HDNet's 'Inside MMA' Features Exclusive Interview With the Most Vocal Critic of Mixed Martial Arts

HDNet's 'Inside MMA' Features Exclusive Interview With the Most Vocal Critic of Mixed Martial Arts

New York State Assemblyman Bob Reilly Defends His Opposition to the Legalization of MMA- Friday, September 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HDNet

DALLAS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Assemblyman Bob Reilly is the man leading the charge against legalizing mixed martial arts in the state of New York, and tomorrow night on "Inside MMA," the sport's most vocal critic explains his opposition in Part One of an exclusive two-part interview.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)

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

"What attracts people to Ultimate Fighting unfortunately is the violence and violence is not good for our society," Reilly says. "The difference between mixed martial arts and every other sport is that in mixed martial arts the purpose is to damage your opponent."

A clip of Reilly's comments is available at:

http://www.hd.net/insidemma.html

Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined on the panel this week by Randy and Ryan Couture and Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard, all who strongly disagree with Reilly's statements.

"I think it's an uneducated view," says Randy Couture. "He doesn't understand our sport. We're not crazy, we're not dangerous, this is not violence, it's a combative sport."

Also on this week's show, the Coutures discuss their respective recent victories in the cage, and Lombard talks about his upcoming title defense.

Plus, Ron Kruck has breaking news on a Bellator fighter who isn't letting a recent diagnosis with leukemia keep him out of the gym, and the "Inside America's Gyms" series continues with a look at the Grudge Training Center in Wheat Ridge, CO.

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking 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 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.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring 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, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC 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 features regular season games from the newly formed United Football League.

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!"

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 U-verse, Charter, 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.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: HDNet

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

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

-------
Profile: intent