Edmonton, Alberta (Canada): The Fight Club (TFC), one of the top fight promotions in Canada, is proud to bring MMA fans “HIGH OCTANE” on Friday, March 19th, live from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The event will feature several top MMA superstars, including TFC World Welterweight Champion Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford, former TUF finalist Tommy “Farmboy” Speer, TFC World Light Heavyweight Champion Victor Valimaki, and UFC veteran Tim “Thrashing Machine” Hague. Tickets are available through http://www.thefightclub.ca/, or (780) 991-5670.

“HIGH OCTANE” will be the first Canadian MMA event to be shown live on pay per view. The PPV will be available across Canada on Shaw, Shaw Direct, Bell TV, and Viewer’s Choice. The event will also be broadcasted at many commercial establishments, bars, pubs, lounges, and casinos across Canada. In addition, through a distribution agreement with Ringside Boxing & MMA, the event will be televised to a potential worldwide audience of over 130 million viewers on a delayed basis. A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17th at 2 PM at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.

In the main event, Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford (11-2) will defend his title against TUF season six finalist Tommy “Farmboy” Speer (13-4). “The Real Deal” is a native of Edmonton, and has defeated UFC veterans Pete Spratt and CJ Fernandez. Many consider Ford to be the top contender for the next breakout Canadian welterweight, following in the footsteps of current UFC World Welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre. Speer, who has beaten War Machine (a.k.a. Jon Koppenhaver), Ben Saunders, and George Sotiropoulos while appearing on The Ultimate Fighter season 6. He has gone 4-1 since his exit from the UFC.

The co-main event will feature Edmonton, Alberta native Victor “The Matrix” Valimaki (16-5), who holds the TFC Light Heavyweight Championship, as he puts his title on the line against Martin “Stress” Desilets (9-2), who hails from Victoriaville, Quebec. Former UFC fighter Valimaki is riding a seven-fight winning streak, and is hoping that a win over Desilets will vault him back into the UFC. He holds victories over MMA legend Dan “The Beast” Severn and UFC veterans Vernon “Tiger” White, and Jason Day. Desilet is the XMMA Light Heavyweight title-holder, and trains with the likes of Kenny Florian and George St. Pierre. He is the number-one contender to the belt held by “The Matrix.”

Also featured at “HIGH OCTANE” will be recent UFC heavyweight Tim Hague (10-3) taking up-and-comer Tyler East (5-3) in an anticipated bout. The massive Hague has defeated UFC veterans Sherman “The Tank” Pendergarst and Pat Barry. The man he’ll be facing, Tyler East, is a 6’5” 230 lb. youngster who has fought for Bellator and King of the Cage. In addition, Edmonton native Victor “The Professor” Bachman (6-2), a former TFC Canadian Welterweight Champion will compete in a match in which the winner will get a shot at the Canadian title in June.

The full fight card includes:
· 170 lbs: Ryan Ford (11-2) vs. Tommy Speer (13-4)
· 205 lbs: Victor Valimaki (16-5) vs. Martin Desilets (9-2)
· 265 lbs: Tim Hague (10-3) vs. Tyler East (5-3)
· 170 lbs: Victor Bachmann (6-2) vs. Markhaile Wedderburn (8-5)
· 185 lbs: Sheldon Westcott (2-1) vs. Tim Smith (10-4)
· 195 lbs: Cody Krahn (6-2) vs. Elliot Duff (2-2)
· 165 lbs: Mitch Clarke (5-0) vs. Brandon MacArthur (5-14)
· 155 lbs: Curtis Demarce (9-7) vs. Mike Bell (4-14)
· 170 lbs: Rio Wells (2-0) vs. Karel Berger (1-0)
· 170 lbs: Jason Zorthian (3-3) vs. Todd Mabbott (2-1)
· 155 lbs: Doug Neumann (0-0) vs. David Bodrug (1-0)

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.thefightclub.ca/

ristan Warner of Cumberland Valley listens to his coach during an injury timeout. Warner defeated James Nicholson of Upper Moreland 12-2.

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(JOHN C. WHITEHEAD, The Patriot-News)

The preliminary round of the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament is in the books, and 13 local wrestlers are still in the hunt for state titles.

103 pounds
Chris Vassar, Cedar Cliff: Vassar patiently out-worked Clearfield's Christian Stone in their all-freshmen preliminary bout, 1-0 in overtime. He advanced to face Liberty's Anthony Cabrera in tomorrow's quarterfinals.

112 pounds
Dereck Enders, Big Spring: Enders started slow against a tough first-round opponent in Upper St. Clair's Mackenzie McGuire, but finished strong in a 9-4 defeat. Down 4-2 midway through the second period, Enders scored the final seven points of the match.

130 pounds
Tyler Buckman, Central Dauphin: Buckman had his hands full with Haverford's Luke Bilyeu, but scored an early takedown and made it stand with a smothering defense.

