Despite the loss of tournament participant Marcus “Maximus” Aurelio, Shine Fights still intends to move forward with its eight-man Lightweight Grand Prix on Friday. Shine Fights COO Jason Chambers told MMAFighting.com that the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma is already “90% sold out.”
However, further investigation reveals that Shine’s unofficial partner for the event, Oklahoma-based promotion C3 Fights, has made similar claims in the past for events that were nowhere near sold out. First Council staff have reportedly handed out hundreds of comped tickets at C3 Fights events.
The semi-finals of the Bellator Fighting Championships 115-pound women’s tournament will take place at Bellator 31 on September 30th. Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii faces Lisa Ward for the second time, while Jessica “Jag” Aguilar battles Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto. The promotion confirmed both fights with MMARising.com earlier today.
In an update from yesterday, MMARising.com has confirmed that all fighters on this Friday’s Shine Fights card in Newkirk, Oklahoma will face ineligibility suspensions for taking part in an unsanctioned event. The suspensions, expected to last between 60 and 90 days, are enforceable by all member states in the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC).
With just days to go, Shine Fights has moved their embattled Lightweight Grand Prix to the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Oklahoma. However, the event will now be unsanctioned and MMARising.com has confirmed that the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission will have zero involvement.
Picking up her third straight win, Japanese veteran “Windy” Tomomi Sunaba outlasted boxing standout Monica Lovato in a two-round bout at Pancrase Passion Tour 8. Sunaba used effective leg kicks and knees en route to a competitive but convincing Unanimous Decision.
Three more fights have been announced for the upcoming Dream.16 event on September 25th. DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki will face Marcus “Maximus” Aurelio, though Aoki’s title will not be on the line. Aurelio’s planned participation in the Shine Fights Lightweight Grand Prix on September 10th reportedly won’t be an issue.
A planned one-night, eight-man Shine Fights Lightweight Grand Prix has encountered major problems just six days before it was set to take place. As first reported by MMAFighting.com this morning, Shine Fights has been forced to move the tournament away from Fairfax, Virginia, where it was scheduled to be held. The event was set for this coming Friday.
Contrary to rumours circulating online today, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker tells MMARising.com that his company is not for sale. A report earlier today cited a source as having knowledge of an impending sale of Strikeforce, but Coker maintains that the rumours are completely false.