Titan Fighting Championship (Titan FC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion based out of Pompano Beach, FL. Their shows were originally run in and near Kansas City and have since expanded to include venues all over North America and eventually, international locations. Since July 2015, Titan FC events are broadcast on the UFC online streaming service UFC Fight Pass, which also showcases a library of the organization’s previous events.^[1]

History

Founding

Titan Fighting Championships was founded in 2005 by veteran fight promoter and, at the time, Bellator Fighting Championships’ director of operations, Joe Kelly. The organization was originally based in Kansas City and was headquartered in the city’s historic Memorial Hall, where the organization held the majority of their early events. Memorial Hall was exclusively leased to Kelly’s sports and entertainment promotion company Titan Entertainment, from which the MMA organization took its name.^[2]

Broadcast deal with HDNet

On December 13, 2010, Titan Fighting Championships announced that they had struck a deal with the cable and satellite television network HDNet (later relaunched as AXS TV) to broadcast their next event, Titan FC 16, live on the network.^[2] The event would take place on January 28, 2011 and was headlined by a super heavyweight bout between former two-time UFC Heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and former The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights cast member Abe Wagner. Prior to the airing of the promotion’s second show on the network, Titan FC 17: Lashley vs. Ott, CEO Joe Kelly announced that the organization had signed a three-year extension with HDNet to broadcast their live events under the network’s HDNet Fights label. Kelly subsequently resigned from his position at Bellator FC in order to focus full-time on running Titan FC.^[3]

Titan FC would initially air a total of nine live events on the HDNet/AXS TV networks, including a “Fight for the Troops” event taking place on June 15, 2012 at the Marshall Army Airfield at Fort Riley, Kansas, and conclude with Titan FC 24: Johnson vs. Jones which aired on August 24, 2012.

Merger with RFA[edit]

On October 11, 2012, officials for the Nebraska-based MMA promotion Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) announced that they had acquired Titan Fighting Championships, along with certain fighter contracts, as well as the organization’s television deal with, now, AXS TV.^[4] The goal was to combine the talent of both organizations under one umbrella, the RFA. Titan FC owner and president Joe Kelly would be brought in as the Vice President of the newly merged company, with seasoned MMA manager, and Black House gym owner, Ed Soares acting as the President.^[5]

Resurgence and new ownership

Seven months after the RFA buyout, the Titan FC promotion was resurrected when founder Joe Kelly bought back the organization in 2013 and produced two more shows on his own: Titan FC 25: Lashley vs. Asplund in June, and Titan FC 26: Hallman vs. Hornbuckle in August, both of which were aired live on AXS TV.^[6]

In December 2013, Jeff Aronson, the former chairman and co-founder of the fighter management company Alchemist Management, purchased a majority stake in Titan FC from the promotion’s founder and president Joe Kelly. Jeff Aronson would serve as company’s new CEO with, longtime friend and business partner, Lex McMahon serving as Titan FC’s COO. Kelly would remain as the organization’s president and minority owner.^[6]

Unlike other organizations in the past who tried to go head to head with the UFC and failed, CEO Jeff Aronson hoped to form a professional relationship with the UFC and has attempted to position Titan FC as an unofficial feeder league for the organization. The newly overhauled Titan FC has now focused itself on finding unsigned prospects, and giving top level veterans who have hit a rough patch, a platform on which to get themselves noticed, or get their career back on track.^[7]

Titan Fighting Championship (Titan FC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion based out of Pompano Beach, FL. Their shows were originally run in and near Kansas City and have since expanded to include venues all over North America and eventually, international locations. Since July 2015, Titan FC events are broadcast on the UFC online streaming service UFC Fight Pass, which also showcases a library of the organization’s previous events.^[1]

History

Founding

Titan Fighting Championships was founded in 2005 by veteran fight promoter and, at the time, Bellator Fighting Championships’ director of operations, Joe Kelly. The organization was originally based in Kansas City and was headquartered in the city’s historic Memorial Hall, where the organization held the majority of their early events. Memorial Hall was exclusively leased to Kelly’s sports and entertainment promotion company Titan Entertainment, from which the MMA organization took its name.^[2]

