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Hard Knocks Fighting

Company type	Private
Industry	Mixed martial arts promotion
Founded	2009
Founder	Ari Taub
Headquarters	Calgary, AB, Canada
Key people	Ari Taub, Founder and CEO
Website	www.hardknocksfighting.com

Hard Knocks Fighting is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in North America. Hard Knocks Fighting was founded in 2009 by Canadian Olympic wrestler Ari Taub. Hard Knocks Fighting is known for its local fighter support and ongoing charity efforts and where Ronda Rousey secured her second career MMA victory.

History

Founding

In 2009, Canadian Olympic wrestler Ari Taub founded Hard Knocks Fighting. Ari Taub an Olympic wrestler and Calgary based lawyer overcomes local city bylaws to win legal challenges to get MMA sanctioned in Calgary. In December 2011, media giant ESPN began airing Hard Knocks Fighting in 40 countries and over 50 million homes. Hard Knocks Fighting produces 15 live events annually, as well as shoulder programming including feature fights, highlight shows, and documentaries.

Television Broadcasting

• December, 2011 - Hard Knocks Fighting begins broadcasting on ESPN.
• June, 2013 - Hard Knocks Fighting begins broadcasting on Popcornflix.
• January, 2015 - Hard Knocks Fighting and MoboVivo launch HKFC MMA App
• January, 2015 - Hard Knocks Fighting begins live broadcasts on Fight Network.

Past events

Broadcast partners

• ESPN - Hard Knocks Fighting airs live on ESPN.
• Fight Network
• Popcornflix
• OSN
• Claro Sports
• AT&T
• Time Warner Cable
• Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast
• Verizon Communications
• PlayStation
• Dish Network
• BandSports
• beIN Sports
• FightBox

Current champions

Division	Upper weight limit	Champion	Contestant type
Light Heavyweight	205 lb (93 kg)	Rodney Wallace	Professional
Middleweight	185 lb (84 kg)	Brent Auger	Amateur
Welterweight	170 lb (77 kg)	Cody Wilson	Professional
Lightweight	155 lb (70 kg)	Jason Fischer	Professional
Lightweight	155 lb (70 kg)	Sean Michaels	Amateur
Featherweight	145 lb (66 kg)	Justin Basra	Amateur
Bantamweight	135 lb (61 kg)	Jesse Arnett	Professional

Notable fighters

• Ronda Rousey the first UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion and first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in Judo at the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, where she faced kickboxing champion Charmaine Tweet in an MMA bout at Hard Knocks Fighting Championship: School of Hard Knocks 12 on June 17, 2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She submitted Tweet with an armbar in 49 seconds.
• Elias Theodorou is the winner of HKFC: School of Hard Knocks 14. Method- Submission (rear naked choke).
• Misha Cirkunov is an MMA fighter out of Ontario, Canada. Misha Cirkunov knocked out Rodney Wallace at Hard Knocks Fighting Championship.

References

1. "Hard Knocks Fighting Championship MMA Event will premiere on PPV". World News Network. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
2. "NATPE LIVE: Ari Taub, CEO of Hard Knocks Fighting, reveals news of a new 24/7 fight sports channel dedicated to content around its fighters and championship". natpe. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
3. "Local Calgary sports teams have netted nearly $100,000, thanks to Hard Knocks Fighting". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
4. "More Than Hockey: A Look at the Next Wave of Canadian MMA". Themmacorner.com. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
5. McAsey, Brian. "Political cage match - Fast Forward Weekly". Fast Forward Weekly. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
6. "HKFC School of Hard Knocks 36". ESPN. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
7. "Hard Knocks 39 takes place in Calgary, Alberta on Nov. 14 with special guest UFC's Elias Theodorou". Mmacanada.net. 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
8. "HKFC School of Hard Knocks 37". ESPN. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
9. MMACanada (2014-10-21). "Hard Knocks 39 takes place in Calgary, Alberta on Nov. 14 with special guest UFC's Elias Theodorou". Mmacanada.net. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
10. "Popcornflix to Stream MMA Action". Home Media Magazine. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
11. "Hard Knocks Fighting Championship MMA App". Sportscaster Magazine. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
12. "Quick Shots - Hard Knocks Fighting 43 LIVE on Fight Network". Fight Network. No. May 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
13. "Fight Network Live Broadcast of Hard Knocks Fighting Championship". Home Media Magazine. 2015-01-30. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
14. "Council weighs in on Hard Knocks 36". Alaska Highway News. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
15. "Sunrise Rotary and Hard Knocks Fighting MMA Event". Fort St. John, British Columbia Official. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
16. "Ryan Dickson rocks at Hard Knocks 37". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
17. "Live MMA Hard Knocks 40 - December 12". CTV News. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
18. "UFC signs heavyweight Cirkunov". Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Retrieved 7 July 2015.
19. "Hard Knocks Fighting Championship 'HK44′ Weigh In Results from Calgary". MMA Canada. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
20. "HKFC School of Hard Knocks 44". ESPN. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
21. "MMA at Century Casino | MMA | Mixed Martial Arts | Sports". Calgary Sun. 2014-06-12. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
22. "HK39 Calgary - November 14th, 2014". MMAmadhouse.com. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
23. "Hard Knocks Fighting Olympic Press Conference". Fight Network. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
24. "Hard Knocks Fighting Ltd. (2015)". Popcornflix. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
25. "Hard Knocks Fighting S1 Ep 1". OSN. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
26. "Ronda Rousey vs Charmaine Tweet Set For June 17th". MMARising.com. 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
27. "Ronda Rousey Wins Quickly In Hard Knocks 12 Co-Feature". MMARising.com. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
28. "MISHA CIRKUNOV". Sherdog. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
29. "UFC Signs Hard Knocks Light Heavyweight Champion". Fightline.com. Retrieved 5 July 2015.

External links

• Official website
• Hard Knocks Fighting at IMDb

• Sports organizations established in 2009
• Mixed martial arts promotions
• Mixed martial arts television shows