At MCC 20, Erik Koch literally ran through the competition in a four man tournament which crowned him the number one contender to the title. Immediately following his win he accepted the challenge to take on “Mad Dog”.  Mickle, who recently competed in front of millions on national television at the UFC’s sister promotion, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), is excited to accept the challenge that the 20 year old phenom has laid out.  “Erik Koch truly is the complete package for an up and coming fighter,” stated MCC co-owner Ryan Hass, adding, “people need to come watch this kid fight live, because I have a feeling he will be making it to the big show very, very soon!”  Featherweight champion, Chris Mickle has been involved in some of the most epic battles inside the MCC cage, and this fight should be nothing less that highlight worthy.

A true display of class both inside and outside the cage, Ronnie “Warfrog” Britt has announced his upcoming retirement following one last fight at MCC 21.  “Warfrog” has never backed down from a challenge and throughout his entire career has been a true inspiration to every person he has come in contact with.  Spawning the careers of UFC veteran and MCC co-owner John “Hurricane” Halverson, WEC veteran and MCC champion Chris “Mad Dog” Mickle, and countless others, Ronnie has become both a fighter and fan favorite. We, at MCC appreciate everything Britt has given to us, the fans, and the sport.  When he steps in the cage at MCC 21, Britt promises to go out with a bang.  Come watch the legend in his last battle!  Britt has started a weekly blog in the press section of www.MidwestCageChampionship.com, that shares his background and his day to day training leading up to his fight. Check the site each week as he will be posting frequently.

Also on the card, Mike “Mini Van” Van Meer, TJ “The Spider” O’Brien, Elvis “The King” Mutapcic, Will Shutt, Josh “Bobby” Henry, Troy Cline, Thomas Lopez and many more.  With eleven exciting mixed martial arts bouts, this is the show you don’t want to miss.  Tickets start at $25.00 and are available on-line at www.MidwestCageChampionship.com through Dahls Tickets, 1-866-55-DAHLS, or by calling 515-229-8566.  Visit www.MidwestCageChampionship.com for more details.  Friday, June 26, MCC 21 Mickle vs Koch.  Doors open at 6:30 with the opening fight at 7:30.  The hottest action this Summer is at Midwest Cage Championship.

“If it ain’t MCC, it ain’t real”

Tom Ahrens goes against UFC vet Ryan Roberts and Will Shutt and Josh Atwell come together in a rubber match to settle the score. The winners of those matches meet again that night in a featherweight tournament that will unquestionably determine the dominant man that night. “Tournaments like this were more prevalent earlier in the evolution of MMA, when there weren’t as many qualified competitors as there are today,” provided MCC matchmaker Ryan Hass. ” It’s great to employ an element that has contributed so much to creating incredible fighters. As conditioned as pro MMA fighters have become, it’s hard to imagine what it takes to compete twice in one night. The fans had better be prepared as well. This is going to be one wild ride,” Hass completed.

In total, fans will see ten action packed bouts including Jesse Lund vs. Chad Vance, Mike “Mini Van” Van Meer vs. Jake Pudenz, and fights featuring Miguel “El Ray” Rios, Shawn McDermott, Mike Miller, and Alivonta Turner.

MCC 20: Last Man Standing, comes fast on the heels of the highly successful MCC 19: The Return, where Joe Brammer not only returned to MCC, he took home the belt. Fans at MCC 20 can look forward to the same giant video screen that debuted at MCC 19, as well as the wealth of products and services offered at the new MCC Merchandise Mall.

Tickets for MCC 20: Last Man Standing are on sale now and can be purchased at the Val Air box office, by phone at 223-6152, and on-line at http://www.midwestcagechampionship.com

Doors open at 6:30 PM, fights start promptly at 7:30 PM. Full details on Midwest Cage Championship, including complete results from MCC 19 can be found at http://www.midwestcagechampionship.com

Des Moines, IA- February 4, 2009- The production level of live professional mixed martial arts (MMA) in Iowa becomes elevated to a new level on Saturday, March 14 when Midwest Cage Championship brings MCC 19: The Return, to the Val Air Ballroom. Attendees will benefit from the addition of a 7 by 10 foot video display to get a closer look at ten bouts, including the interim Lightweight Championship and main event when undefeated Joe “The Hammer” Brammer versus Kansas City superstar Michael Johnson. Brammer has not fought in an MCC event since 2006, and his bout against Gracie Barra fighter Johnson could prove the fight of the year, certainly so far. The winner, thus interim champ, will face current MCC champion Bryce Teager to unify the title in a bout scheduled for later this year.

