Former UFC Heavyweight World Champion, Ricco Rodriguez, to Fight at E Center

E Center West Vally City, Utah- One of the most prolific Mixed Martial Arts fighters ever to enter the cage will be performing in front of MMA fans at the E Center Saturday June 28, 2008.

Ricco Rodriguez has beaten some of the best in the world. Randy Couture, Paul Bentuello, and Andre Arlovski (all in the top 10 of most world rankings) have all fallen at the hands of Rodriguez.

A personal bout with drug addiction found Rodriguez falling from the upper echelon of the UFC heavyweight division and onto reality television on Celebrity Rehab.

Rodriguez appears back and more determined than ever to fight his way back to the top. “I learned a lot over the past several months,” Says Rordriguez. “I found out a lot about who I am and what is important in life. Right now I won’t settle for anything but the belt.”

Rodriguez will begin his journey toward that belt and the glory of being the best in the world at the E Center vs rising star, Chris Guillen.

Guillen has thoughts of cracking into the top ten, himself. He sees this fight as an opportunity to get the attention of the powers that be at the UFC. “I’ve won four of my last five fights. I am fighting the best of the best in Ricco. Beating him will definitely get me noticed,” says the confident Guillen. He continues, “I’ve watched his last few fights, and I think I’ve got a serious shot at beating him.”

Time will tell if Guillen has what it takes to unseat Rodriguez. Regardless of the outcome, fans in Salt Lake City will get their first taste of world-class mixed martial arts at the E Center on June 28th.

8 other bouts will feature top local talent, including rising star, ‘Nasty’ Nate Gerrard. Gerrard, a high school wrestling state champion out of Vernal, Utah is 7-0 and touted as Utah’s top up-and-comer. He faces Dave Allred, a West Valley City product that is known for his submission prowess.

“A submission is where a fighter gets his opponent to cry uncle”, says event promoter, Mike Stidham. “It’s kind of like when your older brother used to beat up on you.”

There are many ways to get your opponent to submit. Extending their arm beyond its normal range of motion, choking, and even beating him into submission.

The sport of Mixed Martial Arts, considered too violent by many, has really taken a foothold in American pop culture. It is hard to flip through the channels and not see MMA in one form or another. ‘MMA is the new poker,’ as one TV analyst put it. TV ratings tell us there is an audience for he sport. Evidence that MMA is embraced by Utah viewers, is in the fact that the Ultimate Combat Experience has been on television in Utah for the past 7 years. Seen Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM on Utah’s CW30, UCE has a loyal following. Each and every week, fans pack local nightclubs to get their fix of UCE. June 28th, they will get a little taste of the big leagues when one of the biggest names in the sport comes to town.