XFC 24 to showcase Lightweights Kevin Forant and Eric Reynolds

In 2001, Florida became home to professional sports greatest nickname, when Lakeland's own Rod "He Hate Me" Smart captivated football audiences in the XFL. On June 14th, Smart will have to concede that title, when Xtreme Fighting Championships presents a showdown between two of the sports best lightweights, Kevin "The Master of Cool" Forant and Eric "It’s a Wrap” Reynolds, Live on AXS TV, from the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.

At 31 years old, North Carolina’s Kevin Forant (5-0) has started his 6th, and arguably most important, professional training camp. The man that will be waiting for him, and looking to blemish his perfect record at XFC 24, is the younger yet more experienced Eric Reynolds.  Forant, a Team Hayastan-IMB product, last entered the XFC cage at XFC 19: Charlotte Showdown. It was there, that he ground out a unanimous decision over Joe Elmore in front of his hometown crowd.  XFC 24 will mark the first time “The Master of Cool” has left the comforts of the Carolinas, as he plays the role of visiting team, in Reynolds home state of Florida.  Forant has displayed a well-rounded set of skills in route to an undefeated record, but Eric Reynolds is unquestionably Kevin Forant’s most challenging opponent to date.  Will Forant stay “Cool” and walk away with his 6th professional victory, or will June 14th be a “Wrap” on his perfect record?

Eric Reynolds (16-6) is no stranger to big lights and television cameras. After starting his pro career in 2007, with an impressive 9-0 record, Reynolds has been at home in the spotlight.  After brilliant performances in 2012 against Luciano Dos Santos and Lorenzo Borgomeo, Reynolds earned a shot at XFC gold at the promotions end of year extravaganza, Night of Champions II.  It was there he suffered a shocking loss to Nick Newell and now finds himself searching for redemption.  The climb back to the top of the XFC Lightweight Division won’t be an easy one. Standing immediately in the way of another title shot is the gritty, blue collared, North Carolina stand out Kevin Forant.  The battle-tested Reynolds looks to show the world that his best fights are still ahead of him, and that he isn’t quite ready to pass the torch to Forant. The question is, will Forant wait for it to be passed or will he take it from Reynolds in his own back yard?

“This is a huge fight for Eric Reynolds” said XFC President John Prisco. “How he responds coming off the title fight loss could set the tone for the rest of his career. Will he always be the contender who fell one fight short of the belt, or, will he climb his way back to the top and show everyone he is the champion we all know he can be? Eric is one of the most talented guys on our roster. He has all the tools to be a champion, but he is in a position now where he is gonna have to fight off all these young lions trying to take his spot near the top.” When asked about Kevin Forant, the XFC boss had this to say: “You better not sleep on Kevin Forant. Don’t let this guy’s age and experience fool you. He is in phenomenal shape and a hell of an athlete. He may be in his 30’s, but his body hasn’t taken the years of beating that most fighters his age have. He’s fresh, healthy and hungry. That’s a dangerous combination when you add that to the skill level he possesses. This fight could have very easily been the Main or Co-Main on any other card. The Tampa crowd is in for a treat with this one, I feel it.”

Xtreme Fighting Championships makes its way back to Tampa, Florida for XFC 24: Collision Course on June 14, 2013. The event is presented by ICRealTime Security Solutions and ThroatPunch Ind. Apparel. The event will be broadcast Live on AXS TV from the beautiful USF SunDome, beginning at 9pm. For more information on the event, or, to purchase tickets, visit www.officialxfc.com. For daily updates and news, follow this event and the XFC on Facebook and Twitter @OfficialXFC.

Dave Courchaine signs long term deal with XFC; Faces Luis Santos at XFC 24

Xtreme Fighting Championships is excited to announce the signing of rising star “Insane” Dave Courchaine (15-5), to its already stacked Welterweight Division.  Courchaine hails from Cheney, Washington and trains out of Spokane’s School of Boxing and MMA.  The “Insane” one is currently riding an 8 fight win streak, with only 3 of those bouts making it out of the 1st round.  Courchaine was a decorated high school wrestler, earning Washington’s High School Wrestler of the Decade Award. He also owns a perfect 10-0 boxing record.

