Let's help Anthony Pettis make it onto the Wheaties Box Cover!

 

For the first time in the 80-year history of the brand, Wheaties will offer America the opportunity to select the next elite athlete to be featured nationally on the iconic Wheaties box. 

 

Please follow the link here for full instructions and information about how to vote.

 

Anthony “Showtime” Pettis representing mixed-martial-arts (MMA). A native of Milwaukee, WI, Pettis made his professional MMA debut in 2007 and instantly took the sport by storm, amassing an impressive 17-2 record. Known for his flashy, gravity-defying kicks, Pettis captured the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) lightweight championship in 2013 and cemented himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Pettis supports the Gadzuric Foundation and Exploit No More.

 

Fans can follow the voting and watch exclusive in-depth videos of each athlete by visiting Wheaties.com or www.facebook.com/wheaties.  For more information on how to join MapMyFitness and vote for your favorite sport to be represented on the iconic Wheaties box, visit MapMyFitness.com/wheatiesnext.

 

Here’s How it Works:
•    Visit MapMyFitness.com/wheatiesnext or download the MapMyFitness app
•    Select and join the Wheaties NEXT Challenge 
•    Register for the Wheaties NEXT Challenge and select an athlete 
•    Once registered, participants can begin logging workouts
•    Every workout logged will count as one vote for the selected athlete (up to two workouts of 30 minutes or more can be logged each day)
•    At the end of the competition, the athlete with the most votes via workouts logged will be the next athlete to appear on the Wheaties box
 

MILWAUKEE’S DUKE ROUFUS RETURNS TO HIS KICKBOXING ROOTS IN A GLORIOUS WAY

Historic Eagles Club Grand Ballroom Hosts NAFC "Knockout Kings" ROAD TO GLORY

April 11, 2013 (Milwaukee, WI, USA) Few names are as synonymous with professional Kickboxing than Milwaukeean Duke Roufus. As well, even fewer Americans are as well-versed in the Thai art of kickboxing, or Muay Thai, as Duke Roufus.

So it came as no surprise when representatives of international kickboxing promotions powerhouse Glory Sports International contacted Duke in early 2013 looking for his assistance in helping Glory establish itself in the United States.

What was surprising, however, was the fact that one of the cities targeted in Glory's plans was Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and they wanted Duke to promote their ROAD TO GLORY 8-Man Kickboxing tournament in his hometown.

It was Glory's understanding that Milwaukee was regarded as a true hotbed for combat sports in the U.S., and Duke Roufus was the main driving force behind that image.

With lifelong international connections bringing the parties together, Duke was humbled at the opportunity to work with such a prestigious organization, and even more humbled at the fact they wanted to bring their exciting brand of stand-up fighting to southeastern Wisconsin.

After months of planning and coordination between Milwaukee-based North American Fighting Championship (NAFC) and Glory executives, Duke Roufus is pleased to announce professional Muay Thai and Kickboxing will return to Milwaukee's historic Eagles Club Grand Ballroom, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., Saturday, May 11, 2013. CONCEDE, Speedy Metals and Roufusport present NAFC "Knockout Kings" ROAD TO GLORY USA. Doors open and the undercard starts at 5:00 pm, while the main card begins at 7:30 pm.

This highly-anticipated show returns Duke to his roots of combat sports, the smash-mouth stand-up game of professional Muay Thai and kickboxing, where the lifelong martial artist is a former 4-Time World Heavyweight Champion.

Showcasing some of the best fighters from across Wisconsin and the Midwest, PLUS top fighters flying in from across North America for the ROAD TO GLORY USA 8-man Lightweight tournament (with a top prize of $20,000.00 going to the winner), makes this one of the most unique ring sports events ever produced in Milwaukee.

ROAD TO GLORY USA is kicking off it's promotions with six events in America over the first five months of 2013, including the May 11th show in Milwaukee's Eagles Club.

In addition to top regional talent battling each other in prestige bouts, each ROAD TO GLORY USA event will consist of a one-night, single-elimination, 8-man tournament in one of Glory's six weight divisions. ROAD TO GLORY Milwaukee will showcase the country's top Lightweight (-155 lbs) Kickboxers who will be awarded a total purse of $42,000.00.

The Milwaukee ROAD TO GLORY USA tournament champion will advance to the next level of the global tournament and be offered a one-year contract to fight for Glory internationally.

Highlights of ROAD TO GLORY USA, operated by GSI (Glory Sports International), will be distributed to over 90 countries by GSI's media partner Total Sport Asia (http://www.totalsportsasia.com/). 

