World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation (WBKFF) has announced that Hall of Fame ring announcerJimmy Lennon, Jr. has joined the WBKFF all-star announcing team – Bas Rutten,Kenny Rice and Jessica Penne – for its November 9th Pay-Per-View fight card, “Rise of the Titans”, airing live from Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyoming
“Rise of the Titan” PPV will be headlined by a WBKFF middleweight title fight between Johny “Big Rigg” Hendricks and “Irish” Brennan Ward, as well as Chris “The Crippler” Leben and “The New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni, plus the combat sports pro debut of All-Pro linebacker Shawne “Lights Out” Merriman.
Integrated Sports Media will distribute “Rise of The Titans”, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, in North America on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV and DISH in the United States, as well as Rogers, Shaw, Bell TV and SaskTel in Canada, and live-streamed worldwide on the FITE.TV app and website, for a suggested retail price of $29.95.
Tickets are on sale available to purchase by going online here: https://www.caspereventscenter.com/events/detail/world-bare-knuckle-fighting-federation-championship
Ticket prices range between $200.00 – $500.00 for Ringside, $50.00, $30.00, $20.00, $10.00 in the 100 Level Grandstands.
Jimmy Lennon Jr. has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame. In addition to working Showtime Championship Boxing shows, Lennon has announced MMA for Strikeforce on Showtime and CBS, in addition to working for the now defunct Elite XC and K-1.
Rutten, who was recently appointed WBKFF president, is one of the most popular color commentators in MMA. The former UFC heavyweight champion and three-time King of Pancrase champion was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame as well in 2015. He popularized the punch, knee and kick to the liver in MMA and is also a movie/TV actor.
Kenny Rice has hosted the long-running TV show “Inside MMA” on AxsTV alongside Rutten, they discontinued the show in 2016 after 9 years and 432 episodes. He is a veteran sportscaster, responsible for play-by-play in boxing, MMA, kick boxing, Kentucky Derby etc, Rice has announced 26 different sports at the highest level.
Penne was the first Invicta FC atomweight champion, who competed in Bellator’s first women’s bout, and she currently fights in the UFC as a strawweight. Penne will handle fighter interviews.
Hendricks vs. Ward will be contested for the WBKFF middleweight title, while the WBKFF light heavyweight crown will be on the line for Leben vs. Baroni, two of the most polarizing MMA fighters.
MMA veteran Mike “The Rhino” Bourke, who upset living legend Ken Shamrock in his most notable win, will challenge former NFL star Merriman,who recently signed h WBKFF contract.
WBKFF will also launch its $100,000 Lightweight Tournament, showcasing eight fighters in four separate quarterfinals bouts. Tournament contestants include UFC veterans Issac Vallie Flagg, along with veteran MMA fighters Nick “The Ghost” Gonzalez, Ireland-native Jay “The Mellow Fellow” Cucciniello, Estevan “El Terrible” Payan, Robbie “Problems” Peralta, Mike “The Greek Assassin” Bronzoulis, and South African Leon “The Iron Lion” Mynhardt.
Las Vegas middleweight Joey Angelo takes on Albuquerque’s Julian “Nitrane” Lane, Ultimate Fighter runner-up Christina Marks meets professional boxer Jasmine Clarkson for the WBKFF Women’s Flyweight Championship, and Internet MMA sensation Chris “Mighty Mouse” Yarborough faces Jeff Summers in a middleweight match opening the PPV broadcast.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Additional undercard fights will be live-streamed prior to the PPV broadcast with full details to be announced.
Newly adopted rules including holding and striking, spinning back-fists and hammer fists will be used in all WBKFF fights, which will be contested in a traditional boxing ring for optimum viewing and safety. All men and women’s matches will feature five (two-minute) rounds.
