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BET Slams Into the Arena of Mixed Martial Arts with New Original Series 'IRON RING' Premiering Tuesday, March 18 at 11 P.M. ET/PT
Teams Led by Floyd Mayweather, Ludacris, Nelly, T.I., Juelz Santana, Jim
Jones and Lil Jon Battle it Out in the New Mixed Martial Arts Series
LOS ANGELES, March 11 -- Introducing celebrities from the
worlds of hip-hop, sports and Hollywood to the competitive ranks of mixed
martial arts (MMA), BET showcases a twist to this exciting format with its
new original series IRON RING premiering Tuesday, March 18 at 11 p.m.
ET/PT.
IRON RING, a 13-episode half-hour weekly series showcasing mixed
martial arts -- the fastest-growing new sports format in entertainment --
pairs celebrity team owners, trainers and fighters to produce some of the
most compelling match-ups on television. Headlining the show is boxing
champ Floyd Mayweather (with the assistance of hip-hop star Rick Ross)
managing the Money Mayweather Boys, along with hip-hop heavyweights
Ludacris and Nelly representing Team Luda and Team Nelly (respectively);
T.I. with the help of Big Kuntry, Young Dro, DJ Drama and Alpha Omega
leading Team Grand Hustle; Juelz Santana and Jim Jones heading Dipset; and
Lil Jon with the Head Busters.
"When I heard BET was bringing IRON RING to the air ... I wanted to be
involved in any way I could," said team owner Ludacris. "... What people
will get out of IRON RING is that it's less about the man in the fight and
more about the fight in the man."
With $100,000 in prize money up for grabs, these skilled competitors go
toe-to-toe in the IRON RING using the combined fighting techniques of
jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing and wrestling. From competitive
team tryouts and grueling practices to the final face-off at the live
championship, IRON RING not only exposes the hardcore sport of mixed
martial arts, but also uniquely explores the human element by providing
insight into the lives of the fighters and coaches.
"With IRON RING, BET is delivering on our mission of providing a wide
range of programming for our audience, while also creating another forum
for black athletes to showcase their martial arts talent," said Reginald
Hudlin, President of Entertainment for BET.
IRON RING is produced by Zilo Live, Inc. in association with the
Warrington Hudlin Organization. Executive Producers are Campbell McLaren
and David Isaacs, originators of the popular Ultimate Fighting
Championship(R) franchise, along with Warrington Hudlin, best known as the
producer of the popular feature films House Party and Boomerang.
Integrated marketing partnerships include Sony PlayStation's "God of
War," Old Spice and Summit Entertainment's film "Never Back Down" featuring
Djimon Hounsou.
For show highlights and access to the exclusive IRON RING blog, visit
http://www.bet.com/ironring.
About BET Networks
BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the
nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public
affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The
primary BET channel reaches more than 87 million households according to
Nielsen Media Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the
Caribbean. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a
diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading internet
destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET Digital
Networks -- BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for
cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale
event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a
collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs
and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world
of ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET
International, an extension of BET network programming for global
distribution. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information including
releases and photographs, visit BET's press-only Web site at
http://www.bet.com/pr.
About Zilo Live, Inc.
Zilo Live creates and produces groundbreaking mixed martial arts (MMA)
television programming and events. Company founders David Isaacs and
Campbell McLaren created The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) and
pioneered the now mainstream sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). Zilo Live
is a subsidiary of Zilo Networks, a leading creator and distributor of
celebrity, event and reality programming. Isaacs and McLaren's credits
include more than 50 live pay-per-view events in genres ranging from music
to comedy to sports; award winning productions for broadcast, cable and new
media outlets; and the establishment of Zilo TV, the largest in-dorm
college television network in the nation.
About The Warrington Hudlin Organization, Inc.
The Warrington Hudlin Organization is a celebrated media producer known
for its artistic innovation, social consciousness, and commitment to
diversity. The company's current production portfolio includes motion
pictures, television, and online interactive programming for the internet.
SOURCE BET Networks
http://www.bet.com/ironring
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