World Extreme Cagefighting Announces
Featherweight Title Fight on Sept. 30th in Colorado
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 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 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.
Press Contacts: Dave Sholler, WEC Public Relations, 702-588-5541, dsholler@wec.tv Katie Bradshaw, VERSUS Public Relations, 917-934-1997, katie_bradshaw@versus.com Sarah Finger, 1STBANK Center720-224-9200 sfinger@aeglive.com
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Varner / Shalorus MMA Has It’s Own Scoring Problems!
By: Roger Ward
WEC 49 in Edmonton, British Columbia, Cananda: Former lightweight champion Jamie Varner met unbeaten Iranian born Great Britian 2004 Olympian wrestler Kamal Shalorus in what turned out to be MMA’s version of a bad decision.
Boxing has always had it’s scoring problems usually involving actual scoring versus aggressiveness but Sunday night in Edmonton Jamie Varner was in most peoples opinions was robbed.
Varner and Shalorus battled pretty even through round one both scoring evenly in strikes with Shalorus the more accurate puncher but Varner was clearly the heavier more effective puncher rocking the former Olympian midway through the round with a solid straight right a mark that in boxing would give Varner the round. Shalorus did score with numerous kicks to the legs with several borderline low kicks.
The second round mirrored the first in the fact that Shalorus was more accurate but Varner was the cleaner puncher inflicting the heavier damage and the fact that Shalorus was deducted a point for a second low kick to the groin round two would easily go to Varner.
Just thirty seconds into the third round Shalorus landed another low kick to the groin putting the former champion on his back. Adding insult to injury referee Rosenthal probably not wanting to directly effect the outcome of the match did exactly that when he failed to justifiably deduct another point from Shalorus and Varner himself compounded the issue as he appeared to coast a bit whether it was due to the leg kicks and numerous low blows or believing he was ahead on the scorecards the former champion left it in the hands of the judges who’s scores of 28-28, 29-27 for Varner and 29-27 for Shalorus left us with a unsatisfying draw.
I have always felt a fighter cannot claim he was robbed unless he can honestly answer the following questions with a whole hearted, yes! Did you do every single possible thing in training to the fullest degree. Did you do every push up, every lap, throw every punch, practice every move, do everything as hard as you could. Well no one has a purer work ethic than Varner so I will give him that up front. So now the question is did you do everything, absolutely everything in the fight you could have to avoid the negative outcome. It’s here I think maybe Varner slipped a bit. Another one of those rocking rights or just a little more pressure and maybe Shalorus goes low again and there’s a DQ.
Either way there is no excuse for referee Rosenthal’s failure to act on the third low kick, it’s his job. But failing to act yourself because of the inactions or mistakes of another only compounds matters as it did here but all said and done Varner should have won the fight. The 28-28 score would have and should have been 29-27 Varner and he would be waiting for the winner of Shane Roller and Anthony Pettis at WEC 50 in August and a shot at reigning champion Ben Henderson. Varner, the WEC and its fans would be better for it! Here’s a wild idea, how about a rematch?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
WEC® Bantamweight Miguel Angel Torrres
Receives Key to the City of East Chicago, Ind.
(Photo credit, Sean McDonough)
Miguel Angel Torres is awarded the Key to the City of East Chicago, Ind., from Mayor George Pabey, as well as a proclamation declaring June 4, 2010 as “Miguel Angel Torres Day.”
The Times of Northwest Indiana)
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Former World Extreme Cagefighting® bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres received the Key to the City of East Chicago, Ind. on Friday. Born and raised in East Chicago, the 29-year-old was also honored by city officials with “Miguel Angel Torres Day” for his dedication to bettering the community.
“It was truly an honor to be recognized by my hometown,” Torres, who owns a gym in Northwest Indiana that specializes in mentoring the area’s youth, said. “East Chicago is a community filled with hard working people and I am proud to represent this city.”
For more information on WEC events, visit www.wec.tv
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEC® Announces AMP Energy as Official Energy Drink
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – World Extreme Cagefighting® announced today that AMP Energy will serve as the organization’s Official Energy Drink for 2010. One of the most prominent energy drinks in the world, AMP Energy will also serve as a key promotional partner for this year’s WEC events.
“We are pleased to have AMP Energy as the Official Energy Drink of WEC,” WEC Vice President Peter Dropick said. “AMP Energy is committed to working with the best athletes and organizations in the sports world and we are excited to have them on board.”
AMP Energy will also sponsor three of WEC’s top stars. Featherweight Urijah Faber, who fights on Jan. 10 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif, will compete under the AMP Energy banner, as will featherweight prospect Chad Mendes and bantamweight title contender Joseph Benavidez.
“We’re excited to be partnering with WEC as its Official Energy Drink,” Dave Mingey, Vice President, Marketing, AMP Energy, said. “By teaming up with WEC and its talented athletes, we’ve positioned ourselves at the forefront of one of the fastest growing sports in the world.”
For more information on World Extreme Cagefighting, visit www.wec.tv. For more information on AMP Energy, visit www.ampenergy.com.
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 AMP Energy AMP Energy is a product of Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages (PCNAB). PCNAB is a division of PepsiCo, which offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 18 different product lines that each generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Our main businesses - Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade - also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in over 200 countries.
With more than $43 billion in 2008 revenues, PepsiCo employs 198,000 people who are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.
Press Contacts: Dave Sholler, WEC Public Relations 702-588-5541, 609-992-1315 dsholler@wec.tv Bart Casabona, AMP Energy Public Relations 914-253-2027 bart.casabona@pepsi.com
