"Shark Fights 14" Set For March 11 On HDNet With Five Free Fights

In a little under a week, upstart Texan promotion Shark Fights will be holding their fourteenth event, and the first event to air on HDNet after the promotion signed a contract with the premium channel in late February of this year. Shark Fights is currently riding a wave of momentum leading into their HDNet debut, with their September 11, 2010 Pay-Per-View show “Shark Fights 13” being their biggest show to date and a rather entertaining show for a regional promotion. The card for Shark Fights 14 has undergone several changes, but it now appears official that the promotion will broadcast a live five-fight card on March 11, 2011. Here are all the details.

We head to MMA Junkie for the latest news on Shark Fight’s upcoming debut on HDNet. According to the report, the following five fights will be shown live and on HDNet as part of the “Shark Fights 14” broadcast on March 11: Matt Horwich vs. Danillo Villefort, Carina Damm vs. Tara LaRosa, Mikel Bronzoulis vs. Todd Moore, Alex Cisne vs. Eric Davila, and Joseph Sandoval vs. Sean Shakour.

Also courtesy of MMA Junkie, the preliminary (non-televised) card will feature the follow match-ups: Kyle Bracey vs. Greg Huval, Aaron Garcia vs. Ben Medina, Layne Hernandez vs. Gabe Vasquez, Donnie Frye vs. Quaint Kempf, Derek Cansino-Davila vs. Larry Garcia, Ryan Benoit vs. Matt Espinoza, Gino Davila vs. Matt Dodgen, Mark Martinez vs. Johnathan Valencia, Cesar Rodriguez Jr. vs. Tommy Gomezm, and Jeremy Guana vs. Matt Hobar.

In the last several years, HDNet has quickly established itself as one of the largest supporters of regional and international promotions. The cable channel routinely broadcasts smaller-level promotions from around the United States, and has also shown many events from the Japanese-based DREAM promotion. HDNet also hosts the popular “Inside MMA” program.

I’m glad Shark Fights was able to sign a deal with HDNet, because I think HDNet is definitely the place most lower-lever promotions should strive to get on in order to both attract more viewers and possibly attract other channels. I’ve gotten the chance to see some pretty under-rated shows that would have otherwise completely flown under my radar had it not been for HDNet, so I’m pretty sure I’ll be tuning in to see Shark Fights 14.

However, I’m a bit disappointed that this card doesn’t have nearly the same level of stars as compared to “Shark Fights 13”. Then again, that was a Pay-Per-View outing, so they were pretty much obligated to bring out the big guns. Also, I suppose I really shouldn’t be asking the world of what is still very much a regional promotion, albeit one that’s trying to flex some muscle.

It really is a shame that they had to cancel a fight between James Irvin and Houston Alexander, though. I think that fight would’ve really helped along what is otherwise a card filled with people I’ve never heard of. But that’s hardly the promotion’s fault, since Irvin got caught with steroids and then Alexander went down with an injury.

At the end of the day, I think Shark Fights deserves the benefit of the doubt. I’m willing to give this show a chance, because I really did enjoy the last time I gave Shark Fights a chance. But what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on Shark Fights 14?