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Scheduled Fights Include Josh Koscheck vs. Paulo Thiago II; Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Brandon Vera; Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen and Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg

In 1998, two of the greatest amateur wrestlers in the United States – Randy “The Natural” Couture and Mark “The Hammer” Coleman – were scheduled to meet in a relatively new battleground called the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The mixed martial arts bout at UFC 17 never happened due to injury but on Saturday, Feb. 6, nearly 12 years and six UFC championships later, Couture and Coleman finally square off at UFC 109: Relentless. The colossal meeting of Hall of Fame fighters in the making for more than a decade will be live on pay-per-view from the Mandalay Bay Events Center and presented by Bud Light.

In the co-main event, the red-hot welterweight contender Josh Koscheck will get a chance to avenge his lone knockout loss against Brazil’s Paulo Thiago, along with pivotal showdowns featuring Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Brandon Vera, Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen and Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg.

“Couture vs. Coleman is one of those dream matchups that fans have always talked about,” said UFC President Dana White. “When you consider these are two of the greatest-ever wrestlers turned mixed martial artists, and it’s the first time that two guys who have already earned their way into the UFC Hall of Fame are fighting each other, this is not only an intriguing matchup, but a historic one.”

UFC 109: Relentless will be available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 ($49.95/Canada) for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

A five-time UFC champion who has reached the top of the mountain in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions, the ageless Randy Couture (fighting out of Las Vegas) is coming off a unanimous decision victory over light heavyweight contender Brandon Vera at UFC 105 in November. With 14 career UFC wins over the likes of Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, Pedro Rizzo and Tim Sylvia, “The Natural” is used to facing the best of the best. On February 6, he will finally get his opportunity to take on “The Hammer.”

“Mark Coleman is another classic matchup for me,” said Couture. “Like (Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira, this is a fight that was supposed to happen a long time ago and is finally now a reality. Mark has a tremendous wrestling pedigree and his collegiate and freestyle background has taken him a long way in MMA. I look forward to testing my skills and fighting spirit against another UFC Hall of Fame fighter.”

The Godfather of Ground and Pound, Mark Coleman (fighting out of Columbus, Ohio) used that strategy to earn the first UFC heavyweight championship and a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. A former NCAA Division I National Champion wrestler at Ohio State who is now fighting at light heavyweight, “The Hammer” returned to the Octagon in 2009 after a successful career in Japan. This included a memorable battle against Mauricio Rua and a victory over Stephan Bonnar. On February 6, he will begin his quest for a title at 205 pounds as he takes on fellow legend Couture.

Coleman said, “This is by far the biggest fight of my career. I have nothing but respect both inside and outside of the Octagon for Randy Couture. He is one of the greatest in the history of MMA. It’s an honor to accept this challenge to fight him and a win here would be one of the top highlights of my career. I expect to win and will prepare for a war. I will do all I can to make this an exciting fight for the fans.”

A fighter willing to fight anyone at anytime, Josh Koscheck (fighting out of Fresno, Calif.) is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career as he made a statement to the welterweight division by submitting rising star Anthony Johnson at UFC 106. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old former NCAA Division I National Champion wrestler is not about to rest on his laurels; instead he will look for a dose of redemption against Paulo Thiago as he continues on his road to a world title shot.

Koscheck stated, “I am training super hard right now. This is a big fight for me because I lost the first time when I fought him last February and I’m fighting him again this February. This time I am going to be the one knocking him out. I promise you this fight will not go out of the first round.”

A decorated grappler with knockout power, 28-year-old Paulo Thiago (fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) introduced his name to the international scene with his first-round TKO of Koscheck in February 2009. Following a memorable battle with Jon Fitch and a victory over Jacob Volkmann last year, Thiago looks to kick off his 2010 campaign in style by repeating his spectacular win over “Kos.”

Thiago claimed, “Josh Koscheck is a great fighter who I had a lot of respect for before our first fight and who I still respect today. But, I am still as hungry as I was the first time we fought and I will do everything I can to repeat my victory on February 6.”

A former PRIDE star that kicked the door open in his UFC debut, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) needed less than two minutes to knock out dangerous contender Luiz Cane at UFC 106 in November. The twin brother of former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, the 33-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former Pan-Am Games boxing medalist is deadly wherever the fight goes, a fact he plans to introduce to Brandon Vera at UFC 109.

