(PRESS RELEASE) -- LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Oct. 23, 2012) – Legendary MMA personality and former UFC heavyweight champion, Bas Rutten, and NBC commentator Todd Harris will call the debut Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event for World Series of Fighting, live on NBC Sports Network from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 3.
Harris is a part of NBC’s coverage of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and also serves as a play-by-play voice for NBC Sports Group’s college football and basketball coverage and action sports events.
"We are thrilled that Bas and Todd have signed on for our first event," said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo. "These guys are true professionals and we know that their commentary will add tremendous value to our first card."
Tickets for the inaugural World Series of Fighting event are priced from $19.99, and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, at all Caesars Entertainment and Ticketron outlets and by phone at 800-745-3000.
The live NBC Sports Network telecast of the World Series of Fighting event will begin at 10:30 p.m. EST/7:30 p.m. PST.
The heavyweight main event features Andrei Arlovski (17-9) of Minsk, Belarus squaring off with fellow hard-hitting KO artist Devin Cole (20-9) of Medford, Ore.
In the light heavyweight (205 pounds) co-main event,hard-hitting superstar Anthony Johnson (13-4) of Boca Raton, Fla. will face off with fellow sensation D.J. Linderman (14-3) of Yreka, Calif.
In other main card action, bantamweight (135 pounds) submission wizard Miguel Angel Torres (40-5) of East Chicago, Ind. will lock up with two-time national Muay Thai champion and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Marlon Moraes (8-4-1) of Jupiter, Fla. via Nova Friburgo, Brazil.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Gregor Gracie (7-2) of New York, N.Y. via Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will face off with red-hot prospect Tyson Steele (9-1) of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CA in a welterweight (168 pounds) contest.
The inaugural World Series of Fighting card will also mark the MMA debut of kickboxing phenom Tyrone Spong (0-0) of Boca Raton, Fla. via Amsterdam, Netherlands, who will take on skilled boxer Travis Bartlett (7-2) of Bangor, Maine in a preliminary card bout.
Josh Burkman (23-9) of Salt Lake City, Utah will battle fellow star Gerald Harris (21-4) of Tulsa, Okla. at welterweight on the preliminary card.
Streaking Ronys Torres (25-4) of Manacapuru, Amazonas, Brazil will meet dangerous submission specialist Brian Cobb (19-7) of Bakersfield, Calif. in a lightweight (155 pounds) tilt.
Doors at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino open at 4 p.m. PST for the World Series of Fighting event and the first preliminary bout will begin at 4:30 p.m.
ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING Based in Las Vegas, Nev., the fight capital of the world, World Series of Fighting is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering an incredible, action-packed entertainment experience for fight fans by producing the best possible matchups between elite fighters from around the globe. For more information please visit www.MMAWSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.
ABOUT NBC SPORTS NETWORK NBC Sports Network, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in nearly 80 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France and the 34th America’s Cup. In addition, NBC Sports Network features college football, college basketball, college hockey, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, NFL Turning Point, Caught Looking, NBC Sports Talk, and Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports Network is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.
PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT & CASINO Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is the newest member of the Caesars Entertainment family and is a full partner in Total Rewards™. The hottest property on the Las Vegas Strip with 2,500 beautifully designed guest rooms and suites showcasing the best views in town, Planet Hollywood encompasses more than 100,000 square-feet of gaming, several lounges, nine restaurants including KOI, Strip House, the award-winning Spice Market Buffet and LA’s Pink’s Hot Dogs, and the Planet Hollywood Spa by Mandara. The mega resort is also home to PEEPSHOW, the sexy striptease spectacular starring bombshell Holly Madison, and Grammy® Award-winning recording artist CeeLo Green will premiere his new Las Vegas resident show, “CeeLo Green is LOBERACE” in Feb. 2013. The property is encircled by Miracle Mile Shops with more 170 specialty stores and restaurants. For more information, please visit www.planethollywoodresort.com or caesars.thedigitalcenter.com to access media materials and request high-resolution images. Find Planet Hollywood on Facebook and follow on Twitter.
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