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Credit: MMAWeekly
Preliminaries:
R1
at 4:00, R3
Championship Series:
New York defeats Iowa 3-2 and is the new IFL Champion.
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Iowa Silverbacks Vs. New York Pitbulls
Preliminary Bouts
I'll have a preview of this show in the early morning hours of Thursday.
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Courtesy of the International Fight League:
Defending Champion Silverbacks Go For Third Straight Crown Against New York Pitbulls
NEW YORK, September 19, 2007- For the past seven months, “IFL Battleground” viewers have followed the 12 teams from the International Fight League (OTC.BB:
IFLI), the world’s number one professional mixed martial arts league, through the regular season and the 2007 World Championship semifinals. This Monday,
Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT/MT), the program chronicles the highly-anticipated finals matchup between Renzo Gracie’s New York Pitbulls and Pat
Miletich’s defending champion Quad Cities Silverbacks. “IFL Battleground” airs every Monday night, with a replay on Saturday, on MyNetworkTV.
IFL stars such as Ben Rothwell and Bart Palaszewski of the Silverbacks and Fabio Leopoldo and Delson Heleno of the Pitbulls are among the competitors who
have been featured throughout the year and who will be competing for their respective teams. The event features five bouts, from lightweight to heavyweight,
with the team winning three or more taking the Championship rings.
The Pitbulls, undefeated during the regular season, defeated the Tokyo Sabres, 3-2, to advance to the finals. The Silverbacks, who won both the 2006 Legends
Championship and World Team Championship, topped the No. 1-seeded Los Angeles Anacondas to qualify for the finals. The Silverbacks defeated the Pitbulls,
3-2, in Moline, Ill., in September 2006 in the only other matchup between the teams.
Matchups and personalities featured in the episode include:
Deividas Taurosevicius (Lithuania), who has worked his way into the starter position for the Pitbulls, challenges Palaszewski (Wonder Lake, Ill.) in the
lightweight division.
Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), a Capoeira and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu master with the descriptive nickname of “Pe de Chumbo,” -- or “leadfoot” -- for his
devastating kicks, takes on Jake Ellenberger (Omaha, Neb.), filling in for injured star Rory Markham at welterweight for the Silverbacks.
Middleweight Leopoldo (Sao Paolo, Brazil) returns after suffering a shoulder injury in the last regular season bout for a rematch with the Silverbacks’
Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa), a civilian Army engineer who also missed his team’s semifinal bout, but for a different reason – the newlywed McGivern
was on his honeymoon.
Another rematch is on tap as Pitbulls’ light heavyweight Andre Gusmao (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) puts his strong striking and ground skills to use against
Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.), whom Gusmao defeated by second-round TKO in 2006.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (Staten Island, N.Y.) makes his IFL debut, substituting for injured Pitbulls heavyweight Bryan Vetell against
undefeated IFL star Ben “The North Star” Rothwell (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Viewers can find their local MyNetworkTV affiliate at http://www.mynetworktv.com/stations.php.
About the IFL
International Fight League™ (IFL) is the world’s first professional mixed martial arts sports league. IFL has its headquarters in New York and offices in
Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.
©2007 Combat Hooligans. Duplication of the content from this website without permission by its author(s) is prohibited. Any news, reports and commentary used from this site must be accompanied by a link to www.combat-hooligans.com
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Leaders of Hometowns of Pat Miletich, Renzo Gracie Put Their Cities’ Best on the Line as Teams Battle it out for Mixed Martial Arts Supremacy BETTENDORF,
Iowa, and HOLMDEL, N.J., September 13, 2007 – Mayor Michael J. Freemire of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Mayor Serena DiMaso of Holmdel, N.J., today announced a “friendly wager” on the outcome of the International Fight League (IFL) World Championship, the culmination of the inaugural full season
of the IFL, the world’s number one professional mixed martial arts league. The Quad Cities Silverbacks are coached by Pat Miletich, longtime resident
of Bettendorf, while their opponents in the historic matchup are mentored by Renzo Gracie, who has resided in Holmdel for more than a decade.
The 2007 IFL World Championship is set for Thursday, September 20, at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. Each team is comprised of five athletes,
competing at five separate weight classes, much in the same way scholastic or collegiate wrestling meets are held. The team which wins three or more
of the bouts wins the match. Mixed martial arts is a combination of various martial arts forms, including boxing, kick boxing, judo, Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling,
Muay Thai, karate, Tae Kwon Do and others.
Mayor Freemire has wagered a bushel of sweet Iowa corn, grown locally in Bettendorf. Mayor DiMaso has countered with an offer of a bushel of Jersey tomatoes
from a Holmdel farm.
“The city of Bettendorf, ‘A Premier City,’ is proud to support Pat Miletich and his team of Quad Cities-based athletes as they try to bring the World
Championship home,” said Freemire. “We enthusiastically look forward to enjoying Mayor DiMaso’s tomatoes, which we fully expect the Silverbacks will
claim for us next month.”