Like Nogueira, Vera (fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) is a feared striker and ground fighter who enjoys nothing better than a good old fashioned battle in the Octagon. Winner of three UFC bouts since moving to the 205-pound weight class, and fresh off a hard-fought three round scrap with Couture, “The Truth” is more focused and determined than ever to destroy any opposition in his path, beginning with Rogerio Nogueira.

One of the leading contenders for a shot at the middleweight title, Nate Marquardt (fighting out of Denver, Colo.) has left little doubt that he is ready for a rematch with Anderson Silva after decisive knockouts over Martin Kampmann, Wilson Gouveia and Demian Maia. However, there remains one obstacle in the path of former King of Pancrase’s way and at UFC 109 he gets the chance to remove fellow contender Chael Sonnen from his path.

A former U.S. Olympic alternate and two-time NCAA National Champion, Chael Sonnen (fighting out of West Linn, Ore.) has used his strong wrestling pedigree to secure 25 wins in his mixed martial arts career. With wins over Yushin Okami, Dan Miller and previously unbeaten WEC champion Paulo Filho, the time has come for Sonnen to make his case for a shot at the 185-pound crown.

Former welterweight champion Matt Serra (fighting out of East Meadow, N.Y.) emerged as one of the UFC’s true superstars with his stirring first-round knockout of Georges St-Pierre in 2007. However, Serra – the first American to earn a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under the legendary Renzo Gracie – was no overnight sensation having already faced the likes of BJ Penn, Din Thomas, Chris Lytle and Yves Edwards over the course of his career. On February 6, fresh from an exciting “Fight of The Night” with Matt Hughes in May 2008, Serra returns to the Octagon.

World-class wrestler and perennial contender Frank Trigg (fighting out of Las Vegas) is a veteran of six UFC fights including two classic battles with then champion Hughes and two sensational wins against Renato Verissimo and Dennis Hallman. In February, the 37-year-old – who has won four of his last five bouts – looks to begin another UFC winning streak.

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Check in the with Chase drivers as they prepare for the Victory Lap down The Strip in Las Vegas from the starting point by Coca-Cola world and the new Hard Rock Cafe.

NASCAR drivers making a U-Turn on the Las Vegas Strip at the intersection of Spring Mountain Road (Treasure Island, Venetian/Palazzo, Wynn/Encore, and the Fashion Show Mall). Plenty of driver burnouts!

Four-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson does a burnout on the Las Vegas Strip during Champion’s Week. Here’s the burnout… and the aftermath. Johnson apparently broke a rear axle, and couldn’t get his car back up The Strip. He walked part of the way!

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The UFC announced that the bout between former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and Brazilian knockout artist Thiago Silva will headline UFC 108, a result of Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira having to pull out of his fight with Cain Velasquez due to a severe left elbow injury. UFC 108: EVANS vs. SILVA, presented by “Bayonetta,” will be held Saturday, Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and televised live on pay-per-view.

“The bout between Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva is a fight we always talked about as a main event, and now these guys have the chance to headline UFC 108 and kick off the new year in impressive fashion,” said UFC President Dana White. “At the same time, we wish Antonio Nogueira a speedy recovery and can’t wait for his return.”

Ready to get his UFC light heavyweight title back, Rashad Evans, fighting out of Albuquerque, has notched wins over some big names in the division including consecutive knockout victories over Chuck Liddell and then-champion Forrest Griffin. The Niagara Falls, NY native and former Michigan State University wrestler has won 18 of his 20 professional fights and also earned a draw against former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. A skilled grappler with tremendous knockout power, Evans will need all of his well-rounded abilities when he faces Silva, the man who knocked out his teammate and training partner Keith Jardine.

Evans said, “Being able to get right back in the mix and right back into a main event is an honor. This is the first step in getting my title back. Thiago is a dangerous fighter standing up and on the ground and I always relish an opportunity to fight the best and put on a great show for the fans.”

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who can get the knockout as easy as the tap out, Thiago Silva, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, has won 14 of his first 15 professional fights. His 95-second KO victory over Jardine at UFC 102 was his fifth win in the UFC, four coming via KO/TKO and one by submission. The 26-year-old has put away his opponents within two rounds in all of his UFC wins and he looks to throw his name into the UFC title contention hat with a win over former world titleholder Evans.

