International MMA Expo On Schedule Despite M-1 Global Relocation

The Los Angeles International MMA Expo is right on schedule for 28-30 August despite the relocation of M-1 Global Breakthrough, founder Brian Paul Jaus told Fighters.com Thursday afternoon.

“M-1 has apparently told the media the M-1 Breakthrough at our event was cancelled due to our IMMAE event cancelling, or as I have also heard, rescheduling to Oct 24 next to the UFC at Staples Center. Both these statements floating in the media are false. IMMAE is moving forward with full steam and better off as it is now not assuming excessive costs of the M-1 fight,” Jaus told Fighters.com.

A Fighters.com source had made that claim last week when Fighters.com inquired about the relocation of Breakthrough. IMMAE had ignored Fighters.com’s request for confirmation until Thursday.

Jaus explained, “A development phase relationship was underway with M-1 to have a Breakthrough show at our event, actually in the middle of our floor plan during our August 29 and 30 expo. This relationship was never consummated and was in the final phases when the Affliction collapse occurred. With this event reshaping the political landscape of the industry in a single swoop, final negotiations between M-1 and IMMAE ended under what was described by both parties as amicable terms. As a result of this, and the subsequent loss of [Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (29-1)] even for an appearance for fans, we have had to scrape our final marketing, posters, web graphics, and other ancillary marketing items and retool at the last second. We have also had to completely retool our floor plan and seek new approval from the fire department. This has caused delays in our marketing and web updates which we have rapidly rectified and will be releasing in the next 48 hours.”