Throughout Arizona, fans have been raving about Eddie ‘Crazy Face’ Arizmendi (14-4), watching him grow and mature as a fighter in the local ranks. Now signed to Europe’s leading mixed martial arts promotion, M-1 Global, the Apex Gym warrior makes his debut at M-1 Challenge: Bennett vs. Garner from The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California, Friday, July 8, LIVE on SHOWTIME starting at 11 p.m. ET (delayed on the West Coast). When the bell rings to start the action Arizmendi will stand opposite Captain ‘G.I’ Jason Norwood (11-2) and aims to break the US Army’s unshakeable will.
The 25 year old Native American of Mexican heritage is Tucson’s middleweight gem; standing a solid 6’ 3”, Arizmendi was a previously top-ranked high school football quarterback and the talented warrior still hits up the field during his training ‘downtime’. But it was a trip to a local fight card with his father that inspired him to dedicate his life completely to mixed martial arts and he hasn’t looked back since.
Training out of Apex Gym with trainer Joey Rivera and under the management and guidance of Sky Andren of Fight Legion Inc., Arizmendi is the former RITC champion and rides a momentous eight-fight streak into Costa ‘Mesa, California; for the first time in his so-far illustrious career as the ‘big fish in the little pond’, ’Crazy Face’ takes his amped-up fighting style head-on into the next level of competition.
Transitioning from the regional to National / International calibre of opposition should come easy for the talented warrior; his game is decorated with a versatile submission arsenal and he packs potent striking backed up with knock-out power. What stands out specifically about his style is the evident controlled anger and rage that is interwoven through all his elements.
His versatility is simply impressive and it seems he’s never at a loss when it comes to transitioning from boxing to wrestling to BJJ. Standing up, he throws combinations with laser-guided precision; wrestling, he can scoop a single or double leg effortlessly and rain heavy G&P bombs; submissions; slick and fluid.
Above all else, Arizmendi is a finisher; of his 14 wins, he’s seen the judges’ scorecards only twice – that’s a finishing average of nearly 86%, a stat intoxicating to the M-1 executive brass and a perfect fit with M-1’s reputation for producing action-packed events.
As the night’s telecast kick-off bout, Arizmendi’s Arizona fan-base will be tuning in intently to watch their hometown boy make the jump to the big league against Norwood, a twisted testament to the saying: ‘hate to see you leave but love to watch you go.’
M-1 Challenge: Bennett vs. Garner airs LIVE on SHOWTIME on Friday, July 8 at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) and is headlined by the rematch between the 2010 M-1 Selection Americas Tournament heavyweight finalists Pat Bennett (4-2) and Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner (6-3).
Tickets are priced at $75 for the front row and all other seats at $50 and can be purchased online at www.fightcluboc.com, or by calling Roy Englebrecht Promotions at (949) 760-3131.
Mauro Ranallo will call the action from ringside with Pat Miletich serving as analyst. The telecast will be produced by Chuck McKean and directed by Craig Farrell. The executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports is David Dinkins, Jr.
With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.
2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.
For information on M-1 Global, go to the official M-1 website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global facebook fan page.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go to the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.