The Glory World Series (www.gloryworldseries.com) is the world's premier kickboxing fighting league, staging events across the globe and offering up to $1,000,000.00 in prize money to the winners of 16-man 'Grand Prix' tournaments, which are open to only the best fighters in each weight class. The fight series also includes eight-man tournaments and events with traditional, single bouts.

Advance priced tickets can be purchased online at http://nafc.tv/kokingsticketing.php, The Rave Eagles Club Box Office, by calling 414-967-7767 or from any fighter appearing on the card. Regular priced tickets will also be available at the door.

VIP Front Row $100.00 ($110.00 door), Reserved VIP Ringside, VIP Balcony and VIP Stage $60.00 ($70.00 door) and General Admission $35.00 ($40.00 door).

A complete bout lineup will be announced shortly. Featured prestige bouts showcasing high-end North American talent have already been announced, including:

Muay Thai Lightweight -155
Landon Simmons (Cooper’s Gym-Detroit, MI) Mike vs Tom Grimmer (Roufusport-Milwaukee, WI)

Muay Thai Middleweight -185
“Bam Bam” Bryce Franck (Roufusport-Rockford, IL) vs Tim “The Arch Angel” Nixon (Team No Quit-Manistique, MI)

Kickboxing Super Heavyweight +230
Reese Shaner (Waukesha MMA-Waukesha, WI) vs Demian Decorah (Chosen Few-Madison, WI)

Muay Thai Bantamweight -135
Josh Kasee (Oneida Boxing Club-Oneida, WI) vs Boontieng Phetvixay (Yamatah Muay Tai-Milwaukee, WI)

Kickboxing Lightweight -155
Benni Izairi (Yamatah Muay Thai-Milwaukee, WI) vs Dwight Anderson (Gracie Barra-Kenosha, WI)

Muay Thai Lightweight -155
Gustavo “Sidewayzzz” Rodriguez (De La Rosa Submission Wrestling-Rockford, IL) vs Jon Henderson (Canadian Fighting Center-Winniepg, Manitoba, Canada)

If you like your entertainment non-stop, action packed and in your face, then you'll want to make sure you're seated ringside Saturday, May 11th at NAFC "Knockout Kings" ROAD TO GLORY USA.

Join fighters and fans afterward at the "Knockout Kings" Post Fight Party at Brewski's Sports Club, 304 N 76th St, Milwaukee. Remember to take the shuttle to and from the fights from Brewski's, located directly across the street from Roufusport MMA Academy.

NAFC "Knockout Kings" ROAD TO GLORY is presented by CONCEDE, Speedy Metals and Roufusport MMA Academy and is sponsored by Brewski's Sports Club, Combat Corner, Curtis Ambulance, Elevation Training Mask,ExpressMilwaukee.com, FM 102.1, Grit Mouthguards, On The Border, Shepherd Express, UWM Army ROTC, WCGV My24 Milwaukee, WSSP Sports Radio 1250 AM, WI Athletic Club and Workout Boss.

For more information, visit http://NAFC.tv or call (414) 967-7767.

About NAFC

North American Fighting Championship is operated by famed fight trainer Duke Roufus and his business partner and producer Scott Joffe. Roufus is one of the most recognizable Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and striking coaches in North America, and is considered to be one of the top trainers of Muay Thai kickboxing outside of Thailand. Roufus also runs the Roufusport Fight Club team, which includes UFC stars Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Alan Belcher, Erik “New Breed” Koch, Pascal “Panzer” Krauss, Chico "King" Camus and Bellator World Welterweight Champion and US Olympic Wrestler Ben Askren.

In addition to producing Muay Thai and Kickboxing events, NAFC creates and produces MMA events that feature combatants who have fought in the UFC and other top level organizations, as they take on local fighters looking to make it to the next level. Current and former UFC fighters who have fought on past NAFC and Gladiators Fighting shows (the NAFC’s predecessor) include current the UFC's Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Chico Camus, former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne, Tim Boetsch, "Danny Boy" Downes, Ben Rothwell, Pat Barry, Jesse Lennox, Bart “Bartimus” Palaszewski, Jason “Dynamite” Dent, Rex Holman, Joe Doerksen, Dan Bobish, Ryan “The Lion” Madigan, Josh “Heavy” Hendricks and Sherman “The Tank” Perdergarst.

RISING PHENOM SERGIO PETTIS RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS IN MAIN EVENT AT THE NAFC’S “BATTLEGROUND”

(Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA): The North American Fighting Championship (NAFC) today announced the main event for its next electrifying fight event, “Battleground,” which takes place Friday, March 29, 2013 inside the newly remodeled Potawatomi Bingo Casino-Expo Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Originally, the main event was to feature UFC veteran Marcus LeVesseur, who unfortunately suffered an injury in training and had to withdraw. 

