Bellator & Gilbert Melendez Agree on Structure to Bring Top Lightweight To Bellator

UFC Now Holds Right to Match Offer

Newport Beach, Calif. (February 14, 2014) – At 22-3, Gilbert Melendez sits atop the UFC’s lightweight division. With victories over Josh Thomson, Diego Sanchez, Shinya Aoki and Jorge Masvidal, “El Nino” is ready for a new crop of challengers as the Santa Ana native has agreed to a multi-fight, multi-year deal structure with Bellator that can pit Melendez against some of MMA’s best, including Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, Will Brooks, Dave Jansen and a host of top lightweights from around the world.

“The moment Gil was legally able to explore the free agent market, Gil’s management team reached out to me and we began figuring out how to bring Gil to Bellator,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “It’s no secret that I’ve been a big “El Nino” fan for many years. Gil was one of the first fighters I tried to sign when I launched Bellator back in 2008, and he’s grown and developed into one of the best and most exciting lightweights on earth.  Gil has a vision for what he wants to accomplish both inside and outside the cage and we can help make his vision a reality.  We are in the business of developing and showcasing the greatest fighters on earth. That’s what we intend to do here with Gil and it’s what we’ll continue to do in the future.”

The UFC currently holds matching rights on Melendez.

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA          

MMA DOCUMENTARY FILM, THE PROVING GROUNDS AVAILABLE NOW ON HULU.COM

Directed by The Mash-Up King

Hulu Film Link; http://www.hulu.com/search?q=the+proving+grounds

Las Vegas, NV (July 19, 2013) – Available now on Hulu, The Proving Grounds is a documentary about the #1 Mixed Martial Arts academy in the world, Jackson’s MMA, located in Albuquerque, NM.  The film stars three time MMA Coach of the Year and MMA guru Greg Jackson, current UFC pound for pound champ Jon “Bones” Jones and the rest of the Jackson’s MMA family.

The film is being distributed by digital entertainment curator FilmBuff (FilmBuff.com) and is now available on major digital platform Hulu (Hulu.com) and Dailymotion (Dailymotion.com).  FilmBuff has released numerous titles on all major digital platforms including iTunes, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and more.

Jackson’s MMA has been unanimously described as the #1 MMA camp in the world and was founded by trainer Greg Jackson in 1992.  It is located in Albuquerque, NM and is home to more than a dozen world champions.  This film is an all access look inside Jackson’s MMA to learn the history, hardships and philosophies on the winningest camp in the sport of mixed martial arts.

The film stars the biggest names in the sport including current UFC champs Jon “Bones” Jones, Georges “Rush” St. Pierre and the three time MMA coach of the year Greg Jackson.  The film also stars UFC stars Carlos Condit, Clay Guida, Diego Sanchez, Donald Cerrone, Julie Kedzie, Leonard Garcia, Mike Winkeljohn, John Dodson, Holly Holm and includes cameos from former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Tapout founder Punkass.

The Proving Grounds is directed by The Mash-Up King (Landon Dyksterhouse)

It is his first documentary film.  Producers on the film are Landon Dyksterhouse, Nick Shuster, RD Whittington and Shandon Dyksterhouse.  The film is a D-House Entertainment production and presented by the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Albuquerque, NM in association with Jackson’s MMA.  Film shot on location in Albuquerque, NM.

TRT: 1:39:11

The Proving Grounds will also be available on iTunes, and other major digital platforms December 2013.

Connect with the film via the official movie page for The Proving Grounds at www.facebook.com/tpgmovie or follow at https://www.twitter.com/tpgmovie.

For more information on the release of The Proving Grounds, or to schedule an interview: contact Landon Dyksterhouse aka The Mash-Up King https://twitter.com/themashupking

phone: 702.527.0692 or  email: dhouseentertainment@yahoo.com.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S FNU COMBAT SPORTS SHOW Featuring Landon Dyksterhouse discussing the film.

Don't Miss Silva vs Stann Live Tomorrow Night

Tomorrow - 'The Axe Murderer' Returns to Japan For A 205-lb. Battle With Brian Stann Wanderlei Silva returns to the land where he became a legend to take on "All-American" Brian Stann in a five round light heavyweight showdown! Plus, Mark Hunt takes on Stefan Struve, Diego Sanchez battles Takanori Gomi and Yushin Okami goes toe-to-toe with Hector Lombard! Live at 10pm ET / 7pm PT on FUEL TV - to find FUEL TV in your area, visit www.fuel.tv See The Prelims Live Tomorrow On Facebook Before the action hits FUEL TV, see the prelims live on Facebook starting at 7:50pm ET / 4:50pm PT Silva or Stann? Make Your UFC Fantasy Picks Now Make your picks today for a chance to win!

