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Monday, Mar 23, 2015

Lion Fight 22 to Feature Kem Sitsongpeenong vs. “Smokin’ Jo” Nattawut

Kem Sitsongpeenong (photo via Lion Fight)

By Lion Fight (via press release)

LAS VEGAS – Lion Fight Promotions CEO Scott Kent today announced that Thai superstar and World Muay Thai Champion Kem Sitsongpeenong is coming to the United States, for the first time ever, to headline LION FIGHT 22. Kem will face “Smokin’ Jo” Nattawut, an explosive, highly technical fighter who won admiration from fight fans for his aggressive style and dominant back-to-back wins in the Lion Fight ring. BUD LIGHT® presents LION FIGHT 22: KEM vs. SMOKIN’ JO live from Sunset Station in Las Vegas Friday, May 22.

Tickets for LION FIGHT 22: KEM vs. SMOKIN’ JO go on sale starting at $45 Tuesday, March 24 at 10 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available online at sclv.com, or any Station Casino or Fiesta Property (additional fees may apply). Doors open at 4:30 p.m. First bout is at 5 p.m.

AXS TV’s “Inside MMA” was the first to report that Kem signed on for the world title fight vs. Smokin’ Jo, and that Bud Light is the presenting sponsor for Lion Fight’s debut event at Sunset Station in Las Vegas.

“We are excited to bring Kem to the U.S. for the first time and to give fight fans an extraordinary world super welterweight title fight between this Thai legend and the rising star Smokin’ Jo,” said Kent. “Kem literally has more championship belts than he can carry, and Smokin’ Jo wants nothing more than to keep him from winning another. On May 22, we are back in ‘Fight Town’ for LION FIGHT 22 live at Sunset Station with another stacked Muay Thai card.”

“Sunset Station is very excited to bring a world class organization like Lion Fight to our outdoor amphitheater,” said Bryan Lindsey, Sunset Station General Manager. “Our VIP guests from all over the United States will be flying in to catch the action ringside!”

LION FIGHT 22: KEM vs. SMOKIN’ JO airs live on AXS TV starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The broadcast will feature play-by-play and color commentary by UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich alongside renowned sports commentator Michael “The Voice” Schiavello.

Kem, 30, started fighting in Thailand at the age of 13. A native of Bangkok, he has over 124 wins to his name. In 2007, Kem began racking up titles, and according to documented records, owns an astonishing 12 championship belts, including one from the WBC and MTA, three from the WMC, and the 2007 Rajadamnern Stadium Super Featherweight belt. With over 50 fights on record, Smokin’ Jo fights out of Bankok Gym in Atlanta. He stormed onto the America Muay Thai scene last year tearing through his first two opponents. He shocked fans with a strong victory over World Muay Thai Champion Cosmo Alexandre and easily defeated Sean Kearney even after accepting the fight on 24 hours notice.

Kent also announced Tiffany “Timebomb” Van Soest vs. Bernise Alldis as LION FIGHT 22’s co-main event.

Van Soest, former Lion Fight featherweight champion, is one of the biggest female stars in the sport. Fighting out of the famed Blackhouse Gym, home of UFC greats Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and the Nogueira brothers, she is among the most feared opponents in full rules Muay Thai. Alldis, fighting out of the United Kingdom, is an aggressive, supremely skilled opponent who holds a rare victory over Muay Thai icon Julie Kitchen. She has taken on and beat top female fighters around the world including Moroccan, Amel Dehby and Dutch kickboxer Maria Verheijen.

Also on the live televised main card are Las Vegas locals Jason Andrada and Anthony Castrejon in a featherweight (122 lbs.) bout. Knockout artist Gaston Bolanos takes on skilled opponent Damien Early in a welterweight (142 lbs.) fight, and Las Vegas local Tom Morales faces Brian Del Rosario from Van Nuys, Calif. in another action-packed welterweight (147 lbs.) matchup.

The ladies will kick off the first televised fight of the night live on AXS TV. Las Vegas local Christine Ferea will take on Laura Salazar from Rosemead, Calif. for a featherweight (125 lbs.) show opener.

The all-amateur undercard also is packed with locals; the line-up is as follows:

Middleweight Bout (160 lbs.)
Kawika Lagasca (Las Vegas, NV) vs. Miles Mansell (Phoenix, AZ)

Middleweight Bout (155 lbs.)
Christian Cardona (Las Vegas, NV) vs. Justin Bondar (La Puente, CA)

Flyweight Bout (110 lbs.)
Fanny Tommasino (Las Vegas, NV) vs. Star Monroe (Vallejo, CA)

Middleweight Bout (155 lbs.)
Zhenya Chuprina (Las Vegas, NV) vs. Gary Koehler (Phoenix, AZ)

Lightweight Bout (13 lbs.)
Jack Terzian (Van Nuys, CA) vs. Alfredo Figueroa (Irvine,CA)
All bouts live and subject to change

posted by FCF Staff @ 12:11 pm
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