Interview: Kimo Leopoldo

As one of mixed martial arts’ original pioneers, Kimo “Therapy” Leopoldo continues be an innovator. Spearheading a fresh approach to the business, Leopoldo’s experience and shear tenacity are translating into one of the best opportunities in the country for up-and-coming fighters. Along with savvy businessman Ron Kort, together they enter the age of New Era Fighting.

Q. I’m very curious Kimo, how did the deal with New Era Fighting come about?
A. The owner, Ron Kort, and I are old friends. We began talking one day and realized we had similar thoughts about the MMA industry. We felt that the sport was becoming too political, and there was no justice for both the competitors or the audience. And honestly, we think they deserve to know the truth. So far, no one else has stepped up and shown they really care about the fighters and the fans.

Q. How does the NEF differ from other MMA organizations?
A. The NEF is different on many levels. First of all, we will take 50% of the gate and divide the remaining money between the fighters. It’s like they have an equity stake in the company and we believe this will instill pride in them. Unlike most organizations, we are taking a non-greedy approach. There’s a lot of money in MMA and we want to share it with the fighters. They are the ones putting it on the line for us.

Secondly, we are going to have competitors that you can get to know and follow. We will have the same violence in the ring as MMA, but with characters like you see in wrestling. Guess you could say it’s WWE meets MMA. NEF is not just brutal fighting, it’s sports entertainment as well.

Also, our rules will ensure that the matches are action-packed so the fights don’t get boring like the UFC has become. You know, if you lose a few fights in the UFC, you’re basically out. But with the NEF, win, lose, or draw, you still have a place to fight.

Q. Can you tell me a little about the World’s Toughest Man Contest that the NEF is running?
A. Our first event will be a three day tournament where we will be looking for fighters to sign on to the organization. The winner of the tournament will be presented a belt, and then go on to face me in a winner take all match, with a purse of $1 million.

This is unprecedented in the MMA industry. Everyone is welcome to come to the tryouts. The only requirement is to weigh 205lb or more. This is a great opportunity for new fighters.

(Continue Reading)

New Era Fighting Shares Profits With Fighters

By Bob Treiger

SANTA ANA, California - New Era Fighting (NEF) president/CEO Ron Kort has announced that his hot, new MMA organization is offering an unprecedented even split of the gate, after expenses, to all of its participating fighters at future shows.

NEF also is offering the highest purse in the history of Mixed Martial Arts competition -- $1,000,000 - to the winner of its revolutionizing "World's Toughest Man" (WTC) contest winner if in a winner-take-all fight he defeats legendary combat fighter Kimo Leopoldo, who recently issued a challenge to UFC president Dana White because of derogatory remarks White made about Kimo and NEF.

UFC is generating roughly $3,000,000 at the door and roughly $20,000,000 a show," Kort explained the reasoning for his revolutionary offer to fighters. "I believe UFC made $222 million in 2006. NEF is willing to take 50-percent of the door and split the rest between fighters for any of our events, in addition to giving the fighters their regular purse. That way they will have a bigger stake in their fights and, in a way, will be 'part owners' of NEF.

"So, fighters entering our WTC contest may also be offered a promotional contract, whether they win or lose and that, in turn, means the WTC also represents a scouting mission for future NEF 'owners' in addition to a shot at $1,000,000. NEF has been built on the belief that it is for the fighters, by the fighters, and by the audience for the audience, not like other groups like the UFC that are political motivated and/or into promoting only favored fighters. NEF's goal is to balance a fight organization in favor of fighters and audience members equally."

NEF, featuring the raw violence of UFC and WWE-like entertainment outside of the ring, plans a series of international level tryouts, tentatively scheduled to begin June 15-17, at a venue in Orange Country, California. Each tryout in the proposed series will be conducted during a three-day tournament in an 8-10 month period. Selected fighters will advance to the next round, where they will fight each other in a tournament format to eventually determine the remaining 10 survivors.

