Hard Knocks Fighting will Help Calgary Kids at Upcoming Mixed Martial Arts Event

May 21, 2012 - PRLog -- Former Canadian Olympic wrestler turned MMA promoter, Ari Taub, announced today that his local MMA organization, Hard Knocks Fighting, will support the sport dreams of local kids by donating funds to KidSport Calgary.  The live event, School of Hard Knocks 23 (HK23), will be held at the Subway Soccer Centre on May 25, 2012. A portion of high end ticket sales to HK23, purchased through KidSport Calgary, will be donated to KidSport.

Furthermore, this donation will be supplemented by 100% of the proceeds of a live on-air auction on May 23, 2012 on Sportsnet Fan 960 for a VIP table which seat 7 people and includes dinner. Ari Taub will kick off the auction on air shortly after 6am and the auction will run all day until 6pm. A signed Jarome Iginla Calgary Flames jersey will also be up for auction live at the event on May 25, 2012.

Although the partnership between Hard Knocks Fighting and KidSport is being officially launched at HK23, the fundraising for KidSport began at the last Calgary event in January of 2012. Between bouts at HK23, Taub will present a cheque in the amount of $4500 to KidSport Calgary as the proceeds from a ringside VIP table auction at HK19 held in January at the Century Casino.

Hard Knocks Fighting is working hard to support the growth of local sport and community organizations through their live MMA event shows. Up to this point, over $70,000 has been raised at Hard Knocks Fighting events and donated directly to local sport organizations and athletes, and funds are also directed to community organizations like the Lions Club. "I want to make sure that Hard Knocks continues to support the growth of local sport and the communities that we have our shows in so I make sure to incorporate it into all of our events" says Taub, CEO of Hard Knocks Fighting.

Tickets are currently available for HK23 through KidSport Calgary or hardknocksfighting.com. Ringside VIP tables include seating for 7, table service plus a pre-fight prime rib dinner.

KidSport Calgary notes that MMA is one of the fastest growing sports amongst the 50 different organized sport activities supported by KidSport Calgary sport registration fee grants.


Ari Taub, Hard Knocks representatives, and KidSport representatives are available for interview by phone, in-person, or in writing.

For any media inquiries, please contact:

Amy Lafleche
TEL: 403.560.2928
amy@hardknocksfighting.com