CHICAGO, IL - Wake up, Fight Fans! This is the moment you’ve been waiting for! Following two years of inactivity and a seven year exile in Hammond, Indiana, the Ironheart Crown is finally returning to its home in Chicago! After being driven across the border in 2001, the Ironheart Crown is being welcomed back into the Windy City with open arms after recent legislation was passed to legalize mixed martial arts (MMA) in the State of Illinois.

The Ironheart Crown is Chicago’s oldest mixed martial arts production and remains the area’s leading arena for professional competition. Long recognized as a definitive proving ground for Midwestern fighters, the Crown has produced a number of local heroes including WEC World Champion, Miguel Torres and UFC standout, Stephan Bonnar. On Saturday, November 8 the legend continues as the Ironheart Crown steps up production with a move back to Chicago and into a much larger downtown venue, the UIC Pavilion. Headlining the card will be a long anticipated match between UFC veteran Gideon “the Gladiator” Ray and the Miguel Torres’s undefeated protégé, Juan de Dios Magana.

The November 8 show will be the first local production to host an all-pro card within the city limits under the State’s new sanctioning policies. Ironheart promoter Eric Moon is excited about the move back home.

“It’s an absolute thrill to be right on the forefront of Chicago’s MMA Renaissance,” Moon explains, “We’re helping to rebuild the local MMA scene. We’ve always been one of the area’s better shows, but with our move back home we’re revamping every aspect of our production! The new venue is incredible, and we have a very deep pool of local talent, old as well as new.”

Beaming like a proud father as he speaks, Moon continues, “I’ve put a lot into this, and it may not all come back to me, but I plan to have fun with it regardless of the outcome. We’ve booked all of Crobar’s go-go dancer’s to accentuate the production and we’ll local club DJ, Adrie Marie spinning her tunes under nightclub-inspired lighting and effects. This is going to be an incredible event that Chicago’s fight community will never forget. I’m really hoping that this show will change the face of our local MMA community.”

The notoriety of the Ironheart Crown is much greater than a local phenomenon. Ten of the eleven shows have been featured in national magazines, and the Ironheart Crown has even been aired on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago as well as on SkyTV in Japan. With nearly a decade of proven excellence, the Ironheart Crown has demonstrated its resilience and passed the test of time.

This kind of merit simply can’t go unnoticed, and as a direct result of the show’s integrity, the Crown was recently signed as the primary Midwestern affiliate for the up and coming American Fight League (AFL), a national organization that is quickly gaining recognition. AFL CEO, BJ Santiago holds Eric Moon & his show in high regard and had nothing but good things to say about the Chicago promoter and his show.

“We knew we were bringing a motivated promoter in as soon as we talked with Eric,” Santiago says, “He's a guy with a big vision… the Ironheart Crown has an impeccable reputation as one of the best organizations out there and it is a perfect addition to the AFL team. “

While still being fine-tuned, the undercard is shaping up to be a “who’s who” of Chicago area fighters, stacked from the top to the bottom with heavy hitters and high-end talent. Featured competitors will include the likes of Tommy Lee, Matt Fiordirosa, Christian Uflacker, Eddie Wineland, Chris Albandia, Louis Taylor, Mark Vives, Adril Villa, Mustafa Hussaini, and more. Full details will be posted on the event website in the next few days and announced in future press releases.

“I know the UFC will be here in October,” Moon comments, “But I honestly believe that our show has the potential to be every bit as exciting, and we are definitely going be the next big thing to hit the city. This is a very exciting time for us, and its an exciting time for Chicago’s fight community as well.”

The Ironheart Crown will be held on Saturday, November 8 at the UIC Pavilion, located at 525 S. Racine Avenue in Chicago. Tickets are on sale now and a limited number of ringside and VIP seats are available. Exclusive ringside seats will include complimentary cocktails and appetizers. Tickets may be purchased directly from the promoter, or online at Ticketmaster. For more information on this event, visit the official website at www.ironheart.com or contact the event’s promoter at 773-793-6555.