MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Basketball isn't the only professional sport in town, with one of the biggest MMA events in the Mid-South coming to the Agricenter this Saturday, June 23.
According to Cameron Marcrum, the owner and president of Empire Fights MMA, "Mixed martial arts is a year-round sport, but our events don't happen every weekend; our event on June 23 is the biggest so far in our history."
That's namely because of the MMA competitors who will be fighting. Jacob Noe is a 9-1 professional fighter with experience in Strikeforce, a nationally recognized MMA brand that was recently purchased by the UFC - the world's largest MMA organization. Noe will be facing Teddy Holder, a 5-1 fighter that used to be his training partner.
Also on the card is 23-year-old Austin Lyons who recently tried out for the UFC reality competition show, "The Ultimate Fighter." Although Lyons didn't make it to the show's final casting, he's still confident and gunning for a win this Saturday. "I think being on a show that's under the UFC's flag, which is considered the best in the world, I was able to prove to myself that I can at least make it to the biggest show that's offered," he said.
Another fighter, Brian "The Law" Hall, is a Memphis police officer who is looking to rebound from his last fight using his skills as a former state champion wrestler. "However," Hall said, "as my MMA career has unfolded, I feel that I have brought my boxing and jiu-jitsu to the same level."
"This event has the largest collection of big-name fighters this area has ever seen. We're hoping this event helps us build momentum in showing Memphis what they can expect from the other professional sport in town," Marcrum added.
Tickets to Empire Fights, presented by Performance Toyota, start at $30 and can be purchased at
www.EmpireFightsMMA.com.
Doors open at 6 p.m., bell time at 7 p.m.
