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Raw: NYC Building Explodes, Injuries Reported Witnesses Describe NY Building Collapse

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 12, 2014 at 13:31

Raw: NYC Building Explodes, Injuries Reported

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A New York City apartment building has exploded in flames and billowing black smoke, leading to the collapse of at least one building and multiple injuries. (March 12)

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Witnesses describe ceilings collapsing and glass shattering as two buildings collapsed in New York City Wednesday morning killing at least one person and injured more than a dozen
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Crossroads: Adamek vs. Glazkov Live on NBCSN Fight Night 9:00 PM ET

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 12, 2014 at 13:00
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The Crossroads: Adamek vs. Glazkov

March 15th Live on NBCSN Fight Night 9:00 PM ET

Bethlehem, PA: With tickets sold out for the much-anticipated heavyweight battle between Tomasz "Goral" Adamek (49-2-0, 29 KOs) and Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov (16-0-1, 11 KOs) at Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, PA, the only place to catch the fight for the IBF North American Heavyweight Title and IBF #2 Eliminator is on NBCSN Fight Night at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT on March 15th.  The fight, billed "The Crossroads", is a must-win for both fighters, with each having something to prove.  

 

Adamek, a top five heavyweight, is headed towards the twilight of a stellar career.  He was a world champion as a light heavyweight and a cruiserweight but the title of world heavyweight champion has eluded him.  The 37 year old has lost only twice in over fifty career fights; one of them at the hands of Vitali Klitschko in his first shot at the heavyweight crown, a tenth round TKO for the WBC World Heavyweight Championship.  The winner of his fight with Glazkov will hold the IBF North American Heavyweight Title and will be rated #2 in the IBF heavyweight ratings.  Adamek hopes to earn another chance at the world title by handing the young prospect his first defeat.  Tomasz knows what's at stake with this fight, "I want to win this fight and be #2.  I want to be #1 and fight Wladimir Klitschko.  I lose to his brother and this would be my chance for a rematch.  I want to show that two years ago with his brother was my mistake.  I want to be mandatory."  

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Tomasz "Goral" Adamek

Photo Credits:

Rich Graessle/Main Events

Glazkov, 29, needs to prove he belongs among the elite in the heavyweight division.  With this fight, the 2008 Olympic Bronze medalist will look to take on his first top-ranked opponent and keep his undefeated record intact.  Despite Glazkov's excellent amateur record, he knows Adamek has experience on his side and that age is sometimes just a number when he said, "In the heavyweight division anything under 40 is still considered to be of fighting age.  That is why I am not going to discount his age or his experience." He promises to be ready on March 15th, "I have prepared myself the most for this fight and we will see what happens after that." 

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Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov

Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

The crossroads showdown was originally scheduled for the special afternoon edition of Fight Night on NBC on November 16, 2013.  When Adamek fell ill with the flu just days before the fight, Garrett "The Ultimate Warrior" Wilson stepped in at the last minute and put on a game performance against Glazkov, entertaining close to one million viewers.  Czar defeated Wilson in ten rounds via unanimous decision.  Now the showdown between Glazkov and Adamek is finally going to take place on March 15th and NBCSN Fight Night is the only place to catch it live.   

 

"We are excited to showcase a title bout featuring top-tier competitors that our Fight Night audience has become familiar with over the past few years," said Gary Quinn, vice president of programming & planning for NBC and NBCSN.  

 

Kathy Duva, the promoter of both fighters and CEO of Main Events, said, "When Adamek fell ill in November, we were all devastated.  Everyone was excited for the fight.  It's wonderful that we've been able to reschedule it and give Fight Night fans the fight they really want to see."

About March 15th:

The March 15th edition of NBCSN Fight Night at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem features the twelve-round heavyweight match-up between Tomasz "Goral" Adamek and Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov for the IBF North American Heavyweight Title and IBF #2 Position Eliminator. The co-feature is a ten round light heavyweight match-up between Isaac "Golden Boy" Chilemba and Denis "The Pirate/Drago's Son" Grachev.  Doors open at 6:00 PM ET. The co-feature and main event will be broadcast live on NBCSN Fight Night at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT. Tickets are no longer available. The card is presented by Main Events, Peltz Boxing, Ziggy Promotions, and Pushka Promotions in association with BAM Boxing and Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

 

NBC Sports Live Extra:

 

NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets - will live stream Fight Night at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on March 15th.  Coverage will be streamed via "TV Everywhere," the media industry's effort to make quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

All NBC Sports Network live events live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via "TV Everywhere," which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

 

FOLLOW US:

 

Official hashtag: #FightNight

www.mainevents.com
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Reading, Mass., heavyweight John Johnston will put his undefeated record on the line Friday, March 14th, 2014 at "CES MMA XII" at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 12, 2014 at 13:00
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Reading, Mass., heavyweight John Johnston will put his undefeated record on the line Friday, March 14th, 2014 at "CES MMA XII" at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., against UFC vet Josh Hendricks for the vacant CES MMA title. Johnston has won all five of his bouts by knockout. (CES photo by Ian Travis Barnard)
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CES MEDIA ALERT

Johnston hopes to seize golden opportunity in heavyweight title bout Friday 


                          
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UFC vet Josh Hendricks will look for his second win at Twin River Casino in as many tries. Two years ago, he beat Connecticut native Josh Diekmann by submission at the same venue.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 12th, 2014) -- When heavyweight John Johnston made his professional mixed martial arts debut three years ago at the age of 40 with only a few Muay Thai fights under his belt, competing for a title was the last thing on this mind.

 

"It was one of those things I always thought about," he said, "but never imagined it could happen."

 

As if often the case in a sport as unpredictable as MMA, dreams sometimes come true, and Johnston's dream of fighting for a title will, in fact, become a reality Friday, March 14th, 2014 when the unbeaten Reading, Mass., heavyweight faces Josh Hendricks for the vacant CES MMA championship at "CES MMA XXII" at Twin River Casino.

 

Hendricks (19-9, 5 KOs), a 37-year-old Mansfield, Ohio veteran, will have experience on his side, which includes a brief stint with the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), but Johnston (5-0, 5 KOs) has launched his young career with five knockout wins in five fights, making this a must-see five-rounder on a stacked undercard that also includes seven-time UFC vet Drew Fickett.

 

"I respect Josh," Johnston said. "He's had his run. He's had some great fights, but every fight is different. I'm expecting the fight of my life."

 

In addition to his appearance on UFC 91 in 2008, which ended in a knockout loss to Boston-based heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga, Hendricks has other ties to New England. He beat Connecticut's Josh Diekmann at Twin River in 2012 and recently fought West Yarmouth, Mass., prospect Juliano Coutinho, who happens to be Johnston's jiu-jitsu coach. Johnston actually worked Coutinho's corner in that fight and has also sparred with Gonzaga, but won't rely too heavily on the input of others when it's his turn to face Hendricks.

 

"Everyone is different," Johnston said. "When Juliano fought Josh it was a totally different fight because Juliano is real comfortable on the ground and there wasn't much standup.

 

"We watch a lot of tapes on the people we're fighting and figure out what we have to do and what the game plan will be. Going into a fight, we're always well-prepared and ready to take the fight wherever it goes."

 

If Hendricks takes it to the ground, so be it, Johnston says, but the 6-foot-4, 257-pound heavyweight would prefer to trade hands with Hendricks given the fact he's won all five of his fights by knockout -- four in the first round. That doesn't mean he's one-dimensional, even if some opponents believe that's the case.

 

"My ground game gets overlooked because people never see it," Johnston said.

 

Johnston has worked with Division I wrestlers, most notably former Iowa State Hawkeye Quinn Boyce, and fellow MMA vet Pat Walsh to improve his ground game, which has come a long way since his pro debut three years ago.

 

One of the rare instances where Johnston had to use his wrestling and jiu-jitsu occurred in his second pro fight in 2011 against Shaun Durfee when he slipped on the canvas on the way into the cage and broke his ankle. In the opening round, Johnston thought he saw an opening for a head kick and tried to execute, but his support foot -- the one with the broken ankle -- gave way and he fell against the cage. Durfee immediately took him to the ground and tried his best to earn a submission, but Johnston held his ground and survived the round.

 

The fight didn't last much longer with Johnston earning the stoppage 38 seconds into the second round.

 

"I was fighting on a broken ankle and he couldn't submit me or finish me," Johnston said. "I'm mostly a standup fighter, which is fine with me. I'd rather people see that."

 

As far as conditioning goes, particularly for a 43-year-old fighter who has never fought past the second round, Johnston isn't concerned, not with all the training he's done since the end of 2013.

