MMA/Muay Thai events on GFL Combat Sports Network in December

 Friday, December 16, 2011 8:30pm ET featuring Rising Stars of Muay Thai presented by Take-On Productions, 7 Train Theater, Flushing, NY.

–The Main Event is the Northeastern WKA title bout between NYC’s Stoney “Catfish” Morales and Philadelphia’s Osvaldo “June” Dominguez. In addition to the other exciting match ups on the card, 8 fighters from the Northeast (NYC, NJ, Philadelphia) will fight to become the last man standing in what is sure to be an exciting display of skill, heart, and determination. Take On has always done well to make its amateur fighters feel like absolute stars and rightfully so since it is the amateur fighters who eventually rise to become the future professional world champions of our great sport! The fighters that have been selected as part of this amateur tournament are Andrilo Suarez, Freddy Cheung, James Gregory, Mike Koufalis, Chris Liveri, Chris Springer, Mike Martinez, and Andre Miller. Unlike other 8-Man tournaments, the outcome of this tournament will not be decided on the same night. Take-On Productions has decided to award the two finalists of the 8-Man tournament by announcing that their final bout of the “Rising Stars” tournament will take place at Take On Productions and MSG Sports’ second venture at The Beacon Theater in Manhattan at “Battle at the Beacon 2” in January 2012!

– Saturday, December 17, 2011 7:00pm ET featuring Dead Serious Two from Rahway Rec Center, NJ. In the main event, Dead Serious MMA Featherweight Champion RJ Starace (3-3) fights Daniel Carbonel (5-6). Starace won the title at the inaugural DSMMA event in October with a unanimous victory in a bout that was a barnburner. The champ is back and ready for his first title defense as he looks to keep his career moving in the right direction. For Carbonel, three of his five wins have come via submission, so don’t be surprised if Carbonel looks for a takedown early in Round 1. Carbonel is on a two-fight win streak and looks to make it three in a row and take home the Dead Serious 145 lb title in the process. The featherweight division is one of the sport’s most exciting divisions, so don’t blink during the main event, because it will look like two Tasmanian Devils attacking one another.  In another tri-main event, Stephen Regman (5-2) fresh of a victory at Dead Serious One and the reigning Welterweight Champion will defend his title against Michael Sanders (4-1). Regman is known for his hand speed and power, but he also showed in his last fight that he has great cardio conditioning and enough in the tank to win a hard fought decision as well. For Sanders, he is coming off a submission victory in less than a minute for a championship in another organization, so expect him to want to pick up right where he left off and look to take Regman down to the mat and apply another quick submission. In the third title fight of the evening, Dead Serious Lightweight Champion Jonathan Pecyna (4-2) battles undefeated fighter Chris Sladky (2-0). Pecyna won the title by choke in spectacular fashion and is set to defend his title and end 2011 with a bang

– Saturday, December 17, 2011 9:00pm ET featuring Ring of Fire 42 – Who’s Next, 1^st Bank Center, Bloomfield, CO. Headlining the event will be a battle of two of the top Featherweight prospects in the country. Former ROF Champion Tyler THUNDER Toner (12-3) will be going after another “W” against one of the region’s most dangerous fighters Nick Macias (9-4). After the conclusion of ROF 41 there was no one more deserving of a standing ovation then Colorado’s Tyler Toner. In one of the most amazing displays of heart and tenacity, Toner struggled to hold off a stronger opponent, JR Sims for 3 rounds. In what became a comeback for the ages, Toner stunned Sims late in the 3rd and continued to press the attack until the referee was forced to stop the fight? The entire arena was on its feet and the feeling was electric. Making his debut to the RING OF FIRE and the 145lb weight class is former IFL Champion Ryan THE LION Schultz. Schultz is an American mixed martial artist that has competed in some of the world’s most recognized fighting organizations including the WEC, Sengoku, and the IFL. With a strong background in wrestling, several years of experience, and an explosive fighting style, Ryan is a fierce competitor and one of the sport’s most exciting fighters to watch. Shultz was always known as one of the bigger 155 lb fighters and will be huge at 145. Shultz started his career with the famous Team Quest in the Pacific North West. But the Nebraska native moved back towards his roots and now runs TRIALS MMA in Ft. Collins, CO with UFC fighter Ed Herman. Michelle BOBCAT Blalock is quickly becoming a fan favorite at ROF. Her high energy entrances to the cage, and high intensity inside the cage gets the fans on their feet.

