Shark Fight Promotions announced today that UFC veteran Brock Larson will face Strikeforce sensation Tarec Saffiedine at the Shark Fights 13 pay-per-view event in September. Shark Fights: Jardine vs. Prangley will take place Saturday, September 11, at the Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo, Texas.
According to Brent Medley, president of Shark Fight Promotions, “We feel that Brock Larson and Tarec Saffiedine are a great addition to our pay-per-view roster. Larson, a seasoned UFC and WEC veteran, was originally slated for the under card, but we feel his bout against Saffiedine is worthy of live pay-per-view coverage. Larson is back on track and determined to make it back into the UFC. He knows that losing is not an option. Standing in his way is Tarec Saffiedine, an explosive MMA fighter that hails from Belgium.”
Medley went on to say; “Saffiedine is a well-rounded fighter and rising star in the Strikeforce welterweight division.  He has fought in a number of promotions around the world including DREAM in Japan, and holds notable wins over PRIDE veteran Seichi Ikemoto, James Terry and Nate Moore. Both fighters are hungry for this win. Fans can expect an exciting, action packed fight to kick off the night!”
Brock Larson (29-4-0), a seasoned UFC and WEC veteran, who trains out of Brooklyn Center, MN at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, has his sites on redemption and returning to the UFC. Larson kicked off his fight career in 2002 with an impressive twelve-fight win streak. He now boasts 29 wins in 33 MMA fights and has been featured on several recognized top-ten welterweight rankings throughout his career. Larson holds notable wins over top-notch fighters such as Mike Pyle and John Alessio and is currently riding a three-fight win streak.
Tarec Saffiedine (9-2-0) is a black belt in Shihaishinkai Karate, a style of Karate that includes striking, Judo throws, and ground fighting. He also boasts an amateur kickboxing record of 12-1-1. Saffiedine, who began his professional mixed-martial-arts fight career in his native Belgium, now trains out of Temecula, California at Team Quest. He is determined to gain MMA recognition in the U.S. and is well on his way. As a result of Saffiedine’s impressive second-round KO victory over Nate Moore at the Strikeforce Challengers 8 in Portland, many are referring to him as a breakout star in the Strikeforce welterweight division.
Official Bout Card for Shark Fights: Jardine vs. Prangley:
Main Card:
1. Keith Jardine vs. Trevor Prangley 2. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Houston Alexander 3. Paul Daley vs. Jorge Masvidal 4. Joey Villasanor vs. Drew McFredries 5. Brock Larson vs. Tarec Saffiedine   Undercard:   6. Ronnie Mann vs. Douglas Evans 7. Paul Bradley vs. Johnny Reese 8. Aaron Rosa vs. Devin Cole 9. Marcus Hicks vs. Karen Darabedyan 10. Pete Spratt vs. Eric Davila   Shark Fights MMA: Jardine vs. Prangley, will take place on Saturday, September 11 at the Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum. Doors open at 6:00pm CT. Fights start at 7:00 pm CT. PPV airs at 10:00pm ET. Tickets are on sale now! To purchase event tickets please go to www. Sharkfights.com, www.Panhandletickets.com, or visit any Panhandle ticket outlet.    Shark Fights MMA: Jardine vs. Prangley will be available live on Pay-Per-View on iN DEMAND, Bell TV and Viewers Choice Canada for just $29.99! Contact your cable provider for details. For additional information on Shark Fight Promotions, please visit www.sharkfights.com.
About Shark Fight Promotions:
Shark Fight Promotions, based out of Amarillo Texas, is an up-and-coming fight promotion company dedicated to driving the growth of mixed martial arts through the production of high quality MMA events and by effectively showcasing MMA fighters. The organization takes pride in putting the fans and fighters first; therefore they strive to make each Shark Fight event more exciting than the last.  Executives within the organization are committed to producing impressive fight cards with extremely competitive matchups. They are also very passionate about their philanthropic endeavors. Shark Fight Promotions stays very involved in charity causes by partnering with, and contributing to, non-profit organizations in each city that hosts a Shark Fight Promotions event.