 

"I haven't had any breaks for a while," he said. "My last fight was in January and I trained nine weeks for that, and when that was over I got right back into the gym. I'm not worried at all about my conditioning. Our coaches put us through the wringer here. I'll be ready to go all five rounds."

 

Johnston's improbable run began more than a decade ago when he began training under Mark DellaGrotte at Siyodtong in Boston. Johnston was one of the school's head Muay Thai trainers, but soon began working -- and sparring -- with established veterans Jorge Rivera, Stephan Bonnar and Marcus Davis.

 

"I got the itch to fight," Johnston said.

 

After a long talk with DellaGrotte, who has hesitant at first to let Johnston turn pro at the risk of losing one of his best trainers, Johnston made his debut in 2011. Three years later at 43, he's fighting for a title against a former UFC vet. It's an improbable story, but not an impossible one, further prove that dreams do come true.

 

"This is what I do full-time now," Johnston said. "I'm looking at this one fight at a time. CES is a real good organization and has taken care of me. I'd love to continue with them, but if Bellator or someone like that gets in touch with me, hopefully I can get to a big show before I get to the point where I have to retire. I'm 43 now. I'm not getting any younger, but I'll keep going until my body tells me I can't."

 

Tickets for "CES MMA XXII" are on sale now at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com or www.twinriver.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

The main event of "CES MMA XXII" features Fickett (42-20, 3 KOs) battling Providence's Luis Felix (10-7, 3 KOs) in a lightweight bout. Several undercard bouts could steal the show, including the highly-anticipated middleweight bout between UFC vet Thomas Egan (7-4, 6 KOs) of Dorchester, Mass., and Plymouth, Mass., veteran Chip Moraza-Pollard (7-6, 4 KOs) a former Reality Fighting and Bellator contender. Egan, born and raised in Kildare, Ireland, starred on UFC 93 in Ireland.

 

Looking to keep the momentum going from his win over Chris Woodall in November, former TUF vet Chuck O'Neill (12-6, 4 KOs) of East Bridgwater, Mass., will battle Dade City, Fla., welterweight Roger Carroll (13-10) in a three-round bout. Caroll has won 11 bouts by submission. Lightweight contender Andres Jeudi (5-2, 1 KO) of Somerville, Mass., will face Brendan Rooney (5-1) of Shelton, Conn. 

 

Also on the undercard, rising featherweight star and Johnson & Wales alum Charles Rosa (6-0, 3 KOs) of Boynton Beach, Fla., will return to Twin River for the fourth time in a three-round bout against Philadelphia veteran Brylan Van Artsdalen (9-9, 1 KO), an eight-time Bellator veteran.

 

Marshfield, Mass., featherweight Brendan Fleming (3-2) will take on Baltimore's Robert Sullivan (3-1); fellow featherweight Josh LaBerge (8-4, 3 KOs) of Fall River, Mass., will battle Philadelphia's Steve McCabe (6-14, 5 KOs); Tommy Venticinque (0-1) of Warwick, R.I., will face Rick Rivera of Springfield, Mass., in a welterweight bout; and Winthrop, Mass, featherweight Kyle Bochniak (1-0) will aim for his second win of the year when he faces Marius Enache (1-2) of Philadelphia. 

 

-- CES --
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New-look Felix hopes rededication to MMA will carry him past Fickett on Friday March 14th, 2014.

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 10, 2014 at 18:00
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Providence, R.I., lightweight Luis Felix will face seven-time UFC vet Drew Fickett in the main event Friday, March 14th, 2014 at "CES MMA XII" at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. Felix is searching for his third win over a former UFC vet in as many tries. (CES photo by Ian Travis Barnard)

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CES MEDIA ALERT

New-look Felix hopes rededication to MMA will carry him past Fickett on Friday 

                        
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Seven-time UFC vet Drew Fickett owns wins over Kenny Florian and Josh Koscheck and has won 31 bouts by submission.
 Forget everything you think you know about Luis Felix.

 

After years of treating mixed martial arts like a hobby, the Providence-based lightweight is ready to go "all in" as he prepares for the toughest test of his career Friday night at Twin River Casino.

 

"No more excuses," said Felix (10-7, 3 KOs), who'll face seven-time Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) veteran Drew Fickett in the main event of "CES MMA XXII" on Friday, March 14th, 2014.

