Cancelled ‘Big Dawg Promotions’ MMA event results in major fallout

By TXMMA Staff // Felix Rodriguez

Planned Galveston card cancelled after weigh-ins for dubious reasons; Promoter Richard Vasquez under fire as local MMA community demands refunds

GALVESTON, TX, July 21, 2014 – Big Dawg Promotion’s Tru Bloodline Fighting Championships was supposed to be a hybrid MMA and Boxing event put on by Big Dawg Promotions. The event was sponsored by Rey Trujillo’s Tru Bloodline brand and promised to deliver an exciting card filled with recognizable name fighters and many of Houston MMA’s local favorites representing the city at Galveston’s Moody Gardens this past July 19th.

Promoters Richard Vazquez and Randy Hauer had a stacked card headlined by Mike Bronzoulis vs. John Heath, the co-main event featured the card’s solitary sponsor, Rey Trujillo himself facing Rocky Long and the rest of the card was rounded out by Texas MMA notables like Jorge Macaco Patino, Will Campuzano and Bubba McDaniel (All UFC vets) among many others. At least on paper this looked to be an awesome card for fight fans that spent the money on tickets and took the trip to Galveston.

Here is a photo advertising the event’s original fight card:

Unfortunately for everyone who invested time, money and training in this fiasco, the event never took place and a huge amount of controversy has ensued in the aftermath. The card was cancelled after weigh-ins took place on July 18th; the day before the event. It goes without saying that fighters who had invested their time and sacrificed so much to be on this card were blindsided by the irresponsible actions of Big Dawg Promotions and all those associated with the promotion of this fight card. Fighters and fans alike have been left in the dark about how to proceed in order to receive reimbursements for tickets sold. Adding to this, the event is not technically cancelled as Richard Vazquez, the main person behind Big Dawg Promotions has postponed the event for a three week period of time (actual date TBD). This allows him to withhold ticket sales for the time being. Whether or not Big Dawg Pomotions goes through with Tru Bloodline Fighting Championship’s Rumble in The Garden remains to be seen, but fight fans are currently in limbo regarding ticket refunds and many of those who bought tickets will have also wasted money in hotel reservations and other costs associated with traveling to attend the show.

The events that led to the fight card being cancelled are mired in controversy and Big Dawg promotion’s Richard Vazquez has gone public in placing the blame outside of his outfit. He made a statement on social media where he blamed Mike Bronzoulis for allegedly withholding  $10,000 in ticket sales, and claimed that not having that amount of money, which would be covered under his promotion’s prepaid bond, made it impossible for him to move the event forward.

Vazquez’s post read as follows:

Mike Bronzoulis reached out to TXMMA and asked that his official statement be posted in response to Vazquez’s allegations in regards to the events which led to the cancellation of Big Dawg Promotion’s Tru Bloodline Fighting Championship’s Rumble In The Garden:

And here is the latest statements from the other parties caught up in this mess:

TXMMA will continue reporting facts as they come to light.