135 pounds
Shawn Greevy, Cumberland Valley: Greevy grabbed control with an early takedown and led from start to finish, beating State College's Adam Powers 6-3.

145 pounds
Bo Candelaria, Middletown: Before the buzzer sounded on the first period, Candelaria had executed three tilts and taken a 12-1 lead on Council Rock South's Tim Riley. Less than a minute later, Candelaria sealed the deal on a 16-1 technical fall.

152 pounds
Jayshon Wilson, Carlisle: Wilson struck first and kept attacking until the final buzzer in a 5-2 win over Blue Mountain's Travis Moyer. A big challenge lies ahead for Wilson in unbeaten Dylan Alton, last year's state champ at 145.

160 pounds
Marshall Peppelman, Central Dauphin: Peppelman's first-round win has become the norm for him this season: takedown, tilt, 36-second pin over Spring-Ford's Matt Krueger. The senior is looking for his third PIAA title.

Luke Etter, Big Spring: Etter, a third-place finisher at the District 3 tournament, started on a strong note with a 7-3 victory over Upper Moreland's John Bolich. Etter faces Hazleton Area's Pat LaBuz in tomorrow's quarterfinals.

171 pounds
Kenny Courts, Central Dauphin: Courts stayed unbeaten (39-0) and began his quest for PIAA gold with a first-period pin against Nick Lynch from Hatboro. Courts faces Coughlin's Josh Popple in tomorrow's quarterfinals.

Tristan Warner, Cumberland Valley: Warner posted a major decision against Upper Moreland's James Nicholson, winning 12-2 to set up a quarterfinal date with Hazleton Area's Jared Kay.

215 pounds
Zach Nye, East Pennsboro: Nye was impressive in a first-round pin against Blue Mountain's Brook Gosch, shutting him out before putting him on his back at the 5:43 mark. Nye also benefitted from the first-round loss of defending state championship Nate Gaffney, who would have been the junior's opponent in the quarterfinals.

Travis Friend, Cumberland Valley: Friend made short work of Ringgold's Neal Rands, registering a pin midway through the second period. He faces unbeaten Sean Sadosky (34-0) from St. Mary's in the quarters.

285 pounds
Averee Robinson, Susquehanna Twp.: Robinson cruised through his first-round bout with Penn Trafford's Zach Baker and tacked on a late takedown in an 11-4 victory. He faces Clearfield's Andre Buck, also an 11-4 winner, in the quarterfinals.

Press Release

Lubbock, TX. – January 13, 2010 –Popular mixed martial arts fight promotion company, Shark Fight Promotions, announced today that ten time UFC Veteran, Josh “The Dentist” Neer, will face Anselmo Martinez at Shark Fight 8 in the main event.

Neer has replaced Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford due to an unexpected death in the family. The winner of the bout will claim the promotions interim welterweight title, and will later face Shark Fights current welterweight champion, TJ Waldburger, for the official title. Shark Fight 8 – Super Brawl will take place on February 5th 2010, at Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas.

According to Brent Medley, President of Shark Fight Promotions, “On behalf of everyone at Shark Fight Promotions, we would like to send our thoughts and prayers out to Ryan Ford and his family in their time of need. Ryan is an amazing individual, both personally and professionally, and we look forward to having him fight for Shark Fights in the near future.”

Medley went on to say, “We were very fortunate to sign a fighter of Josh Neer’s caliber on such short notice. Not only is he an A-list competitor, he is strongly motivated to win this title. Neer’s goal is to return to the UFC, and winning this bout would bring him one step closer to that goal. I have no doubt that this is going to be an action packed fight. The fans will not be disappointed!”

Anselmo Martinez (6-0), a Shark Fight veteran with a history of winning by knockout, typically finishes his opponent in the first round. Martinez recently defeated Lorenzo Borgomeo at Shark Fight 7, clinching his fourth straight win in the Shark Fight arena. Martinez, who was contemplating retirement late last year, decided to stay in the game and for gold.

His opponent, Josh “The Dentist” Neer (25-9-1), is a ten time UFC Veteran and has fought a long list of high caliber fighters, including Kurt Pelligrino and Joe Stevenson. Neer, who recently defeated Matt Delanoit via TKO earlier this month, was released from his UFC contract following UFC 104. He is determined to prove that he still has what it takes to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship arena. As a six-and-a-half-year veteran of the sport, Neer has remained one of the more prolific fighters in MMA.

Doors to the Fair Park Coliseum open at 6:00 PM. Fights will begin at 7:30 PM. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.sharkfights.com and all Select-a-Seat locations in Lubbock.

Lubbock, TX. – January 13, 2010 –Popular mixed martial arts fight promotion company, Shark Fight Promotions, announced today that ten time UFC Veteran, Josh “The Dentist” Neer, will face Anselmo Martinez at Shark Fight 8 in the main event.
Neer has replaced Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford due to an unexpected death in the family. The [...]