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 to build the next generation of MMA champions, announced today that three elite athletes represented by SuckerPunch Entertainment, the Company’s fighter management firm, will compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Octagon at the Junesse Arena this Saturday, June 3rd, at UFC 212 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. SuckerPunch’s Max Holloway will defend his interim UFC Featherweight Title against veteran Jose Aldo, while Middleweight knockout artist Oluwale Bamgbose will square off against Paulo Borrachinha, and Brian Kelleher will make his UFC debut against luri Alcantara.
“SuckerPunch Entertainment continues to solidify its position as one of the world’s preeminent fighter management companies, and this weekend’s action-packed fight card provides resounding validation of their dominant position in the MMA industry,” said Robert Haydak, President of Alliance MMA. “For SuckerPunch to represent a single client competing in a UFC event is a noteworthy accomplishment, sending two athletes to contend the same night is an extraordinary honor at this level, but to have three premier fighters listed on a single UFC fight card is an astonishing accomplishment, and clearly a testament to the level of devotion and professionalism the firm delivers to all the athletes they represent.”
The most influential star on the SuckerPunch roster, UFC Interim Featherweight Champion Max “Blessed” Holloway (17-3) will attempt to unify his belt against current UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo in the main event of the evening. Holloway rides a ten-fight win streak inside the Octagon, and is looking to become the first Hawaiian UFC champion, as well as tie the legendary Royce Gracie for fifth, all-time UFC consecutive wins.
Holloway adds, "I have been training for Jose Aldo since I was 17 years old, he's been the king of the featherweight division but his reign is over. It's my time, this is what kings do, they invade enemy territory and take over. June 3rd I'm taking over."
Other SuckerPunch athletes currently slated to fight some of the best Brazil has to offer are New York’s Brian Kelleher making his UFC debut on the FoxSports1 prelims against Brazil’s luri Alcantara, and Oluwale “Holy War Angel” Bamgbose (6-2) who returns after UFC Fight Night 107 when his opponent was unable to compete due to a medical clearance issue. Bamgbose is slated to fight Paulo Borrachinha on the UFC 212 pay-per-view main card.
“This is a huge weekend for Alliance MMA and SuckerPunch Entertainment,” said Managing Partner Brian Butler-Au. “Brian Kelleher finally gets to showcase his skills for MMA aficionados on the world stage, while Oluwale Bamgbose is eagerly anticipating his opportunity to entertain fight fans in a bout that promises to deliver the level of competitive intensity they crave, followed by the highlight of the evening when Max Holloway will carry the entire state of Hawaii on his back as he aspires to dethrone the legendary Jose Aldo in the Brazilian’s own backyard.”
To watch UFC 212 in its entirety, tune-in live on Saturday, June 3rd to the UFC Fight Pass Prelims at 6:30 PM EDT, followed by the FS1 Prelims at 8:00 PM EDT. The pay-per-view airs at 10:00 PM EDT that evening.
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.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170601005524/en/