Replacing LeVesseur will be Roufusport's Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis, brother of UFC star Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. The homegrown rising star was scheduled to face Matt Manzanares in the RFA on March 22^nd, but Manzanares was forced out with an injury, leaving Pettis without an opponent. The RFA was gracious enough to allow “The Phenom” to return home to Milwaukee for this bout in the NAFC, where he will take on experienced striker Josh Robinson.

Two additional bouts have been announced for “Battleground,” as well. In the co-main event of the evening, Jose “Temato” Pacheco () from Adrian Serrano’s Combat Gym will take on Unified MMA’s “Captain” Morgan Sickenger of Manitowoc, Wisconsin in a highly-anticipated encounter between two local crowd favorites.

Doors open at 7:00 pm, with the undercard for “Battleground” starting shortly thereafter, the main card begins at 8:00 PM.  Tickets can be purchased online atTicketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, in-person at Potawatomi Bingo Casino's Northern Lights Theater Box Office, and at the door the night of the event. Tickets are $100 VIP Cageside ($110 door), $60 Floor Reserved ($70 door), and $35 Bleacher General Admission ($40 door). For more information, please visithttp://nafc.tv/ticketing.php.  

“We are extremely grateful to Ed Soares and the RFA for allowing Sergio to step up and take the main event slot on our NAFC card in his own hometown,” said NAFC partner and promoter Scott Joffe. “Sergio is a great, up-and-coming young fighter, and his many fans in Milwaukee love watching him compete. He’s definitely got a tough battle on his hands with Josh Robinson, and I expect nothing but non-stop fireworks between the two!”

A solid kickboxer with a developing ground game, the 19 year-old Pettis (6-0) has experienced a fast start to his career, winning all six of his professional MMA fights. He’s won two fights by TKO, two by submission and two by decision, giving him a good amount of well-rounded experience at such a young age. Now, he’ll put his undefeated record on the line against Robinson, who beat "The Phenom's" teammate Dustin Ortiz by split-decision last year in the NAFC. 

“I'm extremely grateful the RFA has given me an opportunity to fight outside of the organization,” explained Pettis. “I trained really hard for Matt Manzanares and cut a lot of weight, but, unfortunately, he got injured. So this was a blessing to get a fight in my hometown once again. Thank you, RFA!”

Regarding Robinson, Pettis said, “I saw him fight my teammate Dustin. He is very active and explosive…it'll be an interesting fight. I'm excited to showcase my skills in front of my hometown once again, and Robinson better be ready, because I’m bringing my A game. And to the fans…they can expect to see greatness on the 29^th.”

Josh “Shortstack” Robinson (7-6) is a tough-as-nails scrapper who has already made a name for himself in Wisconsin for his victory over Ortiz. He now has the opportunity to really make a splash in the MMA world with his bout against Sergio Pettis and he feels more than ready.

“To me, the name Pettis is only the name of the guy in front of me,” stated Robinson. “His last name doesn't make him any better a fighter than my name makes me. It’s just that: a name he happens to share with his family. I have already shown the Wisconsin fans that I have world class standup, and we all know Sergio does too. But I'm coming in a new fighter, a new person, and a new man.  I have tons of respect for Sergio, but also feel he had never faced an opponent like me. I'm not afraid of a name or a gym.”

To Sergio, Josh has a message: “My message to him is this: good luck, Sergio. No disrespect, but I have to end this fight with a statement. I have had a bad couple fights in a row, and that madness has made me more dangerous than an undefeated fighter. See you on the 29^th!”

         

The full “Battleground” fight card will be released shortly. Stay tuned to http://www.NAFC.tv/ for the latest information!

About NAFC

North American Fighting Championship is operated by famed fight trainer Duke Roufus and his business partner and producer Scott Joffe. Roufus is one of the most recognizable MMA and striking coaches in North America, and is considered to be one of the top trainers of Muay Thai kickboxing outside of Thailand. Roufus also runs the Roufusport Fight Club team, which includes UFC stars Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Alan Belcher, Erik “New Breed” Koch, Pascal “Panzer” Krauss and Chico "King" Camus.

NAFC creates and produces events that feature combatants who have fought in the UFC, WEC, and other top level organizations, as they take on local fighters looking to make it to the next level. Current and former UFC fighters who have fought on past NAFC and Gladiators Fighting shows (the NAFC’s predecessor) include Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne, Ben Rothwell, Pat Barry, Eric “Red” Schafer, Jesse Lennox, Bart “Bartimus” Palaszewski, Jason “Dynamite” Dent, Rex Holman, Joe Doerksen, Dan Bobish, Ryan “The Lion” Madigan, Josh “Heavy” Hendricks, and Sherman “The Tank” Perdergarst.

