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Peoria, IL
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Description:

PEORIA, IL- O'Brien Field will host the Battle at the Ballpark in conjunction with Hive MMA on Saturday July 24 at 7:30 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. The card includes up to 14 fights with four main events highlighted by the undefeated Buddy "The Hooligan" McGinnis fighting for the 145 lb title. UFC Superstar Clay "The Carpenter" Guida will be on hand to sign autographs throughout the event with a meet and greet from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Battle at the Ballpark are available at the O'Brien Field Box Office or online through Ticket Return. With the Octagon placed at home plate, seats will be available in the seating bowl in sections 106-110 at O'Brien Field. Tickets are $32 for seats in rows 1-13 and $25for seats in rows 14 on up. The Batters Box area on the concourse behind section 108 is available for $65 per ticket and includes foot and beverage through the second fight. Fans can also buy seats at a Ringside Table for $95 per ticket which includes food and beverage all night long. The event is overseen by Combat Consultants and Clay Guida's appearance is sponsored by Local Carpenters Union 183 and Mid-Central Regional Council of Carpenters. Additional sponsors for the Battle at the Ballpark are Local Boyzz Trucking, APA Pool Players Association and Car-X.

A native of Johnsburg, IL, Guida fights in the UFC as a lightweight and was the first Strikeforce Lightweight Champion. The 28-year-old holds a record of 26-8 and is expected to fight at UFC 117 on August 7. He last won on March 21 at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones with an arm-triangle choke in round 2 of Sean Sherk to win UFC Submission of the Night. He will sign autographs throughout the Battle at the Ballpark.

McGinnis (12-0) is fighting for the vacant 145 lb MMA EVOLUTION SERIES Amateur Title. He is a 20 year-old native of Bloomington and is associated with Team Hive which trains at the Academy of Mixed Martial Arts in Bloomington. The MMA EVOLUTION SERIES 155 lb Title will also be on the line as Jammie Hill (Team Hive) takes on Tyler Blind (Conflict MMA). Also fighting on July 24 at O'Brien Field are Joey Davis from Team Hive and Andy Guillette from the Peoria Athletic Club.

The Battle of the Ballpark is the first MMA event at O'Brien Field and takes place while the Chiefs are on a six-game roadtrip to Fort Wayne, Indiana and Eastlake, Ohio. The Chiefs return home for a three-game homestand against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday, July 28.