When asked about his long term, multi-fight contract with the XFC, Dave Courchaine had this to say: “This is a great opportunity. It feels so good to have a home now, and great to know that I have a job for the next couple years. I want to show the world exactly who I am, and now I can do that.  I also want to take this moment to thank a few people, if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here talking about this huge opportunity that sits in front of me. First and foremost, I want to thank my fiancé Kharis. She continues to stand behind me and support me every day. I also want to thank all my training partners and sponsors. You are all an important part of my success.”

XFC President John Prisco had this to add, in regards to his recent acquisition: “I’m really excited about this signing. Dave is one of the top free agents out there. When you look at our Welterweight Division, it’s hard to think that adding one guy could make it that much better, but that’s what signing Courchaine just did."

Wasting no time, the XFC quickly booked Courchaine for its June 14th homecoming show, XFC 24: Collision Course. In the Feature Fight of the Night, the Tampa crowd will be treated to a match up that has immediate title implications, when “Insane” Dave Courchaine takes on Luis “Sapo” Santos. Santos was last seen, briefly, at XFC 23, where he dismantled Shamar Bailey in just 62 seconds of the 1st round. “A fight is a fight man. I really didn’t care who they were asking me to step in with”, said Courchaine. “It’s the XFC…It didn’t matter who it was, it wasn’t gonna be easy, so it really didn’t matter. Everybody in the division is tough.”  When questioned about the reason behind the Couchaine/Santos match up, Prisco was assertive with his answer: “You don’t have a Dave Courchaine and Sapo Santos on your roster and let this match up sit on the shelf for a later date. The Tampa card was already stacked from top to bottom and we just made it better!”

XFC 24: Collision Course will be broadcast to over 40 million homes live on AXS TV from the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. For tickets and fight card information, visit www.OfficialXFC.com/XFC24

They say, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”.  But in the world of mixed martial arts, hell hath no fury like a woman fighting on national television!  On June 14, 2013, Live from the USF Sun Dome in beautiful Tampa, Florida, Xtreme Fighting Championships keeps its promise and tradition of showcasing Women’s MMA, by adding a Flyweight showdown between Cortney Casey and Kelly Warren.

Cortney “Cast Iron” Casey (0-0) is wasting no time making a name for herself as a professional fighter. The former professional soccer player’s decision to jump right into the fire and face WMMA veteran Kelly Warren has almost everyone scratching their heads. However, if you ask anyone that knows Casey, this is just typical Cortney. Kerry Hartney, matchmaker for the Las Vegas amateur super show, Tuff Nuff, had this to say about the debuting Casey: “Cortney Casey doesn’t want easy fights. She doesn’t get motivated unless there is a tough challenge in front of her. The girl never backs down from a challenge, so it doesn’t surprise me one bit that she is fighting Kelly Warren in her debut. Mark my words, soon everyone will know Cortney Casey’s name.”  Casey closed out her amateur career with three dynamic performances for the famed Vegas promotion, which included a title win and defense of their Flyweight Championship. Her most spectacular win as an amateur came in her last bout, when she submitted Rachael Cummings with a highlight reel flying armbar in November of 2012. On June 14th, the question will be answered, will “Cast Iron” Casey turn up the heat on Kelly Warren and start her journey to XFC gold with a huge win, or will Warren leave her second guessing her opponent choice?

We’ve all heard the saying “sometimes a fighter’s record doesn’t tell the whole story”.  In the case of Kelly Warren (3-4), this cliché couldn’t be truer.  After starting her career with a three fight win streak, Kelly Warren has faced a who’s who of women’s mixed martial arts. Her current four fight skid has come against opponents carrying a combined record of 44-9.   In a seven month time span, Warren took Aisling Daly, Tara Larosa, and Reyna Cordoba into deep rounds. In that same stretch, she saw her fight against Bellator superstar Jessica Eye go to a judge’s decision.  Casey will not be the only one looking to add another submission win to her resume.  The veteran Warren has a knack for placing a well-timed triangle around her opponent’s neck. Two of Kelly Warren’s three wins have come from Triangle and Arm Triangle Chokes.  Without a doubt, Warren will be the challenge Casey desires, and in Tampa, Florida we’ll find out which fighter has bitten off more than they can chew.