ROUFUSPORT FIGHTER ELIAS GARCIA READY TO MAKE HIS FAMILY PROUD

(Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA): Rising amateur flyweight Elias Garcia has some pretty big ankle-wraps to fill. When you come from the same family as UFC lightweight contender Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and fellow blue-chipper Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis, the bar is set a little higher than for the average competitor.

Garcia wouldn’t want it any other way.

“It’s a lot of pressure being in the same family as Anthony and Sergio, but, ironically, I only met them last year. But I’ve always felt like I’d be a fighter. And when I found out that I was related to them, it all just clicked. My family…we’re all fighters, whether we train MMA or not. I’m just continuing that.”

A strong all-around fighter with a nose for finishing opponents early on, Garcia is way ahead of most 19 year-old amateur fighters. A natural 125-pounder, he’s fought outside his weight class in order to garner more experience, and despite the challenges, he has built a stellar 9-1 amateur record. Garcia has finished seven of his nine victims.

“Elias has fighting in his blood…there’s no question about that,” states his trainer, Duke Roufus. “But it’s his willingness to work combined with his natural talents that really set him apart. Many fighters have one of those elements, but when they have both and utilize them properly, the sky truly is the limit for them.”

This Saturday, June 9^th, Garcia will look to represent his family and his gym, Roufusport, when he battles Jonathan Meins for the Wisconsin Fighting Championships Flyweight Championship. Some are clamoring for him to turn professional. However, he is in no hurry.

“Despite my success, I’ve only been training MMA for a year, so I don’t feel that I’m quite ready to go pro, even though I want to. But I don’t want to sacrifice future success just to get paid now. I’d rather wait, be patient, and make sure I am completely prepared.”

“For now, I am completely focused on Jonathan. I plan on finishing him, and I want to put on a huge show in the process. Even though I’m not going pro yet, I want to show the fans I’m ready, regardless.”

Recently, Garcia was featured in a short documentary. This intriguing piece shows his skill set as well as his work ethic, which are expected to take him far in the fight game. Check it out:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4zKg2th3VU

For more information on Roufusport, please visit http://roufusport.com/. You can also find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/roufusport, and on Twitter @RoufusportMMA.

About RoufusportRoufusport is run by famed kickboxer and MMA trainer Duke Roufus and his business partner Scott Joffe. It is a world class brand that includes a state-of-the-art training facility, fight team, and MMA promotion, the North American Fighting Championship.

Roufus is one of the most recognizable MMA and striking coaches in North America, and is considered to be one of the top trainers of Muay Thai kickboxing outside of Thailand. Roufus also runs the Roufusport Fight Club team, which includes UFC stars includes UFC stars Alan Belcher, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Erik “New Breed” Koch, and Pascal “Panzer” Krauss.

Former students include former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver, The Ultimate Fighter season one star Stephan Bonnar, and UFC veterans Pat Barry, Matt Mitrione, Ben Rothwell, and Jesse Lennox.

THE NAFC BRINGS EXCITING MMA ACTION BACK TO THE POTAWATOMI EXPO CENTER IN MILWAUKEE

Star-studded fight card to feature Strikeforce veterans and local stars

(Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA): Today, the North American Fighting Championship (NAFC) announced that its next electrifying fight event, “Colosseum,” will take place on Friday, May 4^th at the Potawatomi Expo Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The fight card will feature several Strikeforce veterans, as well as local favorites, showcasing sixteen bouts total. Fighters competing at “Colosseum” include Milwaukee favorites Rick "The Gladiator" Glenn and “The Phenom” Sergio Pettis, as well as Strikeforce vets Charon Spain and Dustin Ortiz. With many stars on the rise showcased on this action-packed event, the NAFC’s commitment to building up the sport of MMA is clear!

Doors will open at 5 PM, with the undercard starting at 6 PM, and the main card beginning at 8 PM.  Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745- 3000, in-person at Potawatomi Bingo Casino's Northern Lights Theater Box Office, and at the door the night of the event. Tickets are $100 VIP Cageside ($110 door), $60 Floor Reserved ($70 door), and $35 Bleacher General Admission ($40 door). For more information, including a seating chart, visit http://nafc.tv/ticketing.php.  

“Some of the best MMA fighters in the world train right here in Wisconsin,” stated NAFC Promoter Duke Roufus. “I want to give them the stage to prove just that, and as we’ve seen time and again, the NAFC fighters never disappoint.”