Her trademark growl across the cage has both her opponent and some of the VIP’s front row having second thoughts. Blalock is a Sambo based fighter and has a perfect record of 7-0. She has finished all but one of her opponents. She will be making her 2nd defense of the promotions’ 125 lb Young Gun Belt at ROF 42: WHO’S NEXT. A win here will put her in the top rankings and open up opportunities internationally as well. After 3 opponents dropping out, Strikeforce veteran Lacey THE LADY Schuckman has agreed to face Blalock for the belt. Shuckman has a 6-4 MMA record and is coming off of her pro boxing debut, where she TKO’ed her opponent in the first round. The fighter making the fastest rise up the ranks is high level wrestler Justin THE HIGHLIGHT Gaethje. He has moved through every opponent put in front of him and has a perfect 9-0 record. After his first few fights ROF promoter Sven Bean gave him the nick name “THE HIGHLIGHT”. “This kid is a stud, if he gets his hands on you there is a great chance you will be flying through the air. The nick name was a natural because after every one of his fights we have 4-5 highlights for the next fight. He is going to go as far as he wants in this sport.” said Bean. Already more than one MMA reporter has noticed his resemblance in style to an early Matt Hughes, if that is any indication as to his future..it is very bright. Facing Gaethje will be Donnie THE HITMAN Bell from Grand Pararie, Texas. The 21 year old fighter has Record 6-1 record and a strong wrestling background as well. He was Texas State wrestling champion, and at the college level wrestled in Iowa under Luke Moffat. Industry insiders are already laying odds as to this bout taking Fight of the Night Honors.

– Sunday, December 18, 2011 (Tape Delayed VOD Next week) featuring Thai Fight – 2011 Finals, Bangkok, Thailand. Buakaw Por. Pramuk from Thailand faces Frankie Giorgio from Australia in the 154 lb tournament finale. Buakaw has been dubbed a “national treasure” of Thailand and is the heavy favorite going into the bout against Giorgi in front of his homeland of Thailand. This is a matchup of conflicting styles in this super welterweight battle as Buakaw is a precision striker, who darts in to land strikes and then moves to a safe distance before his opponent can launch his own attack, while Giorgio has been compared to the movie character, Rocky, for his ability to wade into punches and kicks and absorb a lot of punishment while dishing out his own. Giorgi will need a Rocky-type performance as Buakaw has not been beaten since his days where he dominated K-1 many years ago. Kem Sitsongpeenong from Thailand battles last year’s Thai Fight Tournament Champion, Fabio Pinca from France in the 147 lb tournament final. Pinca’s WBC World Welterweight Championship will also be on the line in this bout as he looks to repeat as Thai Fight Champion in back to back years. Kem defeated Pinca earlier in their careers but this bout will be an entirely different animal. Both fighters have grown since their first meeting and if anything, all it will do is light a fire under Pinca’s belly to avenge the loss. Kem will have the home crowd at his side and will need all the help he can get as Pinca has been on a hot streak for the last two years. Pinca is also a wizard at tight grappling and clinch work, so he will prove a tough test for Kem when they two go to battle on the inside.

Other non MMA events this week: Pro-Wrestling: PWO Brawl in the Hall: Dec 17 6:00pm ET, Impact Zone Wrestling – Chaotic Christmas: Dec 17, 2011 8:00pm ET.