 

"I've pretty much put everything aside to focus on fighting and make a run at being elite and making it to the next level. This is all I do now. No more secondary job. I'm pretty much all in at this point."

 

Despite a tremendous wrestling background, which helped him become a state champion at nearby Cranston East High School, and his willingness to fight anyone at any given time, the knock on Felix through the years was his conditioning -- or lack thereof -- and whether or not he took the sport seriously.

 

"In the past, I wasn't always all in," he said. "It was always fun, but I used it as a hobby."

 

It showed. Felix spent the first three years of his professional career teetering on the brink, never winning more than two consecutive fights. A loss to Joe DeChaves in 2010, which, to this day, Felix says was "the biggest fluke," pushed Felix to jump right back into the cage less than a month later against then-unbeaten prospect Joe Proctor. Felix pulled off the upset, knocking out Proctor in the second round.

 

"I had been fighting every month, so I was in great shape," Felix said. "By the time I stepped in with Proctor, I had gotten much better as a fighter."

 

Proctor eventually made his way to the big stage two years later, starring in Season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter, but the fight paid more immediate dividends for Felix, whose career path changed dramatically after handing Proctor his first career loss. He suddenly realized what he could accomplish when motivated.

 

"I really started taking it more seriously after that," he said. "All the hype was behind [Proctor] at the time and where he was going. After that fight, I started talking with [UFC veteran] Jorge Rivera and a few other coaches and really began buckling down. Ever since then, the way I go about this has been completely different."

 

The win over Proctor was merely a precursor to what unfolded over the next three years. Since then, Felix has won four of his last five fights, including a win over another UFC vet, Marc Stevens, earning Felix the reputation as a fighter who saves his best for his biggest fights. Felix also upended Boston-based prospect Lucas Cruz in December. Cruz was 6-1 at the time and owned wins over Pete Jeffrey and John Ortolani before losing by split decision to Felix.

 

"For me, it's a challenge, like when they're saying, 'Oh, this guy is that good,' or, 'This guy is better than you,' or, 'This guy has done this,'" Felix said. "Having that kind of challenge in front of me is motivation enough for me to get after it."

 

Facing Fickett (42-20, 3 KOs) is a similar challenge. At his best, Fickett is one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport, having beaten both Kenny Florian and Josh Koscheck, but his own self-destructive past -- alcohol abuse, etc. -- has put him in a similar "do or die" mode where every fight could be the end of the road or the beginning of a new journey.

 

"Knowing someone like him, who has been at that level and fought some of the best in the world, I know where I want to go and where I want to be in this sport," Felix said. "To fight someone of his caliber is just another challenge.

 

"I don't know what it does immediately for me, but I know what's at stake for me personally and where I want to be. This fight for me is everything. I'm not looking past it. I'm not looking at where it will put me. I'm just focusing on this challenge in front of me."

 

Just how serious is Felix these days? Not only is he working with Rhode Island-based boxing coach Vic Fagnant, who he considers "the biggest blessing" in his career the past two years, he's also been working on his strength and conditioning with former CES MMA lightweight champion Mike Campbell, who pressed Felix to train with him for five years until he finally decided to take his advice in preparation for this upcoming fight.

 

"That's been a whole new spectrum for me," Felix said. "I never really lifted weights or did strength training. Working with Campbell and seeing the things he's done as an athlete really opened my eyes. I already feel such a big difference in my explosive strength in a short amount of time.

 

"From the first day I went in there, it was like learning something new. Now I look forward to going in there and training and getting my ass kicked."

 

Felix also has a manager, Patsy Sperduto, who has helped keep him on track. Having a trustworthy inner-circle with people looking out for his best interests is a far cry from the days when Felix simply agreed to take fights just to stay active. It's a new look for a fighter hoping to make that final push toward being elite. No more excuses. He's finally "all in."

 

"I'm taking this as a career and trying to move forward with it," Felix said. "Being dedicated and putting in the training I need has really helped me."

 

Tickets for "CES MMA XXII" are on sale now at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com or www.twinriver.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

Several undercard bouts at "CES MMA XXII" could steal the show, including the highly-anticipated middleweight bout between UFC vet Thomas Egan (7-4, 6 KOs) of Dorchester, Mass., and Plymouth, Mass., veteran Chip Moraza-Pollard (7-6, 4 KOs) a former Reality Fighting and Bellator contender. Egan, born and raised in Kildare, Ireland, starred on UFC 93 in Ireland.

