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Wednesday, Jun 14, 2006

Eilers In Against Ambriz At Wec 21



Eilers in Against Ambriz at WEC 21
By Loretta Hunt – Photos by Daisy Rosas

For the first time ever under the eyes of a state-appointed regulatory body, the California State Athletic Commission oversaw today’s World Extreme Cagefighting official weigh-ins this evening in preparation tomorrow night’s WEC 21 "Tapout" at the San Manuel Casino in San Bernardino.

Hermes Franca (left) vs. Brandon Olsen
Hermes Franca vs. Brandon Olsen


Despite the new company for the promotion that has created a nest for itself the last four years at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, a pair of fighters couldn’t hit their marks and were unceremoniously fined (with half these amounts going to their opponents).

Joe Hurley vs. Nate Diaz
Joe Hurley vs. Nate Diaz


Stepping up as a one-week replacement against Jimmy Ambriz, Justin Eilers clocked in the most substantial weight differential — just 28 pounds shy of the Californian’s 266-pound reading.

Ryan Healy vs. Rob McCullough
Ryan Healy vs. Rob McCullough


Jason Glaza (230 lbs) vs. Kyle York (240 lbs)
Joe Martin (171 lbs) vs. Mike Penalber (176.5 lbs)*
Rich Crunkilton (156 lbs) vs. Adam Lynn (157.5 lbs)*
Miguel Cosio (209.5 lbs) vs. Brian Stann (208 lbs)
Joe Hurley (160 lbs) vs. Nate Diaz (160 lbs)
Jimmy Ambriz (266 lbs) vs. Justin Eilers (238 lbs)
Cory Cass (145 lbs) vs. Jeff Willingham (141 lbs)

WEC World Championship Lightweight Fight (155)
Hermes Franca (155 lbs) vs. Brandon Olsen (157 lbs)

Main Event
Ryan Healy (155 lbs) vs. Rob McCullough (155 lbs)

*Fighters agreed to weight overage, fined $50 by CSAC


From DSE/Pride:



NAKAMURA/CYBORG & BELFORT/TAKAHASHI SET FOR CRITICAL COUNTDOWN ABSOLUTE 2006

TOKYO, Japan — Two more non-tournament bouts have been added to PRIDE FIGHTING’S upcoming July 2nd event, CRITICAL COUNTDOWN ABSOLUTE 2006. In the first bout, Chute Boxe’s EVANGELISTA "CYBORG" SANTOS will make his PRIDE debut against Japanese judo superstar KAZUHIRO NAKAMURA. In addition, MMA veteran VITOR "THE PHENOM" BELFORT will be making his return to PRIDE after a one-year hiatus to face Japanese Pancrase fighter, YOSHIKI TAKAHASHI.

The card also features four bouts from the second round of the absolute weight tournament, including: Japanese Olympic gold medallist HIDEHIKO YOSHIDA against the "Croatian Sensation" MIRKO "CROCOP" FILIPOVIC … the "AXE MURDERER" WANDERLEI SILVA versus KAZUYUKI "IRONHEAD" FUJITA … Jiu Jitsu phenom FABRICIO WERDUM faces fellow Brazilian ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA … and New Zealand slugger MARK HUNT versus "THE BABY FACED ASSASSIN" JOSH BARNETT.

CRITICAL COUNTDOWN ABSOLUTE 2006 is the second round of PRIDE FIGHTING’S 2006 16-Man absolute weight Grand Prix Tournament. ABSOLUTE means no weight classes. The semi-finals and finals of the tournament will occur at FINAL CONFLICT ABSOLUTE 2006 in August (date to be announced soon).

CRITICAL COUNTDOWN ABSOLUTE 2006 is scheduled to premiere on North American pay per view on Sunday, July 2, 2006.


INDEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN
PPV Premiere Date: Sunday, July 2, 2006
Premiere Time: 10:00 pm ET, 7:00 pm PT
Count Down show: 9:30 pm ET, 6:30 pm PT

TOURNAMENT MATCHES
Hidehiko Yoshida (Japan) vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (Croatia)
Wanderlei Silva (Brazil) vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (Japan)
Fabricio Werdum (Brazil) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera (Brazil)
Josh Barnett (USA) vs. Mark Hunt (New Zealand)

NON-TOURNAMENT MATCHES
Kazuhiro Nakamura (Japan) vs. Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos (Brazil)
Vitor Belfort (Brazil) vs. Yoshiki Takahashi (Japan)

Participants and fight card subject to change.

For additional replay times, please contact your pay per view provider.



From the event’s promoter:



WORLD FIGHTING ALLIANCE (WFA) SIGNS PRO WRESTLING ICON BILL GOLDBERG AS COLOR COMMENTATOR FOR "WFA: KING OF THE STREETS"
Dish Network to Offer Live Pay-Per-View Broadcast of July 22nd Event at The Forum to Customers Nationwide

LOS ANGELES, CA, June 14, 2006 — The World Fighting Alliance (WFA) — the recently launched mixed martial arts (MMA) organization featuring a "who’s who" lineup of MMA superstars – announced today its signing of pro wrestling superstar and television and film personality Bill Goldberg as its color commentator for the upcoming "WFA: King of the Streets" live pay-per-view broadcast from the Forum in Los Angeles on July 22nd.

Goldberg’s connections to the MMA world run deep. The former WCW World Heavyweight Champion has been a martial arts enthusiast throughout his career in wrestling and television, and has trained for most of his adult life in the art of Muay Thai kickboxing. Goldberg also owns and operates Extreme Power, a Muay Thai training facility for children and adults, as well as competitive fighters in Oceanside, CA. Currently, Goldberg is set to star in a remake of the 1980s martial arts film, "Half Past Dead," which originally featured martial arts expert-turned film star Steven Seagal. Shooting is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in July.

"I’ve been passionate about martial arts my entire life through my own Muay Thai training, my Extreme Power martial arts training facility and now through the myriad of relationships I have with the top fighters in the sport of MMA," said Goldberg. "When the WFA approached me with this opportunity and I saw the lineup of elite MMA stars fighting for the WFA, I knew this was an opportunity to get more involved in the rapid evolution of this sport. The decision was a no-brainer and I’m thrilled about my affiliation with the WFA."

The WFA also announced a distribution agreement with national satellite television provider Dish Network for "WFA: King of the Streets." to compliment its existing deal with iN Demand. The event, broadcast live on July 22nd, will be available to Dish Network customers nationwide through a live pay-per-view broadcast, available on Dish Network for $34.95. In addition to the Dish Network, "WFA: King of the Streets" will be available live on pay-per-view for cable customers nationwide via iNDemand (check local cable listings for details).

The broadcast will feature a three-man broadcasting team, led by veteran boxing play-by-play commentator Barry Tompkins with Goldberg handling color commentary duties. The WFA is reportedly speaking with several well-known former MMA stars to round out the broadcast team, handling post-fight interviews and analysis in the ring. Details on this final member of the King of the Streets broadcast team will be announced in the weeks to come.

"Goldberg is a legend to millions of Americans and his hard-nosed, raw and aggressive persona is the perfect compliment to what the WFA is all about," said Jeremy Lappen, CEO of the WFA. "He shares our passion for the sport and we feel his signing simply underscores the credibility of our organization and our commitment to providing a superior entertainment experience. Needless to say, we’re thrilled to have him on board as an ambassador for the WFA."

Goldberg became a professional wrestler after a standout college football career at the University of Georgia and professional football stints in the World League and a three-year NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons. Goldberg’s success in wrestling was almost instantaneous capturing the WCW U.S. title and the WCW World title (in a historic battle with Hollywood Hulk Hogan) in less than two years. He is inarguably one of the most beloved and revered personalities in the history of professional wrestling. Goldberg has transitioned into television and film work with roles in feature films including The Longest Yard and Universal Soldier.

posted by Full Contact Fighter @ 8:00 pm
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