| Roy Jones Jr. is the newest Johnny-come-lately to | | | | have delusions of how easy it is to reach the MMA |
| grace the world of MMA with his presence. This | | | | fan and capitalize on his appetite for blood and guts. |
| eight-time world boxing champion and his Square Ring | | | | What they fail to realize is that the MMA fan is among |
| Promotions will put on "March Badness," a mixed | | | | the most educated and knowledgeable of sports fans, |
| Boxing/MMA card on March 21, 2009 at the Pensacola | | | | because Mixed Martial Arts is a thinking man’s |
| Civic Center in Florida. A light heavyweight boxing | | | | sport, unlike its Boxing counterpart. Most of us have a |
| match between Jones (52-5) and Omar Sheika (27-7) | | | | low tolerance for bad fights, poor commentating, and a |
| will be the main event, Jones said at a news | | | | lackluster show; not to mention the corrupt, |
| conference Wednesday at the venue, where the | | | | money-grubbing suits that are trying to exploit us. |
| show will be broadcast live on pay-per-view. | | | | While it seems as though the UFC has a monopoly on |
| The "March Badness" undercard will feature three | | | | the sport of MMA, that’s not exactly the case. Yes, |
| MMA bouts: Seth Petruzelli (10-4-0) vs. former WEC | | | | they are the two thousand pound gorilla, but there’s |
| light heavyweight champion Doug Marshall (9-3-0) in a | | | | definitely room, and a strong need for some supporting |
| light heavyweight fight, Roy Nelson (13-3-0) vs. Jeff | | | | chimps. With the departure of Japan’s longest |
| Monson (27-8-0) in a heavyweight bout and former | | | | running and most successful MMA organization, PRIDE |
| collegiate/WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley against a yet | | | | Fighting Championship, and the recent failure of |
| to benamed opponent. Petruzelli’s fight will be his | | | | EliteXC, MMA needs more credible shows, where up |
| first since his spectacular 14-second TKO of Kevin | | | | and coming fighters can "cut their teeth". As we’ve |
| Ferguson, aka Kimbo Slice, at Elite XC "Heat" last Oct. | | | | seen with recent MMA upstart Affliction, if a start-up |
| 4. | | | | has enough money to lure away good fighters from |
| So what brings Jones to MMA? The same thing | | | | the larger more well established organizations, and |
| that’s brought Oscar De La Hoya, Donald Trump, | | | | enough business savvy to put together a good show, |
| Black Entertainment Television (BET), and the | | | | they have a shot. Whether or not Affliction has what it |
| countless others who have tried and failed…MONEY. | | | | takes to stick around, is yet to be seen, but they’ve |
| Any businessperson with a pulse sees this burgeoning | | | | definitely done better than most. |
| industry as a golden opportunity to CA$H in. They | | | | |