Brainerd mixed martial arts star Brock Larson was under contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and unable to compete in the inaugural Gladiator Evolution Cagefighting Xtreme in 2009 at Villella’s Bada-Bing.

This year, Larson is no longer under contract so he will take on Eddie Larria in the second Cagefighting Xtreme Aug. 14 at Bada-Bing north of Brainerd.

“He knocked out a UFC vet so he’s pretty good,” Larson said of his 175-pound opponent. “He’s a tough, standup guy. He’s a little bit bigger than me, physically, but I think, skill-wise, I match up pretty well with him.

“I got released from my UFC contract so basically I’m a free agent. Now I can fight whoever and whenever I want. That’s kind of nice. And, I get to fight at home again for a while.”

In his last fight, Larson (30-4) beat Nick Almen in 30 seconds in the Man to Man at Seven Clans Casino May 15 at Thief River Falls.

About a dozen fights are on the card at Bada-Bing’s backyard coliseum, located on the west side of Highway 371 North near Brainerd International Raceway, which will host its showcase event that weekend, the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

Brainerd’s own Brock Larson will headline the Aug. 14 Gladiator Evolution Cagefighting Extreme at Bada-Bing in Brainerd.

Larson, who attended and helped Rori Tulenchik of Gladiator Evolution arrange last year’s Bada-Bing event, is hoping for better weather and better results for lakes area fighters this time.

“It was a little hectic because we had rain,” he said, “but all in all the event went off really good, the fights were really good. The (state boxing) commission still talks about how good the fights were.

“Everyone is excited about going back there, it’s a good thing. Most people, it was positive for them. Not all the Brainerd fighters won, some Brainerd fighters got beat up, but that’s why we fight I guess.”

Initially, Larson was reluctant to stage an MMA event the same weekend as BIR’s major race considering the horde of people in the area. Despite the weather the event went well.

“There were 1,000-plus people there last year,” he said. “We’re hoping to get a good crowd this time and entertain them, the same as we did last year.”

Weigh-ins and a prefight party are Aug. 13. A pig roast, free to all fans, will begin at 3 p.m. Aug. 14.

“We’ll get full bellies and go throw some fists,” Larson said.

His bout will be one of two main events. The other will feature 145-pounder Billy Jochum and Jason Eiserman.

“We’ve got about 10 people from Pine River to the Brainerd area that will be fighting as amateurs,” Larson said. “It should be an interesting night. Whenever you have amateurs you never know what you’re going to get, but they’re usually pretty entertaining fights.

“We’ll have four or five high-level pro fights, some pro debuts, and have about seven amateur fights.”

Larson remains busy with his training regimen and teaching others. In February he opened the House of Pain Kickboxing and Jujitsu facility in Annandale. On Sunday, his Warrior’s Alliance Martial Arts Academy officially opens at the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd.

He also has two fights lined up in the fall. One will be Sept. 11 in Amarillo, Texas, as part of the Shark Fights, a pay per-view event. In October, he’s scheduled to be in the King of the Cage event at Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Welch. The latter will be televised on HDNET.

“I’ve got three fights in two months,” he said. “I will have to strap it up, bite down on my mouthguard, and go to work.

“The plan is … win the next three, and the talk is I will be back (in the UFC), but nothing’s in writing. That’s the goal, to get back there.”

Gladiator Evolution Cagefighting Xtreme

175: Brock Larson vs. Eddie Larria

145: Jason Eiserman vs. Billy Jochum

170: Joe Jasicki vs. Kyle Fletcher

155: Shannon Scott vs.. Bruce Johnson

170: Josh Schrader vs. Kurt Etchison

Hwt: Dean Lamb vs. Kevin Garlitch

145: Kyle Wood vs. Adam Doucette

Hwt: Andrew Null vs. Jeremy Umland

135: Brad Vickers vs. Rocco Maggorie

170: Levi Pray vs. Will Kassulker

135: Julius Stone vs. Kyle Matus

155: Danny Soukup vs. Jared Torrence

170: Chad Cooper vs. Jared Averbeck

205: Andy Anderson vs. Jake Immeal

185: Jeremy Johnson vs. TBA