On September 11, the Colorado State University-Pueblo athletic department will host “Bring the Thunder MMA,” the first Mixed Martial Arts event to take place at Massari Arena.

Two Ultimate Fighting Championship veterans, Alvin “Kid” Robinson and Eliot “The Fire” Marshall will be fighting that night, the Colorado State University – Pueblo Department of Athletics said in a press release.

Robinson actually has ties to CSU-Pueblo when he wrestled here in 2001, right before the program folded and was coached by Dax Charles. Another participant who will be fighting that night, Brett Roller, was recruited to CSU-Pueblo before the program folded, Charles said.

The CSU-Pueblo Department of Athletics also said that Colorado’s Shane Carwin, who is currently ranked as the third best heavyweight in the world, will also be making a special appearance.

Charles, head coach of the CSU-Pueblo wrestling team, said that Carwin will most likely get in the ring, do a meet-and-greet with the fans and be a supporter of the event going on that night.

Charles, who also said he is a big MMA fan, said that the event will be a fundraiser for the athletic department. Charles was able to make the pitch to the athletic department telling them that MMA is the fastest growing sport and that can benefit the University.

Charles also said that they had the resources to run a first class event.

The match card that night will consist of 12 fights. There will be both professional and elimination fights including female fights Charles said.

Charles said that all fights will have three five-minute rounds, and that the difference between the professional fights and the elimination bouts is that the professional fights are paid fights while the elimination bouts are not.

There will also be fighters taking part from Pueblo as well including professional fighter Prentice Ingram from Southern Colorado MMA. Ingram will be taking on Nick Macias from Denver that night,Charles said.

In addition to Ingram, Pueblo fighters Nick Portillos and Dominic Montoya, both from team “Rude Effex” will be taking part in the fights that night as well, Charles said.

Charles also said that there will also be fighters from Colorado Springs, Denver, Trinidad, California, Kansas and New Mexico.

“Bring the Thunder MMA” will also be getting national attention as well, as it will be advertised on national channels such as ESPN, Spike, MTV and Comedy Central, Charles said.

The event will also have internet marketing and will be covered on a tape delay through  the Internet on www.HD.net, Charles said. The show will also include Inside MMA, as well as post fight interviews of the pro fights.

Charles said he is a big supporter of this event as well as the fighters fighting in the event.

“Most MMA fighters are former college wrestlers, and events like Bring the Thunder are a great way to support those fighters, and raise money for future college athletes,” Charles said.

Although this is going to be the first year of this event, it is unclear at this time if this will become an annual event or not.

“Gotta get through the first one,” Charles said. “We will evaluate how this event goes, and as an athletic department we will make a decision on next steps.”

Tickets for “Bring the Thunder MMA” are on sale through TicketsWest.com. Student and military general admission is $20, while there are reserved seats at $35 and East side Reserve seats going at $45. Floor seat will also be going at $75 the CSU-Pueblo Department of Athletics said.