BLACKBURN, THREE OTHERS COMPLETE IFL NEW JERSEY CARD

Olympia, Wash., Welterweight to Take on Heleno; Dias, Marrero To Compete for ATT; Lamotte Challenges Horodecki

NEW YORK, March 12, 2008 – “Bad” Brad Blackburn (Olympia, Wash.) is among four athletes who have been added to the card when the International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) returns to the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Friday, April 4. The IFL veteran will take on Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a welterweight clash, one of nine mixed martial arts bouts on the slate.

The IFL has also announced the addition of three other pros to complete the lineup, including featherweight Rafael Dias (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and light heavyweight Carmelo Marrero (Douglasville, Pa.), who will represent American Top Team in its first IFL action, as they take on Miletich Fighting Systems’ L.C. Davis (Kansas City, Mo.) and Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.), respectively. Also added to card is Nate Lamotte, who will take on 20-year-old phenom Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) in a lightweight bout.

The charismatic Blackburn has three wins in five IFL decisions, including a victory over Hieron last June. His only bout since then was a “no contest” against Travis Cox in Florida last September. Dias won his IFL debut on Feb. 29, submitting Santino DeFranco in the first round. Marrero and Lamotte will be making their first IFL appearances in New Jersey.

As previously announced, IFL titleholders Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko (Belarus), Jay “The Thorobred” Hieron (Freeport, N.Y./Las Vegas) and Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will defend their belts on April 4. Matyushenko will battle Jamal Patterson (Jersey City, N.J.) for the light heavyweight crown; Hieron will take on Mark Miller (Chicago) at 170 lbs., and Fabiano will accept the challenge of Shad Lierley (Seattle) at 145 lbs. In a non-title bout, Rory Markham (Chicago) will oppose Emyr Bussade (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) in a matchup of welterweights.

Tickets are available at the IZOD Center Box Office (located at the Meadowlands), www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (201) 507-8900.

IFL East Rutherford, N.J.
Friday, April 4, 2008
(order TBD)

Additional Bout
155 lbs.: Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) (7-1 IFL, 11-1 overall MMA) vs. Nate Lamotte (0-0, 6-2)

American Top Team vs. Miletich Fighting Systems
145 lbs.: Rafael Dias (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (1-0, 10-3-1) vs. LC Davis (Kansas City, Mo.) (2-0, 9-1)
170 lbs.: Emyr Bussade (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (0-0, 10-5) vs. Rory Markham (Chicago) (6-2, 12-3)
205 lbs.: Carmelo Marrero (Douglasville, Pa.) (0-0, 7-2) vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) (5-3, 13-3)

Midwest Combat vs. Renzo Gracie Academy
155 lbs.: Bart Palaszewski (Wonderlake, Ill.) (8-3, 29-10) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (Lithuania) (3-0, 9-2)
170 lbs.: Brad Blackburn (Olympia, Wash.) (3-2, 11-9-1) vs. Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (6-3, 13-4)
*205 lbs.: **Vladimir Matyushenko (Belarus) (5-0, 20-3) vs. Jamal Patterson (Jersey City, N.J.) (4-1, 4-1)

Additional Championship Bouts
*170 lbs.: **Jay Hieron (Freeport, N.Y.) (6-2, 14-4) vs. Mark Miller (Chicago) (2-1, 8-2)
*145 lbs.: **Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (5-0, 9-1) vs. Shad Lierley (Seattle) (2-1, 2-1)

*Championship Bout
**Current Titleholder

About the IFL

International Fight League™ (IFL) has its headquarters in New York and offices in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.