TORONTO — The World Series of Fighting has acquired Canada’s Aggression Fighting Championship, although the merger took one member of the Canadian promotion by surprise.
The Las Vegas-based WSOF, whose shows air on the NBC Sports Network, plans to hold its first show in Canada on Dec. 7 at Vancouver’s PNE Agrodome.
The main event will feature former UFC light-heavyweights Anthony (Rumble) Johnson (15-4) and Mike (MAK) Kyle (20-10-1). Also on the card a middleweight tournament semifinal bout between Elvis (The King) Mutapcic (13-2) and Jesse (JT Money) Taylor (26-9).
The Aggression Fighting Championship was created by the April 2012 union of Edmonton-based Aggression MMA, Victoria-based Armageddon FC and Calgary-based AX Combat.
Announcement of the World Series of Fighting takeover came as a surprise to Jason Heit, who founded Armageddon FC and co-owned it with Darren Owen.
“All I can say is the World Series of Fighting has never contacted me,” Heit said in an interview Thursday.
“I’m still an owner of the Armageddon Fighting Championships and the three companies are working together, are supposed to be working together under the Aggression banner,” he added. “But oddly enough, somehow, nobody’s contacted me and I’ve been notified about the sale of the AFC through the media. Which is quite perplexing.”
Owen seemed more up to date on the move, given he was quoted in the WSOF release on the acquisition.
“Our fans will be getting the chance to see world-class MMA fights, and they will be able to enjoy exciting events across our great country,” said Owen, listed as CEO of World Series of Fighting Canada.
“We couldn’t be more excited for both our fighters and fight fans across Canada. We are thrilled to become part something as big as the World Series of Fighting Canada.”
A spokesman for the World Series of Fighting declined further comment.
AX Combat co-founder Steve Fader was listed on the release as chief financial officer of World Series of Fighting Canada.
In early 2011, the co-owners of the Armageddon Fighting Championships appeared on the “Dragons’ Den” TV show and emerged with new investors.
Heit and Owen had asked for $55,000 for 10 per cent of their company to help fund their growth. They ended up getting $80,000 for 30 per cent.
The Canadian show will be the seventh for the World Series of Fighting.
