Sylvia, Rothwell to Adrenaline and First Show in Chicago

[joeyt]

Sylvia, Rothwell Headed to Adrenaline - MMA on Tap

Sylvia, Rothwell Headed to Adrenaline

Monte Cox promised a new promotion to come out of the now defunct M-1 Global project and he delivered by signing former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and IFL star Ben Rothwelll to multi-fight deals with Cox’s recently created Adrenaline MMA organization.

The news comes one day after rumors started to circulate concerning Sylvia’s potential departure from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Miletich Fighting Systems product made it official on last night’s episode of HDNet’s Inside MMA.

“Adrenaline is a new promotion, but it allows fighters to fight for other organizations… that’s huge,” Sylvia said. “I’ve got 3 to 4 years left and want to fight as much as possible, so this is the perfect choice for me at this time.”

Sylvia’s parting ways with the UFC, the organization in which he fought exclusively in since 2002, was mutual on both sides according to the Maine native, who still had one fight remaining on his current contract with the promotion. However Sylvia has maintained that he would like to return to the UFC to finish out his career.

Sylvia is coming off of his second straight loss in yet another bid to regain his heavyweight title. He was submitted by interim champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 81: Breaking Point in February.

Rothwell, who has not fought since winning a unanimous decision over Ricco Rodriguez in September of last year, was most recently embroiled in a controversial end of his relationship with the International Fight League, where Rothwell has won his last nine fights.

“Adrenaline will give me the chance to take things to the next level,” Rothwell said. “I’m ready to see how I fare against the best heavyweights in the world.”

Cox and company will hold their first show on June 14th at the Sears Centre in Chicago. One bout has been made official already: Jeff Monson and Mike Russow will clash in a heavyweight bout.


---Mods please delete if already posted...I will definitely be there June 14th to see Monson.

[mmasince91]

IF he wanted to go to the next level the UFC is where he should be going.

[singinkangaroooo]

hmm... this is really cool because some sort of profile is coming to Chicago... but idk if Sylvia and Monson fighting nobodys would sell me a ticket =/.. well see though

[Dimson]

Rothwell should have signed with the UFC. But I can uncedrstand wanting freedom to fight for other promotions but I think if you do that MMA is going to turn into boxing and that is not really a good thing at all. The only good thing that comes from that is maybe more money for the fighters but that is it.

[TheHooligan]

Isn't Monte Cox violating some kind of conflict of interest clause or something by managing fighters and then signing them to his own org? Something about that just seems wrong.

[thebwit]

What a stupid stupid move on Ben's part. He was just starting to get a name for himself and now outside of the hardcore MMA fans, I doubt people will recognize him. He could have had either a very bright or dismal life in the UFC, but now he will have to wait even longer. He should have gone to the UFC to see if he really does have it or not and then signed with Adrenaline if he couldn't hang just yet. He would have requested to be tested, and I bet Dana would have agreed to let people like Mir, Lesnar, Vera, or AA go up against him. Oh well. See you in 3 years Ben.

[jlruthven84]

[Bran]

i may go if tickets are reasonable and more fights i give a shit about get added. any chicago folk here interested?