Heart-Pounding MMA Action From Gladiator Challenge
Jan 30, 2009
(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Los Angeles Fitness & MMA Expo was the
exciting scene of the most recent edition of Tedd
Williams’ Gladiator Challenge, taking place on Sunday, January
25, 2009. As part of the Expo, GC provided live, heart-pounding MMA
action to their rabid fans in attendance. Scores were settled,
titles changed hands, and the afternoon built into a rapid
crescendo as the incredible athletes laid it all on the line for a
chance at glory.
- In the opening bout, “The Italian Stallion” Nick Realle quickly finished his opponent, Brad Ball, at 1:08 of the 1st round in a featherweight clash.
- In the second battle of the afternoon, Team Quest heavyweight
prospect Aaron Hayes
continued his surge, tapping out Tyson
Threadgill at 1:40 of the 1st round due to an arm-triangle
submission.
- The next fight saw the Gladiator Challenge Featherweight Championship belt contested in a fast-paced back-and-forth scrap. In the end, undefeated Richard Schiller proved to be too much for Chris Kirtley, arm-barring Kirtley and walking away the new champion at 2:42 of the 2nd round.
- The Gladiator Challenge Flyweight Championship belt was on the line next, as rising star David “Kid Dynamite” Espinosa choked out Jordan Sutton at 2:40 of the 1st round with the rarely-seen north/south submission.
- In the main event, Gladiator Challenge Lightweight Champion Saad Awad took on the challenge of Gokor Chivichyan student Karen Darabedyan in a non-title affair. The crowd was hot for this one, as almost everyone was on their feet the whole time. With UFC welterweight “The Pitbull” Thiago Alves looking on, Awad and Darabedyan battled back and forth, as the skirmish evolved into a climax. To many, this was the fight of the night, and the partisan crowd chanted both fighter’s names, supporting their favorite. In the end, Darabedyan pulled out a razor-thin split decision win, taking the win but not the title home with him. Awad had nothing to hang his head about, and both fighters embraced one another in a show of class and sportsmanship after all was said and done. We may get to see these two go at it again in the future, but next time for the belt.
At the L.A. Fitness and MMA Expo, the challenge was extended, and once again, the fighters of Gladiator Challenge rose to the occasion. Several combat sports celebrities were in attendance, including legend “Judo” Gene LeBell, referees Herb Dean and Larry Landless, as well as UFC fighters Manny Gamburyan and the aforementioned Thiago Alves. The event was a great success, and Gladiator Challenge looks forward to providing more exciting MMA action to fights fans in the near future.
In his next event, Tedd Williams brings Gladiator Challenge back to San Diego’s Casino Pauma. The first GC event there was held in October of last year. It was sold out, and MMA stars Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Hector “Sick Dog” Ramirez on hand. No fight fan will want to miss this card, as former UFC and WEC veteran Gabe Ruediger takes on recent Gladiator Challenge victor “The Italian Stallion” Nick Realle. Known for his antics on The Ultimate Fighter, Ruediger is sure to entertain the crowd as he looks to re-establish himself as a player in the lightweight division. With 15 MMA fights on the card, this event is sure to satisfy MMA enthusiasts in attendance. For more information, visit www.gladiatorchallenge.com
ABOUT GLADIATOR CHALLENGE:
Gladiator Challenge is a world-class mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion established in 1999 by Tedd Williams. A former UFC fighter, Williams is a former national AAU Sambo Champion (1997), a former California State Judo Champion (4th Degree Black Belt under “Judo” Gene LeBell) and a former college All-American wrestler (Cerritos Jr. College, 1988-89). Gladiator Challenge runs 12-18 MMA events per year, and has featured MMA superstars Uriah “The California Kid” Faber, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, James Irvin, Tyson Griffin, “Sugar” Rashad Evans, Scott “Hands of Stone” Smith, “The Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia, Joe “Daddy” Stevenson, Mac Danzig, Dan “The Beast” Severn, Jerry Bohlander, “Krazy Horse” Charles Bennett, Chris Leben, Chael Sonnen, Jake Shields, “The Secret Weapon” Pete Spratt, Nate “The Rock” Quarry, Jason “The Punisher” Lambert, Bobby “The Bad Seed” Hoffman, and Cal Worsham, among many others. Gladiator Challenge can be found online at http://www.gladiatorchallenge.com/
- In the opening bout, “The Italian Stallion” Nick Realle quickly finished his opponent, Brad Ball, at 1:08 of the 1st round in a featherweight clash.
