Former WBC Champ Pawel Wolak to make MMA Debut at Matrix Fights
FORMER WORLD CHAMPION BOXER PAWEL WOLAK SET TO MAKE MMA DEBUT AT MATRIX FIGHTS ON FRIDAY, DEC. 5 IN PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA, PA – In response to published reports, Matrix Fights (www.MatrixFights.com) officially announced today that former WBC light middleweight champion Pawel “The Raging Bull” Wolak will make his professional Mixed Martial Arts debut at Matrix Fights 9 (@MatrixFights) on Friday, December 5 at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory in Philadelphia.
“During his time as an active boxer, Pawel was a top ten ranked fighter and held world titles in two separate weight classes,” Matrix Fights promoter Sam Caplan (@SamCaplanMMA) began to state, before continuing. “Pawel wrestled in high school and for the past couple of years he has received world class training from Renzo Gracie’s top MMA and BJJ instructors while also sparring the likes of Eddie Alvarez and Frank Edgar. Simply put, Pawel Wolak has all the tools to be a wrecking machine in MMA. I played a small role in helping launch the championship MMA careers of Cole Konrad and Michael Chandler and it’s exciting to have the opportunity to promote Pawel in his first pro MMA bout.
“A lot of promotions pursued Pawel and his camp in order to try and get him to make his debut on their show. We are very excited that Pawel and his management team chose Matrix Fights as the promotion where he will launch his professional MMA career.”
While the pursuit for Wolak’s pro MMA debut was hot and heavy, Wolak felt that signing with Matrix made all the sense in the world.
“Matrix made a lot of sense to me to debut with because of the similarities it has with me,” he said. “Location is close to where I live and they are upcoming in the sport just like I am about to be. They treat me well and appreciate where I am trying to go and that counts for a lot. I can fight close to home too so this was a no brainer for me.”
Wolak’s professional MMA debut on Dec. 5 will represent the first step in a journey towards high-level success in MMA. But Wolak respects the challenge ahead.
“I plan on being champion,” stated Wolak. “I am not doing this for fun I am doing this because I want to be world champion and the most successful crossover boxer ever into MMA and I believe I will be. It won’t be tomorrow. It’s a process. But I come in respecting every fighter out there regardless of their records and rank. I’m not dumb enough to think that nobody is unbeatable. That’s why we fight.”
An opponent for Wolak on Dec. 5 has yet to be named but Matrix officials are in the process of finalizing his opposition for the event.
Wolak’s fight joins previously announced bouts for Dec. 5 that include active Bellator MMA roster member Will Martinez squaring off with former Bellator MMA and Strikeforce fighter Ian Rammel in a lightweight contest; Bellator MMA veterans Jesus “Chavo” Martinez and LeVon Maynard set to do battle in a 180 lbs. catchweight dream match; and Philly MMA stalwarts Brylan Van Artsdalen and Steve McCabe going head-to-head for the first time in featherweight action.
Tickets for MATRIX FIGHTS 9 (www.MatrixFights.com) on Dec. 5 at the PA National Guard Armory (located at 2700 Southampton Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154) are currently on-sale at www.MatrixFights.com (click “Tickets”). The promotion’s online box office is being handled through CageTix.com (www.CageTix.com/Matrix) with local fighters set to begin selling tickets on a consignment basis within the next week. Ticket prices start at $30 for general admission seating with floor seats ranging from $45-125 with VIP seating available at $250 per seat.
For updates and additional information, please sign up for the Matrix Fights mailing list through its website or follow Matrix Fights on Facebook (search: Matrix Fights) or Twitter (@MatrixFights).
ABOUT MATRIX FIGHTS (www.MatrixFights.com): Launched in 2008, Matrix Fights is one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts promotional entertainment companies on the East Coast. Founded by both the noted Migliarese and Binns families, Matrix Fights is owned and operated by Jimmy Binns Jr., Phil Migliarese, Ricardo Migliarese, and Sam Caplan. Binns Jr. is long-time boxing promoter and former executive with the World Boxing Association. He is also the son of former Pennsylvania Boxing Commissioner and noted Philadelphia attorney Jimmy Binns Sr. The Migliarese brothers are the owners and lead instructors of Balance Studios, one of the premier jiu-jitsu academies in the United States. Both began studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as teenagers and were ultimately promoted to black belt by the legendary Relson Gracie. Caplan is a renowned matchmaker who was inducted into the inaugural class for the New Jersey Mixed Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2012. Fighters that have competed in Matrix include current UFC flyweight competitor Wilson Reis; former Bellator MMA heavyweight champion Cole Konrad; former Bellator MMA tournament competitors Tim Carpenter, Will Martinez, Mike Mucitelli and Sam Oropeza; The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show competitors Tim Williams, Aaron Meisner, and Anthony Gutierrez; Bellator veterans Jesus Martinez, LeVon Maynard, Brylan Van Artsdalen, and Ben Reiter; UFC/Strikeforce/Bellator MMA veteran Nah’Shon Burrell; Invicta Fights’ Munah Holland; WEC veteran Anthony Morrison; and Glory World Series competitor Francois Ambang.
