Icon Sport: Hard Times Press Conference

175lbs: Phil Baroni vs Ron Verdadero


ProElite.com said it will NOT be streaming Icon: Hard Times live. But to check ProElite.com in the future for that fight as it should be available shortly after.

140lb North American Title:
Bao Quach vs Mark The Shark Oshiro



180lb: Rolando Dominique vs Kala Kolohe Hose


Quick Notes from Patrick Freitas:

Icon is changing its weight classes, so Oshiro’s 135-pound state title has been retired as he goes for the 140-pound belt against Bao Quach in probably the biggest fight of the night. Quach (14-8) has won eight fights in a row, including two in ShoXC.

Rolando Dominique, who fights Kala Kolohe in a non-title match, is the brother of former NFL safety Reggie Tongue. Sherdog lists Dominique as 1-0, but Icon Sport promoter Patrick Freitas says he’s been in many amateur fights in Canada and owns at least six KO victories.

Also, it’s good to see Phil Baroni back in Hawaii. It was a tough start in 2008 for Baroni, who lost to Kala Kolohe in the Icon Sport middleweight title fight in March and then lost by TKO to Joey Villasenor on the CBS show at the end of May. He came back with a win last weekend in Cage Rage against Ryan Jensen with a monster first-round knockout and will look to continue his climb back up the ranks with a fight against tough local fighter Ron Verdadero.

Regarding Kala Kolohe at 180 and not 185 for title: Well before Kala fought Baroni for the title at 185, we were trying to get Kala to drop to 170. He's kinda built like Baroni...short and thick. Problem is that at 185 he's got face all these giants who are 6'+ and walk at 205+. Kala is 5'9" and walks at 193. Every weigh-in he's way under the limit. Since he just came off a loss at EliteXC we thought 'nows the time to test the waters below 185.' And now that Phil was able to cut to 170 for Cage Rage, we especially think Kala should start aiming for a smaller weight class. This event seemed like a perfect opportunity. Good news is that he will likely defend the MW belt in Nov...an event that will also see the first round of a 16-man 185lb Icon Grand Prix. We will also do our first ever LHW world title between boxer-turned-mma-fighter Jeremy Williams and BJ Penn protege Po'ai Suganuma.