RAGE IN THE CAGE#143

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Jason "Mayhem" Miller ( 23-7 ), host of MTV's "Bully Beatdown" series, and local star Joe "Diesel" Riggs ( 32-11 ) will be on hand at RITC 143 to sign autographs and mingle with fans from 6PM to 7PM.

In addition, Gladiator Magazine will be in attendance and will provide exclusive reporting on RITC 143 in an upcoming issue.

A spectacular card is on tap when Rage in the Cage returns to Celebrity Theatre on July 31. In Championship bouts, Arizona Combat Sports star Jeremy Larsen ( 6-1 ), coming off an impressive win, takes on RITC Champion Alex Garcia ( 9-4 ) for the WW title. Carlos Farias ( 2-0 ), a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the head instructor of the Lion's Den Scottsdale BJJ Programs takes on behemoth JoJo Thompson ( 7-4-1 ) in an interesting match up of technique against raw power for the SHW title. Brazilian Gabriel Kitober ( 1-0 ) will challenge Strikeforce veteran Matt Lucas ( 10-2 ) for the interim LHW title.

In featured bouts, popular Joe Cronin ( 15-13 ), in a grudge match, takes on Bellator veteran Estevan Payan ( 8-3 ), Mike Moritz ( 4-1 ) takes on well-traveled local fighter Shannon Ritch and MMA Lab fighter Charlie Brown ( 8-2 ) takes on karate stylist Leonard Wilson ( 4-4-1 ).

Rounding out the main card will be Yaotzin Meza ( 12-6 ) vs Casey Milliken ( 1-1 ), Beau Tribolet ( 3-1 ) vs Mike Zanski ( 1-2 ) and Randy Steinke ( 5-5-1 ) vs Omur Cor ( 5-4 ).

Other "story lines" to mention are as follows. Undefeated former ASU wrestlers John Moraga ( 5-0 ) and Clifford Starks ( 2-0 ) will attempt to continue their winning ways and 2 active marines ( Harris and Overstreet ) will be making their mma debuts. Errol Murphy is flying in from New York to fight on the same card as his uncle Omur Cor and two fighters from Las Vegas ( Milliken and Kitober) will be challenging Arizona's finest.

Should be a DYNAMITE show. Get your tickets early for the best seat selections.

Fight Card

RITC WW CHAMPIONSHIP
Jeremy Larsen ( 170 ) vs Alex Garcia ( 170 )

vacant RITC SHW CHAMPIONSHIP
Carlos Eduardo Farias ( 280 ) vs JoJo Thompson ( 290 )

interim RITC LHW CHAMPIONSHIP
Gabriel Kitober ( 195 ) vs Matt Lucas ( 205 )

Joe Cronin ( 175 ) vs Estevan Payan ( 175 )
Shannon Ritch ( 200 ) vs Mike Moritz ( 205 )
Charlie Brown ( 170 ) vs Leonard Wilson ( 170 )
Beau Tribolet ( 240 ) vs Mike Zanski ( 240 )
Yaotzin Meza ( 160 ) vs Casey Milliken ( 165 )
Omur Cor ( 180 ) vs Randy Steinke ( 170 )

Aldo Escudero ( 135 ) vs John Moraga ( 135 )
Clifford Starks ( 205 ) vs TBA
Reyes Ortiz ( 185 ) vs TBA
Jason Harris ( 180 ) vs Adrian Guerrero ( 180 )
Merrell Hughes ( 250 ) vs Jeff Baldonado ( 240 )
Bobby Gonzales ( 175 ) vs William Cain ( 175 )
Greg Overstreet ( 175 ) vs Jimmy Walker ( 175 )
Issa Able ( 160 ) vs Alonzo Fears ( 160 )
Kiefer Gilbert ( 155 ) vs Eddie Nick Gragg ( 155 )
Sam Yank ( 145 ) vs Mike Wilson ( 145 )
Sean Farrar ( 180 ) vs Jeremy Darling ( 185 )
Joe Billingsley ( 155 ) vs Donnie Gunnell ( 160 )
Mike Brown ( 170 ) vs Ricardo Magallanes ( 160 )
Errol Murphy ( 140 ) vs Michael Martinez ( 145 )
Alex Belongia ( 135 ) vs Tyler Pryde ( 135 )

Fight Card subject to change.

Celebrity Theater is conveniently located on 32nd St, just 4 blocks south of the Loop 202 freeway, in Phoenix.