Neck Injury Sidelines Middleweight Star; UFC Veteran Haynes To Battle IFL Newcomer Serao at 185 lbs. on Feb. 29

NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS, February 12, 2008 – MMA veteran Josh “Bring the Pain” Haynes (Las Vegas), who has competed for a dozen professional mixed martial arts organizations, including the UFC, will compete at 185-lb. against Leopoldo Serao (San Francisco) at the International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) event at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, February 29. Haynes replaces popular IFL star Benji Radach (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), who suffered a neck injury in training and will be out of action indefinitely.

Haynes, who has competed on the pro MMA circuit since 2002, is perhaps best known for his time on “The Ultimate Fighter 3” television program in 2006, in which he advanced to the finals. On Feb. 29, he will compete for his camp, Xtreme Couture, against World Class Fight Center’s Serao.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity. I’ve wanted to fight for the IFL for a little while,” said Haynes. “Ever since I left the UFC it’s been something I’ve wanted to do, and I think the matchup is fantastic. I love the opportunity to represent my gym. I’ve got a great camp and I think this guy is going to be unpleasantly surprised.”

The Xtreme Couture-World Class Fight Center matchup also features bouts between Lew Polley and Alexandre Ferreira, as well as Rafael Dias and Santino DeFranco.

Also on the card, Team Quest, coached by Matt Lindland, faces Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den, with title fights between lightweight champ Ryan Schultz and John Gunderson, heavyweight title holder Roy Nelson taking on Fabiano Scherner, and middleweight belt holder Matt Horwich facing Miletich fighter Ryan McGivern.

'McGivern To Replace Kennedy In IFL Middleweight Title Bout At Orleans Arena In Las Vegas' - Feb. 4, 2008

Kennedy Called to Military Duty; McGivern To Battle Horwich for 185-lb. Crown; Four Other Bouts Finalized On Eight-Fight Card on Feb. 29

NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS, February 4, 2008 – Miletich Fighting Academy middleweight standout Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa), recognized as one of the most improved, up-and-coming athletes in the International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), will fight for the 185-lb. title against current champion Matt “Suave” Horwich (Portland, Ore.), one of three championship matchups at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, February 29. McGivern replaces Tim Kennedy (Fayetteville, N.C.), an active U.S. Military member who has been called into duty.

Four other bouts have also now been finalized on the eight-bout card, including three featuring Xtreme Couture vs. Mario Sperry’s World Class Fight Center camps. Benji Radach (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) will compete for Xtreme Couture in a middleweight bout against Leopoldo Serao (Brazil), Lew Polley (Coconut Creek, Fla.) will battle Alexandre Ferreira at 205 lbs., and Santino Defranco will take on Rafael Dias in a featherweight contest. The Lions Den’s Pat Healy (St. Louis) will take on Team Quest’s Jake Ellenberger (Omaha, Neb.) in a matchup that may determine a future title bout at 170 lbs. (Team Xtreme Couture’s Jay Hieron of Las Vegas holds the belt at present).

“While it is disappointing to us and to Tim that he will be unable to compete due to his military obligations, we are excited and fortunate that a fighter of Ryan McGivern’s caliber is available to step in,” said Bas Rutten, IFL Vice President, Fighter Operations. “Ryan has been a great success story and his all-around style should make for an entertaining matchup with Matt Horwich.”

As previously announced, two other IFL titleholders will place their belts on the line as Roy Nelson (Las Vegas), who knocked out Antoine Jaoude (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) to win the heavyweight crown, will take on IFL newcomer Fabiano Scherner (Portland, Ore./Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), who trains with Lindland at Team Quest. Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.), whose lightweight victory over Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) raised eyebrows in the entire MMA community, makes the first defense of his lightweight belt against John Gunderson (Medford, Ore.), who competes for Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den.

Matt Lindland’s Team Quest will take on Lion’s Den in three bouts in the other camp matchup.

Tickets are available at www.orleansarena.com, all Coast Casino box offices, The Galleria at Sunset, by calling 702-284-7777 or by visiting www.ifl.tv.


