndyCar® Series as well as best-in-class events such as The Tour de France, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Professional Boxing.  The network also offers collegiate sports featuring nationally-ranked teams from top conferences such as the Pac-10, Big 12, Mountain West and Ivy League. VERSUS features the best field sports programming on television and is a destination for sports fans, athletes and sportsmen to find exclusive, competitive events and original programs, such as Sports Soup and The Contender that audiences can’t find elsewhere.  VERSUS, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

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Jose Aldo post fight video on WEC 44 title win over Mike Brown

November 19, 2009 by kenny · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

By: Jesse Holland (MMAmania.com)

Can anyone at 145 pounds stop him?

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Jose Aldo Steamrolls Brown to Become the World’s #1 Featherweight

November 19, 2009 by kenny · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

By: Dallas Winston (TheGarv.com)

My jaw has not yet risen this morning from the spot on the floor where it dropped with a loud thud after witnessing last night’s WEC main event.

Never before have we seen Mike Thomas Brown dominated in a fight, especially in so many varied aspects. Aldo unveiled an amazingly sturdy takedown defense, surprising wrestling proficiency, and startling overall strength to thwart any and all of Brown’s attempts to mount significant offense. This is the same Mike Brown that twice dismantled Urijah Faber, the formerly undisputed landlord of the world’s 145 pound class who was thought to be on a pedestal above everyone else.

For this truly astounding and incredible feat, Jose Aldo has convincingly answered the questions pertaining to how good the Nova Uniao fighter really is, turning in the performance of a lifetime in the biggest fight of his career.

I had erroneously predicted that Aldo would be the fighter forced to tweak his usual modus operandi to deal with Brown’s rock-solid expertise across the board, but Jose Aldo came out with the same gameplan that had carried him up the ranks and earned him a title shot, which is one of pure, technical aggression. He imposed his daunting striking game early, making it clear that Brown would have to institute adjustments quickly or risk decapitation.

Aldo’s speed and power during exchanges on the feet were phenomenal, but heavy credit must be given to his uncanny footwork: not only did Aldo torch Brown with a scathing series of rapid-fire strikes every time they engaged in the pocket, but his graceful advances into and out of striking range caused Brown to find himself swinging at nothing but the empty air that was occupied just split seconds before by a 5′7″ Brazilian.

The palpable and overwhelming sensation that Brown was being outclassed on the feet became evident when Brown began dropping for takedowns to counteract Aldo’s stalking, but even Brown’s bread and butter was no match for Aldo’s strong base and solid sprawl. Aldo became equally predatory on the canvas, finally forcing Brown to give up his back, where he locked a vice-grip back mount and rained haymakers to the defenseless Brown until the referee intervened.

It’s one thing to cut a wide swathe through the nucleus of the WEC featherweight division and rise so impressively to the #1 contender slot, but to duplicate the same dominant and exhilerating performance against a well-rounded veteran like Mike Brown is indeed cause to predict a very long era of dominance for such a young and talented fighter. Congratulations to Jose Aldo, the world’s new #1 featherweight fighter.

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The WEC has a new featherweight champion

November 19, 2009 by kenny · Leave a Comment
Filed under: MMA News 

By: ProMMA.info

Jose Aldo (16-1) took Mike Thomas Brown’s (22-5) WEC Featherweight Title Wednesday night, Nov. 18, at WEC 44, at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. Brown seemed one step behind Aldo through the entire first round as Aldo landed more strikes and Brown could not get him to the ground. Round two started the same way, but Aldo quickly poured on the heat, got his own takedown, and pounded out the win at 1:20 of the second round.

It was Nov. 2008 at WEC 36 when Mike Thomas Brown first knocked out Urijah Faber in the first round to become the WEC Featherweight Champion. For his first title defense, he submitted Leonard Garcia via first round arm triangle at WEC 39. They gave Faber one more chance at WEC 41, but Brown once again proved his dominance by taking home the five round unanimous decision.
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