LION FIGHT ANNOUNCES CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FIGHT AS MAIN EVENT OF “LION FIGHT 10” - YODSANKLAI FAIRTEX vs. CHIKE LINDSAY FOR THE LION FIGHT WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP, LIVE AT THE JOINT IN THE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS
For the second time this year, Lion Fight Promotions has added a new championship division with CEO Scott Kent’s announcement today that Yodsanklai Fairtex will battle Chike Lindsay at Lion Fight 10, and that this main event is now a title fight for the Lion Fight World Middleweight Championship. Taking place live from the Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, AXS TV will present “Lion Fight 10” starting at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
“I set 2013 as the year for Muay Thai to thrive in America, and the time when Lion Fight would establish itself as the premier organization in the sport,” said Kent. “I think Lion Fight 10’s main event between Yodsanklai Fairtex and Chike Lindsay is not only thrilling for fight fans, it also legitimately establishes another undisputed Muay Thai champion for the Lion Fight organization. I’m excited as everyone else for this card and am looking at adding yet another championship fight. We are also signing more fighters to long-term contracts with Lion Fight and will be making those announcements soon.”
Tickets for Lion Fight’s full rules Muay Thai event “LION FIGHT 10” are on sale now and available for purchase through the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000) and online at Ticketmaster.com.
Yodsanklai Fairtex (183-71-4), a fighter with legendary status in the Muay Thai community, made his Lion Fight debut earlier this year at LION FIGHT 8. He fought France’s Gregory Choplin in the main event, winning in the third round by KO. On July 26, he will face Lindsay for the new Lion Fight championship middleweight title.
“When Scott Kent asked me to come back to Las Vegas and fight for the Lion Fight middleweight title, I didn’t hesitate to say yes,” said Fairtex. “I’m excited to fight Chike Lindsay, he’s a champion and I respect him as my opponent and for taking this fight. I hope America welcomes me back this summer, and that everyone watches my fight on July 26 – I can’t wait for Lion Fight 10 and to fight for the belt.”
Lindsay (21-4) started training Muay Thai in 2003 and less than five months later won his first United States Muay Thai Association (USMTA) amateur championship title, which would be the first many titles for the Atlanta-based fighter, including the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) North American title and the World Kickboxing Association’s (WKA) North American welterweight and Eastern welterweight titles. In 2006, when Lindsay turned professional, he blazed through the ranks of the Muay Thai super welterweight division. In addition to defeating greats Mukai Moromo, Matee “Dragon Leg” Jedeepatik, and Malaipet, he also won the WBC International championship and the International Muay Thai Organization’s (IMTO) championship title in this division.
“I’m honored to headline Lion Fight 10 and to fight Yodsanklai Fairtex,” said Lindsay. “He’s a legend in Muay Thai and everyone knows he’s one of the greatest fighters in our sport, but on July 26th I’m going to be better and I can’t wait to prove it.”
In the LION FIGHT 10 much-anticipated co-main event, Kevin Ross returns to the ring looking for his third consecutive Lion Fight win after back-to-back victories over Bernie Mendieta at LION FIGHT 9 and Chris Kwiatkowski at LION FIGHT 8. Also under a long-term contract with Lion Fight, Ross is a two-time WBC Muay Thai Champion and will be facing Canadian Muay Thai prodigy Matt Embree.
The live card also features the return of 28-year old 6’2” Joe Schilling, the hugely popular fighter based in Southern California against Charles Byrd. Tiffany “Time Bomb” Van Soest, who remains undefeated (5-0) will take on Lucy Payne in a women’s bantamweight bout. Adding to the fully stacked live card are bouts featuring Malaipet Sasiprapa and Ognjen Topic vs. Coke Chunhawat of Oakland, Calif.
LION FIGHT 10 takes place Friday, July 26 live from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and will air live on AXS TV starting at 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT. AXS TV can be found on DirecTV channel 340 and Dish Network channel 362. For additional information on Lion Fight Promotions, please visit LionFight.com and follow on Twitter @LionFight and at Facebook.com/LionFightMuayThai.
