Super Heavyweights Collide for Championship Belt on April 23rd

Plus two undefeated fighters go for the 170LB Superfight Belt 

 Portland, OR - On Saturday, April 23rd the Full Contact Fighting Federation comes back to Portland to host "Rumble @ The Roseland 56." This is the region's premiere event for mixed martial arts, held in downtown at the Roseland Theater. All fights take place in the 25-foot steel cage known to fight fans as "The Slammer." The main event at Rumble 56 is the Super Heavyweight (265 pounds and over) Championship - which is a rarity in the sport. Plus there are many notable rising mma stars on the card like Zac Miller, Vedad Pezer and Sean Soliz; as well as a 170-pound superfight pitting Team Quest's Jason Novellie against Tillamook's top talent: Alex Jordan. 

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Tickets available at Safeways Tickets West, www.ticketwest.com and at the door starting at 6pm of the Roseland Theater with fights begining at 7pm. 

The Main event brings two giants to the cage: Vancouver's Ryan Harrington weighing in at 290-pounds and Montana's "Big Country" Josh McPherson, who currently resides in Kelso, Washington. 

Ryan Harrington                 Josh McPherson

Harrington and McPherson have some similarities: both men bring astounding strength, with their collective last four victories ending in round one. McPherson's last fight was on March 5th at Rumble @ The Roseland 55, where he stunned the crowd and his competition (Nick Butler) with a six second kick-to-the-chin knockout victory. 

"You don't often see the flexibility and precision of a high-kick from a Heavyweight," said FCFF Matchmaker, Kevin Keeney. Harrington's last fight was on January 22nd 2011 at Rumble @ The Roseland 54. He faced Andy Gilles and dominated, ending the round in only 38 seconds of round number one via a verbal submission. "Ryan's strength is intimidating, his focus and stare burn through you... Josh will be his toughest competition to date," said Keeney. 

Harrington has been training at Team Quest in Gresham for about a year and a half; former FCFF Heavyweight Champions Josh Bennett and Daniel Stewart have been his main trainers, 3-4 days a week. "I focus on cage control, pushing the pace and mixing my stand up with my take downs," said Harrington. A described "Dirty Boxer" Harrington plans on going undefeated in 2011 and claim the Super Heavyweight belt, plus the Heavyweight Championship belt. Harrington is not new to competition, he was an All-State High School Wrestler, All-State High School Football player and also played Semi Pro football; but most of all Harrington's focus is on mma, and being a great dad. In his little free time he also coaches Youth Football. 

McPherson has his own plans in 2011, which do not include a loss on Saturday, April 23rd. Originally from Billings, Montana McPherson has a record of 15-3 and recently moved to Washington State "in search of tougher competition in mixed martial arts," he says, "I moved from Montana with nothing by clothes and my gear." He plans on taking every Heavyweight belt in the Northwest "worth having," and then go pro and make a career out of fighting. McPherson is a former three-time State Champion wrestler and a blue belt in Behring Brazilian ju-jitsu. He also practices kenpo karate and trains with the USA Wrestling Team twice weekly. McPherson, like Harrington describes himself as a fighter who likes to "stand up and trade punches." This fight promises to deliver as both men's future in mma is on the line.

Also on the Card for Rumble @ The Roseland 56 is a 170-pound FCFF Superfight. The undefeated ground-and-pound fighter Alex Jordan of Tillamook, Oregon will fight the undefeated Jason "Pepsi" Novelli of the notorious fight club: Team Quest. Jordan is a standout high school wrestler from Tillamook that also trains with the guys at the Dog Pound Fight Club. Jordan's goal is to earn this Superfight belt, putting him in line for the FCFF Welterweight Title Shot. "Alex Jordan may have a dominant style with his wrestling but Novelli is one of the most well rounded mixed martial artists the FCFF has ever seen," said Keeney, "there isn't a point in any fight that "Pepsi" looks uncomfortable in." Something will have to give on April 23 and one of these guys will be leaving Rumble 56 with their first ever loss, while the other will leave with a Superfight Belt, and Welterweight Championship Title shot.

Alex Jordan (top)                                           Jason Novelli (white trunks)

