Sam Caplan announced today that Kansas City-based MMA promotion Titan Fighting Championship is headed to Philadelphia in June or July. The promotion, of which Caplan is part-owner and matchmaker, will scout out venues soon in the city, and will broadcast the event live on HDNet, Caplan said. The event will feature “big national names” on its card, but in addition, several local fighters will most likely be signed to fight, Caplan said.
Titan has grabbed headlines recently for inking a deal with HDNet, and also for signing former pro wrestler-turned-fighter Bobby Lashley to a one-fight deal. The promotion also boasts such well-known names as former UFC fighters Phil “New York Bad Ass” Baroni and Abe Wagner.
Recently, Caplan made a post on his facebook page, asking those in the Philadelphia MMA scene if they would be interested in Titan coming to town. “We got a great response from it,” he said. Caplan and Titan co-owner Joe Kelly met with HDNet, and the network is sending a crew down to look at two venues: The Philadelphia Armory and the University of Pennsylvania’s 1923 Arena.
As far as big names, Caplan said Baroni is itching to fight on the card. The New York native may have moved to Las Vegas, but “He really wants to come back and fight on the east coast,” Caplan said. “He really wants to fight on that show. We just have to find a good opponent for him.” Lashley’s future is not as clear. He signed a one-fight deal with Titan — and faces James Jack at Titan FC 17 on March 25 — but Caplan said he would “love to have him” on the Philly event as well.
Caplan said he’s been in contact with two of Philadelphia’s biggest academies, Daddis Fight Camps and Balance Studios, asking about fighters who would be available for the event. In addition, fighters from the Fight Factory may also be considered, Caplan said. “We’re going to give local guys a chance to be on TV,” he said. “It’s going to be a great way to give them the exposure they deserve.”
