Thursday, 11 March 2010

Shane Corbin Promotions will present their first high profile mixed martial arts event on March 19th featuring a headliner with The Bodyshop gym owner and current MFC lightweight champion Antonio McKee (22-3-2). He'll take on Rodrigo Ruiz, a top Brazilian prospect with a record of 12-1. Despite a supporting cast that includes Lodune Sincaid (15-8), EliteXC and M-1 veteran Giva Santana (13-1), Bellator and MFC veteran Jesse Juarez (13-5), and K-1 veteran and Millenia MMA's own “Mighty Mo” Siliga (3-1), that's not the biggest news concerning the promotion, not by a longshot.

I was able to confirm through Shane Corbin earlier today that “College Cage Series” is not just the moniker for their MMA competitions, it is also the name of an upcoming reality T.V. series based on the sport that will debut in May on Fox Sports Net, a network that is quickly becoming a juggernaut of televised combat sports.

Even with their unique approach to MMA, College Cage Series has somehow flown under the radar thus far. A stacked inaugural card, however, promises to garner as much attention as the foundation on which they are being built upon.

Segments that will be televised are to be pulled from a tryout tournament, scheduled about a month prior to the event itself, which will also air on the network. Mixed martial artists that currently attend college were invited to showcase their skills in front of a panel of fight game affiliated judges on February 6th. The first tryout, held at World Class MMA in Westminster, California, was judged by Shane Corbin, Juanito Ibarra who also serves as the promotion's President, pro boxer James “Lights Out” Toney, “Big” John McCarthy, and legendary UFC hall of famer Royce Gracie.

Select competitors were matched up and the winners will face each other on the bigger event at UC Irvine's Bren Events Center on March 19th in an undercard role, earning camera time on the FSN reality show in the process. They will also be awarded up to $10,000 in scholarship money to assist with furthering their higher education.

Taping began at the first tryout and is scheduled to continue at a second one scheduled for May 1st at an as yet unannounced location in southern California. A second stacked card is also planned for their follow-up show in June.

MMA Recap will be at the Bren Events Center next Friday for more in-depth coverage. Check back next week as we take a closer look at Shane Corbin's quietly emerging and education focused fight promotion as well as interview Antonio McKee, Jesse Juarez, and Mighty Mo before their fights.

Complete card for the March 19th show entitled "Collision in the Cage" is listed below:

Antonio McKee vs. Rodrigo Ruiz
Giva Santana vs. Lodune Sincaid
Mauro Chimento vs. Jesse Juarez
Felipe Foglin vs. Erin Birn
“Mighty Mo” Siliga vs. Jimmy Collins
Waachin Spiritwolf vs. Fernando Bettega

CCS Finalist bouts

Mike Christansen vs. Carlos Aguilar
Jason Williams vs. John Mowery
Adrian Bio vs. Jamie Mowery

Matt Clarmont
Inland Empire MMA Examiner
www.examiner.com/x-36028-Inland-Empire-MMA-Examiner
www.mmarecap.com
www.throwthembows.com

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