From Dream Stage Entertainment October 24, 2005 LOS ANGELES, California –
Karl-James Noons and Nick Ring, two of the four winners selected from the PRIDE FIGHTING U.S. AUDITIONS last November, will be competing in ICON Sports “Opposites Attract” event, scheduled for Friday, October 28th from the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

165 lbs.  KJ Noons vs. Harris “Hitman” Sarmiento
185 lbs. Nick Ring vs. Mike Malone

After being selected at the auditions, Noons and Ring were sent to Seattle, Washington to train at AMC Pankration under the supervision of coach Matt Hume.  Since then, each has tested their skills at previous ICON Sports events (formerly known as SUPERBRAWL) with Noons going 2-0  (with wins over Malik Williams via TKO and Bryson Kamaka via KO) and Ring going 1-0 (with a win over Kimo Wolfel via rear naked choke).

Noons was raised in Kona, Hawaii.  During his amateur career, he was the ISKA amateur international title winner and as a boxer went to the semi finals of the western trials for the Olympics in 2004.   In addition, he is black belt in American Kenpo Karate.  Noons currently trains and fights out the City Boxing gym in San Diego, California.

Nick “Wonder” Ring was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, but now fights out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  He is the Intercontinental Muay Thai Champion (WKA) and boasts a record of 23-4 in Muay Thai competition.  He is 4-0 in mixed martial arts competition.

The auditions were held on November 20th, 2004 from the UCLA campus in Los Angeles.  Contestants attended from all over the world and were given an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of PRIDE’s judges and main decision-makers.  Final decisions were made based upon each participant’s audition, interview, and highlight reel.  Besides Noons and Ring, the other selected winners included Tyrone Glover from San Diego and Jake Draves of Ohio.