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Former NFL star Shawne Merriman is building her mixed martial arts company to stand out from the rest.
Lights Out All this in addition to Lights Out Sports which Merriman created to highlight his promotion as well as a variety of different sports.
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Shawne Merriman spoke to PK Press Club Digital about Lights Out Xtreme Fighting’s innovative new events. (Robert Hanashiro, USAT, USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC)
Merriman said that while he sees other companies trying to compete with the UFC and spending money in their attempts, Lights Out Xtreme Fighting is doing something completely different.
“We’ve never set out to compete. We create. We don’t want to compete with the UFC. We don’t care about that,” he told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview. “We know there are other promotions and other organizations that are trying to compete with the UFC.
“In my opinion, I don’t think there’s going to be anyone bigger than the UFC and there are a lot of promotions that are just trying to force their way to the top with money. Just spend more than they can and don’t have success. We’ve (succeeded) because we’ve been more efficient and we’re an incubator. We’re not trying to compete with anyone. We’re a hub for this technology, this data and these great fights, and for the guys who come into the UFC when they become Lights Out Xtreme Fighting champions.
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Former NFL and Maryland Terrapins linebacker Shawne Merriman is recognized on the field for his charity Lights On Foundation during the second half of the game against the George Washington Colonials at the Xfinity Center on November 11, 2021. (Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)
Merriman said he wants the company to focus on creating and implementing new technologies to stand out from the rest.
“We want to change the game. We don’t want to continue down this path and try to be like everyone else. We’re not even competing with the UFC because honestly, honestly, we don’t care,” he said.
Lights Out 29 takes place on December 6 in Long Beach, California at Thunder Studios. Jake Babian, Sam Fournier, Jordan Azurdia, Dalton Hambrock and Corvan Allen are expected to be in action.
“This growth that we’ve seen over the past year is unprecedented,” Merriman told PK Press Club Digital. “I don’t think anything like this has ever happened in combat sports. We’ve sent five fighters to the UFC in the last two months. We love it, man.
San Diego Chargers linebacker (56) Shawne Merriman against the Baltimore Ravens at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on September 20, 2009. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)
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“We love being able to let these guys go and follow this platform. With the notoriety we’ve gained in the last year, we want to be considered one of the best in this business and we’re on the right track.”