Broadcast deal with HDNet

On December 13, 2010, Titan Fighting Championships announced that they had struck a deal with the cable and satellite television network HDNet (later relaunched as AXS TV) to broadcast their next event, Titan FC 16, live on the network.^[2] The event would take place on January 28, 2011 and was headlined by a super heavyweight bout between former two-time UFC Heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and former The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights cast member Abe Wagner. Prior to the airing of the promotion’s second show on the network, Titan FC 17: Lashley vs. Ott, CEO Joe Kelly announced that the organization had signed a three-year extension with HDNet to broadcast their live events under the network’s HDNet Fights label. Kelly subsequently resigned from his position at Bellator FC in order to focus full-time on running Titan FC.^[3]

Titan FC would initially air a total of nine live events on the HDNet/AXS TV networks, including a “Fight for the Troops” event taking place on June 15, 2012 at the Marshall Army Airfield at Fort Riley, Kansas, and conclude with Titan FC 24: Johnson vs. Jones which aired on August 24, 2012.

Merger with RFA[edit]

On October 11, 2012, officials for the Nebraska-based MMA promotion Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) announced that they had acquired Titan Fighting Championships, along with certain fighter contracts, as well as the organization’s television deal with, now, AXS TV.^[4] The goal was to combine the talent of both organizations under one umbrella, the RFA. Titan FC owner and president Joe Kelly would be brought in as the Vice President of the newly merged company, with seasoned MMA manager, and Black House gym owner, Ed Soares acting as the President.^[5]

Resurgence and new ownership

Seven months after the RFA buyout, the Titan FC promotion was resurrected when founder Joe Kelly bought back the organization in 2013 and produced two more shows on his own: Titan FC 25: Lashley vs. Asplund in June, and Titan FC 26: Hallman vs. Hornbuckle in August, both of which were aired live on AXS TV.^[6]

In December 2013, Jeff Aronson, the former chairman and co-founder of the fighter management company Alchemist Management, purchased a majority stake in Titan FC from the promotion’s founder and president Joe Kelly. Jeff Aronson would serve as company’s new CEO with, longtime friend and business partner, Lex McMahon serving as Titan FC’s COO. Kelly would remain as the organization’s president and minority owner.^[6]

Unlike other organizations in the past who tried to go head to head with the UFC and failed, CEO Jeff Aronson hoped to form a professional relationship with the UFC and has attempted to position Titan FC as an unofficial feeder league for the organization. The newly overhauled Titan FC has now focused itself on finding unsigned prospects, and giving top level veterans who have hit a rough patch, a platform on which to get themselves noticed, or get their career back on track.^[7]

Titan Fighting Championship (Titan FC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion based out of Pompano Beach, FL. Their shows were originally run in and near Kansas City and have since expanded to include venues all over North America and eventually, international locations. Since July 2015, Titan FC events are broadcast on the UFC online streaming service UFC Fight Pass, which also showcases a library of the organization’s previous events.^[1]

History

Founding

Titan Fighting Championships was founded in 2005 by veteran fight promoter and, at the time, Bellator Fighting Championships’ director of operations, Joe Kelly. The organization was originally based in Kansas City and was headquartered in the city’s historic Memorial Hall, where the organization held the majority of their early events. Memorial Hall was exclusively leased to Kelly’s sports and entertainment promotion company Titan Entertainment, from which the MMA organization took its name.^[2]

Broadcast deal with HDNet

On December 13, 2010, Titan Fighting Championships announced that they had struck a deal with the cable and satellite television network HDNet (later relaunched as AXS TV) to broadcast their next event, Titan FC 16, live on the network.^[2] The event would take place on January 28, 2011 and was headlined by a super heavyweight bout between former two-time UFC Heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and former The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights cast member Abe Wagner. Prior to the airing of the promotion’s second show on the network, Titan FC 17: Lashley vs. Ott, CEO Joe Kelly announced that the organization had signed a three-year extension with HDNet to broadcast their live events under the network’s HDNet Fights label. Kelly subsequently resigned from his position at Bellator FC in order to focus full-time on running Titan FC.^[3]

Titan FC would initially air a total of nine live events on the HDNet/AXS TV networks, including a “Fight for the Troops” event taking place on June 15, 2012 at the Marshall Army Airfield at Fort Riley, Kansas, and conclude with Titan FC 24: Johnson vs. Jones which aired on August 24, 2012.

