IFL Announce Grand Prix Finals Card

The IFL have announced the card for the International Fight League: 2007 World Grand Prix Finals on Saturday, December 29, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Headlining the upgraded card will be the much anticipated rematch between undefeated star Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) and former NYU wrestling standout Shad Lierley (Seattle). The two met in June in Everett, Washington, with Horodecki pulling out a thrilling split decision in what many considered the MMA fight of the year to date.

Lierley is moving into the lightweight spot created when undefeated Brazilian Wagnney Fabiano was moved to the new featherweight class where he will fight in 2008. Fabiano will not go untested, meeting another undefeated rising star, L C Davis (Kansas City, Mo.) of Pat Miletich's Silverbacks.

“We have set up what will be one of the memorable nights for fans, and a night which showcases the six weight classes that will be the key component of our 2008 season,” said Kurt Otto, IFL commissioner and co-founder.

“Moving Wagnney to his natural featherweight, and having a worthy opponent such as LC already in the league, shows our depth of talent and also sets up a great rematch between Chris and Shad for their natural lightweight title. The other fights, and the undercard featuring a sneak peak at some of our U.K. talent and another rising star in Rory Markham, will make this a night not to be missed.”

In addition, the night will feature title shots at welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight:

At welterweight, the Pitbulls’ Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil takes on Long Island native Jay Hieron of the Anacondas, who has won three of four bouts in 2007.

At middleweight, hard-hitting top-seed Benji Radach (Coconut Creek, Flo.) tries to remain unbeaten in the IFL when he battlesMatt Horwich (Portland, Ore.) of the Wolfpack.

At heavyweight, Antoine Jaoude (Rio de Janeiro) also unbeaten in IFL, goes against Roy Nelson (Las Vegas).

Horodecki and Fabiano won their International Fight League: 2007 World Grand Prix Semi Finals bouts on November 3, at the Sears Centre in Chicago, along with six others, to advance to the finals. Three other highly-anticipated Championship fights are also on tap for Mohegan Sun, including:

Standout Rory Markham (Chicago) of the Silverbacks will take on Dan Miller (Sparta, N.J.), who helped the Pitbulls to the World Championship with a semifinal round victory as a late replacement. Alex Cook (Whitehaven, England) will help introduce the new British team, coached by Ian Freeman, which will begin competition in 2008, against Marcello Salazar (Portland, Ore./Brazil) in a rematch from March 2006, won by Cook. Undefeated military vet Tim Kennedy (Fayetteville, N.C.), one of the bright spots for the Red Bears, battles (local) standout Elias Rivera (Southington, Conn.).

Vladimir Matyushenko (El Segundo, Calif./Retchisa, Belarus) claimed the first IFL World Grand Prix Championship belt with a win at 205 lbs. over Alex Schoenauer (Las Vegas) in Chicago.

Athletes were selected for the World Grand Prix based on their respective match records during the 2007 regular season. In the event of a tie, competitors with the fastest finishes or best strength of victories earned the higher seeds. The winners will defend their individual belts throughout the 2008 IFL season.