IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort To Host Second Mixed Martial Arts Event To Benefit The Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund

Reinforcing its commitment to help meet the long-term needs of the larger Key West Community, IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort today announced that it will sponsor a Mixed Martial Arts event to benefit the Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund’s drive to establish a hyperbaric facility in the Lower Keys, as well as fund first aid refresher courses and establish a memorial scholarship fund in the name of Kevin Piper Jr. It is hoped that the installation of a multiplace hyperbaric chamber in the community will help prevent future tragedies of the type that claimed the life of local resident Kevin Piper Jr. in June 2011. 

According to IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort general manager Tony Osborn, the Mixed Martial Arts event will take place on May 17th, 2012 at the resort and will feature 8-12 individual fights in all major weight classes.  The event is being produced by MMA Solutions Global, Inc. of Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

“Our first Mixed Martial Arts Event, which was held on February 16^th, raised more than $7,000 for the Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund while providing the community with an opportunity to come together for a worthy cause,” Osborn explained.  “Based on the success of this first event we have decided to sponsor a series of Mixed Martial Arts events over the course of the next year in the hope that they will generate all of the money the Fund needs to establish a hyperbaric facility in the Lower Keys, and help prevent future tragedies.”

Speaking on behalf of the Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund, Kevin Piper Sr. noted that the event provides the community with a very special opportunity to once again raise money for the foundation that was set up in the memory of his son, and continue working toward the goal of getting a hyperbaric chamber in Key West.

“What IBIS BAY is doing for the Fund is incredible,” Piper said. “With the exceptional donation we received from the first MMA fight, and all of the excitement that surrounded the event, we are confident that the proceeds from the upcoming bouts will go a long way to helping us achieve our goals.”

According to IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort owner Chris Holland, the fighters participating in the May 17th event will be the winners of a series of Mixed Martial Arts events conducted throughout the state of Florida during the previous month.  “Thus, people who attend the May 17^th event can expect to see some very exciting moments,” Holland emphasized. 

Prior to the main event, which is expected to start at 6PM, there will be a V.I.P dinner from 4-6, for those who purchase a V.I.P. table for the event. The dinner will include drinks, food, and music. Regular admission tickets for the event can be purchased for $25 per ticket, while V.I.P. tables will be available for $500 and can fit up to 8 people. Reserved general admission tickets, limited to 150 seats, will be on sale for $40. The doors open at 5PM for regular admission ticket holders.

For more information on purchasing a V.I.P. table or regular admission tickets, please contact Jason Wells at (305) 849-0023.

For information regarding the Kevin Piper Memorial Fund please call or write:

Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund Inc.

82 Cutthroat Drive

Cudjoe Key, FL 33042

305.304.4063

About IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort:
The IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort (www.ibisbayresort.com) embodies the very best of Key West and offers guests a vacation experience like no other. With a full deck of options for active adventure-seekers, Hemingway buffs, or travelers who want to fit in with the locals, there is something special for every guest. Featuring classic Key West architecture and design, 600 feet of beautiful private beach, a 20-foot poolside movie screen for outdoor movie nights and the Lighthouse Restaurant, IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort is more than a resort—it’s a destination.