RUMBLE AT THE ROSELAND 56 FIGHT CARD

1. 145 Coby Barnes (Lincoln City, OR) vs. Kevin Walker (Sherwood, OR)
2. 170 Shawn Smith (St. Helens, OR) vs. Dean Walters (Molalla, OR)
3. 170 Kyle Ellsworth (Premier) vs. Vedad Pezer (Vancouver, WA)
4. 205 George Jordan (California ) vs. Joshua Gannon (Corvallis, OR)
5. 155 Nathan Sarate (Richfield, WA) vs. Jason Lane (SBGI)
6. 170 Billy Denney (Eugene, OR) vs. Ryan Walker (Team Quest)
7. 205 Nicholas Butler (Otis, OR) vs. Jesse Apodaca (Real World)
8. 135 Journey Newson (Impact JJ) vs. Jeff Alden (TSN)
9. 145 Patrick Ryan (Lincoln City, OR) vs. Stephone Taylor (Vancouver)
10. 150 Zane Behrend (Reality Combat) vs. Sean Soliz (Redmond, OR) 
11. 170 Jeremy Jones (Roseburg, OR) vs. Zach Breeding (Team Quest)
12. 185 Dylan Loriaux (Team Quest Mc) vs. Bryan Torres (Team Whetstone)
13. 190 Mitch Sigler (St. Helens, OR) vs. Zac Miller (Zig Zag, OR)
14. 170 Superfight: Alex Jordan (Tillamook, OR) vs. Jason Novelli (Team Quest)
15. SHWT Title: Josh McPherson (Arsenal) vs. Ryan Harrington (Team Quest) 
*Card subject to change without notice.

Visit www.thefcff.com for more info on the Full Contact Fighting Federation.

Zig Zag Native, Zac Miller Returns to MMA Competition

after One Year Absence

Portland, OR - On Saturday, April 23rd the Full Contact Fighting Federation (FCFF) returns to Portland, Oregon to host "Rumble @ The Roseland 56," Oregon's oldest and most respected cage fighting organization. The Rumble event showcases the top rising mma talent in the Northwest and has been called "The Golden Gloves" of mma. The Main Event at Rumble 56 is the Super Heavyweight Championship fight pitting undefeated Vancouver native Ryan Harrington against Montana transplant: "Big Country" Josh McPherson. McPherson, who moved to Washington solely to face tougher competition in mixed martial arts will "find the fight he has been looking for against Ryan at Rumble 56," said FCFF matchmaker Kevin Keeney. Also, there is a highly anticipated 170-pound Superfight between two undefeated fighters: Alex Jordan (Tillamook) and Jason Novelli of Team Quest. On the card there are many notable rising mma stars like Redmond's Sean Soliz and Zac Miller. Tickets available at Safeway's Tickets West, www.ticketswest.com and at the door starting at 6pm of the Roseland Theater with fights beginning at 7pm.

Zac Miller (r)

A notable fighter "to watch" on April 23rd is undefeated fighter Zac Miller (3-0). Miller is a Zig Zag, Oregon native who recently moved to Gresham, Oregon to be closer to his gym: Team Quest. He is returning to FCFF competition after a one-year absence. His last fight was at Rumble @ The Roseland 50 on March 6th 2010 where he defeated Hamza Salim via tapout due to choke in only 25 seconds of round number one. "Hamza is a great fighter and has gone on to win a lot of fights since facing Zac," said Kevin Keeney the FCFF Matchmaker. Miller returns to the FCFF in the 190-pound division to face St. Helen's Oregon fighter: Mitch Sigler. "We are glad to have Zac back and he is as focused as ever," said Keeney. When asked about his absence from MMA competition Miller explained, "I couldn't answer the question of why I fight... and over time, I have realized it's the love of my life." He is back and here to stay and "trying to keep reaching forward, to keep my momentum going," he says.

Miller's life growing up at the base of Mt. Hood has shaped him in many ways. He is a snowboarder and attended very small schools until High School, where he was bussed into Sandy. "I got in a lot of trouble growing up ... and got into many fights," he said "my mother told me to choose something I love to do, to keep me out of trouble." He found mixed martial arts and if he had to do it all over again "I would have wrestled in high school," he said jokingly. "I loved growing up in Zig Zag and whenever I fight my friends follow me and fill up the venue," said Miller. 

All of Miller's three fights have been submission victories. "I am really a freestyle fighter," Miller explains "...more of Controlled Chaos really, it's like my body just takes over when the fight is on," he said. Miller also earned a round one tapout, rear naked choke victory at Rumble 49 on January 16th 2010. Do not miss this opportunity to see him live at Rumble @ The Roseland 56 on April 23rd. 

West Linn Native Debuts in Mixed Martial Arts on April 23rd

Portland, OR - On Saturday, April 23rd the Full Contact Fighting Federation (FCFF) returns to Portland, Oregon to host "Rumble @ The Roseland 56," Oregon's oldest and most respected cage fighting organization. The Rumble event showcases the top rising mma talent in the Northwest and has been called "The Golden Gloves" of mma. The Main Event at Rumble 56 is the Super Heavyweight Championship fight pitting undefeated Vancouver native Ryan Harrington against Montana transplant: "Big Country" Josh McPherson. McPherson, who moved to Washington solely to face tougher competition in mixed martial arts will "find the fight he has been looking for against Ryan at Rumble 56," said FCFF matchmaker Kevin Keeney. Also, there is a highly anticipated 170-pound Superfight between two undefeated fighters: Alex Jordan (Tillamook) and Jason Novelli of Team Quest. On the card there are many notable rising mma stars like Redmond's Sean Soliz, Marc Harris and Zac Miller. Tickets available at Safeway's Tickets West, www.ticketswest.com and at the door starting at 6pm of the Roseland Theater with fights beginning at 7pm.

