Kang and Eastman Ready For Raw Combat

[keithlewis]

For Immediate Release
Oct 15, 2008

Kang and Eastman Ready For Raw Combat


Calgary, AB, Canada - Saturday, October 25th at the Stampede Corral, Raw Combat is ready to deliver another knockout mixed martial arts event to Alberta fight fans. Following the success of their first show Raw Combat: Resurrection, held June 20th at the Max Bell Centre, promoters have outdone themselves again for Raw Combat: Redemption, assembling a card packed with veterans from the UFC, MFC and Pride Fighting Championships.

In the main event, Canadian mixed martial arts superstar Denis Kang (30-10-1) is set to face Las Vegas brawler and former CFL Stampeder Marvin "The Beastman" Eastman (15-8-1). With Kang coming off a loss in Japan and Eastman returning from defeat in the UFC octagon, both fighters will step into the Raw Combat cage looking for redemption in a battle between two of the most athletic and explosive athletes in the sport.

"It's going to be a very heated fight," Kang explains. "There's
going to be a lot of desire by the both of us to win. He's fought a lot of tough guys, but I ain't no chump myself so he better watch out."

"My objective is to finish the fight as fast as possible so it doesn't
go to the judges," Eastman says. "He's a popular guy, a top-5 middleweight and a great opponent but the bottom line is when we get in that cage, I don't respect anybody."

The bout between Kang and Eastman is just one match on a fight card full of talent. Also that night, in a battle for the Raw Combat 145-pound title, world Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion Bibiano Fernandes (2-2-0) will take on current champion; Vancouver B.C.'s Len Tam (5-1-0), who won the title in June by submitting his opponent in the first round. On the same show, Fernandes impressed the crowd with a dominating 3-round decision, leaving his opponent bloody and battered. A skilled wrestler with heavy hands, Tam will undoubtedly be looking to knock out the high-flying submission artist, whose quick wins have earned him the nickname "The Flash".

A veteran of both the UFC and MFC, Edmonton native Victor Valimaki (12-5-0) is also set to fight as he takes on Halifax fighter Ryan "Big Deal" Jimmo (7-1-0). While Jimmo is coming off an appearance on the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, Valimaki is riding a 3-fight winning streak. With both men looking to use the other as a stepping stone, this light-heavyweight match will surely be one to remember.

Valimaki will be joined at Raw Combat: Redemption by another fighter familiar to the Alberta combat crowd; Ryan "The Real Deal" Ford (6-1-0), who will face Ottawa's Nabil "The Thrill" Khatib (8-3-0) in a welterweight
showdown. For Ford, the match comes soon after a recent win over UFC veteran Laverne Clarke in the MFC, where "The Real Deal" took home another victory with a guillotine choke in the second round. October 25th, he will look to give "The Thrill" the same treatment at Raw Combat: Redemption.

"I like to push the pace," he says. "I throw lots of hard punches. I like to slam. I have a rear naked choke that usually works good when I get it. I'm just a guy that people want to come watch because I make sure it's an exciting show."

At 39, Khatib faces a serious challenge in the 26-year old Ford, but explains he still has plenty of fight left in him and expects a thrilling battle. "It's going to be a fun fight," he says. "He's very strong. He's got some good takedowns. He's got a pretty good record, so it'll be a good match up. He's young. I'm older. Notice I didn't say that I'm old."

Rounding out the card for Raw Combat: Redemption is an incredible list of mixed martial arts fighters, set to throw down in fast-paced bouts.

Other fights on the card include Calgary's own Andrew Buckland (6-2-0) facing Vancouver, B.C.'s Garett Davis (10-9-0) and Surrey B.C.'s Myles "The Cowboy" Merola (9-5-0) taking on Calgary fighter Brad "The Bonesaw" Cardinal (6-5-0).

Fight Card for Raw Combat: Redemption


Saturday, October 25th, Stampede Corral, Calgary, AB

• Denis Kang vs Marvin Eastman- 185lb

• Bibiano Fernandes vs Len Tam – 145lb Title Fight

• Victor Valamaki vs Ryan Jimmo - 205lbs

• Jose “Pele” Landi vs TBA - 185lb

• Tim Hague vs Miodrag Petkovic—Heavyweight

• Nabil Khatib vs Ryan Ford – 170lb

• Garret Davis vs Andrew Buckland -170lb

• Myles Merola vs Brad Cardinal -155lb

• Hardeep Singh vs Jordan Bills – 135lb

• Nathan Gunn vs Jarett Evans -170lb

• Wes Jaya vs Matt Bagshaw – 145lb

• Mike Rowbatham vs Keto Allen – 185lb


Card subject to change.