Press Release:
SILVERBACKS-WOLFPACK MATCHUP, GRACIE-NEWTON SUPERFIGHT HEADLINE
INTERNATIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL DECEMBER 29 AT
MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
Eight Other IFL Athletes To Compete In Intraleague Superfights On
10-Fight Card
NEW YORK, November 20, 2006– The International Fight League (IFL), the
world’s first team-based professional mixed martial arts league,
today announced the rosters for the 2006 IFL World Team Championship final,
to be held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on
Friday, December 29, at 7 p.m. The team matchup between the Silverbacks,
coached by Pat Miletich and based in Quad Cities, Iowa/Ill., and the
Wolfpack, coached by Matt Lindland and based in Portland, Ore., yields
five outstanding bouts. Renzo Gracie (Holmdel, N.J.) and Carlos Newton
(Newmarket, Ontario) will square off in a Superfight matching two MMA
legends and the coaches of the New York and Toronto teams, respectively.
And four other bouts will feature members of IFL teams which did not
advance to the finals, for a total of 10 fights on the card.
Tickets for the IFL World Team Championship Final at Mohegan Sun are on
sale now and are available through the Mohegan Sun Box Office and
Ticketmaster. Customers may log onto www.ticketmaster.com, call any
Ticketmaster phone number, or visit any Ticketmaster outlet.
The pairing of the Silverbacks and Wolfpack, who advanced to the final
with respective semifinal victories in Portland on Nov. 2, brings
together many of the league’s top athletes in intriguing matchups. The
lightweight bout pits the Silverbacks’ Bart Palaszewski (Wonderlake,
Ill.) against Ryan Schultz (Eagle Creek, Ore.). Sluggers Rory Markham
(Chicago) and Chris Wilson (Portland, Ore.) go at it at 170 lbs. Ryan
McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa) takes on Matt Horwich (Gresham, Ore.) in the
middleweight division. Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) tangles
with Aaron Stark (Portland, Ore.) at light heavyweight, while Ben
Rothwell (Kenosha, Wis.) and Devin Cole (Medford, Ore.) battle in the
heavyweight bout.
In addition to the Gracie-Newton Superfight, four intraleague
Superfights involving IFL athletes supplement the card. Erik Owings (New York),
who has fought for the Pitbulls, takes on Ed West (Tucson, Ariz.), a
member of the Sabres this past year, in a 155-lb. bout. In a pair of
light heavyweight fights, Brent Beauparlant (Montreal, Quebec) of the
Dragons challenges Alex Schoenauer (Las Vegas) of the Anacondas, while the
Pitbulls’ Jamal Patterson (Hoboken, N.J.) battles the Tiger Sharks’
Reese Andy (Billings, Mont.). Krzysztof Soszynski (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
of the Anacondas and Mike Whitehead (Central Point, Ore.), who defeated
Mark Kerr in an IFL Superfight in Portland on Nov. 2, clash in a
heavyweight matchup.
“The Silverbacks and Wolfpack both proved they belong in the finals
after their exciting victories in Portland,” IFL co-founder and
Commissioner Kurt Otto said. “By combining those interesting matchups with the
Newton-Gracie Superfight and a series of intraleague Superfights
showcasing some of our best athletes, we have a card that fans will really
enjoy seeing.”
The main Superfight will be the second contest between Newton and
Gracie. Newton claimed a split decision on Oct. 5, 2003, in Saitama, Japan.
It will be the first career matchup for competitors in each of other 10
bouts on the card.
About Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribe, is one of the largest, most
distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and meeting
destinations in the United States. Situated on 240 acres along the
Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is within easy
access of New York, Boston, Hartford, Providence and located 15 minutes
from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. What
began with the Casino of the Earth in 1996 has evolved into a legendary
destination that now includes: the Casino of the Sky and over 300,000
square feet of total gaming space; The Shops at Mohegan Sun, featuring
more than 60 retail shops and dining venues ranging from food
court-style to gourmet; the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena for world-class
sporting events and concerts, and an intimate Canot; and a 34-story luxury
hotel, featuring 1,200 guestrooms and suites, premier meeting and
convention space and a world-class spa. More information is available by
calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com.
About the IFL
Founded in 2005 by Kurt Otto, a real estate investor and a life-long
martial arts participant and Gareb Shamus, chairman of Wizard
Entertainment Group, the International Fight League (IFL) was created to
establish a centralized and structured organization that brings the power and
influence of the mixed martial arts industry together. On August 25,
2006, IFL entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Paligent,
Inc. (PGNT:OTCBB), pursuant to which IFL would emerge as the surviving
entity. For further information regarding the merger, contact Paligent at
(212) 755-5461. For more information on the IFL, go to www.IFL.tv.
— IFL —
IFL World Team Championship Final, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn., Dec. 29, 2006
Wolfpack vs. Silverbacks
155 lb. Ryan Schultz (Gresham, Ore.) (1-1, 14-8-1) vs. Bart Palaszewski
(Wonderlake, Ill.) (4-0, 24-7)
170 lb. Chris Wilson (Portland, Ore.) (1-1, 10-3) vs. Rory Markham
(Chicago) (4-0, 10-1)
185 lb. Matt Horwich (Gresham, Ore.) (2-1, 17-7-1) vs. Ryan McGivern
(Bettendorf, Iowa) (2-2, 8-3)
205 lb. Aaron Stark (Portland, Ore.) (2-0, 3-2) vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz
(Williamstown, Pa.) (1-2, 9-2)
265 lb. Devin Cole (Medford, Ore.) (2-2, 6-3) vs. Ben Rothwell
(Kenosha, Wis.) (3-0, 18-5)
Intraleague Superfights
155 lb. Erik Owings (New York, N.Y.) (1-1, 1-1) vs. Ed West (Tucson,
Ariz.) (0-1. 8-2)
205 lb. Brent Beauparlant (Montreal, Que.) (1-1, 4-2) vs. Alex
Schoenauer (Las Vegas, Nev.) (2-2, 10-6)
205 lb. Jamal Patterson (Hoboken, N.J.) (2-0, 2-0) vs. Reese Andy
(Billings, Mont.) (1-1, 3-1)
265 lb. Mike Whitehead (Central Pt., Ore.) (1-0, 16-5) vs. Krzysztof
Soszynski (Winnipeg, Man.) (2-1, 11-5)
Superfight
Carlos Newton (Newmarket, Ont.) (0-0, 13-10) vs. Renzo Gracie (Holmdel,
N.J.) (1-0, 11-6-1)
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