 

Looking to keep the momentum going from his win over Chris Woodall in November, former TUF vet Chuck O'Neill (12-6, 4 KOs) of East Bridgwater, Mass., will battle Dade City, Fla., welterweight Roger Carroll (13-10) in a three-round bout. Caroll has won 11 bouts by submission. Lightweight contender Andres Jeudi (5-2, 1 KO) of Somerville, Mass., will face Brendan Rooney (5-1) of Shelton, Conn. 

 

Also on the undercard, rising featherweight star and Johnson & Wales alum Charles Rosa (6-0, 3 KOs) of Boynton Beach, Fla., will return to Twin River for the fourth time in a three-round bout against Philadelphia veteran Brylan Van Artsdalen (9-9, 1 KO), an eight-time Bellator veteran.

 

Marshfield, Mass., featherweight Brendan Fleming (3-2) will take on Baltimore's Robert Sullivan (3-1); fellow featherweight Josh LaBerge (8-4, 3 KOs) of Fall River, Mass., will battle Philadelphia's Steve McCabe (6-14, 5 KOs); Tommy Venticinque (0-1) of Warwick, R.I., will face Rick Rivera of Springfield, Mass., in a welterweight bout; and Winthrop, Mass, featherweight Kyle Bochniak (1-0) will aim for his second win of the year when he faces Marius Enache (1-2) of Philadelphia. 

 

-- CES --
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Felix, Johnston ready to face toughest tests of their careers at CES MMA XXII

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 3, 2014 at 15:00
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Undefeated Melrose, Mass., heavyweight John Johnston will put his record on the line against former UFC vet Josh Hendricks for the vacant CES MMA title on Friday, March 14th, 2014 at "CES MMA XII" at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. (CES photo by Ian Barnard)

                                               

Monday, March 3rd, 2014

CES MEDIA ALERT

Felix, Johnston ready to face toughest tests of their careers at CES MMA XXII 

                  
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Providence's Luis Felix will take on established UFC veteran Drew Fickett in a three-round lightweight bout Friday, March 14th, 2014 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. (CES photo by Ian Travis Barnard)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 3rd, 2014) -- "CES MMA XXII" will be a judgment night of sorts for two of the region's brightest stars as they prepare for a challenge unlike any other.

 

Hard-hitting heavyweight John Johnston will put his undefeated record on the line against a former Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) contender for CES' vacant title and lightweight Luis Felix will face one of mixed martial art's most polarizing figures Friday, March 14th, 2014 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I.

 

Tickets for "CES MMA XXII" are on sale now at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com or www.twinriver.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

Now 5-0 with five knockouts following another win in January, Johnston will battle 37-year-old Ohio native Josh Hendricks (19-9, 5 KOs) for CES MMA's vacant heavyweight title in a five-round bout. This is a major step up for Johnston, the Melrose, Mass., native, who has yet to fight past the second round in any of his previous five bouts. The furthest any opponent got was 46 seconds into the second round back in September of 2011, and that one ended in typical Johnston fashion when the big heavyweight put a bloodied, battered Shaun Durfee to sleep for good with a hard right cross.

 

Like Johnston, Hendricks rarely goes the distance -- just twice in 21 bouts -- but his experience in the cage might be the biggest hurdle Johnston has to overcome. Hendricks has been fighting professionally since 2002. His career peaked between 2005 and 2007 when he won 10 of 11 bouts, nine of them ending in the first round, to earn a spot on the UFC 91 undercard in 2008. The thrill wore off quickly with a first-round knockout loss to Gabriel Gonzaga, but Hendricks has remained active by fighting at least once a year over the past five years, including a win over Bellator contender and Connecticut native Josh Diekmann at Twin River in 2011.

 

In addition to his five knockout wins, Hendricks' impressive resume includes 12 wins by submission. Only two of his 21 fights have gone the distance -- both wins -- setting the stage for what could be a dramatic finish when he faces Johnston on the 14th.

 

For Felix (10-7, 3 KOs), his lightweight showdown against Arizona's Drew Fickett (42-20, 3 KOs) represents another opportunity to beat a UFC vet while moving one step closer toward reaching the same goal in his own career.