HORWICH, NELSON, SCHULTZ FIRST TO DEFEND TITLES AT INTERNATIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE'S FIRST 2008 EVENT AT ORLEANS ARENA IN LAS VEGAS - January 8, 2008

NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS, January 8, 2008 – IFL titleholders Matt Horwich (Portland, Ore.), Roy Nelson (Las Vegas) and Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) will defend their belts when the International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) opens its 2008 schedule with an eight-bout card at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, February 29. In addition to the three Championship bouts, team competition will feature Matt Lindland's Team Quest vs. Ken Shamrock's Lions Den and Team Xtreme Couture vs. Mario Sperry’s MMA Top Team.

Tickets go on sale beginning on January 12 and are available at www.orleansarena.com, all Coast Casino box offices, The Galleria at Sunset, by calling 702-284-7777 or by visiting www.ifl.tv.

Horwich, who claimed the middleweight title with a victory over Benji Radach (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) at the IFL World Grand Prix on December 29, will defend his crown against Tim Kennedy (Fayetteville, N.C.), who won all three of his IFL matchups in 2007 with first- or second-round finishes. Nelson, who knocked out Antoine Jaoude (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) to win the heavyweight crown, will take on IFL newcomer Fabiano Scherner (Portland, Ore./Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), who trains with Lindland at Team Quest. Schultz, whose lightweight victory over Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) raised eyebrows in the entire MMA community, makes the first defense of his lightweight belt against John Gunderson (Medford, Ore.), who competes for the Lions Den.

"This card is a good example of how the flexibility of our new format makes for great matchups," said IFL Commissioner Kurt Otto. "Fans will get to see three Championship bouts, plus some exciting team competition feeding some of our upcoming title fights."

The rest of the card includes several matchups between top IFL athletes vying for spots in future title bouts. Ian Loveland (Portland, Ore.) of Team Quest will take on Dennis Davis (Las Vegas) of MMA Top Team, with the winner possibly earning a title bout in the featherweight division; the crown is currently held by Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The Lions Den's Pat Healy (St. Louis) will take on a Team Quest welterweight matchup that may determine a future title bout at 170 lbs. (Team Xtreme Couture's Jay Hieron of Las Vegas holds the belt at present).

Additionally, Marcello Salazar (Portland, Ore.) will represent MMA Top Team at 170 lbs. against an opponent to be determined, and Radach will compete for Xtreme Couture in a middleweight bout. One other matchup will also be contested, athletes TBD.

IFL Las Vegas
Friday, Feb. 29, 2008

Preliminary Bout
145 lbs.: Ian Loveland (Portland, Ore.) (0-2 IFL, 8-7 overall MMA) vs. Dennis Davis (Las Vegas) (0-0, 13-6)

Team Xtreme Couture vs. MMA Top Team (Mario Sperry)
145 lbs.: Santino Defranco (0-0, 10-3) vs. Rafael Dias (0-0, 8-3-1)
185 lbs.: Josh “Bring the Pain” Haynes (Las Vegas) vs. Leopoldo Serao (0-0, 11-6)
205 lbs.: Lew Polley (Coconut Creek, Fla.) (0-0, 6-0) vs. Alexandre Ferreira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (0-0, 15-5)

Team Quest (Matt Lindland) vs. Lions Den (Ken Shamrock)
170 lbs.: Jake Ellenberger (2-2, 16-3) vs. Pat Healy (St. Louis) (2-1, 18-12)
*155 lbs.: **Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) (5-2, 18-9-1) vs. John Gunderson (Medford, Ore.) (2-2, 15-5)
*265 lbs.: **Roy Nelson (Las Vegas) (4-1, 11-2) vs. Fabian Scherner (Portland, Ore.) (0-0, 7-5)

Championship Bout
*185 lbs.: Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa) (5-4, 11-5) vs. **Matt Horwich (Portland, Ore.) (6-3, 21-9-1)

*Championship Bout
**Current Titleholder