RavishingRickRudo 0 Report post Posted June 4, 2005 From Showdown.ca... FREEDOM FIGHT 2005 In association with Apex Championship Fighting UFC champ Chuck Liddell leads five-member USA team to fight Canada's best. Big Daddy Gary Goodridge leads Team Canada into battle! OTTAWA, ONTARIO – June 2, 2005 – Freedom Fight Productions announces FREEDOM FIGHT 2005—a USA vs. Canada team event featuring world-class talent in four weight classes. The event will be held at the Robert Guertin Arena in Hull, Quebec on July 9, 2005, and broadcast as a special two-hour, prime time event on TSN and RDS. UFC light heavyweight champion CHUCK "THE ICEMAN" LIDDELL will serve as the USA team captain, and "BIG DADDY" GARY GOODRIDGE will take the reins for Team Canada. FREEDOM FIGHT 2005 will be set up like an Olympic-style event, playing up the dynamic of two harmonious teams. "With pay-per-view piracy on the rise and hockey season in question, we feel that TSN, RDS and our sponsors are going to be very happy with our viewing audience," says Pete Rodley, producer. "The exposure on TSN, along with our prime time lead-in to WWE Monday Night Raw will open up the sport to a lot of new fans." In Light Heavyweight action, Freedom Fight will feature two of the top 205 pounders in North America: BILL MAHOOD (11-2-1) vs. KEITH JARDINE (8-1-1). B.C.'s Mahood has won all of his fights by KO, besting the likes of Chris Haseman, Tom Sauer and Jason MacDonald. Mahood makes his UFC debut against "The Ultimate Fighter" winner, Forrest Griffin on June 4. Jardine is one of New Mexico's brightest stars, competing in pro boxing, kickboxing and MMA. He recently returned from Russia, becoming the first man to submit Arman Gambaryan. In the middleweight division, Winnipeg native JOE DOERKSEN (30-6) battles Team Quest standout ART SANTORE (10-2). Doerksen recently submitted fellow Canadian Patrick Cote at UFC 52 and has wins over many top fighters including: Chris Leben, Denis Kang, John Alessio and Lee Murray. Santore comes off a three-fight winning streak and has finished all but two of his opponents. Aside from losing by an unfortunate cut, his only other loss comes by way of decision. In the heavyweight division, British Columbia's TODD GOUWENBERG (3-1) takes on 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 MIKE GUYMON, better known as "Joker" from the states. Guymon is 3-1-1, his only loss coming to "The Ultimate Fighter" winner Diego Sanchez. The five-bout undercard includes the return of Canada's bad boy, "PAIN" PETERS, whose newspaper quotes got him in trouble, but sold out the Robert Guertin Arena back in 2002. It's only fitting he makes his comeback in Hull after a year and a half of inactivity. Other fighters slated to appear include: KRYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI, RICARDEAU FRANCOIS, RONIN MMA'S FARMER BROWN and some of Canada's toughest fighters looking to defend their country's pride. Only the team bouts will be aired in their entirety on television so don't miss out on the live show! PETE RODLEY, CLYDE GENTRY III and CLINT DAHL make up Freedom Fight Productions. Rodley is a lifelong martial artist, marketer and cofounder of the UCC. Gentry authored "No Holds Barred", the first book on MMA and served as Editor in Chief of "Ultimate Athlete". Dahl promoted some of the first MMA events in California and has managed numerous fighters over the years. Gentry and Dahl recently wrapped post production on their first venture, VENOM, which is scheduled for release later this year. "The genesis for Freedom Fight started 16 months ago and I can say we have a great, well-organized team to really pull off something special for the Canadian fans," says Gentry. FREEDOM FIGHT 2005's commentary team includes TSN's very own MICHAEL LANDSBERG, whose program "Off the Record" has become the number one sports show in Canada. Joining him will be STEPHEN "The Fight Professor" QUADROS, famed commentator for such events as Pride Fighting Championships, K-1 and Too Hot To Handle. JOE FERRARO and ERIN TOUGHILL will serve as backstage reporters. Toughill is set to fight for the WIBA Super Middleweight Championship against Laila Ali on June 11. Also behind the scenes, FREEDOM FIGHT 2005 would not be possible without the help of ALEX CAPORICCI, Vice President of Operations for Apex Championship Fighting. Caporicci runs Freedom Fight Productions Montreal office and brings years of experience from the fight game. VIC THERIAULT heads up the world-class production team, bringing a well-established pedigree of producing over 60 full-contact events for television and pay-per-view. "Thanks to Vic, we're able to pull off a classy show, includinkg a nine-camera shoot and state-of-the-art lighting and sound. This production set with create a memorable experience for the live crowd and the viewers at home," says Dahl. Tickets go on sale June 3rd and they will go fast. Bus tours, pre event festivities and hotel information will be released shortly. FREEDOM FIGHT 2005 is proudly sponsored in part by BUDWEISER, XYIENCE, CHEZ 106, HARD ROCK CAFÉ, EAU COOL, ITGC.com and MAGIC DRAGON MIST. Please take the time to visit these sponsors, who help support MMA! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted June 5, 2005 Budweiser sponsors anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Big_Jay101 Report post Posted June 6, 2005 So is Chuck fighting Goodridge? BTw who is fighting in your avatar...Wanderlei and Rampage? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Big_Jay101 Report post Posted June 7, 2005 Well apparently he is But it seems like no one here is intrested in this, you should have put it in the MMA thread, I figure Chuck to beat Gary but he better hope Gary do't hurt him or he might miss UFC 54. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted June 7, 2005 They won't be fighting. Landsberg and Quadros? That's...interesting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Big_Jay101 Report post Posted June 7, 2005 Are you sure? There is only 4 other people for each team and 5 team matches. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RavishingRickRudo 0 Report post Posted June 7, 2005 Goodridge must be 50 pounds heavier than Chuck, there is no way that fight is happening. Both guys are there as "familiar faces" to the casual MMA audience, since most of the guys fighting aren't. Beer sponsorship in MMA is a very interesting thing. It is believed, at least by MMA fans, that John McCain banned MMA in the US because it was a threat to boxing. McCain is not only a boxing fan, but both boxing and McCain get sponsorship from beer companies. That beer companies are now sponsoring MMA events, to me, is a very good sign. I like the idea of Quadros and Landsberg together. They may try to out-smug each other Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted June 8, 2005 I'm curious to know if Landsberg will know what he's talking about. Also, I can't imagine Landsberg doing colour. That's gonna be a trip in itself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted June 28, 2005 New poster, due to Chuck dropping out. Most likely because of the title fight: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