Silva stated, “I feel that the bigger the fight, the better I do. Being in the main event for a UFC card has always been a goal of mine. Rashad is a great fighter but he’d better come prepared in all aspects of mixed martial arts.”

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Vocal Soup, one of the nation’s most diverse musical quartets, will sing the national anthem prior to the Las Vegas 350 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 26. It will be the first time the group has performed the anthem.

“I have never been to a NASCAR event, so this will be an incredibly exciting evening of firsts,” said Vocal Soup co-founder and member Clint Holmes. “I could only be more thrilled if I were driving.”

Holmes, who has been a mainstay to Las Vegas stages for more than 10 years, has a varied entertainment background that includes an event correspondent for “Entertainment Tonight” and as sidekick to Joan Rivers when she hosted “The Tonight Show.” Holmes’ biggest hit in music was the Top 40 single “Playground In My Mind,” which reached No. 2 on Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 chart in 1973.

Joining Holmes will be actress and former Miss California Susan Anton, ex-Foreigner frontman Domenick Allen and Martin Nievera.

Anton first came to fame in 1969 when she was crowned Miss California. She has been a versatile singer and actress and has appeared in movies such as “Goldengirl” and “Cannonball Run II.”

Allen was the lead singer for Foreigner on its world tour from 1990-1991. Allen’s big break came in 1980, when he began a four-year world tour with famed pianist Liberace. Allen has had numerous television and movie roles as well.

Nievera is a Phillipines-born actor and singer who has hosted numerous television programs in his native country. Although he has spent most of his life living in the United States, he has achieved most of his fame in the Phillipines.

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From The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV

Wednesday, Nov. 18;

Tickets Go On Sale Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 12 p.m. PT

Fight to Air Live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT

World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight champion Mike Brown has built a reputation as a hard-hitting, gritty fighter capable of breaking down his opponents. Similarly, top-ranked contender Jose Aldo has established a name for himself by steamrolling the opposition with explosive punches and devastating knees. On Wednesday, Nov. 18 from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV, one of these men will leave the cage as the undisputed featherweight champion of the world.

World Extreme Cagefighting officially announced today that the long-awaited title clash between champion Mike Brown and fierce challenger Aldo will take place in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, NV. What’s more, Brown vs. Aldo kicks off one of the biggest fight weeks ever in Las Vegas, as Brock Lesnar will defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Shane Carwin at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Saturday following WEC’s historic event.

“This fight is for more than just the featherweight title,” WEC GM Reed Harris said. “For Mike Brown, a win establishes him as the best featherweight fighter in the history of the sport. For Aldo, who is just 22 years old, this fight could mean the start of an Anderson Silva-like dominant reign.”

Tickets for Brown vs. Aldo go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 12 p.m. PT and will be priced at $175, $100, and $50. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to WEC newsletter subscribers on Sunday, Sept. 20 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the WEC newsletter through wec.tv. Tickets will be available at The Pearl box office, online at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Brown vs. Aldo will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus.

Riding a four-year, 10-fight unbeaten streak than includes wins over Urijah Faber (twice), Leonard Garcia, Jeff Curran, and Yves Edwards, featherweight champion Mike Brown (22-4) has cemented his place as the top 145-pounder in the world. Boasting a devastating right hand and slick submission skills, the American Top Team-trained Brown is gearing up for volatile collision with the young Brazilian challenger.

“He’s really, really good for a young kid,” Brown, who defeated Faber via unanimous decision in June, said of Aldo. “I’m 12 years older than him, so I’m going to have to use my experience and my ‘old man strength’ to take him out.

“I hear a lot about how explosive Aldo is and how hard he hits,” Brown continued. “We’ll see how he does when I control the fight and push him like he’s never been pushed before.”

Perhaps no fighter instills as much fear in opposing fighters as Aldo. A vicious striker from the renowned Nova Uniao fight team in Brazil, Aldo (15-1) scored one of the best knockouts in history in his last fight in June. In just eight seconds, the 22-year-old landed two, mid-air flying knees to the head of Cub Swanson, ending the bout in dramatic fashion. Also owning wins over Rolando Perez, Chris Mickle, and Jonathan Brookins in his WEC career, Aldo is confident that he’ll win his first world title in Las Vegas.

