World Combat League Announces that VERSUS Remains Television Partner

After a
highly-successful inaugural season that surpassed even the most optimistic
projections for arena attendance and television ratings, the World Combat
League returns this fall with three new teams, an expanded bout schedule and a
more comprehensive television agreement with the VERSUS network.

Last
season, the WCL was the VERSUS network’s fourth-highest rated property, ranking
ahead of the National Hockey League.

“We
are a long-term player on the mixed-martial arts landscape,” said WCL
founder and martial arts legend Chuck Norris. “The WCL has been a 35-year
dream of mine, and to see how quickly it was embraced by both fans and
television sponsors surprised even me. There is a hunger out there for team
mixed-martial arts that put skill and athleticism ahead of hype and brutality.
It’s a stand up combat sport. We are doing what the spectators want, ‘Knock
outs not tap outs.’ That’s the WCL’s approach. It’s a long term strategy that
we believe will keep this sport strong and vibrant long after sensationalism
ceases to create headlines.”

The
2007-08 WCL season gets under way Saturday, Oct. 20 at
Denver’s

Broomfield
Event
Center,
where bouts will take place featuring the league’s four Western Conference
squads: the Oklahoma Destroyers vs. the Texas Dragons and the Los Angeles Stars
vs. the newly-formed Denver Fury. The league’s Eastern Conference includes the
New York Clash, Miami Force and the expansion New Jersey Tigers and St. Louis
Enforcers (previously Houston Enforcers).

A complete
2007-08 WCL schedule is available at the WCL’s website, wcl.tv.

Each team
consists of six fighters (including one female) and each individual fights
two-3 minute rounds. “Our matches are non-stop action,” said Norris.
“It’s the most exciting three minutes of mixed-martial arts anywhere. The
athletes get into the ring and go full throttle. In fact, the WCL had a 34-percent
knockout rate last season, which is tops anywhere. If a fighter try’s to slow
the pace of the fight down, they will be penalized for passivity.”

VERSUS
will package the season into 20 one-hour shows, which will also be distributed
internationally. By limiting the bouts to three minutes each, every show is
guaranteed 10-12 fights.