Nick Diaz officially launches new MMA promotion, WAR MMA; first event hits Stockton on June 22

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Technically retired UFC welterweight Nick Diaz is getting into the MMA business on the promoter side, as he officially introduced WAR MMA on Wednesday, which will debut on June 22 from the Stockton Arena.

WAR MMA's debut event will be headlined by a bout between former UFC competitor Daniel Roberts and Justin Baesman, with UFC and WEC vet Antonio Banuelos in the co-headliner against Benny Vinson. Other fights announced for the card include Caleb Mitchell vs. Evan Esguerra, Roy Boughton vs. Liron Wilson, Mike Persons vs. Clayton “Money Shot” McKinney, and Darin Cooley vs. Cody Gibson. More fights will be announced in the coming days and weeks.

The promotion will use a ring, and have revealed bouts will come under the unified rules of mixed martial arts, with some modifications. Notably, elbows to a grounded opponent have been disallowed, and modifications have been put in place "to encourage grapplers to advance their position instead of stalling."

Tickets are on sale now for the card, and more information can be found at NickDiazPromotions.com.

[Nick Diaz art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_17058.shtml

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