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- The next fight saw the Gladiator Challenge Featherweight Championship belt contested in a fast-paced back-and-forth scrap. In the end, undefeated Richard Schiller proved to be too much for Chris Kirtley, arm-barring Kirtley and walking away the new champion at 2:42 of the 2nd round.
- In what was a highly-anticipated rematch, Sean “The Destroyer”
Loeffler lived up to his nickname by quickly securing the
rear-naked choke, taking out Rubin Taigle at 0:36 of the 1st
round.
- The Gladiator Challenge Flyweight Championship belt was on the line next, as rising star David “Kid Dynamite” Espinosa choked out Jordan Sutton at 2:40 of the 1st round with the rarely-seen north/south submission.
- In the main event, Gladiator Challenge Lightweight Champion Saad Awad took on the challenge of Gokor Chivichyan student Karen Darabedyan in a non-title affair. The crowd was hot for this one, as almost everyone was on their feet the whole time. With UFC welterweight “The Pitbull” Thiago Alves looking on, Awad and Darabedyan battled back and forth, as the skirmish evolved into a climax. To many, this was the fight of the night, and the partisan crowd chanted both fighter’s names, supporting their favorite. In the end, Darabedyan pulled out a razor-thin split decision win, taking the win but not the title home with him. Awad had nothing to hang his head about, and both fighters embraced one another in a show of class and sportsmanship after all was said and done. We may get to see these two go at it again in the future, but next time for the belt.
At the L.A. Fitness and MMA Expo, the challenge was extended, and once again, the fighters of Gladiator Challenge rose to the occasion. Several combat sports celebrities were in attendance, including legend “Judo” Gene LeBell, referees Herb Dean and Larry Landless, as well as UFC fighters Manny Gamburyan and the aforementioned Thiago Alves. The event was a great success, and Gladiator Challenge looks forward to providing more exciting MMA action to fights fans in the near future.
In his next event, Tedd Williams brings Gladiator Challenge back to San Diego’s Casino Pauma. The first GC event there was held in October of last year. It was sold out, and MMA stars Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Hector “Sick Dog” Ramirez on hand. No fight fan will want to miss this card, as former UFC and WEC veteran Gabe Ruediger takes on recent Gladiator Challenge victor “The Italian Stallion” Nick Realle. Known for his antics on The Ultimate Fighter, Ruediger is sure to entertain the crowd as he looks to re-establish himself as a player in the lightweight division. With 15 MMA fights on the card, this event is sure to satisfy MMA enthusiasts in attendance. For more information, visit www.gladiatorchallenge.com
ABOUT GLADIATOR CHALLENGE:
Gladiator Challenge is a world-class mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion established in 1999 by Tedd Williams. A former UFC fighter, Williams is a former national AAU Sambo Champion (1997), a former California State Judo Champion (4th Degree Black Belt under “Judo” Gene LeBell) and a former college All-American wrestler (Cerritos Jr. College, 1988-89). Gladiator Challenge runs 12-18 MMA events per year, and has featured MMA superstars Uriah “The California Kid” Faber, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, James Irvin, Tyson Griffin, “Sugar” Rashad Evans, Scott “Hands of Stone” Smith, “The Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia, Joe “Daddy” Stevenson, Mac Danzig, Dan “The Beast” Severn, Jerry Bohlander, “Krazy Horse” Charles Bennett, Chris Leben, Chael Sonnen, Jake Shields, “The Secret Weapon” Pete Spratt, Nate “The Rock” Quarry, Jason “The Punisher” Lambert, Bobby “The Bad Seed” Hoffman, and Cal Worsham, among many others. Gladiator Challenge can be found online at http://www.gladiatorchallenge.com/
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