NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Alliance MMA, Inc. ("Alliance MMA" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:AMMA), a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) company that brings together the best regional productions, announced today that Max “Blessed” Holloway was victorious at UFC 212 in Rio De Janeiro Saturday night, and is now the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) undisputed World Featherweight Champion. With his victory Saturday night, Holloway joins Germaine de Randamie, current UFC female World Featherweight Champion, as SuckerPunch Entertainment’s second reigning UFC Champion.
"Last night in Rio we watched the next step of an amazing fairytale story unfold, one in which a young, unknown teenage prospect, signed by SuckerPunch eight years ago, reached the pinnacle of his professional MMA career becoming the new undisputed UFC World Featherweight Champion,” said Rob Haydak, President of Alliance MMA. “But equally important is the story behind the story, which is one of extraordinary loyalty and commitment exhibited by Brian Butler-Au and Bryan Hamper. In an oftentimes treacherous and opportunistic industry, littered with managers who are opportunistic and untrustworthy, SuckerPunch Entertainment is clearly the cream of the crop. That’s why Alliance MMA has made SuckerPunch part of our corporate family, so that we could cultivate promising athletes early in their careers, and make sure they get the experience and exposure required to rise to the highest level in the sport.”
In the main event at UFC 212, Max Holloway became the undisputed UFC Featherweight Champion by defeating legend Jose Aldo via third-round technical knockout, earning a Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts. Holloway patiently allowed Aldo to tire himself out before attacking with a tremendous number of strikes until the fight was stopped. Holloway is now on an 11-fight win streak and returns to Waianae, Hawaii with the unified title. At just 25 years-old, Holloway has established himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
“I trained for this moment since I was 17 years-old,” said Holloway. “People said I was crazy when I told them I was going to beat Jose Aldo, but here I am today, after standing across the cage from Jose having achieved my dream. We’re in the ‘Blessed Era’ now, and we’re just getting started. I am so proud to be associated with SuckerPunch Entertainment and Alliance MMA, and can hardly wait to bring the UFC to Hawaii. Let’s do this!”
“We couldn’t be prouder of Max,” said SuckerPunch Entertainment Managing Director Brian Butler-Au. “We signed Max when he was just a kid competing on the regional kickboxing circuit, but we knew he had greatness in him, and now the whole world knows what we saw in him. Nights like this are why we do what we do.”
Another SuckerPunch Entertainment athlete, Brian Kelleher, competing in his UFC debut, vanquished the world’s #13 ranked lightweight Iuri Alcantara via guillotine in round two. The New York native extended his win streak to nine-straight, and also heads back to the states with a Performance of the Night bonus.
“Last night was everything I dreamt about my whole career,” said Kelleher “I knew once I had my opportunity to fight in the UFC that I would come out and dominate. Some people may have seen me as an underdog, but I knew this is where I belonged, and the result clearly speaks for itself.”
Next up for the talented SuckerPunch roster are three scheduled UFC appearances on June 25th in Oklahoma City for “UFC Fight Night Chiesa vs. Lee.” That night, Felice Herrig will take on Justine Kish, Carla Esparza will face Maryna Moroz, and Darrell Horcher will make his long-awaited return against Devin Powell.
About Alliance MMA, Inc.
Alliance MMA (NASDAQ:AMMA) is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) company that brings together the best regional productions. Alliance MMA's mission is to identify and cultivate the next generation of fighters and champions for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and other premier MMA promotions.
With some of the world’s leading MMA promotions under the Alliance MMA umbrella, the organization aims eventually to host in excess of 125 events per year, showcasing more than 1,000 fighters. Alliance MMA is also dedicated to generating live original sports media content, attracting an international fan base, and securing major brand sponsorship revenue for live MMA events, digital media, and Alliance MMA fighters.
MMA is the world’s fastest growing sport with worldwide fans of approximately 300 million according to sports marketing research firm Repucom. MMA is a full contact sport that allows a wide range of fighting techniques, including striking and grappling from various martial arts and disciplines including Boxing, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Karate and Muay Thai. Professional MMA fights are legal and regulated by state athletic commissions in all 50 states.
Alliance MMA, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 for the purpose of acquiring businesses that engage in the promotion of mixed martial arts (MMA) events. In 2016, the company completed an initial public offering that culminated in a listing on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Alliance MMA is the only mixed martial arts promotion company that is publicly-traded.
For more information visit www.alliancemma.com,
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements relate to anticipated future events, future results of operations or future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “intends,” “expects,” “plans,” “goals,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Actual results may differ materially from historical results or those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, but not limited to, those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-213166) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 2, 2016. Alliance MMA encourages you to review other factors that may affect its future results in Alliance MMA’s registration statement and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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