Heavyweight Tournament, Former UFC Champions and Regan Penn Anchor ProElite 2: Big Guns
After a successful return to MMA, ProElite will hold their second event on November 5, 2011 from the “I wireless” Center in Moline, Illinois. Unlike their first show ProElite 2: Big Guns will be debuting on HDNet and features the opening round of their eight man heavyweight tournament as well as Reagan Penn’s second pro fight.
Following an impressive debut at ProElite 1, Reagan Penn (1-0) will look to continue things against the youngster, Evan Cutts (2-0). Coming in 11 years older than his opponent, Penn will enter the cage while he has one less fight but a considerably higher wealth of knowledge then Cutts.
The heavyweight tournament will consist of some of the best up and coming heavyweights in the world mixed not currently signed to a ZUFFA contract.
The featured opening round fight has the 2009 NCAA heavyweight wrestling champ Mark Ellis (1-0) taking on Ryan Martinez (5-1). The 6-foot-3, 25-year-old Ellis made a successful MMA debut at ProElite 1 by defeating Jake Heun via rear naked choke. Also with a wrestling background Martinez will be making his ProElite debut and is known for his exciting fighting style that has yet to see the final bell. In his last fight, Martinez choked his opponent unconscious with a guillotine choke in the first round.
The hard-hitting Justin Frazier (5-0) takes on Illinois own James Bosler (3-1). The 6-foot, 260 pound Frazier has finished all his fights in the first round, including a TKO victory at Bellator 52 his last time out. Hailing from Sandoval, Illinois, Bosler will be the home town favorite in this bout between two fairly similar fighters.
The second half of the Heavyweight tournament bracket starts off with Jake Heun (1-1) returns to ProElite to take on a proven finisher in Ed Carpenter (5-1). Heun is a former University of Hawaii Linebacker and Running Back who now trains out of Jeremy Horn’s Elite Performance Gym in Salt Lake City, Utah. Carpenter trains out of the Midwest Training Center alongside former WEC champ Chase Beebe and UFC veteran Clay Guida.
The last warriors go to battle in the last quarterfinal bout will be Richard “The Black Eagle” Odoms (5-0) faces off against Rodney Housley (4-1). Odoms will look to continue his 5-fight win streak, which includes a win over UFC veteran Darrill Schoonover on November 6, 2010. Fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio, Housley will look to snap that streak and make a name for himself in this tournament.
Headlining the card are two former UFC heavyweight champions that have plummeted from grace, taking on opponents looking to keep them down. Having won five of his last six bout, Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia (29-7) takes on Germany’s Andreas “Big Daddy” Kraniotakes (12-4), who will be making his US debut. Getting his first win since 2008, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski (16-9) takes on the uber fight veteran of 300+ fights, Travis “The Ironman” Fulton (247-48-10).
Tickets for “ProElite 2: Big Guns” are on sale to the general public at the I wireless Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations (800)745-3000, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and www.proelite.com
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