UFC on FUEL TV: Silva vs Stann on FUEL TV - Sat. March 2 - Tokyo, Japan UFC 158: St-Pierre vs Diaz on Pay-Per-View - Sat. March 16 - Montreal, Canada

ELECTRIFYING FIGHT CARD FINALIZED FOR THIS WEEKEND’S SHOFIGHT 20 EVENT IN SPRINGFIELD

Event to be broadcasted live on The Fight Network in Canada, delayed PPV in U.S.

Springfield, Missouri (USA): ShoFIGHT, one of the rising MMA promotions in the Midwest, has finalized its fight card for this Saturday’s ShoFIGHT 20 event. Taking place at the O’Reilly Family Event Center in Springfield, Missouri, the event will feature twenty veterans of the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, WEC, and PRIDE, including Kendall Grove, Karo Parisyan, Lyle Beerbohm, Marcus Aurelio, and many others.

The main event features Karo “The Heat” Parisyan (20-8-0-1) in a welterweight title fight with fellow UFC vet John “Guns” Gunderson (33-13-2). Also showcased is for Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (14-10) as he battles new opponent in undefeated Strikeforce fighter Derek Brunson (9-0). Terry Martin, Grove’s original opponent, was pulled from the event due to licensing issues.

Tickets to ShoFIGHT 20 are now available for purchase at ShoFIGHT.com or at the O’Reilly Family Event Center Box Office. The event will be broadcasted via delay on PPV. In addition, ShoFIGHT 20 will be broadcasted live on The Fight Network in Canada.

Karo Parisyan (20-8-0-1) has been fighting professionally since 1999, and has faced many top welterweights during his time in MMA, including Sean Sherk, Antonio McKee, Georges St-Pierre, Shonie Carter, Nick Diaz, Chris Lytle, Matt Serra, Nick Thompson, Diego Sanchez, Ryo Chonan, Thiago Alves, Dong Hyun Kim, and Dennis Hallman. Few in the fight game can boast such a resume. At one point, he was right on the cusp of a UFC title shot, but after some tough losses, he is looking to right the ship and get back to the top of the mountain. Fighting in the main event of ShoFIGHT 20 provides “The Heat” with the opportunity to do just that.

Kendall Grove (14-10-0-1) grew up in Hawaii, and is the prototypical Island boy: a scrapper who is afraid of no man. The 6’6” middleweight made his pro debut in 2003, and soared to heights few reach in the fight game when he won the 3^rd season of the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter competition. Over the next few years, Grove became a mainstay in the UFC, gathering victories over Ed Herman, Alan Belcher, the late Evan Tanner, Jason Day, Jake Rosholt, and Goran Reljic during his time with the promotion. However, he also suffered several setbacks, and was released in 2011 after two straight losses. Since that time, he has downed both Joe Riggs and Ikuhisa Minowa, but then lost to fellow UFC vet Jay Silva in February. Now, he’ll look to get back in the win column with ShoFIGHT gold on the line.

Since its inception in 2009, ShoFIGHT has rapidly established itself as one of America’s top amateur fight promotions,quickly garnering a reputation for putting on exciting events that electrify Midwest fight audiences. With the primary goal of growing the sport of mixed martial arts in the central U.S., promoter JT Tilley has spent the past four years developing a network of top amateur talent from across the country. The organization has consistently maintained eleven active weight classes, helping develop some of the top pro prospects in the Midwest.

Here is the full finalized fight card:

Main Card

Main Event - ShoFIGHT Welterweight Championship

14. John ‘Guns’ Gunderson (UFC Vet) vs. Karo ‘the Heat’ Parysian (UFC Vet)

Co-Main Event - ShoFIGHT Middleweight Championship

13. Derek Brunson (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Kendall ‘the Spyder’ Grove (UFC Vet) 

12.  Lyle ‘Fancy Pants’ Beerbohm (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Marcus ‘Maximus’ Aurelio (UFC Vet) - 165lbs

