Jerry Milani sent along the following:
SCHULTZ, PATTERSON, GRIGGS, BEAUPARLANT AMONG NOTABLES AS INTERNATIONAL
FIGHT LEAGUE VISITS MOHEGAN SUN APRIL 13
Renzo Gracie’s N.Y. Pitbulls Take On 2006 Finalist Wolfpack; Carlos
Newton’s Dragons Battle Don Frye’s Tucson Scorpions In Key Team
Matchups; Same-Day Coverage To Be Broadcast On Fox Sports Net
NEW YORK and UNCASVILLE, Conn., April 2, 2007 – The International Fight
League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s first team-based professional
mixed martial arts league, today announced the field for its event at
Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., set for Friday, April 13 at 8 p.m.
The matchup between the Pitbulls, based in New York and coached by
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Renzo Gracie, taking on the 2006 IFL World Team
Championship finalist, the Wolfpack, based in Portland, will be shown
the same night on Fox Sports Net at 11 p.m. in most markets. The
Dragons, coached by MMA legend Carlos Newton, battle the Scorpions, led by
MMA and wrestling icon Don Frye, in the other team matchup on the 10-bout
card.
The rosters for the four teams are dotted with IFL standouts, including
Jamal Patterson of the Pitbulls (1-0 team, 4-1 individual), who will
take on Matt Horwich of the Wolfpack (1-0, 3-2) in a light heavyweight
battle that represents the first rematch in IFL history. Patterson
defeated Horwich, then a member of the Tiger Sharks, at the IFL Legends
Championship in April 2006. Another key bout in the Pitbulls-Wolfpack
matchup pits heavyweights Bryan Vetell and Devin Cole. Wolfpack
lightweight Ryan Schultz makes his return to the ring for the first time since a
knockout loss at the IFL World Team Championship final at Mohegan Sun
last December.
Among the intriguing matchups as the Dragons (0-1, 2-3) take on the
Scorpions (0-1, 2-3) are the bouts between heavyweights Rafael Feijao and
Chad Griggs, and between light heavyweights Wojtek Kaszowski and Mike
Whitehead. Dragons middleweight Brent Beauparlant also takes on
newcomer Seth Baczynski in a key matchup.
The evening is part of the full 11-event IFL 2007 schedule, the most
comprehensive advance schedule in the history of fight sports. Below are
the matchups (bout order to be determined by coaches’ choice prior to
weigh-in):
Dragons (0-1 team, 2-3 indiv.) vs. Scorpions (0-1, 2-3)
155 lb: Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (1-0, 5-1) vs. Cam
Ward (Tigard, Ore.) (0-1, 4-2)
170 lb: Gideon Ray (Roselle, Ill.) (0-0, 12-5-1) vs. Gabe Casillas
(Tucson, Ariz.) (0-0, 9-6)
185 lb: Brent Beauparlant (Montreal, Quebec) (1-3, 4-4) vs. Seth
Baczynski (Phoenix) (0-0, 4-3)
205 lb: Wojtek Kaszowski (Winnipeg, Manitoba) (0-3, 0-5) vs. Mike
Whitehead (Central Point, Ore.) (2-0, 17-5)
265 lb: Rafael Feijao (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (1-0, 3-0) vs. Chad
Griggs (Tucson, Ariz.) (1-0, 5-0)
Wolfpack (1-0, 3-2) vs. Pitbulls (1-0, 4-1)
155 lb: Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) (1-2, 14-9-1) vs. TBD
170 lb: Mike Dolce (Gresham, Ore.) (1-0, 3-0) vs. Delson Heleno (2-1,
9-2)
185 lb: Gerald Harris (Portland, Ore.) (0-0, 3-0) vs. Fabio Leopoldo
(Sao Paulo, Brazil) (2-0, 4-1)
205 lb: Matt Horwich (Gresham, Ore.) (2-2, 17-8-1) vs. Jamal Patterson
(Hoboken, N.J.) (2-1, 2-1)
265 lb: Devin Cole (Medford, Ore.) (2-4, 6-5) vs. Bryan Vetell (New
York) (1-1, 1-1)
Tickets are available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office, through www.ifl.tv
or via Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, by telephone or at
Ticketmaster outlets.
Each of the nine regular season IFL events will consist of four teams
— each with an athlete in all five weight classes competing. The
team that wins the best three of five match setup will be declared the
team winner for the match, similar to collegiate and high school wrestling
meets. The IFL also differs from other MMA organizations in that the
bouts are held in an oversized five-rope boxing ring with three,
four-minute rounds, each designed to create the most compelling in-arena
experience for local fans.
Each of the 12 IFL teams for 2007 will compete in three regular season
events; the teams with the top four overall win-loss team records will
advance to the semi-finals, which will be held on Thursday, August 2 at
Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. The 2007 IFL
Finals will then be held at The Forum in Los Angeles on Saturday, September
15.
About the IFL
International Fight League (IFL) is the world’s first professional
mixed martial arts sports league. IFL has its headquarters in New York,
NY and offices in Las Vegas, NV. For more information about IFL,
please see: www.ifl.tv
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