FREEDOM FIGHT 2005
In association with Apex Championship Fighting
COMPLETE FIGHT CARD RELEASED.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO ? June 13, 2005 ? Freedom Fight Productions presents FREEDOM FIGHT 2005?a Canada vs. USA team event featuring world-class talent in four weight classes. The event will be held at the Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau, Quebec on July 9, 2005, and tickets can be purchased through ticketmaster.ca.
UFC light heavyweight champion CHUCK ?THE ICEMAN? LIDDELL leads the five-member USA team against Team Canada led by ?BIG DADDY? GARY GOODRIDGE. ?We?ve put together five competitive team matches and I think the undercard offers quite a few surprises as well,? says producer Clyde Gentry III.
The headliner features Winnipeg native JOE DOERKSEN (30-6) against Team Quest standout ART ?PACHUCO? SANTORE (10-2) in the middleweight division. Doerksen recently submitted fellow Canadian Patrick Cote at UFC 52 and has wins over many top fighters including: Chris Leben, Denis Kang and Lee Murray. Santore comes off a three-fight winning streak, finishing all but two of his opponents.
In the 205-pound division, knockout artist BILL ?THE BUTCHER? MAHOOD (11-3-1) takes on TIM MCKENZIE (7-2). B.C.?s Mahood has won all of his fights by KO, besting the likes of Chris Haseman, Tom Sauer and Jason MacDonald. McKenzie trains under the tutelage of Cesar Gracie, quickly building a name for himself in Central California. McKenzie comes off two tough losses; his war against Alex Stiebling at WEC 10 stands the test of time.
In the first of two welterweight bouts, veteran JOHN ?THE NATURAL? ALESSIO (14-7) takes on KEITH WISNIEWSKI (20-7-1). Canadian-born Alessio lives and trains in California, finishing all but three of his 14 victims. Indiana?s Wisniewski is a veteran in his own right, only losing twice in his last 14 fights. Wisniewski has won most of his outings by submission, setting up a great ground war with Alessio.
In the heavyweight division, British Columbia?s TODD GOUWENBERG (3-1) takes on ?BIG? LAVAR JOHNSON (5-1). Gouwenberg has won all his fights by knockout, including a KO win over the current TKO champion. Johnson has been tearing up the scene in Central California with five straight wins by knockout.
After a year and a half layoff, Ontario native JEFF JOSLIN (4-1) makes his return to the ring in the 170 pound division. As a brown belt in BJJ, he?s a lifelong martial artist with KO power in each hand. His opponent will be Southern California?s MIKE ?THE JOKER? GUYMON (3-1-1), whose token loss stems from ?The Ultimate Fighter? winner Diego Sanchez. The charismatic Guymon lives up to his nickname, but inside the ring, he delivers a different kind of punchline.
The undercard is a solid mixture of up and comers and veterans.
In the light heavyweight division, Winnipeg?s KRYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI (7-1) faces California?s BOBBY SOUTHWORTH (6-4). Soszynski moves down from heavyweight after racking up several knockout wins. Born in Poland, he escaped to Canada with his parents and has quickly earned a name on the MMA circuit. In 2000, he also won the heavyweight division of the Manitoba Bodybuilding Championships. Southworth retired from MMA in 2003, but SPIKE TV?s ?The Ultimate Fighter? brought him back to the game. He was the first man ever to fight on the hit series, knocking out Lodune Sincaid. His loose-canon persona elevated his popularity on the show until losing a controversial decision to Stephan Bonner. A second controversial decision loss to Sam Hoger made Southworth train even harder, vowing to finish all his opponents. The fans win regardless!
Quebec standout STEPHANE POTVIN (7-7) has beaten top talent, but has had a rough time over the past two years, losing by decision in three of his last four outings. With a renewed spirit, he hopes to battle his way to victory, but UFC veteran TYRONE ROBERTS (27-7-1) has other plans. The Native American Indian from Iowa has defeated nine of his last 11 opponents, and has been competing since 1996.
In the lightweight division, UFC vet RICHARD ?CLEAT? CRUNKILTON (9-1) makes his return to the ring against New Mexico?s JAMES MARTINEZ (3-2-1). Ask anyone who has watched Crunkilton fight and they?ll tell you he is ?Mr. Excitement?, with his Greco Roman throws, high kicks and rock ?em, sock ?em punches. After a two-year hiatus, Crunkilton recently knocked out a veteran of over 50 fights. Martinez is an exciting knockout artist, who last year destroyed Rob McCullough in K-1, and recently lost by split decision to TKO champ Donald Ouimet. Many felt Martinez dominated the Canadian and won the fight, but the judges saw it the other way. Expect fireworks after the Fourth of July!
FARMER BROWN (1-0) made quite an impression in his debut fight, destroying his opponent with strikes. Now he wants to test himself against the 6?6? RICARDEAU FRANCOIS (10-3) from Quebec. Francois won five consecutive fights before losing a controversial split decision to Patrick Cote. He hopes to get back to his winning ways by knocking out the Ottawa native.
Las Vegas? WAR MACHINE (2-0) is a balls-to-the-wall up and comer who has finished both of his opponents. His relentless fighting style will be well-matched against Quebec native ERIC BEAULIEU (5-5), who has won his last two fights.
Card subject to change.
The Holiday Inn Plaza la Chaudiere Gatineau-Ottawa is the official hotel for FREEDOM FIGHT 2005, conveniently located in the heart of Gatineau's business district. Call 800-567-1962 or 819-778-3880 for more information, and tell them you?re coming for FREEDOM FIGHT 2005 to get your discounted rate. The hotel is located at 2,rue Montcalm, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, JBX 4B4.
FREEDOM FIGHT 2005 is proudly sponsored in part by BUDWEISER, XYIENCE, SERIOUS PIMP, CHEZ 106, HARD ROCK CAF?, THEHEARD.ORG, ARCTIC TAN WHOLESALE, EAU COOL, ITGC.com, HOLIDAY INN GATINEAU, MAGIC DRAGON MIST and UTAN INC. Please take the time to visit these sponsors, who help support MMA!
Check out CHEZ106.com, register and listen live!
Please check out the official FREEDOM FIGHT website at www.freedomfight.tv, which will be updated daily until showtime. Tickets are going fast so don?t wait!
For special ticket information and sponsorship support, e-mail Pete Rodley at mmafite@sympatico.ca.
For press and international distribution, e-mail Clyde Gentry III at freefight2005@yahoo.com.