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Ultimate Challenge team up with Cash4Gold
08 Dec 2009
By Jim Page
Ultimate Challenge promoter, Dave O’Donnell made a number of interesting announcements at a last-minute press conference held in the world famous Claridge’s restaurant in Mayfair.
Cash4Gold
Most notably, O’Donnell unveiled more details surrounding the involvement of new business partner, Cash 4 Gold CEO, Jeff Aronson
A long time fan and practitioner of martial arts, Aronson has seen some incredible success in the business world with his brainchild Cash4Gold. As he looks to invest in a number of sporting ventures to boost the visibility of his company, MMA is a natural choice and he seemed genuinely proud of his association with Ultimate Challenge.
Asked what this would mean for the fighters themselves, the entrepreneur responded that he hoped to provide sponsored fighters with a monthly income, allowing them to train full time and live the life of a professional fighter without having to worry about paying the rent.
Alex Reid vacates UK-1 title - bout planned to crown new champion
God bless Alex Reid for his services to MMA. Thanks to his front page babe-chasing antics, everyone in Britain has heard of this sport: ‘cage fighting’. The sheer volume of coverage must have distracted the attention of a vast new set of fans and participants.
However, due to the demands of on-going media commitments, Reid has formally vacated his UK-1 middleweight title.
Stepping in to fill the vacant title, Dave O’Donnell was delighted to announce that UFC knock out legend Mark ‘The Wizard’ Weir and dangerous Cage Rage veteran, Mark ‘The Beast’ Epstein will meet in order to crown a new champion.
The fight takes place on 6th February – at Ultimate Challenge: ‘Resurrection’, an apt name for two famous and dedicated pillars of the UK MMA community who have been given this well deserved opportunity to contest a title late in their careers.
Neil Grove’s anger at James Thompson fight offer
After Karlos Vermola fell ill and pulled out of his fight against Neil Grove at the last minute, James Thompson was floated as a potential opponent to step in. Grove was deeply suspicious of what he felt was a deliberate, late switch of opponent and was less than pleased with the offer, having repeatedly stated that he has nothing to gain from the rematch.
Dave O’Donnell dismissed rumours of a switch and explained that he more than understood the champion’s reasons for declining this optimistic alternative bout.
“It’s a lot to lose. He’s on a good winning streak, he’s our champion – that’s how he became champion, someone else took him at the last second and he thought he’d beat Neil, and he’s knocked him out. Sometimes it’s a risky business, taking someone at the last minute.”
“It didn’t hurt our event at all” O’Donnell continued, “I always put more than one main event on. If you look at my fight cards, I always put 4 or 5 really good fights on.”
Dates for 2010 confirmed with the Troxy
A string of recent sell out events, coupled with the signing of a lucrative sponsoring deal with Cash 4 Gold has raised questions as to whether Ultimate Challenge will move to a larger venue. O’Donnell has direct experience of moving from small hall to larger arenas from his Cage Rage days, but is in no hurry to rush back to the Wembley Arena.
Instead, the promoter confirmed that all of the dates for Ultimate Challenge events in 2010 have been confirmed as taking place at the Troxy, East London. To boost the show’s profile, O’Donnell hopes to secure a significant television deal in the near future to reach the widest audience possible.
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