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
 

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.

Washington State Governor Signs MMA Bill!

For Immediate Release

Tacoma, WA (April 4, 2012) – Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire has signed House Bill 2301, extending licensing and medical requirements for amateur mixed martial artists.

The sport has come a long way since Senator John McCain campaigned to have it outlawed in the 1990’s. Today, amateur MMA is wildly popular, with gyms, fight cards and training programs throughout the nation.

Even with MMA’s massive rise in popularity and McCain’s failed attempt to ban it, dark clouds still surround the sport.

There are many grotesque stories about unlicensed fighters participating matches without qualified judges, officials or appropriate medical personnel on hand. These dangerous events, often known as “smokers”, typically were promoted in suspicious locations. However, no formal preventative measures were in place.

“We’d received reports during the last few years about events being held in garages, parking lots, bars and nightclubs,” said Susan Colard, Washington State’s Administrator of Professional Athletics. “There were formal complaints about serious injuries in mismatches and people were frustrated that the Department of Licensing did not have the authority to stop these dangerous events.”

To make matters worse, Bill 2301 initially failed to get out of the House Committee twice during the last few years. Thankfully, 98 percent of voters said yes this time around.

Like the professionals, every amateur MMA fighter in Washington State must be licensed, have annual physical examinations and all applicable blood tests. All fight cards will also be required to have a doctor and ambulance present when Bill 2301 goes into effect June 1, 2012.

“The Department of Licensing was working on drafting a bill supporting regulation of amateur mixed martial arts for the last five years,” stated Colard. “The State of Washington is one of the first to bring forward this type of legislation and has been asked to share it at meetings with other commissions. We’re very excited with the passing of this legislation and happy that there is now a safe way for athletes to obtain the amateur experience needed to become a professional martial artist.”

MMA promoter Brian Halquist, who promotes the “CageSport” brand and is an outspoken advocate of fighters’ safety, was heavily involved in getting the bill passed.

“We as an industry have been working on this legislation for five years,” stated Halquist. “This was an issue that needed to be addressed and will ultimately make a safer environment for all MMA fighters. I owe a special thanks to Frank Wright, the CEO of Emerald Queen Casino, and everybody else who supported Bill 2301. This bill can literally save a life.”

Halquist Productions’ next MMA card is scheduled for Saturday, April 25 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA.

For more information on the bill, go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2012&bill=2301or HalquistProductions.Com or http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2301.pdf.