Published on January 9th, 2020 | by Darren Paltrowitz
0Former NFL Star Shawne Merriman On Current Projects, Lights Out XF, Positivity & More
Active in the NFL from 2005 through 2012, Shawne Merriman was a three-time Pro Bowler, in addition to being the NFL’s Defensive Rookie Of The Year in 2005 and the NFL sacks leader in 2006. Football wasn’t the only sport Merriman excelled in as he was a stand-out high school basketball player, earning both all-state and Maryland Defensive Player Of The Year honors.
Beyond playing on the field in the NFL, Merriman has also crossed over into a successful career in broadcasting and other sports-related ventures. Beyond working with the WWE, Merriman has worked on various projects related to NASCAR and the World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation.
The latest sports-related project from Merriman is the starting of the MMA promotion, Lights Out Xtreme Fighting. LXF produces premier MMA events focused on developing the next great stars of the sport. A reimagination of the long popular California Xtreme Fighting (CXF) league, LXF is headed by Merriman along with partners and co-owners Steven Bash and George Bastrmajyan. Merriman, Bash and Bastrmajyan plan to revolutionize the way MMA is viewed and consumed by claiming authority as the premier mixed martial arts promotion in Southern California.
Forever associated with the “Lights Out” nickname, Shawne Merriman also keeps busy with working on projects related to licensing his “Lights Out” trademark. I spoke with Merriman about this and plenty more by phone on January 7, 2020. More on the LXF can be found online at www.lightsoutxf.com, while Merriman can be followed on Twitter via www.twitter.com/shawnemerriman.