TATE, ROSA, RUIZ AT SHO MMA: STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS MAY 15
April 20, 2009
With Diaz vs Shamrock in the books, the fight community now turns its attention to the next STrikeforce card. The card is beginning to come into focus. Women’s MMA ace Miesha Tate (5-1) will appear in a bout at the 135 lb. limit in a live, SHOWTIME-televised contest at the inaugural SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers event at Fresno, California’s Save Mart Center on Friday, May 15. In addition, Aaron Rosa (11-2) will face Anthony “A Train” Ruiz (21-12) in a light heavyweight (205 lb. limit) fight on a fight card headlined by undefeated lightweight (155 lb. limit) Billy Evangelista (9-0) versus BJ Penn protégé “Iron” Mike Aina (11-6-1).
SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers is a proving ground for up-and-coming MMA fighters. SHO MMA provides today’s top prospects with the opportunity to step-up their level of competition and demonstrate their ability in a nationally televised event.
The SHOWTIME telecast will air live beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) and feature up to five live fights.
the 22-year-old Tate has been on a tear of late, stopping each of her last three opponents in the first round. A native of Olympia, Washington, Tate was introduced to wrestling during her teen years when a girlfriend convinced her to join their all-boys high school wrestling team. Tate’s passion for the sport developed as she learned. Eventually, wrestling led Tate to join the MMA club at Central Washington University.
Last year, Tate enlisted with Victory Athletics, the elite fight squad headed by MMA star and two-time Matt Hughes conqueror Dennis “Superman” Hallman.
“He’s got so much to offer technically,” she said about her mentor. “He comes from a wrestling background so his fighting style is very similar to the one I want to develop.”
Rosa, who hails from San Antonio, Texas, was victorious in his first 10 starts as a professional. Following two straight defeats, he returned to the win column in his last start by stopping Ron “Killing” Fields in the second round of their meeting in Chicago, Ill., on June 14, 2008.
The 31-year-old Ruiz, a former Strikeforce light heavyweight championship challenger, last saw action at Strikeforce’s second event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he lost a unanimous decision to former South African national wrestling champion Trevor Prangley.
Tickets for the first SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers event are on sale at the Save Mart Center box office and select Save Mart Supermarkets as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and Strikeforce’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).