Marc Harris will be debuting into the sport of MMA on Saturday, April 23rd and according to the FCFF Matchmaker he is "flyweight that could go all the way." Harris is experienced in the world of combat sports; he has a second place and fourth place finish in State competition during his West Linn high school wrestling career in 1997 and 1998 respectively; and took home two junior Olympic bronze medals in Taekwando. Currently, the 31-year-old Harris trains at Team Quest, the premier gym in the Northwest. While in college at Southern Oregon University (completed a degree in Business Management) he wrestled and was a National Qualifier all four years. Personally, he has made strides to control and combat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). 

On April 23rd Harris will face Alex Corrales. In Corrales last victory he defeated Chris Philpot by Knockout in round number one at Rumble @ the Roseland 52 on Jul 17, 2010. "Its rare that a man in the 125-pound division can pull off a knockout. Alex has power, but Marc has great wrestling skills - we could see great takedowns and standup in this fight," said Keeney.

Redmond High School Wrestling Star

Looks to Extend Undefeated MMA Record 
Portland, OR - On Saturday, April 23rd the Full Contact Fighting Federation (FCFF) returns to Portland, Oregon to host "Rumble @ The Roseland 56," Oregon's oldest and most respected cage fighting organization. The Rumble event showcases the top rising mma talent in the Northwest and has been called "The Golden Gloves" of mma. The Main Event at Rumble 56 is the Super Heavyweight Championship fight pitting undefeated Vancouver native Ryan Harrington against Montana transplant: "Big Country" Josh McPherson. McPherson, who moved to Washington solely to face tougher competition in mixed martial arts will "find the fight he has been looking for against Ryan at Rumble 56," said FCFF matchmaker Kevin Keeney. Also, there is a highly anticipated 170-pound Superfight between two undefeated fighters: Alex Jordan (Tillamook) and Jason Novelli of Team Quest. On the card there are many notable rising mma stars like Redmond's Sean Soliz and Zac Miller. Tickets available at Safeway's Tickets West, www.ticketswest.com and at the door starting at 6pm of the Roseland Theater with fights beginning at 7pm.

Sean Soliz

A notable fighter "to watch" on April 23rd is "Suga" Sean Soliz of Redmond. "Sean is someone who will go far in mma," said Keeney. He debuted into the sport at the FCFF's "Cage Fights: Ducks vs. Beavers" Event on December 2nd, 2010 at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Oregon in the 145-pound division. Soliz defeated Ricky Portillo via a TKO in 1:46 of round number one. "Sean had a great takedown and put an end to the fight with his ground and pound," said Keeney. While Soliz has only been training in mma for five months, he has an extensive history is High School Wrestling. Soliz placed in the top five in State competition all four years in High School and still trains with the Redmond High School Wrestling Team. He also trains with Michael Stewart and Brandon Wollman; and spends time in the gym with Clayton York, the starting fullback for the OSU Beavers as his lifting coach. Soliz is extremely focused and plans to earn an FCFF title in 2011. 

On Saturday, April 23rd Soliz will face Jeremy Hansen of Veneta, Oregon in the 150-pound division. He plans to "take him down and work him from the top," said Soliz, "I have a big time wrestling base with heavy hands." Since his 2010 graduation from High School Sean Soliz has been focusing all his energy on mma and his studies at Oregon State University in Nutrition. Currently, Soliz lives in Corvallis and has been focusing on jiu-jitsu and weight lifting. He also enjoys playing the guitar in his free time. 

FCFF Event Info

The FCFF is Oregon's oldest and most respected mixed martial arts organization, with its primary events in Portland (Rumble @ The Roseland) and Lincoln City (Caged on the Coast). All events are State sanctioned by the Oregon State Athletic Commission and held in the 25-foot steel cage, known to fight fans as "The Slammer." There are 18 fights scheduled on the card with the doors opening at 6 pm, fights beginning at 7. Tickets available at Safeway Tickets West, www.ticketswest.com and at the door of the Roseland Theater. 

The FCFF, since 2001 has gained National clout as the key organization in the USA for rising MMA talent. Evan Dunham, a former FCFF Fighter (record 11-0 in the professional arena) just defeated Tyson Griffin by split decision at UFC 115. The FCFF has been credited for launching the careers of some of the Nation's favorite MMA personalities like: Chris "The Crippler" Leben (The Ultimate Fighter-1), Nathan "The Rock" Quarry (The Ultimate Fighter-1), Ed "Short Fuse" Herman (The Ultimate Fighter-3), Josh "Bring the Pain" Haynes (The Ultimate Fighter-3) and Chael Sonnen (Team Quest, WEC and UFC Fighter). Also the Healy Brothers competed in the FCFF. Currently, Pat and Ryan Healy fight for Strikeforce.