ANTONIO MCKEE IN A "PUT UP OR SHUT UP" BOUT THIS FRIDAY ON HDNET
Sep 9, 2010
MFC Lightweight Champion Has Promised to Retire If He Can't
Finish His Opponent - Friday, 10:00 p.m. ET
(PRESS RELEASE) -- With a professional record of 24-3-2 and a 14 fight undefeated streak that stretches back to 2003, Antonio "Mandingo" McKee should be known as one of the best lightweights in the world. Unfortunately, instead of dominating, the word that comes to mind most often to describe McKee is "boring'" due to the fact that 18 of his wins have come by decision.
After finishing one opponent in the last nine years and coming off
an uninspired decision victory against Carlo Prater in October,
McKee has promised to retire if his bout with Luciano Azevedo for
the MFC Lightweight title at MFC 26: Retribution on Friday doesn't
deliver.
HDNet will air the event LIVE beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.
His opponent Azevedo (16-8) is no push over - he handed WEC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo his only defeat.
Michael "The Voice" Schiavello, who will call Friday night's action live on HDNet thinks McKee may have talked himself into a tough predicament.
"He's putting a lot of pressure on himself to change a successful style. That could open holes which someone like Azevedo can expose," said Schiavello. "To his credit, he did win his last fight in March by first round submission, albeit on a small promotion, but once Azevedo starts to apply pressure and land some strikes, I wonder if Antonio won't resort to what he knows best and that's getting the top position and doing the old lay 'n' pray."
"Antonio must be losing it," said HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon. "First he calls out Bas Rutten and Guy Mezger. Then he says he will retire if he can't finish the only man to defeat Jose Aldo? Antonio has been promising HDNet exciting fights for years - truthfully I think it's up to his opponent to make him change his style - but I am excited to see the outcome of this unique stipulation Antonio has put on himself."
The night's co-main event promises to deliver a finish when Canada's Ryan Ford, who boasts 11 finishes in 12 career wins, takes on Douglas Lima, who brings in a 57% submission ratio.
"There's no way this one goes the distance," says Schiavello. "Ford is on an absolute tear, having finished his last four opponents collectively in just over seven minutes! For those watching live on HDNet trust me when I say this is not the fight you want to be taking a bathroom break!"
Also on the card for HDNet's LIVE broadcast are Mike Nickels vs. Dwayne Lewis (11-5), Tom Watson (12-3) vs. Jesse Taylor (15-6), David Heath (15-6) vs. Solomon Hutcherson (11-6), and Richie Hightower (8-4) vs. Curtis Demarce (8-7).
About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.
HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.
HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, King of the Cage, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features live coverage of regular season games from the second season of the United Football League.
HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"
Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.
In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.
HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS.
The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.
(PRESS RELEASE) -- With a professional record of 24-3-2 and a 14 fight undefeated streak that stretches back to 2003, Antonio "Mandingo" McKee should be known as one of the best lightweights in the world. Unfortunately, instead of dominating, the word that comes to mind most often to describe McKee is "boring'" due to the fact that 18 of his wins have come by decision.
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HDNet will air the event LIVE beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.
"When this fight is over, if it's not what the fans want to see,
I'm done," said McKee. "I've taken everything the critics have
thrown at me for the last five years. Now I'm going to shut them
all up."
His opponent Azevedo (16-8) is no push over - he handed WEC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo his only defeat.
Michael "The Voice" Schiavello, who will call Friday night's action live on HDNet thinks McKee may have talked himself into a tough predicament.
"He's putting a lot of pressure on himself to change a successful style. That could open holes which someone like Azevedo can expose," said Schiavello. "To his credit, he did win his last fight in March by first round submission, albeit on a small promotion, but once Azevedo starts to apply pressure and land some strikes, I wonder if Antonio won't resort to what he knows best and that's getting the top position and doing the old lay 'n' pray."
"Antonio must be losing it," said HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon. "First he calls out Bas Rutten and Guy Mezger. Then he says he will retire if he can't finish the only man to defeat Jose Aldo? Antonio has been promising HDNet exciting fights for years - truthfully I think it's up to his opponent to make him change his style - but I am excited to see the outcome of this unique stipulation Antonio has put on himself."
The night's co-main event promises to deliver a finish when Canada's Ryan Ford, who boasts 11 finishes in 12 career wins, takes on Douglas Lima, who brings in a 57% submission ratio.
"There's no way this one goes the distance," says Schiavello. "Ford is on an absolute tear, having finished his last four opponents collectively in just over seven minutes! For those watching live on HDNet trust me when I say this is not the fight you want to be taking a bathroom break!"
Also on the card for HDNet's LIVE broadcast are Mike Nickels vs. Dwayne Lewis (11-5), Tom Watson (12-3) vs. Jesse Taylor (15-6), David Heath (15-6) vs. Solomon Hutcherson (11-6), and Richie Hightower (8-4) vs. Curtis Demarce (8-7).
About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.
HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.
HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, King of the Cage, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features live coverage of regular season games from the second season of the United Football League.
HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"
Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.
In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.
HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS.
The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.