 

The Providence native already owns wins over Joe Proctor and Marc Stevens and tends to fight his best on the biggest stage, but Fickett is a rare breed, a sturdy veteran with more than 60 fights on his resume before his 35th birthday.

 

Fickett's remarkable efficiency, which includes seven fights under the UFC umbrella and bouts with Strikeforce, Dream and King Of The Cage, is even more impressive considering his past troubles in and out of the cage. Fickett battled alcoholism for several years, but has since rededicated himself to mixed martial arts and is looking to make one more run to the top.

 

Experience will be on his side. Among his most impressive bouts are a split-decision win over former UFC title contender Kenny Florian in 2004 before Florian's UFC debut and a split-decision win over fellow Strikeforce and UFC vet Dennis Hallman in 2003. Fickett is also the first fighter to beat UFC lifer Josh Koscheck, submitting Koscheck via rear-naked choke at UFC Fight Night 2 in 2005.

 

At his best, Fickett is one of the top lightweights in mixed martial arts. Thirty-one of his 42 wins have come by submission and he's only gone the distance 13 times in 62 bouts.

 

But Felix rarely wilts under the pressure. Working with Rhode Island-based boxing coach Vic Fagnant and former CES MMA lightweight champ Mike Campbell, who has helped with strength and conditioning, Felix expects to be the strongest he's ever been when he returns on the 14th. Since losing to Joe DeChaves in October of 2010, a loss that dropped his record to 5-6, Felix has won five of his last six bouts. The turnaround began with the win over Proctor, the Quincy, Mass., native who went on to star on the reality show The Ultimate Fighter: Live and has since been a fixture on UFC undercards. 

 

Several undercard bouts at "CES MMA XXII" could steal the show, including the highly-anticipated middleweight bout between UFC vet Thomas Egan (7-4, 6 KOs) of Dorchester, Mass., and Plymouth, Mass., veteran Chip Moraza-Pollard (7-6, 4 KOs) a former Reality Fighting and Bellator contender. Egan, born and raised in Kildare, Ireland, starred on UFC 93 in Ireland.

 

Looking to keep the momentum going from his win over Chris Woodall in November, former TUF vet Chuck O'Neill (12-6, 4 KOs) of East Bridgwater, Mass., will battle Dade City, Fla., welterweight Roger Carroll (13-10) in a three-round bout. Caroll has won 11 bouts by submission.

 

Also on the undercard, rising featherweight star and Johnson & Wales alum Charles Rosa (6-0, 3 KOs) of Boynton Beach, Fla., will return to Twin River for the fourth time in a three-round bout against Philadelphia veteran Brylan Van Artsdalen (9-9, 1 KO), an eight-time Bellator veteran.

 

Marshfield, Mass., featherweight Brendan Fleming (3-2) will take on Baltimore's Robert Sullivan (3-1); fellow featherweight Josh LaBerge (8-4, 3 KOs) of Fall River, Mass., will battle Philadelphia's Steve McCabe (6-14, 5 KOs); Tommy Venticinque (0-1) of Warwick, R.I., will face Rick Rivera of Springfield, Mass., in a welterweight bout; and Winthrop, Mass, featherweight Kyle Bochniak (1-0) will aim for his second win of the year when he faces Marius Enache (1-2) of Philadelphia. 

 

-- CES --
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Main Events Wins Purse Bid for IBF Light Heavyweight Eliminator

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 3, 2014 at 14:54

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Main Events Wins Purse Bid for IBF Light Heavyweight Eliminator #2 Dmitry Sukhotsky vs. #4 Anatoliy Dudchenko

 

Springfield, NJ: Totowa, NJ-based promoter Main Events won the purse bid for the IBF-mandated eliminator for the #1 position in the IBF's light heavyweight ratings between #2-ranked Dmitry "The Hunter" Sukhotsky (21-2-0, 16 KOs) and #4-ranked Anatoliy "The Gladiator" Dudchenko (19-2-0, 13 KOs). The purse bid was held this morning at the IBF offices in Springfield, NJ.  The winner of the fight will become the mandatory challenger for Bernard Hopkins' IBF Light Heavyweight Title.

 

Main Events plans to add the elimination bout to the Friday, April 4th edition of NBCSN Fight Night featuring the USBA Heavyweight Championship battle between Steve Cunningham and Amir Mansour at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA. 