Other key bouts include Jake “Dirty Bird” Brown taking on grappling phenom Alex Harper, as Brown comes off a devastating knockout win over Colby Karaidos in MCC 18. Another highly anticipated fight occurs when Brian “Smokin” Green returns to MCC action facing Evan Marks. Both men had the near capacity crowd at MCC 18 on their chairs with their victorious wins. Green won by submission over Jason Loucke and Marks win by brutal knockout over Ronnie Britt. Green, a former MCC Middleweight champion, has been clear with his intent to regain the belt and not allowing anyone to stand in his way.

In a perfect match up in the Bantam Weight division, feet and fists will fly a million miles per hour as Nate “Teddy Bear” Williams takes on Johnny La Prai in both fighters pro debuts. Williams, a classically trained and successful wrestler, puts his skills against nationally known boxer La Prai. This fight could go any direction, knowing the one certainty is the speed of the action.

Bouts featuring Paul “Gingabread Man” Bird, Ronnie “Warfrog” Britt, and Josh “The Bull” Christensen are sure to be other crowd favorites.

The crowd is sure to be pleased as views of the fights will be greatly improved via the giant video display. The display is being installed by All Over Media, the nations premier provider of indoor advertising, based on the formation of a strategic marketing agreement with Midwest Cage Championship. All Over Media provides technology and advertising content for national brands as well as local businesses to outlets including Wells Fargo Arena, Applebee’s, Champs, Hooters, and other high traffic locations. “We’re thrilled to participate in such an exciting sport, and feel we found the perfect fit with MCC”, stated All Over Media/Iowa owner Randy Luedtke. “We attended previous MCC events at the Val Air to determine what improvements could be delivered and found the addition of digital video at the top of the list for many of the people we spoke with”, Luedtke concluded.

Tickets for MCC 19: The Return are on sale now and can be purchased at the Val Air box office, by phone at 515-223-6152, and on-line at http://midwestcagechampionship.com

Max Muscle has rapidly expanded to over 150 nutrition super stores nationwide, with the Clive store among their newest locations. The majority of products sold at the store are manufactured by Max Muscle and are particularly popular among people participating in sports at all levels. “We’re thrilled to bring this store concept to Iowa. We’ve gained attention from a wide array of people, spanning all age groups, and with people looking to attain different personal goals”, commented Joel Boyens, owner of the Clive franchise store. ” The trust we built quickly with area sports teams and individual competitors speaks volumes. If we can become part of the regimine of dedicated athletes, including professional MMA fighters, people simply interested in health and well being will follow”, Boyens concluded.

Ortiz will be on-hand at Max Muscle Saturday from noon til 4 PM. He will also make the rounds of several Des Moines media outlets to reach out to his fans and provide invitations to the Max Muscle event. The store is located at 1300 NW 100th Street, Clive 50325 (just north of Valley West Mall). The phone number for the store is 327-1MAX. Full details can be found at http://www.maxmuscledesmoines.com

Max Muscle is a sponsor of Midwest Cage Championship as well as some of its fighters.

The best way to ensure the safety of millions of children who use the Internet each day is through education- being informed about the problem and learning ways to keep children free from harm.

The Safe Surfin’ Foundation provides parents, teachers and school administrators, law enforcement, community groups and librarians with the information and resources necessary to keep children safe from harm.

More information can be found on the Safe Surfin’ Foundation website.

Des Moines, IA- November 11, 2008- One of Des Moines finest and most talented ladies will be selected to participate in upcoming Midwest Cage Championship professional mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions beginning with MCC 17: Thanksgiving Throwdown. A competition will begin tomorrow Wednesday, November 12 during DMX Fight Night at Uncle Buck’s Party Bar at 1720 25th Street in West Des Moines. Final competition and judging will be held at the same location on Wednesday, November 19.

The competition provides a great way for contestants to display their personality, while having a fun time at one of Des Moines most popular venues and events. The contest winner will receive awards from MCC and many of their sponsors, as well as receiving exposure during the November 26 MCC event at the Val Air Ballroom and via a Mediacom broadcast. Current MCC ring girl Melanie Schreurs also holds the runner up title in Juice’s Hottest Reader Contest and is presently in the top 10 of the Lazer 103.3 Rock Girl competition.