Merger with RFA[edit]

On October 11, 2012, officials for the Nebraska-based MMA promotion Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) announced that they had acquired Titan Fighting Championships, along with certain fighter contracts, as well as the organization’s television deal with, now, AXS TV.^[4] The goal was to combine the talent of both organizations under one umbrella, the RFA. Titan FC owner and president Joe Kelly would be brought in as the Vice President of the newly merged company, with seasoned MMA manager, and Black House gym owner, Ed Soares acting as the President.^[5]

Resurgence and new ownership

Seven months after the RFA buyout, the Titan FC promotion was resurrected when founder Joe Kelly bought back the organization in 2013 and produced two more shows on his own: Titan FC 25: Lashley vs. Asplund in June, and Titan FC 26: Hallman vs. Hornbuckle in August, both of which were aired live on AXS TV.^[6]

In December 2013, Jeff Aronson, the former chairman and co-founder of the fighter management company Alchemist Management, purchased a majority stake in Titan FC from the promotion’s founder and president Joe Kelly. Jeff Aronson would serve as company’s new CEO with, longtime friend and business partner, Lex McMahon serving as Titan FC’s COO. Kelly would remain as the organization’s president and minority owner.^[6]

Unlike other organizations in the past who tried to go head to head with the UFC and failed, CEO Jeff Aronson hoped to form a professional relationship with the UFC and has attempted to position Titan FC as an unofficial feeder league for the organization. The newly overhauled Titan FC has now focused itself on finding unsigned prospects, and giving top level veterans who have hit a rough patch, a platform on which to get themselves noticed, or get their career back on track.^[7]

Background

This will be the third event that the organization has hosted in Atlanta, following UFC 88 in September of 2008 and UFC 145 in April of 2012.^[1]

The event will be headlined by a UFC Welterweight Championship bout between current champion Robbie Lawler and top contenderTyron Woodley.^[2]

A UFC Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Demetrious Johnson and challenger Wilson Reis was expected to serve as the co-main event.^[3] However on July 8, it was announced that Johnson pulled out due to an undisclosed injury and the bout was postponed.^[4] Reis was expected to remain on the card against promotional newcomer Sean Santella,^[5] but a few days later Santella announced the bout was scrapped because the UFC said “he needed to get more medicals done and there wasn’t enough time”.^[6] In turn, Reis will now face Hector Sandoval.^[7]

Cláudio Silva was expected to face Siyar Bahadurzada at the event. However on June 16, Silva pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Jorge Masvidal.^[8] In turn, Bahadurzada pulled out of the bout on July 12 citing an illness and was replaced by The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom winner Ross Pearson.^[9][10] Pearson fought only 22 days before the event, when he lost an unanimous decision to former Bellator Lightweight Champion Will Brooks at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale.

Ray Borg was expected to face Fredy Serrano at the event, but pulled out on July 21 due to injury and was replaced by Ryan Benoit.^[11]

Justin Scoggins was expected to face Ian McCall in a flyweight bout. However, only 2 days before the event, Scoggins announced he had struggles during the weight cut and was not going to make the contracted weight. The UFC pulled Scoggins, canceled the bout and McCall will still weigh in as an alternate. Scoggins announced he will move to bantamweight for his next fight.^[12]

Official fight card

Background

This will be the third event that the organization has hosted in Atlanta, following UFC 88 in September of 2008 and UFC 145 in April of 2012.^[1]

The event will be headlined by a UFC Welterweight Championship bout between current champion Robbie Lawler and top contenderTyron Woodley.^[2]

A UFC Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Demetrious Johnson and challenger Wilson Reis was expected to serve as the co-main event.^[3] However on July 8, it was announced that Johnson pulled out due to an undisclosed injury and the bout was postponed.^[4] Reis was expected to remain on the card against promotional newcomer Sean Santella,^[5] but a few days later Santella announced the bout was scrapped because the UFC said “he needed to get more medicals done and there wasn’t enough time”.^[6] In turn, Reis will now face Hector Sandoval.^[7]

Cláudio Silva was expected to face Siyar Bahadurzada at the event. However on June 16, Silva pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Jorge Masvidal.^[8] In turn, Bahadurzada pulled out of the bout on July 12 citing an illness and was replaced by The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom winner Ross Pearson.^[9][10] Pearson fought only 22 days before the event, when he lost an unanimous decision to former Bellator Lightweight Champion Will Brooks at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale.

Ray Borg was expected to face Fredy Serrano at the event, but pulled out on July 21 due to injury and was replaced by Ryan Benoit.^[11]

Justin Scoggins was expected to face Ian McCall in a flyweight bout. However, only 2 days before the event, Scoggins announced he had struggles during the weight cut and was not going to make the contracted weight. The UFC pulled Scoggins, canceled the bout and McCall will still weigh in as an alternate. Scoggins announced he will move to bantamweight for his next fight.^[12]

Official fight card