  Dudchenko, 35, is originally from Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine and now resides in Los Angeles, CA.  He is currently the IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion.  This will be his first fight in the Northeast and his first since signing with Main Events.  "The Gladiator" has won sixteen straight bouts in a row (seven by knockout) dating all the way back to May 16, 2008 with his first round TKO of Chris Eppley in Evansville, Indiana. 

Sukhotsky, 32, of Barnaul, Russia will make his east coast debut on April 4th.  He has only fought once in the United States, on July 14, 2012 in Las Vegas, NV where he lost to Cornelius White via unanimous decision. However, "The Hunter" has won his last three fights in a row - all by knockout - dating back to December 8, 2012 with his first round TKO over Volodymyr Borovskyy in Podolsk, Russia.

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, said, "Sukhotsky versus Dudchenko is going to be a war that deserves this kind of exposure in the United States.  The winner will be in line to challenge Bernard Hopkins for the IBF Light Heavyweight Championship, so it's great that fight fans will get to see this eliminator."

About April 4th:

The event features a ten-round bout for the USBA Heavyweight Title between Steve "USS" Cunningham and USBA champion Amir "Hardcore" Mansour live on NBCSN Fight Night from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA.  The Fight Night broadcast will begin at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT.  The card is presented by Main Events and Peltz Boxing in association with BAM Boxing and Joe Hand Promotions. The undercard will include the IBF Light Heavyweight Eliminator between Anatoliy Dudchenko and Dmitry Sukhotsky. The remaining undercard fights will be announced shortly.  Tickets are on sale now at www.comcastTix.com and the Liacouras Center Box Office.  

NBC Sports Live Extra:

 

NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets - will live stream Fight Night at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT on April 4th.  Coverage will be streamed via "TV Everywhere," the media industry's effort to make quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

All NBC Sports Network live events live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via "TV Everywhere," which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.
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Czar" Training Camp Report: Ready for Adamek

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 3, 2014 at 14:23
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 "Czar" Training Camp Report: Ready for Adamek Media Workout

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"Czar" Glazkov Media Workout
NBC Fight Night

 

Bethlehem PA: In a little more than two weeks veteran heavyweight Tomasz "Goral" Adamek will take on 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov for the IBF North American Heavyweight title and the IBF #2 Eliminator at Sands Resort and Casino in Bethlehem, PA.  The March 15th fight will be aired on NBCSN Fight Night along with the Chilemba v. Grachev co-feature beginning at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT. The young challenger, Glazkov, 29, opened his training camp to the media and the general public yesterday for an inside look at his workout regime as he prepares to face the dangerous Adamek.  
  

 

Czar began training at Underground Boxing and Fitness in Brooklyn, NY when he arrived from the Ukraine on Friday, February 21, 2014, but claims to have already adapted to the change in time zone and location: "We just came about three days ago.  We have adapted a little bit.  Now that we have had our second sparring I think the next two weeks of training before the championship are going to be great."

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Czar Glazkov

 Photo credits to Mike Gladysz/Main Events

Glazkov's sparring partner yesterday, Newton Kidd, said "He's got that Klitschko punch."  To which a humble Czar replied, "That is a great compliment but the ring will show the truth.  I have prepared myself the most for this fight and we will see what happens after that."  Despite being humbled by the compliment, Czar was not short on confidence.  He said, "I don't see any other way to come into the ring than with confidence that I am going to win the fight.  There is no other way for me."

Preparation is key for this fight because these two competitors are not strangers.  Prior to Adamek's fight with Dominick Guinn on August 3, 2013, Czar sparred with Tomasz.  However, Glazkov does not think this will give him any advantage on March 15th, "I think we are on equal grounds here since I sparred with him, he also sparred with me.  So whatever I have learned about him, I am sure he learned about me as well."

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Czar Glazkov with trainer Eduard Mienchakov

Photo credits to Mike Gladysz/Main Events

With so much at stake both men are at a crossroads in their careers.  Adamek, 37, is looking to prove he still belongs among the elite members of the heavyweight division.  A win for Vyacheslav will catapult him to the top of the heavyweight division.  However, he tried to downplay its importance when he said, "I don't consider this fight to be anything out of the ordinary or special.  I take each fight the same.  I come responsibly, I train hard but after winning this fight I will take a #2 position in the heavyweight division and that is very important."

