RITC

Press Release

RITC 138 - Blockbuster Holiday Event
Joe “Diesel” Riggs vs Eric Reagan in Main Event
Cronin vs Bailey RITC LW Championship
Friday Dec 4th , 2009
Buffalo Wild Wings, 1130 West Grove Ave Mesa

Tickets: $30 Standing, $50 General Seating, $70 Ringside
Advanced tickets available at (480) 844-9464 or (480) 782-6800
Tickets $5 higher on fight day at the door

Gates Open: 5PM First Bout: 8PM

7X UFC veteran and 5X Strikeforce veteran Joe “Diesel” Riggs ( 30-10 ) returns to RITC action against tough Eric Regan, a veteran of almost 30 MMA fights and the reigning No Limit Fighting Welterweight Champion.

In the Co-Main Event, Joe Cronin, the current RITC Welterweight Champion is relinquishing that title and dropping weight to fight for the vacant RITC LW Title. His opponent is Michael Bailey ( 3-1-1 ) who trains at SUMMA Sports and has 3 straight submission victories.

Two fighters from Las Vegas will venture to Phoenix to take on top Arizona fighters.

In a featured match up, Super Heavyweight JoJoThompson ( 7-3-1 ) takes on undefeated Las Vegas fighter Bryan Humes ( 5-0 ).

In another featured match up, Estevan Payan ( 8-3 ) squares off against Las Vegas fighter Shawn Fitzsimmon ( 5-4 ).

It will be a great night of MMA action as RITC closes out another successful year with their 19th show for 2009.

Fight Card:

Joe “Diesel” Riggs ( 170 ) vs Eric Regan ( 170 )
Joe Cronin ( 155 ) vs Michael Bailey ( 155 ) vacant RITC LW Title
JoJo Thompson ( 270 ) vs Bryan Humes ( 270 )
Matt Dell ( 155 ) vs TBA
Estevan Payan ( 170 ) vs Shawn Fitzsimmons ( 170 )

Chad Menneke ( 205 ) vs Clifford Starks ( 205 )
Freddie Lux ( 135 ) vs John Moraga ( 135 )
Jed Jobe ( 235 ) vs Jeff Baldonaldo ( 235 )
Matt Betzold ( 140 ) vs Alan Decastro ( 135 )
Mario Montoya ( 150 ) vs Bill Burke ( 150 )
David Lopez ( 185 ) vs Clay Hardt ( 185 )
Nick Marus ( 165 ) vs Sean Scott ( 170 )

Andres Acuna ( 175 ) vs Jose Casillas ( 180 )
Jeff Fletcher ( 160 ) vs James Fabbri ( 160 )
Edwin Louis ( 160 ) vs Ruben Gonzales ( 160 )
Lowen Sniff ( 170 ) vs Andrew Perez ( 175 )
Justin Purcell ( 180 ) vs Peter Hust ( 180 )
Rick Nichols ( 165 ) vs Bobby Pompa ( 165 )
Jaron Padello ( 155 ) vs Jaymes Shulte ( 160 )

Alternates: Marc McClendon ( 135 ), Ismael Vasquez ( 155 ), Alex Nogan ( 185 )

Fight card subject to change.

Tommy Messano is the editor-in-chief of www.ultmma.com.

Submit a question or follow me at http://twitter.com/ultmma

Tucson, Arizona’s Drew Fickett career has fallen fast. In March of 2008 he took part in the biggest card of the year for San Jose’s Strikeforce promotion, earning a win vs. Jae Suk Lim on the Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le undercard.

Following the win Fickett was offered 2 high profile fights. One was against top ten welterweight Jake Shields and was set to be broadcast on CBS through the now defunct Elite XC promotion. The other fight was for Canada’s leading promotion the Maximum Fighting Championship. Fickett would have been fighting in the card’s main event vs. 5 star prospect and promotional poster boy Ryan Ford.

The death of both bouts can be traced back to Thursday June 26, 2008. When Strikeforce officials needed a late replacement opponent for 170 pound Luke Stewart, Fickett was there to answer the call. While sitting in the airport Fickett’s plans were abruptly vetoed when his manger at the time Bryan Hamper received a profanity laced voice message from Mark Pavelich President of the Maximum Fighting Championship.

Apparently there was a clause in Fickett’s MFC contract that stated he could not take a fight 30 days prior to his July fight with Ford.

A war of words between Fickett and Pavelich ensued. In the end Fickett burned bridges with Strikeforce, Elite XC and MFC.

The rest of 2008 saw Fickett post a 2-3 record while fighting in regional promotions. 2009 has been even worse for Fickett. He has lost all 4 of his fights and a disturbing trend has begun take place in these losses. 3 of the 4 losses have come via TKO or KO since a January 30, 2009 loss to Ferrid Kheder in Oklahoma.

This Saturday Fickett takes on fellow MMA journeyman Shannon Ritch in the main of event of Rage in the Cage 129.

Fickett’s career is in no man’s land right now. Staring down 5 straight defeats is something the UFC veteran could  not of imagined 12 monthes ago when his name was front and center of MMA world.

RITC #129

Doors Open: 6:00 PM, Fight Time: 7:30 PM

Venue address: 2115 US-60 Globe, AZ (next to Fry’s)

Three MMA cards will keep local and international fans of the sport occupied.

Sengoku Seventh Battle-Friday March 20th

Hey you could be doing worse things Friday morning at midnight.

Live from Tokyo catch Japan’s second biggest MMA promotion broadcast their card live on HD Net Midnight PST and with a replay at 7:00 PM.

The event features the start of the company’s 16 man feather weight tournament. In the biggest non tournament bout 5 star light heavyweight prospect Mo Lawel faces his toughest test to date in the form of veteran Ryo Kawamura.

March Badness- Saturday March 21st

In these tough economic times why not spend $29.99 on Roy Jones Jr. promoted hybrid boxing and MMA pay per view?

Roy Jones Jr. 52-5 faces off with Omar Sheika 27-8 in the main event of the boxing portion of the card. While former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley competes in his second professional MMA bout. Standing across the ring from Lashley is MMA journeyman Jason Guida, who fans may remember from his short stint on season 7 of Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter.

Rage in the Cage 123-Saturday March 21st

A great local card takes place Saturday night at Gila River Casino’s Wild Horse Pass. Doors open at 5:00 PM, fights start at 7:00 PM.

2 fighters on the fast track for the big show are RITC HW Richard Hale 9-2 and RITC 145 pound championship contender Ruben Salazar 3-1.

Hale is an athletic heavyweight who is riding a 5 fight winning streak. In February he avenged his last loss with a submission win over Elite XC vet Matt Lucas.

Salazar has found a home in the featherweight division. A win on Saturday gives Salazar a RITC title belt around his waist which will look good on his resume when the WEC gives him a call.

Also, UFC fighter and Ultimate Fighter Season 8 winner Efrain Escudero 11-0 will be on hand to sign autographs.