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PRESS RELEASE: BELLATOR MMA ANNOUNCES FAN FEST PRIOR TO DYNAMITE I

LEGENDARY MMA GREATS SET TO MEET FANS DURING BELLATOR MMA FAN FEST AT SAN JOSE’S DAVE AND BUSTER’S FRIDAY, SEPT. 18

MMA Legends Fedor Emelianenko, Royce Gracie, Frank Shamrock, Randy Couture, Kazushi Sakuraba and Cung Le will participate at the Bellator MMA Fan Fest Prior to Saturday's "Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1" Event at SAP Center

Event is exclusively for Bellator Nation members – Join Bellator Nation now

WHAT: Bellator Fan Fest at Dave & Buster’s

Fans of all ages are invited to Dave and Buster’s in Milpitas, CA to meet and get autographs from some of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. Fans will also have the opportunity to win tickets and great prizes, as well as snap a photograph with the Bellator ring girls.

Fan Fest is exclusively for Bellator Nation Members only, becoming an official Bellator Nation Member is simple and FREE. Click here to register and RSVP to Fan Fest. If you are already a member of Bellator Nation you will receive an email invitation to RSVP.

WHERE: Dave & Buster’s 940 Great Mall Dr. Milpitas, CA 95035

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. PT

WHO: Widely considered to be the greatest MMA fighter of all time, Fedor Emelianenko is one of the most revered and respected fighters the sport has ever seen. Stone-faced and quiet, Emelianenko boasted one of the most impressive unbeaten streaks in the history of the sport. A multi-time World Champion in MMA and Sambo, Fedor returns to America for the first time in several years to participate in the "Bellator: British Invasion" fight week festivities.

The name Gracie is synonymous with MMA, and that is largely in part to Royce Gracie, the man who is considered to have invented the sport as we know it today. The winner of the first several UFC events, Gracie would dismantle multiple opponents in a single night, many of whom were much larger than him. For many years there was no answer for the Gracie Jiu Jitsu technique that he brought into a fight. Today, it's hard to find an MMA fighter who hasn't trained in the art of jiu jitsu.

One of the most recognizable MMA fighters of all time, Hall of Famer Randy Couture transitioned nicely into the entertainment world after his fighting career, starring in several television shows and movies, most notably the Expendables franchise and Dancing with the Stars. Inside the cage, Couture was a fearless underdog, often defeating men with great size advantages. “The Natural” was a multi-time heavyweight and multi-time light heavyweight champion in the UFC.

Kazushi Sakuraba, best known as “The Gracie Killer” made a name for himself competing against a murder’s row of fighters throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s. Arguably the biggest celebrity or athlete in Japan at one time, Sakuraba was one half of some of the most infamous fights in mixed martial arts history, with wars that included his Pride Fighting Championship matchup against fellow “Fan Fest” legend Royce Gracie. Now 46-years-old, “Saku” is still prominently featured in Japan’s largest professional wrestling company, New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Frank Shamrock was not just the first-ever UFC Middleweight Champion, he was the pound-for-pound best fighter in the UFC during his reign, and was named “Fighter of the Decade” for the 1990’s by the Wrestling Observer. These, along with other titles, like the Strikeforce Middleweight Championships are only a few of the many accolades picked up by Shamrock during his Hall of Fame career.

If there is one legend in attendance who knows a thing or two about kickboxing and MMA, it’s Cung Le. Born in Vietnam, Le fought 17 times around the globe and never lost before making the leap from kickboxing to MMA, where he won the Strikeforce middleweight championship. From there, the San Jose, Calif. – based fighter would continue to expand his recognition past the world of combat sports, starring in multiple feature films. Le remained competitive into his 40’s, finishing Rich Franklin in what was unanimously considered the 2012 knockout of the year.

FIGHT INFO: “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” is a landmark event in combat sports history taking place at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Sept. 19. The first-of-its-kind event is headlined by a Light Heavyweight World Championship between Liam McGeary and Tito Ortiz, and also features a four-man, one night light heavyweight tournament as well as Glory kickboxing matchups.

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com, Bellator.com or by visiting the SAP Center Sun Box Office.

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike's Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike's press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About SAP Center at San Jose

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SAP Center at San Jose is the premier sports and entertainment venue in Northern California. Each year, SAP Center hosts approximately 175 events featuring professional and amateur athletes, Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners, international recording artists, and a variety of performers who appeal to children and families alike. SAP Center at San Jose is home to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League as well as the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. For more information about SAP Center at San Jose and for a list of upcoming events, visit the SAP Center home page at www.sapcenter.com.