gladiator_challenge_pr_august_26

Gladiator Challenge Newsletter

Huckaba Dropped From Gladiator Challenge

Years from now, when MMA fans look back on Gladiator Challenge history, three words will come to mind

when Dave “Bad Man” Huckaba comes up in the conversation: coulda, woulda, shoulda. The two-time former

GC Heavyweight Champion, despite repeated chances from the promotion, has once again reneged on a

contractual agreement, and is no longer welcome with the organization. Gladiator Challenge opened the

doors for the “Bad Man” for the first time on July 8, 2006, and on August 21, 2010, four years later, the door

was slammed shut on Huckaba once and for all as a result of his actions.

For the second time in almost a year, and the third time in his career, Huckaba failed to honor his

contractual agreement with Gladiator Challenge. This time, it may very well lead to legal action being taken

against the former Gladiator Challenge headliner. Many fans and several of Huckaba’s peers questioned

Gladiator Challenge brass for giving the heavyweight another chance despite his track record. After his

most recent hiatus, Dave was welcomed back to the promotion, competing on the July 17th “Patriots” event.

Expected to be a sellout for the return of “Bad Man,” there were surprisingly more critics than fans in the

crowd during Huckaba’s entrance, as the decline in fan support was obvious. There were rumors that he was

having trouble getting fans to come out to show support for his return, which is sad for a fighter like “Bad

Man,” who once filled the Sacramento Memorial Building nearly single-handedly.

Many felt that Huckaba’s last-minute drop-offs on fight cards for other MMA promotions in the surrounding

area had contributed to his slide in fan support. Forum boards used to light up when the “Bad Man” was the

topic, but have since become filled with disappointed fans angered by Huckaba pulling out of fights he’s

been advertised for. For example, when it was announced that Huckaba would battle MMA pioneer Dan

“The Beast” Severn in 2009, tickets began to sell quickly. Unfortunately for the fans, Huckaba pulled a

disappearing act and “ran for the hills,” as some called it, canceling the bout. What is so disappointing

about this is the fact that “Bad Man” has stated publicly that he wouldn’t be able to fight without his fans,

yet his total disregard for the feelings of the fans has been evidenced yet again.

Stay tuned to GladiatorChallenge.com for an announcement on Huckaba's replacement, a former UFC

fighter.

For more information on Gladiator Challenge and all its events, please visit www.gladiatorchallenge.com.

For additional information please contact:

Phil Lanides, Publicist - (408) 439-3245, phil@fightofyourlife.com

Tedd Williams, Owner/Promoter – info@gladiatorchallenge.com

ABOUT GLADIATOR CHALLENGE:

Gladiator Challenge is a world-class mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion established in 1999 by Tedd

Williams. A former UFC fighter, Williams is a former national AAU Sambo Champion (1997), a former

California State Judo Champion (4th Degree Black Belt under “Judo” Gene Lebell) and a former college All-

American wrestler (Cerritos Jr. College, 1988-89). Gladiator Challenge runs 12-18 MMA events per year, and

has featured MMA superstars Uriah “The California Kid” Faber, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, James Irvin,

Tyson Griffin, “Sugar” Rashad Evans, Scott “Hands of Stone” Smith, “The Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia, Joe “Daddy”

Stevenson, Mac Danzig, Dan “The Beast” Severn, Jerry Bohlander, “Krazy Horse” Charles Bennett, Chris

Leben, Chael Sonnen, Jake Shields, “The Secret Weapon” Pete Spratt, Nate “The Rock” Quarry, Jason “The

Punisher” Lambert, Bobby “The Bad Seed” Hoffman, and Cal Worsham, among many others. Gladiator

- From Gladiator Challenge Newsletter

Subject to change

(8/27/10)