The Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Awards Ceremony being held at The Joint by Rogue inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Wednesday, December 30 at 7:30 p.m. has quickly become the can’t-miss event of the year. The black-tie gala, hosted by comedian John Heffron, NBC’s Season Two winner of “Last Comic Standing,” and sponsored by Bodybuilding.com, Silver Star Casting Company, TapouT and THQ’s UFC® 2009 UndisputedTM, will include a special performance by the “X” Girls from “X” Burlesque, the sexiest revue on the Strip. The entire ceremony will stream live on www.Versus.com and be nationally broadcast on the Versus Network January 6, 2010 at 9 p.m. EST and PST.
‘FIGHTERS ONLY’ WORLD MIXED MARTIAL ARTS AWARDS CEREMONY PACKS A PUNCH WITH ITS STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP AT THE JOINT BY ROGUE INSIDE THE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO DEC. 30
Las Vegas, NV, Dec. 28, 2009 – The Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Awards Ceremony being held at The Joint by Rogue inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Wednesday, December 30 at 7:30 p.m. has quickly become the can’t-miss event of the year. The black-tie gala, hosted by comedian John Heffron, NBC’s Season Two winner of “Last Comic Standing,” and sponsored by Bodybuilding.com, Silver Star Casting Company, TapouT and THQ’s UFC® 2009 UndisputedTM, will include a special performance by the “X” Girls from “X” Burlesque, the sexiest revue on the Strip. The entire ceremony will stream live on www.Versus.com and be nationally broadcast on the Versus Network January 6, 2010 at 9 p.m. EST and PST.
Red carpet arrivals begin at 5 p.m. featuring an impressive array of confirmed presenters and award nominees including (in alphabetical order): Quinton Aaron (“Blindside”), ESPN’s Jon Anik, Arianny Celeste (Ring Girl of the Year nominee and last year’s winner), Randy Couture (Fight of the Year nominee), Junior dos Santos, WEC’s Peter Dropick, Terry Etim (multiple nominations), Mike Goldberg, Dan Henderson (KO of the Year nominee), 11-time WSOP Champion Phil Hellmuth Jr., Heath Herring, Jay Hieron, guitar legend Scott Ian (Anthrax), comedian and television host Matt Iseman (“Sports Soup,” “Clean House”) “Inside MMA” correspondents Kenny Rice and Adam Swift (Best Media Source nominees), BMX Pro T.J. Lavin, Holly Madison (Ring Girl of the Year nominee), Gray Maynard, actress and poker pro Tiffany Michelle, Frank Mir (Fight of the Year nominee), Gegard Mousasi (European Fighter Of The Year nominee), Roy “Big Country” Nelson, Antonio “Rodrigo” Nogueira (Fight of the Year nominee), Tito Ortiz, rock icon Vinnie Paul (Pantera, HELLYEAH) Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez (Fight of the Year nominee), Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (Female Fighter of the Year nominee), “Poker Babe” Erica Schoenberg, Wanderlei Silva (Fight of the Year nominee), Amir Sodollah, George St. Pierre (Fighter of the Year nominee), Logan Stanton (Ring Girl of the Year nominee), TapouT’s Mark, Punkass and Scrape (multiple nominations), actor Wilmer Valderrama, UFC President Dana White (Leading Man of the Year nominee) and Natasha Wicks (Ring Girl of the Year nominee), among others. Radio and television personality Dave Farra will be joined by actress and television host Alison Haislip (G4’s “Attack of the Show”) to capture all of the action on the carpet and backstage.
This groundbreaking event was created with the purpose of recognizing and celebrating the achievements of the people involved in making MMA what it is today as voted on by the sport’s loyal fan base from around the world. Voting concluded on December 5, 2009 in eighteen categories, including “Fighter of the Year,” “Knockout of the Year,” “Promotion of the Year” and the popular “Ring Girl of the Year.” A panel of industry experts votes for the nineteenth category, “Lifetime Achievement,” to honor an individual for their outstanding contribution to the sport.
“We created The Awards Show to honor those who advocate our collective goals to expand the sport of MMA,” said Rob Hewitt, President and CEO, Fighters Only. “We’re delighted at the overwhelming support we’ve received from the MMA community, the fans and everyone at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.”
Fighters Only was the world’s first monthly Mixed Martial Arts and lifestyle magazine, launching in the UK in 2005. By 2008, the publication was on sale in 13 countries worldwide. A dedicated U.S. edition was launched in February 2009 featuring content specifically generated for the largest market in the world. A Canadian edition was simultaneously launched with a German edition in April 2009, and a South African edition launched at the end of November.
Tickets start at $50 and are on sale now at The Joint Box Office, 702-693-5000, or Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. VIP tables and skyboxes are available by calling 702-577-2801. For more information about Fighters Only World MMA Awards, please visit www.worldmmaawards.com.