 

Both men are promoted by Main Events.  This presents a bittersweet challenge for Main Events' CEO, Kathy Duva, who said, "I hate putting two of our fighters against each other.  I feel like Archie Manning when the Giants play the Broncos!  But we made this fight because it's the right fight for both guys and it will be fantastic in the ring.  I won't enjoy it but the fans at the Sands and watching on NBCSN will see a great fight.

 

About March 15th: 

 

The March 15th edition of NBCSN Fight Night at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem features the twelve-round heavyweight match-up between Tomasz "Goral" Adamek and Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov for the IBF North American Heavyweight Title and IBF #2 Position Eliminator.

 

The Co-Feature is a ten round light heavyweight match-up between Isaac "Golden Boy" Chilemba and Denis "The Pirate/Drago's Son" Grachev. 

 

Doors open at 6:00 PM ET. The Co-Feature and Main Event will be broadcast live on NBCSN Fight Night at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT.

 

Tickets start at $55 and are available through TicketMaster.com (key word:  Peltz Boxing).  The card is presented by Main Events, Peltz Boxing, Ziggy Promotions, and Pushka Promotions in association with BAM Boxing and Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. The remaining undercard bouts will be announced shortly. 

 

NBC Sports Live Extra: 

 

NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets - will live stream Fight Night at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on March 15th. 

Coverage will be streamed via "TV Everywhere," the media industry's effort to make quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

 

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

 

All NBC Sports Network live events live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via "TV Everywhere," which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

 

FOLLOW US:

 

Official hashtag: #FightNight

 

www.mainevents.com

Twitter: @main_events

Facebook: facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing 
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Ciaa Basketball tournament is looking for a new site to. play

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on February 28, 2014 at 15:30

Ciaa Mens Basketball Tournament 2014

CHARLOTTE — Commissioner Jacqie Carpenter said she hopes to have a decision on the future site of the CIAA basketball tournaments by late March.

The weeklong men's and women's basketball tournaments is being played this week in Charlotte, where it has been held since 2006.

However, the contract between the 12-team conference and the city of Charlotte expires after this year's tournaments.

Carpenter said the conference will be gathering bids from cities that have expressed interest in hosting the tournaments beginning in 2015 in the coming weeks.

Among the cities interested in hosting the tournament aree Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Hampton, Va. and Washington, D.C.

"We are focused on having the best tournament we can then after that, review the bids from the cities and work with our board and hopefully have a decision by late March," Carpenter said. "(The timetable) will depend on how many bids we receive."

The Division II CIAA combined tournaments, the third-largest NCAA basketball tournaments in the country in terms of attendance and economic impact, moved from Raleigh to Charlotte in 2006.

Charlotte City officials have twice since renewed with the CIAA on separate three-year contracts.

Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority executive director Mike Butts said the city plans to make an aggressive bid to keep the tournament.

"Our interest is very high," Butts said. "We have been very pleased to have the privilege of hosting the event. Charlotte is a walkable city with hotels, restaurants and entertainment nearby. And it's a safe environment."

Carpenter said Charlotte has been a "great host" over the past nine years and is hoping they will submit a competitive bid.

"Our goal is to make sure whatever city we go to, whether it is Charlotte or another city, is that it's an open process and one that fits our bid specifications and that we have the best experience for our student-athletes and our fans and a plan that it financially makes sense for us to be in that location," Carpenter said.

The CIAA tournament has been a moneymaker for Charlotte.

The CRVA estimated that last year's tournaments generated a $47.17 million economic impact for the city and immediate surrounding area, including $29.86 million in direct spending. That was down slightly from the $50.5 million impact in 2012 when the conference celebrated its 100-year anniversary.

Carpenter, who took over as commissioner in August 2012, said the conference is recovering financially.

She said the CIAA spent five years in a deficit before pulling out last year, in large part due to cutting down costs on what she deemed unnecessary expenditures.

While the CIAA did not release how much money it generated from last year's tournament, Carpenter knows how important the basketball tournament is to the conference's future success.

The week has become much more than just a basketball tournament for fans, who regularly attend parties that include national celebrities during their stay in Charlotte.

"This is the one of the largest events in the country and we depend on this tournament being successful so that we can distribute a significant amount of scholarship dollars to our membership institutions," Carpenter said.

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