“Renzo Gracie chose our community to live and raise his children and speaks often of its virtues, so we are pleased to issue this challenge on his and
his team’s behalf,” said DiMaso. “While we are the home of the PNC Arts Center and some of the best produce in the state, we are excited that Holmdel
will also soon be the home of the IFL World Championship trophy.”
The IFL can be seen nationwide on MyNetworkTV (My9/WWOR in New York/New Jersey; My16/WBQD in Quad Cities) on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and Fox Sports
Net (check local listings for time). The finals will air on tape delay on Sept. 23 on FSN and Sept. 24 on
MyNetworkTV.
About the IFL
International Fight League™ (IFL) is the world’s number one professional mixed martial arts sports league. IFL has its headquarters in New York and offices
in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see:
www.ifl.tv.
©2007 Combat Hooligans. Duplication of the content from this website without permission by its author(s) is prohibited. Any news, reports and commentary used from this site must be accompanied by a link to www.combat-hooligans.com
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Courtesy of the International Fight League:
Miletich’s Quad Cities Squad Looks To Avenge Only ’07 Loss In Defense of Title
NEW YORK, September 4, 2007- The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s number one professional mixed martial arts league, moves to the
2007 World Championship semifinals, highlighting the matchup between Pat Miletich’s Quad Cities Silverbacks and Shawn Tompkins’ Los Angeles Anacondas in
the next episode of “IFL Battleground” on Monday, Sept. 10, at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT/MT). The Silverbacks, who won the IFL Legends Championship and IFL
World Team Championship in 2006, look to avenge their only loss of 2007 in the rematch with the Anacondas. “IFL Battleground” airs every Monday night,
with a replay on Saturday, on MyNetworkTV.
Matchups and personalities featured in the episode include:
Ben Rothwell (Milwaukee, Wis.) of the Silverbacks takes on his Anacondas counterpart Krzysztof Soszynski (Winnipeg, Manitoba) in a rematch of heavyweights.
Rory Markham (Chicago) of the Silverbacks, who returns after missing two of his last three bouts with an eye injury, battles Chris Clements (Chatham, Ontario),
a late replacement for the Anacondas’ injured star welterweight Jay Hieron (Las Vegas).
Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) looks to continue his run of four straight victories in a rematch with the Anacondas’ Alex Schoenauer (Las Vegas/El
Bolson, Argentina) in a battle of top light heavyweights.
Bart Palaszewski (Wonder Lake, Ill), who, along with Rothwell, has the most wins (7) in IFL history, competes against another late Anacondas addition in
Hawaii’s Harris Sarmiento.
Gerald Harris (Tulsa, Okla.), who has competed for the Wolfpack, has been picked up by the Silverbacks for a middleweight tilt with Benji Radach (Coconut
Creek, Fla.), unbeaten in IFL competition after a more than two-year layoff from the sport. Harris talks about leaving his job as a teacher (and part-time
gig as an up-and-coming comedian) to devote his full-time efforts to competing in mixed martial arts. Radach returns to the restaurant where he and fellow
IFL athlete Dennis Hallman once thwarted a robbery attempt.
The “My Ink” feature, highlighting the unique tattoos sported by some of the IFL athletes, returns with a look at Palaszewski’s art.
Viewers can find their local MyNetworkTV affiliate at www.mynetworktv.com/local_stations.html.
About the IFL
International Fight League™ (IFL) is the world’s first professional mixed martial arts sports league. IFL has its headquarters in New York and offices in
Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.
©2007 Combat Hooligans. Duplication of the content from this website without permission by its author(s) is prohibited. Any news, reports and commentary used from this site must be accompanied by a link to www.combat-hooligans.com
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Courtesy of the International Fight League:
Rothwell, Patterson, Palaszewski, Heleno Among Top MMA Stars In Action At World Championship at Seminole Hard Rock; Local American Top Team Members Battle
Other IFL Standouts in Preliminary Bouts
NEW YORK and HOLLYWOOD, Fla., August 15, 2007 – The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s number one professional mixed martial arts league,
today announced the rosters for the 2007 IFL World Championship on Thursday, September 20, at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. Many of the league’s
top stars will be in action as the second-seeded New York Pitbulls (3-0 regular season), coached by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master and MMA legend Renzo Gracie
take on the defending champion Quad Cities Silverbacks (2-1), led by MMA champion Pat Miletich. Additionally, a series of preliminary bouts will feature
other stars of the IFL and competitors from American Top Team, one of the country’s largest and most active MMA squads.
