HDNet to Broadcast 'HDNet Fights: DREAM 14'

HDNet to Broadcast 'HDNet Fights: DREAM 14'

Network to Feature LIVE Coverage of Loaded Fight Card - Early Morning, Saturday, May 29 at 3:00 a.m. ET

DALLAS, May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- HDNet will feature LIVE coverage of "HDNet Fights: DREAM 14" from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan early morning Saturday, May 29 at 3:00 a.m. ET. A primetime replay will follow on Friday, June 4 at 10:00 p.m. ET.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)

DREAM will eschew its traditional ring for the white cage for the second time, as the event presents a fight card stacked from top to bottom.

In the main event of the evening a storied MMA rivalry will be renewed as MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba (26-12-1) meets Ralek Gracie (2-0). Known as "the Gracie killer," Sakuraba is 4-1 against the legendary Gracie clan with victories over Royce, Renzo, Ryan, and Royler including two submission victories. At 24, Ralek represents the next generation of the founding family of MMA and is looking avenge his family and improve on his perfect MMA mark with another submission victory.

In the co-main event of the evening, Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz (21-7) meets Japanaese icon Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (35-10-2). Diaz is riding a 6-fight winning streak and has emerged as a consensus top 10 welterweight in the last year. Since scoring a surprise upset of Shinya Aoki last spring, Sakurai has dropped his last two fights and is looking to prove he can still compete at the top of the 170-pound division.

"DREAM consistently delivers great fights, but they have upped the ante for DREAM 14," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "MMA fans can party all day Saturday this Memorial Day weekend with DREAM 14 LIVE at 3:00 a.m. Eastern Saturday morning, followed by a UFC event later that night!" ."

In other action, Joachim Hansen (19-9-1) and Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (17-3) both look to get back on track after back-to-back defeats as they tangle with Hiroyuki Takaya (12-8-1) and Federico Lopez (4-2), respectively. Plus Hideo Tokoro (26-21-1) faces Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura (10-5-1), Kazuyuki Miyata (8-7) meets Takafumi Otsuka (10-4-1), Yoshiro Maeda (26-8-2) takes on Kenji Osawa (15-9-2), and the always entertaining "Minowaman" Ikuhisa Minowa (45-30-8) enters the cage.

"The Voice" Michael Schiavello and Frank "Twinkle Toes" Trigg will call all the action LIVE from Japan and only on HDNet.

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and provocative content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring five regular season games from the Premiere Season of the United Football League. HDNet also features the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, King of the Cage, XFC, M-1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport.

HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild," "Deadline" and "Get Out!" HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.

Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS.

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

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Source: HDNet

CONTACT: Colette Carey, Director of Media and PR of HDNet,
+1-303-542-5576, ccarey@hd.net

Web Site: http://www.hd.net/

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