President John Prisco had this to say about XFC 24’s female bout: “I think this is a great match up.  When we scouted Cortney Casey, it was immediately obvious that she’s an amazing athlete.  She fights with a poise and confidence well beyond her number of fights.  Casey’s submissions are some of the sickest I’ve seen at any level of mixed martial arts. And please, don’t let Kelly Warren’s record fool you. This girl has run the gauntlet against the best in the business, and pushed them into the late rounds. She showed me more in her losses than most do in their wins.  You can’t put a price tag on that type of experience.  The girl is a warrior.  Cortney is going to have her hands full with Kelly, and Kelly needs to right her ship and get back to winning. The only question is, will June 14th be the night it happens, or will Casey push it to a later date?”

Xtreme Fighting Championships makes its way back to Tampa, Florida for XFC 24: Collision Course on June 14, 2013. The event is presented by ICRealTime Security Solutions and ThroatPunch Ind. Apparel. The event will be broadcast Live on AXS TV from the beautiful USF Sun Dome, beginning at 9pm. For more information on the event, or to purchase tickets, visit www.officialxfc.com. For daily updates and news, follow this event and the XFC on Facebook and Twitter.

Good things come to those who wait!  For over a week, XFC Lightweight contender Scott Holtzman has waited patiently to find out what his future holds, after former champion Nick Newell refused to defend his title at XFC 24, on June 14th.  The wait is finally over. In an ironic twist, Scott Holtzman’s future will come face to face with the XFC’s past. Xtreme Fighting Championships is excited, and proud, to announce that a new Collision Course has been set.

Live on AXS TV, from the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida, Scott “Hotsauce” Holtzman will square off against former, and 1st ever, XFC Lightweight Champion John "The Mulatto Mauler" Mahlow (13-13). 

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Imagine yourself at 12 years old.  What were you like; what was your hair like, your social skills, your athletic abilities?  Now think of all the outlets you had to channel your youthful down-time into something constructive.  For little Ann-Maria Burns, she seems to gladly recalls what she was like.  For a little girl in Alton, Illinois who was hitting that awkward stage of life, and with only three sports to choose from at her local YMCA, Ann-Maria “slipped on a banana peel” and found her calling.

Beat the Streets Rumble on the Rails stops at Grand Central Terminal in New York City Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Iran and Russia traveled across seas to compete with the United States freestyle wrestling team at the Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. The competition will be held adjacent to the annual Beat the Streets Awards Gala, following wrestling at the Bryant Park Grill. Obe Blanc earned the honors of being invited to wrestle at the event for the United States.

This past Saturday, May 11, Strikehard Productions, one of the long standing Alabama premier mixed martial arts companies reached out from their comfort zone of MMA shows and branched out into the grappling world. Many did not know how well they would do since they are better known for MMA and have been highly successful in that realm. Well, to a lot of fans surprise, SHP knocked it out of the park. In traditional SHP style the production was amazing and what more could you expect? With thousands invested into brand new mats, SHP had a lot on the line with this first event and early estimates show it was very successful. With close to 150 participants they filled the Thompson Middle School Gym in Alabaster, Alabama with participants and fans alike.

Saturday night, May 11, at the historic Eagles Club Grand Ballroom in Milwaukee, North American Fighting Championships presented Knockout Kings Road to Glory featured an 8-man lightweight Muay Thai tournament. The undercard began at 4 p.m. featuring 17 amateur bouts. The main card started at 7:30 p.m. with a reserved match in case any fighter cannot continue due to injury. Main card consisted of 13 bouts.

NAFC Knockout Kings Muay Thai and Kickboxing, Road To Glory at the Eagles Club Grand Ballroom in Milwaukee, Waukesha-MMA had a successful evening this past Saturday, May 11, in front of a large Milwaukee crowd. Head trainer and owner, Reese “Old Man” Shaner’s students went 4-1 on the day. The successful night Waukesha-MMA had continues to show the positive culture Shaner has built at the gym.

In a Jiu-Jitsu match, it can end in the blink of an eye.  When two extremely talented grapplers are waging war in the human game of chess, all it takes is one brief opening for one man to make a move and end the match, even if it had just started.

This analysis was on full display when I recently watched Davi Ramos match up against Team Renzo Gracie member, Warren Stout.  It was The Ultimate Absolute in New York City and as I mentioned in the opening statement, all it took was one little opening.