In the “Colosseum” main event, Milwaukee favorite Rick “The Gladiator” Glenn looks to take the next step in his climb towards the big show when he locks horns with Strikeforce veteran Charon Spain. The co-main event will feature another Strikeforce veteran in Dustin Ortiz, as he tangles with Josh Robinson. Ortiz, who holds a 2-0 record in Strikeforce, recently joined the vaunted Roufusport fight team in Milwaukee. Also on the card will be the undefeated “Phenom” Sergio Pettis, who is hungry to show the world that he belongs in the spotlight just like his big brother, UFC lightweight contender Anthony “Showtime” Pettis.

Rick Glenn moved to Milwaukee to become part of the vaunted Roufusport fight team. Still a youngster in the sport at only 23 years old, “The Gladiator” has quickly become a well-rounded fighter known for his talent and hard-working attitude. In short, he is one of Roufusport’s top prospects. He holds an 8-2 record with seven finishes, and hasn’t been beaten in his last seven straight bouts. With a win over Spain, he is sure to gain notice from promotions like the UFC, Strikeforce, and Bellator.

Dustin Ortiz knows what it means to be right on the cusp of reaching your dream. About a year ago, Ortiz faced Ian McCall in respected regional promotion Tachi Palace Fights. It was a hard-fought bout, but the Nashville-based flyweight came up short via decision. Now, McCall is scheduled to fight for the first-ever UFC Flyweight Championship. Ortiz rebounded from the loss with a TKO stoppage of Josh Rave, putting him right on the cusp of being ranked in the top ten of the 125-pound weight division. With a win at “Colosseum,” he will make a case to get into the UFC and possibly avenge his loss to McCall.

Fighting is in the blood of Sergio Pettis. It has been well-publicized that “The Phenom” is the younger brother of UFC lightweight star Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. A solid kickboxer, Sergio has experienced a fast start to his career, stopping all three of his opponents (two by TKO via head kick, one by submission). Now, he’ll face Chris “Bad Boy” Haney with his undefeated record on the line. What an opportunity for this youngster as he moves his way up the card and more and more into the spotlight.

Here is the full fight card as it stands:

Pro

145 lbs: Rick “Gladiator” Glenn (7-2-1) vs. Charon Spain (6-3)

130 lbs: Dustin Ortiz (8-1) vs. Josh Robinson (6-4)

125 lbs: “The Phenom” Sergio Pettis (3-0) vs. Chris “Bad Boy” Haney (3-2)

170 lbs: Matt Gauthier (3-0) vs. Israel “Junior” Lozano (1-0)

155 lbs: Robert Coulliard (1-1) vs. “Relentless” Robbie Merrill (3-0)

135 lbs: Cody Osborne (1-1) vs. Agostino “The Bull” DeNatale (1-1)

185 lbs: Zak Ottow (debut) vs. Mike “Biggie” Rhoads (debut)

Amateur

125 lbs: Esli Kilponnen vs. Heather Bassett

155 lbs: Matt Eisenzimmer vs. Doug Deback

125 lbs: Dan Michel vs. Elias Garcia

185 lbs: Jeremy Maat vs. Bobby Bernicky

155 lbs: Arturo Deleo vs. Ryan Pang

170 lbs: Sean Wallace vs. Matt Prawat

170 lbs: Tyler Davis vs. Kevin Morris
205 lbs: Andrew Stake vs. Pedro Reis

145 lbs: Aaron Drouse vs. Matthew Zoch

The NAFC is operated by famed fight trainer Duke Roufus and his business partner and producer Scott Joffe. Roufus is one of the most recognizable MMA and striking coaches in North America, and is considered to be one of the top trainers of Muay Thai kickboxing outside of Thailand. Roufus also runs the Roufusport Fight Club team, which includes UFC stars Alan Belcher, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Erik “New Breed” Koch, and Pascal “Panzer” Krauss.

For more information on the NAFC, please visit http://www.NAFC.tv/

About NAFC

North American Fighting Championship creates and produces events that feature combatants who have fought in the UFC, WEC, and other top level organizations, as they take on local fighters looking to make it to the next level. Current and former UFC fighters who have fought on past Gladiators Fighting shows (the NAFC’s predecessor) include former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne, Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, Ben Rothwell, Pat Barry, Eric “Red” Schafer, Jesse Lennox, Bart “Bartimus” Palaszewski, Jason “Dynamite” Dent, Rex Holman, Joe Doerksen, Dan Bobish, Ryan “The Lion” Madigan, Josh “Heavy” Hendricks, and Sherman “The Tank” Perdergarst.