New TV sitcom in the works to feature multiple A-List MMA fighters and personalities

Apr 18, 2015

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Phoenix, AZ—ON THE ROPES is a sitcom set in a rundown boxing gym in Phoenix, AZ—think “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” meets the boxing world—that plans to feature a different MMA personality for each one of its eight first-season episodes. The show is an edgy comedy that explores the absurdity of fighters, and how they react to everyday situations. Each episode will be written specifically with an intended featured MMA star in mind, allowing the writers to maximize each fighter’s personality and bring that to screen while pushing as many boundaries as possible.

Top MMA fighters that have already signed on to episodes for season one include a who’s who of the MMA world: Former Ultimate Fighting Championships® (UFC) lightweight champion, Benson Henderson; current UFC bantamweight champ, T.J. Dillashaw; Season 8 winner of “The Ultimate Fighter®,” Efrain Escudero; Matt Mitrione; Clay Guida; Felice Herrig; and fan favorite, Miesha Tate, have all signed on as well as former “Human Weapon” host and commentator for Bellator and One FC, Jason Chambers. In addition to the talent listed, most of the fulltime cast and crew are fighters—ranging from amateurs to early career professionals to trainers to seasoned veterans.

Currently, ON THE ROPES is running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the project. Rewards for contributing to the project vary from posters signed by the cast, to days on set with the cast and crew and MMA personalities, to signed Ultimate Fighter jerseys (signed by the entire cast of Season 8 and Season 9) and gloves among other perks.

The Kickstarter campaign can be found here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/421025145/on-the-ropes-sitcom

The team behind ON THE ROPES is lead by retired MMA fighter, and “The Ultimate Fighter®” Season 9 contestant, Santino Defranco, who has spent much of his post-MMA retirement writing and publishing in literary journals as well as numerous MMA outlets such as Fightland.com (vice.com), Sherdog.com, Cagepotato.com, Mixedmartialarts.com, and more.