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A weekly feature now on PWInsiderXtra.com is called “Check Out…â€, which will feature a look at other MMA promotions not called the Ultimate Fighting Championships, Strikeforce or Bellator Fighting Championships. There are plenty of folks who are MMA fans, old and new, that only know of the major promotions and these columns will hopefully change that.
Promotion: Sport Fight
Home Base: Oregon
Broadcast Partner: N/A
Official Website: SportFight.tv
First Event: 2/21/2004
Next Event: N/A
Notable Fighters: Matt Lindland, Ryan Schultz, Ed Herman, Matt Horwich, Josh Burkman, John Gunderson, Glover Texeira, Chris Leben, Kyacey Uscola, Scott Smith, Ian Loveland, Benji Radach, Brian Ebersole, Mike Whitehead, Jeremy Horn, Chael Sonnen, Sean Sherk, Dennis Hallman, Antonio Baneulos, Joe Doerkson, Jeff Monson, Trevor Prangley, Mike Pyle, Fabiano Scherner, Lloyd Woodard, Gesias Cavalcante, Pat Healy, Vernon White, Alex Schoenauer, Brian Foster, Brian Stann, Gray Maynard, Evan Dunham, Bryan Caraway, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Mike Pierce, Lyle Beerbohm, Rick Story, Ryan Jensen, Mario Miranda and Ryan Couture
Sport Fight has been around a longtime, mostly having events in the Oregon area and featuring many fighters associated with Team Couture. The promotion first came to prominence when Randy Couture had his contract dispute with the UFC after UFC 74. While not allowed to compete in the promotion, Sport Fight held a tribute event to Randy Couture, which the fighter appeared at in a non-fighting role.
After running over thirty events since 2004, the cards have featured a host of UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator veterans. Sean Sherk is the only fighter to appear in the promotion that has also held a title in the UFC, the UFC Lightweight Title. A host of UFC Ultimate Fighter contestants have appeared in Sport Fight, ranging from Chris Leben to Kyacey Uscola.
Sport Fight currently has no major television deal in place, but they have released a variety of events on DVD, including the Randy Couture tribute show. It’s a true shame about the TV deal when you think about it, just due to the great talent that has come to the promotion. Either way, TV deal or no TV deal, Sport Fight is definitely a promotion that MMA fans of all kinds will want to check out.
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