Contestants will be provided free admission to Uncle Buck’s and must arrive by 8 PM. Required attire is a black top with denim skirt or shorts. All contestants must be 18 years of age or older. All inquires can be directed to dmxfightclub@aol.com or by phone at 515-229-8566.

Midwest Cage Championship is the largest MMA organization in Iowa and was named one of the top ten fastest growing fight companies in the nation by Elite Fighter magazine. Full details are available at http://www.midwestcagechampionship.com

A 30 second television spot for MCC 17: Thanksgiving Throwdown can be viewed at the following link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf18RICZPOQ

Des Moines, IA- October 7, 2008- Mixed martial arts (MMA) once again lights up the historic Val Air Ballroom on Wednesday, November 26. MCC 17: Thanksgiving Throwdown, is the third annual MCC event held on the eve of Thanksgiving. The special holiday show consistently showcases much of the top talent from throughout the year. This years show features two championship bouts, including one that will crown the vacant middleweight belt. The other title bout welcomes the return of current MCC light heavyweight champ, and WEC veteran, Chuck “The Reverend” Grigsby.

Grigsby’s preparation and WEC experience will come into play as he returns to MCC to defend his title against perhaps his greatest challenger to date. Grigsby faces Travis “Ironman” Fulton, a UFC vet credited with the most fights in mixed martial arts history. Fulton’s resume of 200 plus fights reads like a virtual who’s who of the sport, and a win by Grigsby would catapult him to center spotlight.

The evenings co-main event and middleweight title bout features undefeated prospect Zac Cummings vs. former MCC champ Mike “Mini Van” Van Meer. Cumings previously ripped through opponents like Victor Moreno and Danny Anderson in his quest for the coveted championship. Van Meer is a one man fight factory, and the match up of these two fine wrestlers combined with impressive stand and bang talents are sure to please the crowd.

Other top billed fights in the eleven bout card include Cole Jennett as he moves one step closer to a title shot when he takes on Chris Powers. Jennett’s recent loss to Mike Van Meer has fueled his competitive fire to win this bout. Jennett has expanded his training regimen and partners, and went on record stating “losing is not an option”. Powers has wins against both Brian Green and Doug Onstot and he appears unfazed by the challenge. The warrior who takes this match places himself in line for a title shot.

Fans will also line up to see proven performers including Paul “The Gingabread Man” Bird, Josh “The Bull Christensen, Jesse Lund, and Ryan Langmaid.

Door open at 6:30 PM, with fights starting promptly at 7:30 PM. Tickets go on sale Friday and can be purchased at the Val Air box office, by calling 515-223-6152, and on-line at http://www.midwestcagechampionship.com and at http://www.tickemaster.com

VIP tables can be purchased by calling 515-229-8566

Des Moines, IA- August 22, 2008- Three new companies have joined the ranks of sponsors for Iowa’s largest professional mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company. Midwest Cage Championship (MCC), based in Des Moines, announced the addition of Vitamin Water, Max Muscle, and Vantus Bank as sponsors. At the same time, the company announced a marketing agreement with the Iowa Barnstormers.

Today’s announcement increases the total number of MCC sponsors to seventeen. Other sponsors include Budweiser, Mediacom, Iowa Army National Guard, and HD-Net. Each sponsor participates in live events held in Des Moines approximately every six to eight weeks, and in televised broadcasts on Mediacom and highlight segments on HD-Nets Inside MMA program.

Vitamin Water is the leader in the enhanced water category and provides Vitamin Energy drinks that are free of artificial colors, sweeteners, and flavors. Vitamin Water is distributed nationwide by Coca-Cola and has experienced triple digit growth for five straight years. Vitamin Water is the official hydration product for MCC athletes, and Vitamin Energy product samples will be provided to fans attending MCC events. More information can be located at  http://www.glaceau.com

Max Muscle Sports Nutrition is renowned in the health and fitness industry for supplements they manufacture themselves. In operation since 1991, Max Muscle operates over 100 stores nationwide with plans to open 100 new stores in the next five years. The first store in the Des Moines market will open in September at 1300 NW 100^th Street in Clive. More information can be found at http://www.maxmuscledesmoines.com

Vantus Bank operates sixteen banking locations throughout Iowa and has been in continual operation since 1923. Formerly known as First Federal Bank, the name was changed to Vantus in 2007. The bank launched the Vantus Bank Fight Club, providing special offers to attendees of MCC events and financial products for MCC competitors, officials, and staff. More information can be found at http://www.vantusbank.com

Des Moines professional arena football team, the Iowa Barnstormers, will be promoted during MCC live events and on television. Attending fans will also have the chance to meet Barnstormers players as well the Stormchasers, their wildly popular cheerleaders. Contests and giveaways for free Barnstormers tickets will be promoted during the regular Barnstormers playing season. Additionally, MCC events will be promoted during Barnstormers games.

