RACHAEL SMITH ANNOUNCES PRO DEBUT
Rachael “The Loaded Gun” Smith, a standout amateur (6-2) Strawweight of Michigan, has announced her pro debut. She is slated to fight Raquel Magdaleno on May 31, 2014 for North American Fighting Championship (NAFC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This bout will be a rematch of an August, 2012 amateur title fight. WMMA News caught up with Rachael who said, “We put on an awesome show, and it was an all out WAR. Unfortunately, I lost a close 5-round decision, but learned more from that fight than any of my fights. I have gained so much new knowledge since the first fight and can’t wait to showcase my new skills.”
Rachael continued, “The fight will be held at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You’re not going to want to miss this awesome show. I would love your support and will have ticket information soon. I am also currently looking for sponsors. Please come out and support me.”
Special Event Announcement
Event: NAFC “Mega Brawl” MMA at BMO Harris Bradley Center
Date: Saturday, May 31, 2014
Time: Tentatively 4:00 PM
Tickets on-sale: Saturday, March 1, 2014 @ 12:00 PM
Tickets prices: $35, $50, $75, $125
BMO Harris Bradley Center To Promote Professional MMA
Teams With Milwaukee’s NAFC To Elevate Local Talent
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 (Milwaukee, WI USA) Milwaukee based North American Fighting Championship (NAFC) is pleased to announce that the Mixed Martial Arts promoter has an agreement in place with the BMO Harris Bradley Center (BMO Harris Bradley Center), home of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, NCAA’s Marquette Golden Eagles, AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals and local venue for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), to start producing and promoting MMA shows.
The first collaboration will be NAFC “Mega Brawl” MMA at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, Saturday, May 31, 2014 with a tentative start time of 4 p.m. CST. A pre-fight tailgate party is planned for 2 p.m. in the BMO Harris Bradley Center Atrium, as well as outdoors, weather permitting.
Inspired by the fact that Roufusport, one of the country’s top producers of MMA talent, is in their own backyard, it made perfect sense for the BMO Harris Bradley Center to make the foray into what is often referred to as the world’s fastest growing sport.
BMO Harris Bradley Center President and CEO Steve Costello spoke of the partnership glowingly, saying “Milwaukee is recognized as home to some of the very best MMA talent in the country, with great fans that love and follow the sport at every level. We couldn’t have a better partner than NAFC to produce our first big-time home-grown MMA event, “Mega Brawl” MMA at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. We are creating an amazing setting for fighters and fans alike, and we look forward to welcoming fight fans from across the region when we showcase some of Milwaukee’s very best fighters for our inaugural fight on May 31st with close-up views at affordable prices. All cage-side and floor seats include VIP club access.”
Roufusport’s head coach and namesake Duke Roufus was elated when he heard the news about the May 31st NAFC show, stating “I’m beyond excited. This is a dream come true for myself as a coach, and for the rest of our team who are going to get opportunities to fight on this card. This is a very special place for us, the place that Anthony Pettis won Roufusport’s first UFC Championship. Anthony’s performance inspires the legion of new Roufusport athletes that are going to shine on May 31st and earn their way to the UFC.”
NAFC has been a respected proving ground for fighters that have made their way to the UFC, the sport’s premier professional promotion, including Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis, Dustin Ortiz, Chico Camus, Mike “Biggie” Rhodes and Joao Zeferino.
Another notable UFC star who appeared on an NAFC promotion as he “fought” his way back to the big leagues is Tim Boetsch, and has gone 6-3 since returning to the UFC after fighting for the NAFC in April 2010. In addition, Corey Anderson, star of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 19, made his pro debut fighting for the NAFC in March 2013 and Rose Namajunas, star of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 20, made her career debut on an August 2010 card.
In the “Mega Brawl” Main Event, one of Roufus’ rising fighters, Gerald “The Machine” Meerschaert III (17-6), is slated to take on star of the UFC’s reality television show “The Ultimate Fighter-Season 16” “Smiling” Sam Alvey (21-5), a Manitowoc (WI) native currently training at Dan Henderson’s Team Quest in Murrieta (CA).
Meerschaert III and Alvey fought once before with Meerschaert III submitting Alvey via Guillotine Choke with :52 seconds left in their 5 round September 2010 bout. Even with that victory, it’s Meerschaert who comes into the fight looking to make a statement that he also belongs in the UFC’s ranks.
Looking to get to the UFC in 2014, Meerschaert III declared, “We’ve both come a long way since we last fought 3 years ago. I think that if I finish him again I definitely deserve a shot in the UFC.” Meerschaert III added “The thing that also makes this fight interesting is that on paper his record looks like he’s the better fighter, but I’m still the only opponent to finish him in his 26 professional bouts.”
Alvey is eager to meet Meerschaert back in the cage with visions of redemption for his only stoppage loss, offering “This will be my first fight back in Milwaukee since 2010 and to have the chance to avenge a loss in front of family and friends is a wonderful opportunity. Gerald was a tough opponent then and I hope he’s gotten better because I sure have.”
One person Alvey looks to avenge his loss to Meerschaert III in front of is his wife, McKey Sullivan, winner of the 11th installment of “America’s Next Top Model” and Alvey’s biggest supporter of his MMA career (aside from his parents, Dan and Jan Alvey). McKey trains in MMA and appeared on the cover and had a spread in the February 2009 issue of Seventeen magazine, and was named one of People Magazine’s most beautiful people that same year. Sullivan is expected to be in Alvey’s corner come May 31st for his fight at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
NAFC promoter Scott Joffe appreciates the BMO Harris Bradley Center investing in grassroots MMA organizations like his, knowing the rising popularity of the sport and tremendous exposure its athletes receive can only lead to a positive, winning combination for the partnership.
“I’ve long been a champion of the local fighter, the ones that train and fight in relative obscurity in the hopes that one day their dreams will become reality, and they’ll make it to our promised land, the UFC,” Joffe proclaimed, adding “I know my role and the NAFC’s position. It’s to help hard working athletes achieve their goals and fulfill their ambitions in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, period. It’s not to become anything but a solid conduit for premium talent to get noticed by the UFC. And the fact that the BMO Harris Bradley Center is investing in the sport at this level further attests to MMA’s rising position as viable sports entertainment. I applaud them for sharing the same vision as we do.”
Over a dozen MMA bouts are planned for NAFC “Mega Brawl” MMA at the BMO Harris Bradley Center showcasing many of Roufusport’s ever expanding crop of MMA’s next biggest stars, in addition to fighters from the region’s other premier fight teams.
Tickets ($35-$125) for the May 31st event go on sale at Ticketmaster.com and the BMO Harris Bradley Center Ticket Office at 12 p.m., noon, Saturday, March 1st. Private VIP Suites will also be available for group rental. For more information and Fight Card, please visit NAFC.TV.
The BMO Harris Bradley Center Ticket Office is located at 1001 North Fourth Street, Milwaukee, WI 53203, 414-227-0894.
BMO Harris Bradley Center Contact: Debbie Gonzalez, 414-227-0755 or Kim Nguyen 414-227-0688.
NAFC Contact: Scott Joffe, 414-305-3474, scott@nafc.tv.
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