Post by Ned the Intern on May 9, 2024 23:45:27 GMT -5
Friday 22 March 2024
CoolWear Complex
Bayside, New York
Backbreaker Fight Club was founded in 2014 by professional wrestlers Jason Christopher and mixed martial artist Jacob Koenig. Together, they opened a combat sports performance center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They learned each other's crafts, and built a team of experts in various fighting styles. Over the next ten years, they had a hand in dozens of the top performers on the planet.
Personally, Koenig and Christopher lead very different lives. Christopher spent much of his time competing in Japan, while Koenig stayed closer to home, occasionally competing for Action Wrestling. As 2023 came to a close, Christopher finished up with his obligations in Japan and chose to focus on BFC. Koenig soon returned to Action Wrestling, where he will compete tonight at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Quebec.
The breaking news that brought you here today is that Backbreaker Fight Club has been sold to second-generation wrestling legend Sara Pettis, owner of CoolWear Complex and Devil's Gate Inc. Pettis reached a deal with Koenig and Christopher over the weekend to obtain BFC as a subsidiary of DGI.
Sara Pettis: This acquisition further strengthens my influence on the wrestling world, and ensures that my expertise is used to the fullest. Prior to opening the CoolWear Complex two years ago, I owned and operated Controversial Circle Wrestling Academy & Ice Cream Emporium for several years. When I closed that chapter of my life, I hoped to find my way back to training the future of this business. Backbreaker Fight Club is beyond what my academy was capable of, but they lack the personal touch that I can provide. Together, we will be THE top performance center on the planet.
Jacob Koenig: Boxing. Capoeira. Catch wrestling. Jiu-Jitsu. Judo. Karate. Kickboxing. Kung Fu. Muay Thai. Taekwondo. All styles of combat sports are taught at Backbreaker Fight Club. But we do more than teach at BFC. We offer an immersive experience in the world of sports combat. Fighters at all levels have the opportunity to get in there and actually fight, not just learn the ropes. It's important to feel what it’s like to be out there in the thick of it. Of course, we have on-staff medical professionals who assess injuries sustained on campus. We also have a dietician, a physical therapist, and so much more that I could ramble about. Instead, I'd like to turn it over to one of my oldest's friends.
Jason Christopher: Some of my earliest memories are watching wrestling with my grandmother. Whether on television or at a local event, I was completely enamored with the sport from a young age. All I wanted was to grow up to be a people wrestler. On my grandmother's deathbed, she made me promise to never give up on my dream. And I never did. I am now thirty-eight years old with twenty years of experience in this business, and I am excited to continue sharing my gift with anyone who wants to live their dream of being a professional wrestler.
My experience is not limited to professional wrestling. When Koenig and I opened BFC, I went through the programs he was developing, right along with the first class. Over the years, I have competed professionally in nearly all forms of combat sports, but pro wrestling was always my focus. I recently returned from a long excursion in Japan, where I achieved more than I had set out to do. With the changes at BFC, I decided it was time to come home and give it my full attention.
“Or rather, most of my full attention. An opportunity came along for me to sign with Ultra Combat Sports. I look forward to watching it grow and conquer the landscape. There is an eclectic assortment of fighters already signed, and I am appearing on the first event at Madison Square Garden on Monday 25 March. I have the honor of stepping in the ring Emeric Stone. We are going to set the bar for excellence, and I know the best man will win that fight. I believe in my heart of hearts that one of us will end this tournament as the inaugural UCS Champion. If you are unable to get tickets to ‘The Rising Cost of Living’, you can tune in to three commercial free hours exclusively on WrestleFlix.
Sara Pettis: Individually, it's been a long journey to get to this moment. Jacob and Jason sunk every penny they had into BFC over the years, and the last two years have been a struggle. The pro wrestling boom was great for business at first, until every Tom, Dick, and Harry opened up a local ‘academy’. It became harder and harder to recruit and mold the future of combat sports. My involvement in BFC is mostly financial, but I also have a wealth of connections that will be beneficial to the continued success of BFC.
The first official capacity of this new era of BFC will be at Ultra Combat Sports on Monday, as Jason said. It's fitting that the event is titled ‘Rising Cost of Living’ because that's something we're focused on fighting for our employees and students. We are determined to do good, honest business and provide a better way forward. This is a new day for Backbreaker Fight Club and we are excited to seize it. Thank you for your time, and stay tuned to UltraCombat.net for more information about their first event.
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