11. Matt Kovaks (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Mike Wessell (UFC Vet) - Heavyweight 

10. Jonatas Noveas (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Drew Fickett (UFC Vet) - 160bs

9. Chris ‘Gritz’ Gruetzmacher (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Roli Delgado (UFC Vet) - 145lbs 

8. Lucas Lopes (Strikeforce Vet) vs. ‘Smilin’ Sam Alvey (Bellator Vet) - 185lbs

7. Chris ‘Crazyman’ McDaniel (KOTC Vet) vs. Charles ‘Kid Kaos’ Bennett (PRIDE Vet) - 150lbs

6. James ‘JP’ Reese (Strikeforce Vet) vs. Sevak Magakian (UFC Vet) - 155lbs

5. Alan Gibson vs. Dustin Phillips (Bellator Vet) - 145lbs

Undercard

4. Mike Brazzle vs. Karen Darabedyan (WEC Vet) - 170lbs 

3. Lucas ‘the Hillbilly Lightstorm’ Overcast vs. Matt ‘Luke Duke’ Lucas (UFC vet) - 205lbs

2. Rabert Saborudden vs. Jacob ‘Straight Jacket’ Ritchie - 125lb

1. Jason Ignacek vs. Gary Michaels - 135lbs 

For more information on ShoFIGHT, please visit http://shofight.com/. ShoFIGHT can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/ShoFight-MMA/113079148732416, and on Twitter @ShoFIGHT.

UFC VETS KARO PARISYAN AND KENDALL GROVE LOOK TO REBOUND AT SHOFIGHT 20

“The Heat” and “Da Spyder” vying for titles live on nationwide PPV

Springfield, Missouri (USA): The sport of mixed martial arts is tough. There is no disputing that. Fighters experience ups and downs, wins and losses, and make sacrifices to be the very best they can be. Staying committed when you’re winning can be easy. It’s when losses come that combat athletes find out how committed they really are to the fight game.

Two fighters in such a position are former UFC stalwarts Karo “The Heat’ Parisyan and Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove. On June 16^th in Springfield, Missouri, both will tangle with ultra-tough opponents, as Parisyan will battle fellow UFC vet John Gunderson, and Grove will lock horns with UFC/Strikeforce vet Terry Martin. The winner of the Parisyan-Gunderson tilt will be awarded the first ShoFIGHT welterweight belt, while either Grove or Martin will go home with ShoFIGHT middleweight strap. In short, it’s a big fight for all the competitors involved.

PPV broadcast details will be announced soon.

Karo Parisyan (20-8-0-1) has been fighting professionally since 1999, and has faced many top welterweights during his time in MMA, including Sean Sherk, Antonio McKee, Georges St-Pierre, Shonie Carter, Nick Diaz, Chris Lytle, Matt Serra, Nick Thompson, Diego Sanchez, Ryo Chonan, Thiago Alves, Dong Hyun Kim, and Dennis Hallman. Few in the fight game can boast such a resume. At one point, he was right on the cusp of a UFC title shot, but after some tough losses, he is looking to right the ship and get back to the top of the mountain. Fighting in the main event of ShoFIGHT 20 provides “The Heat” with the opportunity to do just that.

Kendall Grove (14-10-0-1) grew up in Hawaii, and is the prototypical Island boy: a scrapper who is afraid of no man. The 6’6” middleweight made his pro debut in 2003, and soared to heights few reach in the fight game when he won the 3^rd season of the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter competition. Over the next few years, Grove became a mainstay in the UFC, gathering victories over Ed Herman, Alan Belcher, the late Evan Tanner, Jason Day, Jake Rosholt, and Goran Reljic during his time with the promotion. However, he also suffered several setbacks, and was released in 2011 after two straight losses. Since that time, he has downed both Joe Riggs and Ikuhisa Minowa, but then lost to fellow UFC vet Jay Silva in February. Now, he’ll look to get back in the win column against UFC/Strikeforce vet Terry Martin with the gold on the line.

ShoFIGHT, one of the top rising MMA promotions in North America, will bring ShoFIGHT 20 to the O’Reilly Family Events Center in Springfield, Missouri on Saturday, June 16^th. The event will host twenty UFC, PRIDE, Strikeforce, and Bellator veterans, including Parisyan, Grove, Gunderson, Martin, Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm, Marcus Aurelio, Shonie Carter, Drew Fickett, Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett, Aaron Rosa, Matt Lucas, and others.

Tickets to “ShoFIGHT 20” are now available for purchase at ShoFIGHT.com or at the O’Reilly Family Event Center Box Office.

Since its inception in 2009, ShoFIGHT has rapidly established itself as one of America’s top amateur fight promotions, quickly garnering a reputation for putting on exciting events that electrify Midwest fight audiences. With the primary goal of growing the sport of mixed martial arts in the central U.S., promoter JT Tilley has spent the past four years developing a network of top amateur talent from across the country. The organization has consistently maintained eleven active weight classes, helping develop some of the top pro prospects in the Midwest.

For more information on ShoFIGHT, please visit http://shofight.com/. ShoFIGHT can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/ShoFight-MMA/113079148732416, and on Twitter @ShoFIGHT.