“I’m so happy to get this shot at such a young age,” Aldo said. “Mike Brown is a nice champion. His wrestling and boxing are really good, but his ground game is not the same. Like all of my other fights in WEC, I’m trying to finish this one as fast as I can and become world champion.”

Remaining bouts for WEC: Brown vs. Aldo will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit www.wec.tv. Follow WEC at http://twitter.com/WEConVERSUS.

About World Extreme Cagefighting

The WEC brand is recognized as one of the premier mixed martial arts organizations in the United States. WEC, founded in 2001, is the sister organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and today features the most prominent light weight fighters in the world. Owned and operated by WEC Holdings LLC., and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the WEC produces live and taped events annually that are distributed through the Versus network.WEC programming is also available on Fox Sports en Espanol. In addition to its U.S distribution, WEC programming is shown on the TSN network in Canada, Setanta Sports in Australia, and Cadena Tres in Mexico. For more information and current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv. World Extreme Cagefighting and WEC are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by WEC Holdings, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions and are licensed to WEC Productions, LLC.

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Brock Lesnar has faced some of the best heavyweight fighters in the world. The Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title holder dominated seasoned veteran Heath Herring and put away former UFC champions Randy Couture and Frank Mir. On Saturday, Nov. 21, Lesnar will have to pick on someone his own size when he takes on the undefeated 6-foot-3, 262-pound top contender Shane Carwin at UFC 106: LESNAR vs. CARWIN live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center. One of the brightest stars in UFC history also will return as former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz battles UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman in what promises to be a war of epic proportions.

“Brock Lesnar has been tearing through everyone over the last year,” said UFC President Dana White. “But in Shane Carwin, he’s not only fighting someone as big as he is, he’s fighting someone who has ended all of his fights in less than three minutes. This is literally the biggest heavyweight title fight ever and also may be the most explosive.”

UFC Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Thursday, Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. via www.ufc.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale also will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Friday, Sept. 18 starting at 10 a.m. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through www.ufc.com.

UFC 106 will be available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

A fighter who has dominated the competition in his last three bouts, Brock Lesnar (fighting out of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) is a four-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Champion and 2000 NCAA Division I National Champion college wrestler who has parlayed his amateur successes into a UFC world championship. A gifted athlete with the size, speed and power to impose his will on any opponent, the 6-foot-3 ½, 265-pound champion with a 4-1 professional record, earned the UFC heavyweight title with a second-round TKO victory over UFC Hall of Famer Couture, then successfully defended his title at UFC 100 in impressive fashion with another second-round TKO against former UFC champ Mir. Now the 32-year-old Webster, South Dakota native looks to put the first blemish on Carwin’s record.

“I’m excited to get back in the Octagon on November 21 to defend my title,” said Lesnar. “I’m looking forward to fighting Shane Carwin. He’s undefeated and I’m the man who is going to put an end to that.”

Shane Carwin (fighting out of Denver, Colo.) has done nothing short of destroying his competition. The former NCAA Division II national wrestling champion and All-American college football player has put away all three of his UFC opponents in under two minutes. The 34-year-old from Greeley, Colo. handed TKO losses to Christian Wellisch and Neil Wain before turning heads in the mixed martial arts community with a devastating 69-second knockout victory against title contender Gabriel Gonzaga. The heavy-handed heavyweight remains a perfect 11-0 in his pro MMA career and faces his toughest challenge to date.

Carwin said, “I was extremely excited when I got the news that I was fighting Brock. I couldn’t even sleep that night. This fight is going to be different for both of us. We’re not used to facing someone who equals us in size. We both have wrestling backgrounds, but hopefully we’ll get into some exchanges on the feet too.”

With the world heavyweight title already on the line, the world’s MMA leader has bolstered the UFC 106 card with the addition of the longest reigning light heavyweight champion in its history, as former 205-pound boss Tito Ortiz (fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) makes his return to the Octagon™ after a year-and-a-half break. With wins over Forrest Griffin, Vitor Belfort, Ken Shamrock and Wanderlei Silva, Ortiz has mixed it up with the best in the world over the course of his career, and the 34-year-old, with 14 wins in the UFC, now is injury-free and planning to make another run at the light heavyweight title.

