(PRESS RELEASE) -- HDNet Fights announced today that it has agreed to a long-term partnership with World Victory Road to exclusively air the Sengoku Mixed Martial Arts promotion on HDNet. The deal marks the first time that the promotion's events will be seen in their entirety in North America.

In 2009, HDNet will feature twenty-five events from Asia alone, due to the network's partnerships with World Victory Road, DREAM, K-1, and K-1 MAX.

"We're very happy to announce this partnership with World Victory Road and to bring the action of Sengoku to HDNet," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "This continues our commitment to deliver the best MMA in the world. No one promotion or network can match the depth and breadth of MMA broadcast on HDNet."

"SENGOKU held its very first match in March 2008, and the upcoming competition on March 20 will mark the promotion's eighth event," said Takahiro Kokuho, Executive Managing Director of World Victory Road Co. Ltd. "The high quality of our fighters and our competition have earned rave reviews from many of our fans and the media, and we are honored to have created a partnership with a renowned American network such as HDNet. We look forward to sharing the ultimate martial arts form with the U.S. and MMA fans around the world, and we are confident that MMA fans will be excited as well. We look forward to taking unified steps to establish Sengoku as a top MMA brand in the U.S."

HDNet's coverage will begin with World Victory Road's Sengoku Seventh Battle at Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium on Friday, March 20. The event will feature Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal v. Ryo Kawamura in addition to the first round of a 16-man featherweight tournament.

So far, eight of the sixteen fighters in the tournament have been named. They are Hatsu Hioki, Masanori Kanehara, Tetsuya Yamada, Malron Sandro, Ronnie Ushiwaka, Chris Manuel, Nick Denis, and Jung Chan Sung.

The stars of World Victory Road include Middleweight Champion Jorge Santiago, Lightweight Champion Satoru Kitaoka, Takanori Gomi, Kazuo Misaki, Olympic Judo Gold Medalist Hidehiko Yoshida, undefeated "King Mo" Muhammed Lawal. Past events have also featured Josh Barnett, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Dave Herman, and Antonio Silva. Air dates and times will be announced at a later date.

About HDNet Fights
HDNet Fights (www.hdnetfights.com) is one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the country. Founded by Mark Cuban, HDNet Fights promotes, produces and airs over twenty-four live MMA events annually for broadcast on HDNet. HDNet Fights is unique as a unifying force in the MMA industry partnering with leading promoters, including Affliction, DREAM, StrikeForce(TM), M-1, Sportfight, MFC, Adrenaline, Ring of Combat and others to offer the quality match-ups and productions that MMA fans demand.

Founded in 2007, HDNet Fights is led by CEO Andrew Simon while company operations are handled by Dallas MMA legend and former UFC champion, Guy Mezger.

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the home for HDNet Fights and is the leader in offering live MMA broadcasts and the leading news and information show for MMA fans, "Inside MMA."

In addition, HDNet provides viewers with the best in original news, sports, music and entertainment programming. From the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," to championship sports coverage from NASCAR and Major League Soccer to "Guys Night In" every Thursday and the HDNet Concert Series every Sunday, HDNet offers great programming with the world's best picture quality.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager and COO Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.