Gerald Anthony Guidry
July 28, 2009
Florett "Flo" Johnson
July 30, 2009
Sports fans, do you need your fix of bone crushing action before the Saints season starts?
Mixed martial arts returns to the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center Friday, Aug. 14, as In Ya Face Fight Productions and Renaissance MMA present Ultimate Fight Night featuring Justin “Ironman” Verdin.
The Dulac native and Louisiana cruiserweight boxing champion will compete in his second MMA bout. It is one of three pro and seven amateur fights scheduled.
Fighting in the main event will be John LeBlanc vs. Zane Marks. The two have a personal vendetta to settle with each other.
“That fight was supposed to happen two years ago at the civic center,” said Verdin, In Ya Face Fight Productions promoter. “John went to call out Zane and they started to fight in the ring before people jumped in and separated them. That was pretty interesting.”
Also on the card are local MMA fighters Frank Slaughter, Brennan Sevin, Roland Molinere, Bryan Billiot, Keith Tivet and Patrick Thompson.
“The way it’s looking right now, half the card is going to local guys,” said Dr. Ricco Impastato, Renaissance MMA promoter.
This is the third Houma show for the New Orleans-based Renaissance MMA. Impastato said expanding to the Bayou Region market has been good for his company.
“We’ve drawn decent crowds, around 700 I guess,” he estimated. “Hopefully, teaming up with In Ya Face, we will do even better.”
Tickets are on sale at www.tickermaster.com and the civic center box office. General admission tickets range from $20 to $55. Eight-person ringside VIP tables are $900 and a second-row, eight-person table costs $500. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Call Verdin at (985) 856-3442 or (985) 788-0566 or Impastato at (985) 788-5227.