Ortiz stated, “It’s like a homecoming for me. The back is 100 percent and it’s great to be returning to the UFC. Styles make fights and our styles are exactly the same. I expect a war and I expect more excitement from this match than anything else this year. There are a lot of people out there that expect me to succeed and there are a lot of people out there that expect me to fail. But I feel great and I’m expecting to win back my belt.”

Like Ortiz, Mark Coleman (fighting out of Columbus, Ohio) is a former UFC champion who wants to make a run in the light heavyweight division. At 44 years old, ‘The Godfather of Ground-and-Pound’ took it to the much younger Stephan Bonnar in July, earning a unanimous decision win and proving that he has plenty left in the tank. The former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler from Ohio State parlayed that success into a UFC heavyweight championship and now this Hall of Famer looks for the 17th professional win of his storied career.

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Tickets are on sale now for MMA Xplosion Pro/Am Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the M Resort Spa Casino. The event will feature five professional and six amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights. The main fight of the night is the ultimate MMA grudge match between two former teammates John “Quick Guns” Gunderson (21-6) and Ashe “The Archer” Bowman (9-6). Gunderson, a lightweight mixed martial artist, is originally from Oregon. Both athletes were teammates for the Nevada Lions of the International Fight League. Bowman began training in martial arts at the age of 15 studying karate and Brazilian jujitsu. He is part of the legendary Lion’s Den team and is known for his arsenal of diverse leg locks and ground game.

“This is going to be a really exciting fight for the fans. The M Resort is an incredible venue and we have some really talented pros and amateurs that are going to come to this event and put their heart and soul into the fight,” said Rani John, Co-Founder of MMA Xplosion.

Millennium Events Licensee and MMA Xplosion Co-Founder Vlad Warton is pleased with the team of professional individuals assembled to coordinate these events. “We are working hard to promote Mixed Martial Arts at its finest and are very happy to be associated with the M Resort. These fighters deserve the opportunity to showcase their skills in such a great atmosphere,” said Warton.

In addition to the main fight, the card is also packed with local professional fighters including Blas “the Disciple” Avena vs. Dave Hulett. A local favorite, Avena road to the top of the World Extreme Cage Fighting® Middleweight ranks after relocating to Las Vegas from Southern California. The card also includes fights from Angelo Antuna vs. Josh Powell and Bryan Humes vs. Kelly Gray.

“MMA is becoming a huge sport and there is no better city to fight in than Las Vegas – the fight capital of the world. We’re excited that our venue can provide such a professional setting for these athletes, who really are the next generation fighter,” said Joseph A. Magliarditi, Executive Vice President and COO of the M Resort.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with professional fighters taking the stage at 7 p.m. and amateur fighters following. Matt Conte and Javier Torres will defend their Amateur Championship titles and several high-quality amateur fights will also take place.

Reserve seating tickets are $75, $35 and $25. Tickets can be purchased online at theMresort.com, through Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the M Resort Box Office, located on the Spa Level at Conference Registration, on Friday, September 2 from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, October 10 from noon to 8 p.m. or during normal business hours at the iMagine Rewards Club.

ABOUT M RESORT SPA CASINO
M Resort Spa Casino is located on over 90 acres at 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. S. on the southeast corner of St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard. Situated higher in elevation than other resort-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the M Resort provides optimal views of the world-famous Las Vegas skyline from its guest rooms, suites, conference center and restaurants. The resort offers 390 guest rooms and suites, over 92,000 square feet of gaming, nine restaurants and five destination bars, more than 60,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center and a 100,000 square foot events piazza. Future developments for M Resort will bring up to one million square feet of retail in a partnership with Taubman Centers Inc. and a 14-screen digital movie entertainment complex.

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The date is set for the mega-fight between boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound king and reigning Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Fighter of the Year, Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, and the pride of Puerto Rico and three-time world champion Miguel Cotto. Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto, “FirePower” will take place Saturday, Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and will be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. PST/6 p.m. PST.

“Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto have reached an agreement to fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 14,” said Top Rank Chief Executive Officer Bob Arum. Top Rank is currently working on a major media tour to commence immediately following Labor Day weekend. Details will be announced in the near future.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, has won six world titles in as many different weight divisions ranging from 112 to 140 pounds. His performance in 2008 was described as “Henry Armstrongesque” as he won world titles at 130 and 135 pounds with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz, respectively, and knocked out Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds to complete the trifecta. The winning streak continued in 2009 when he won another world title in a new weight division, dealing defending junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton a second-round knockout in May at MGM Grand.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, has held a world title every year since 2004. Puerto Rico’s most exciting fighter, Cotto held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight crown from 2004-2006. He successfully defended it six times before vacating it to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title at the end of 2006, a title he held for nearly as long. He won his second welterweight title earlier this year as he knocked out Michael Jennings in the fifth round at Madison Square Garden to become the WBO Welterweight Champion. Notable victories on Cotto’s belt include Sugar Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey, Pauli Malinaggi and Demarcus Corley.

The Pacquiao vs. Cotto pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

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The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Los Angeles Kings return to Las Vegas for “Frozen Fury XII” when they host an NHL pre-season game against the Colorado Avalanche Saturday, Sept. 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Tickets starting at $28, not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m. at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino) and ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.lakings.com. Group discounts will be available for orders of more than 15 by calling 888-KINGS-LA.

The Kings enter this year’s contest with an all-time record of 8-2-2 in 12 previous Frozen Fury games. Below are the results of Frozen Fury from the previous seasons:

Frozen Fury XI – Sept. 27, 2008
Colorado 4, Kings 3

Frozen Fury X – Sept. 22, 2007
Kings 3, Colorado 2

Frozen Fury IX – Sept. 23, 2006
Kings 3, Colorado 2

Frozen Fury VIII – Sept. 24, 2005
Kings 4, Phoenix 0

Frozen Fury VII – Sept. 27, 2003
Kings 3, Colorado 1

Frozen Fury VI – Oct. 5, 2002
Kings 6, Colorado 5

Frozen Fury V – Sept. 22, 2001
Kings 4, San Jose 3

Frozen Fury IV – Sept. 30, 2000
Colorado 5, Kings 4

Frozen Fury III – Sept. 11, 1999
Colorado 2, Kings 1, OT

Frozen Fury II – Sept. 19-20, 1998
Game 1 – Kings 3, Colorado 2
Game 2 – Colorado 5, Kings 4

Frozen Fury I – Sept. 20, 1997
Kings 4, Colorado 3, OT

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The world’s foremost practitioners in the art of off-road motorcycle racing return to the Orleans Arena on July 25 for the 2009 GEICO Powersports AMA EnduroCross Series opener.

Showcasing international and American motorcycle stars, including Las Vegas-area racers, on a variety of off-road machines, EnduroCross promises high-flying, rock-busting, mud-running, tree-trunk-crossing action seen no where else in the world of indoor motorsports. The action combines multiple off-road motorcycle racing disciplines, including western U.S. desert enduro racing and eastern cross-country racing with technical trials-style riding.

“The Orleans Arena is once again proud to kick off the GEICO EnduroCross Series as we get set to host one of the more unique touring motorsports events on the planet,” said Darren Davis, Orleans Arena Executive Director. “The Orleans Arena, in cooperation with Source Interlink Media – the producers and promoters of GEICO EnduroCross – welcomes the teams, riders and their loyal fan base to an event that will once again have the Vegas motorsports and action sports communities buzzing with anticipation.”

Known as the toughest racing on two wheels, EnduroCross incorporates various elements of off-road racing into a supercross-style setting. Boulders, logs, sand, mud – even a giant tree – create obstacles on the course and add to the excitement and unpredictability. This indoor version of extreme off-road racing keeps audience members on their feet as the sport’s best perform unfathomable feats.

The event will begin at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are now on sale, and are priced at $37 and $47, inclusive of tax and fees. Tickets can be purchased at the Orleans Arena Box Office by calling 702.284.7777 or by visiting www.orleansarena.com.

About the Orleans Arena
The Orleans Arena, a Boyd Gaming facility, located just off the Las Vegas Strip is host to more than 200 events each year, including top concerts such as Van Halen, Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Rihanna, Brooks & Dunn, and Panic at the Disco; family favorites Disney on Ice, Harlem Globetrotters, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus; and a variety of sporting events including the Las Vegas Wranglers professional ECHL hockey team, NCAA basketball tournaments, the West Coast Conference Tournament, plus three major motorsports events each year. For information on booking events call 702.365.7469

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