Among the most anticipated matchups in the final include rematches between heavyweights Bryan Vetell (Jamaica, N.Y.) of the Pitbulls and Ben Rothwell (Milwaukee,
Wis.), and between middleweights Fabio Leopoldo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa). Rothwell, the undefeated heavyweight, brings
an 8-0 IFL record into the match, including four wins in 2007. He won a first-round KO over Vetell in their 2006 meeting in Moline, Ill. Leopoldo was the
victor in the previous matchup with McGivern, via second-round submission at the same event.
Fans are also excited about the battles between light heavyweights Jamal Patterson (Hoboken, N.J.) and Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) and lightweights
Deividas Taurosevicius (New York) and Bart Palaszewski (Wonder Lake, Ill.). Patterson has first-round wins in all three of his IFL triumphs and faces a
tough test in Ciesnolevicz, who has won five straight bouts. Taurosevicius, who served as the Pitbulls’ alternate earlier in the year, was promoted to
starter for the team’s semifinal win over the Tokyo Sabres and proved up to the task with a victory. He steps up against Palaszewski, whose eight wins
match Rothwell’s for the most in IFL history.
The Pitbulls’ Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will take on a replacement at welterweight for the Silverbacks, as standout Rory Markham (Chicago)
injured his left hand in his semifinal victory and will not be available for the final.
“I think it’s fitting that two of our flagship franchises meet for the World Championship rings,” said IFL Commissioner and Co-Founder Kurt Otto. “We are
looking forward to a night of non-stop action as the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu style of Renzo Gracie’s athletes goes up against Pat Miletich’s patented methods.”
The Pitbulls advanced to the finals by edging the Sabres, 3-2, while the Silverbacks registered a 4-1 triumph over the top-seeded Los Angeles Anacondas,
on August 2 at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. The two teams did not meet during the 2007 regular season, but the Silverbacks did record
a 3-2 win on Sept. 23, 2006, in Moline, Ill.
In addition to the team competition, the night will include four preliminary bouts of interest to IFL fans as well as local enthusiasts. In action will
be popular IFL lightweight Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) of the Portland Wolfpack against American Top Team’s Aaron Riley (Port St. Lucie, Fla.); light
heavyweight Allan Goes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) of the Tiger Sharks against Chris Baten (Tampa, Fla.); and welterweight Brad Blackburn (Olympia, Wash.)
against Travis Cox (Naples, Fla.). Rolles Gracie (New York), a Jiu-Jitsu champion, also makes his MMA debut against ATT’s Seth Petruzelli (Orlando, Fla.).
Following the Championship, the IFL will hold its season-ending “World Grand Prix,” pitting the league’s top athletes at each weight class. The semifinals
will be held on Nov. 3 at the Sears Centre in Chicago, with the winners advancing to the World Grand Prix finals on Dec. 29 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville,
Conn.
The full rosters for the Finals follow. Bout order will be determined by coaches’ choice prior to the Official Weigh-in on September 19.
No. 4 Silverbacks (2-1 regular season team, 9-6 indiv.) vs. No. 2 Pitbulls (3-0, 10-5)
155 lb.: Bart Palaszewski (Wonder Lake, Ill.) (8-1 IFL, 28-8 overall) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (Lithuania) (2-0, 8-2)
170 lb.: TBD vs. Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (4-2, 11-3)
185 lb.: Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa) (4-4, 10-5) vs. Fabio Leopoldo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (3-1, 5-2)
205 lb: Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) (5-2, 13-2) vs. Jamal Patterson (Hoboken, N.J.) (3-1, 3-1)
265 lb.: Ben Rothwell (Milwaukee, Wis.) (7-0, 22-5) vs. Bryan Vetell (Jamaica, N.Y.) (2-2, 3-2)
Preliminary Bouts
155 lb.: Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) (3-2, 16-9-1) vs. Aaron Riley (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) (0-0, 23-9-1)
170 lb.: Brad Blackburn (Olympia, Wash.) (3-2, 10-9) vs. Travis Cox (Naples, Fla.) (0-0, 4-4)
205 lb.: Allan Goes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (3-1, 10-5-2) vs. Chris Baten (Tampa, Fla.) (0-0, 5-2)
265 lb.: Rolles Gracie (New York) (0-0, 0-0) vs. Seth Petruzelli (Orlando, Fla.) (0-0, 7-4)
About the IFL
International Fight League™ (IFL) is the world’s number one professional mixed martial arts sports league. IFL has its headquarters in New York and offices
in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.
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The Silverbacks Welterweight fighter injured his hand in his defeat of Chris Clemments on August 2 during the IFL semfinals and his Silverbacks defeating the Los Angeles Anacondas.
He was to face New York's Delson Heleno on 09/20 in Hollywood Florida as part of the championship series.
No word as yet on his replacement.
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Preliminaries:
#2. New York Pitbulls Vs. #3. Tokyo Sabres
#1. Los Angeles Anacondas Vs. #4. Iowa Silverbacks
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