SUN Sports & Entertainment Inc., owner of the "Art of War" MMA promotion announced the creation of a very unique Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) series entitled "GI's vs. Pro's."GI's vs. Pro's will pit a balance of hand picked fighters from the US Army's Combative Program against established professional MMA fighters, creating yet another first for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. The fights will be three, 5 minute rounds within a circular cage.
The debut event will kick off April 19th from the Grand Casino in Tunica, Mississippi and will feature US Army Staff Sergeant Damien "Stealth" Steely vs. Veteran MMA Professional Ron "Superfly" Faircloth in a light heavyweight contest.
This will be the first time a US Army Vs. MMA Tour has been produced and for MMA fans to watch the skilled veterans of the Army battle against the MMA Professionals. There will be plenty of Military supporters at each event and a great media campaign nation wide.
US Army Spokesperson, Matt Larson, Head of the US Army Combative Program stated, "This is a fantastic opportunity for members of our Armed Forces to enter the cage and test their skills against some of the best MMA professionals in the industry. We see this as a growing platform for our recruitment and morale. Our objective is to eventually take the tour internationally."
SUN has also reached an agreement with Fox Sports Net (FSN) to telecast the new series. SUN's "Art of War" division will produce a series of nine MMA events that will air as one-hour specials Saturday nights at midnight on FSN, beginning July 19th, 2008 and concluding on September 13th, 2008.
FSN announcer Jay Glazer and analyst Frank Trigg, who worked as the commentary team for the Pride Fighting Championships on the network, will also team up on the "GI Vs. Pro" telecasts.
SUN CEO CJ Comu stated, "We at SUN are extremely pleased to be working with such a respected network as FSN", which will telecast this unique and exciting series into millions of homes across the country. "Our agreement with FSN is an important milestone for SUN as we continue to implement our growth strategy and develop relationships with international and domestic partners. By showcasing our world-class fighters through well produced, quality events on FSN, SUN's position as an emerging global MMA organization is only further enhanced."
"MMA is on fire," said FSN VP of Production Gary Garcia. "This show, featuring intense battles between elite, fine-tuned athletes, is the perfect brand extension for the U.S. military to hit their target demo right between the eyes."
Below is the 2008 "GI Vs. Pro" Fox Sports Net telecast schedule:
(schedule subject to change -- all times local):
Date Event Time
Sat. July 19 GI Vs. Pro - I 12:00 Midnight
Sat. July 26 GI Vs. Pro - II 12:00 Midnight
Sat. Aug 2 GI Vs. Pro - III 12:00 Midnight
Sat. Aug 9 GI Vs. Pro - IV 12:00 Midnight
Sat. Aug 16 GI Vs. Pro - V 12:00 Midnight
Sat. Aug 23 GI Vs. Pro - VI 12:00 Midnight
Sat. Aug 30 GI Vs. Pro - VII 12:00 Midnight
Sat. Sept 6 GI Vs. Pro - VIII 12:00 Midnight
Sat. Sept 13 GI Vs. Pro - FINALS 12:00 Midnight
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