The next Midwest Cage Championship event is MCC 16: No Guts, No Glory ! The event will be held on Friday, September 12 at the 95/KGGO Bucs Arena in Urbandale, IA. Full details can be found at http://www/midwestcagechampionship.com

Des Moines, IA- August 11, 2008- Professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) returns to Urbandale’s Buccaneer’s Arena on Friday, September 12. Midwest Cage Championship, Iowa’s premier MMA promoter, will deliver a ten bout show stacked with major talent and significant fights.

The MCC Featherweight belt is on the line when Josh “Jigsaw” Atwell defends himself against up and comer, and number one contender, TJ “The Spider” O’Brien. Atwell took the belt from Will Shutt in MCC 13, and O’Brien has gained impressive wins in non-title bouts since that time. Atwell, with beginnings as a standout wrestler, and known for his tenacity, has delivered some of the most crowd pleasing performances in MCC history. For all his experience and success, Atwell clearly has his hands full, as O’Brien remains undefeated in MCC and has quickly become known for his Jujitsu, often leaving his opponents quickly tapping or suddenly sleeping.

In another much anticipated match, Des Moines native and two time UFC veteran, John “Hurricane” Halverson returns to MCC action when he meets Vern “The Native Assassin” Jefferson. Most recently, Halverson dropped a close three round war to fellow UFC fighter Jorge Gurgel. “It’s awesome fighting for the huge UFC crowds, national TV and pay-per-view, but for me it never compares to the experience of fighting in my hometown, for the fans, friends, and family that are truly most important to me” stated a grateful Halverson. Jefferson is no stranger to the same crowd. He has over thirty pro bouts to his credit and a solid reputation as a warrior willing to take on anyone. As Jefferson will now face one of the top lightweights in the Midwest, that experience and fortitude will be put to the ultimate test.

Other key talent and bouts for MCC 16 include the return of Cole “The Apprentice” Jennet, and the match-up of two undefeated fighters when Alex Harper takes on NCAA All American wrestler Joe “Excalibur” Ellenberger.

MCC 16: No Guts, No Glory! takes place at the Bucs Arena, 7201 Hickman Road, Urbandale, IA on Friday, September 12. Doors open at 6:30PM, fights begin promptly at 7:30 PM. Tickets prices begin at $25 and can be purchased at the Bucs box office, by phone at 515-278-9757, and on-line at http://www.midwestcagechampionship.com. VIP tables can be purchased by calling 515-229-8566.

Des Moines, IA- July 20, 2008- Fast on the heels of the final bout at MCC 14 that nearly brought down the house, Midwest Cage Championship announces MCC 15: Lights Out! The event will be held on Friday, July 25 at the Val Air Ballroom, located at 301 Ashworth Road in West Des Moines.

The ten bout event includes a title fight and a solid mix of local favorites. The main event will fill the vacant MCC Lightweight belt when #1 contender Bryce Teager faces up and comer, and local favorite Paul “Gingabread Man” Bird. Teager, known for his strength and never say die attitude, has toppled numerous opponents throughout the Midwest and remains undefeated since his fight when he lost to UFC vet John “Hurricane” Halverson. Bird, a former boxer turned MMA fighter, has trained with the very same John Halverson, as well as popular UFC fighter Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens in preparation for the MCC 15 Teager title fight. The name of the event, Lights Out! was chosen based on the high probability one of the opponents will go down with a sudden thud, or go to sleep that night.

The fight card is completed with the inclusion of proven pro fighters, and crowd pleasers, Danny “The Badger” Anderson, Josh “The Bull” Christiansen, Jesse Lund, and Ronnie “The Warfrog” Britt.

MCC 15 marks the return of pro mixed martial arts to the historic Val Air Ballroom. MCC’s
sister promotion, Title Fight Championship (TFC) held the standing room only “Awakening” event at the Val Air in January.

Doors open on Friday, July 25 at 6:30 PM. Fights begin promptly at 7:30 PM. Tickets for the all ages show go on sale next week and can be purchased at the Val Air box office, at midwestcagechampionship.com, and ticketmaster.com. VIP tables can be purchased by calling (515) 229-8566.