The 10 tryout-survivors and some fighters already signed to NEF promotional contracts will compete on a show in either California or Las Vegas. The winner will be crowned "World's Toughest Man" and be offered an anticipated $1,000,000 winner-take-all fight against living legend Kimo, headlining a full card for a pay-per-view broadcast live from in Las Vegas at a date to be determined.

For more information about New Era Fighting call 877.6.NEW.ERA (877.663.9372)/714.448.9999 or go on line to www.newerafighting.com.

(Source)

Kimo Challenges UFC's Dana White

SANTA ANA, California (March 1, 2007) - Very surprised about derogatory remarks made about him by UFC president Dana White, New Era Fighting superstar and MMA living legend Kimo Leopoldo has responded by issuing a challenge to White as well as any of his UFC fighters.

In a recent conference call, according to reports, White was nearly speechless when told of New Era Fighting's $1-million-winner-take-all tournament finale (for the winner of this year's planned "World Toughest Man Contest") against Kimo. White was quoted saying, "I'm in New York (and) there's about 50,000 people downstairs right now that can beat Kimo."

"I was very surprised Dana White made it personal by singling me out," Kimo said. "I'd like to see him look me in the eyes and say it instead of doing it 3000 miles away behind closed doors. White doesn't have the heart. He's been hanging out with fighters so long he must think he's a fighter. He doesn't know what it takes but I'm more than willing to show him. I challenge him to a fight and I guarantee it will take me no longer than three minutes to beat him. I won't be allowed to throw any kicks, elbows, knees or punches. He can make up ANY rules he wants and I'll still beat him senseless. Whatever the purse is, I won't take any money, it can all go to the Kimo-Therapy Foundation.

"He said UFC is No. 1. Why not prove it in New Era Fighting's 'World's Toughest Man Contest' by allowing his fighters to compete? UFC is shit talking; NEF backs up what it says. Unlike UFC, we promote for the fighters. Nobody wants to say anything bad about UFC or White because of deals and contracts. No one has ever had the balls to say this, but, it is a fact that the only reason he has his job is that he's best friends with the owners, the Feritta brothers. I've heard Dana used to box and he's been training to fight. Well, let's get it on, White."

White also ripped PRIDE, an MMA organization based in Japan, in addition to dissing Kimo.

"UFC has a paper champ like (Tim) Sylvia," Kimo continued. "Chuck (Liddell) is their only legitimate champ and it's not like he's undefeated. Look at what Quinton Jackson did to him (TKO in 2003) in Japan. I guess that's why UFC is stronger at light heavyweight than heavyweight."

New Era Fighting (NEF), the internationally booming mixed martial arts organization combining the raw brutality of UFC with the entertainment value of WWE, will hold a series of international level tryouts, tentatively scheduled to begin June 15-17, at a venue in Orange Country, California.

Each tryout in the proposed series will be conducted during a three-day tournament during an 8-10 month period. Selected combat fighters will advance to the next round to fight each other in a tournament format to eventually determine the remaining 10 survivors.

The 10 tryout-survivors and some fighters already signed to NEF promotional contracts will compete on a show in either California or Las Vegas. The winner will be crowned "World's Toughest Man" and be offered an anticipated $1,000,000 winner-take-all fight - the highest purse in MMA history -- against Kimo, headlining a full card for a pay-per-view broadcast live from in Las Vegas at a date to be determined.

NEF president Ron Kort also took great offense to White taking cheap shots at his new company and Kimo. "UFC is the originator of our sport," Kort noted, "so why talk bad about competitors like NEF and PRIDE? Kimo's a pioneer in this sport who deserves respect not trash talk from White. What's he ever done that's original? We're offering Dana White a chance to back up what he said -- there were 50,000 people in New York City who could beat Kimo. There aren't five in White's UFC who can give Kimo a good fight, never mind beat him. And if White's so bad, like he acts, let him accept Kimo's challenge. I don't think he wants to back up his words. Dana's not stupid enough to fight Kimo or confident of letting any of his UFC fighters get in the ring with Kimo."

For more information about New Era Fighting call 877.6.NEW.ERA (877.663.9372)/714.448.9999 or go on line to www.newerafighting.com.