Braulio Corral is known by most Chicagoans involved in MMA as the promoter of C3 Mixed Martial Arts Fights and Grappling Tournaments, as well as for his elite instruction at Team Corral’s Martial Arts Academy. But this black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Tae Kwon Do has taken on a new venture: opening up a Mixed Martial Arts themed sports bar and grill on 260 East 84th Drive in Merrillville, IN.

Knock Outs Sports Bar & Grill will be opening in late July/early August of 2010 and its menu is diverse as the range of martial arts and types of fans that can be found at an MMA fight. “I am running this venue like an event,” said Corral. “At a fight, you have fans who want the $25 general admission tickets all the way up to those who want the VIP ringside seats. At Knock Outs, we will have dining options that cater to every level of dining experience.”

While typical sports bar fare such as wings, burgers, and fries are available, the restaurant also offers healthy options such as salads, wraps, Southwest turkey meat loaf, and turkey burgers for fighters and health-conscious diners. A Sake bar will serve the popular Japanese wine as a reminder of the Japanese influence on many forms of martial arts and the days of the Samurai. And fine dining options such as Rib Eye, New York Strip Steak, and Filet Mignon will also be served. The bar will have 20 taps that include a variety of microbrewery beers and will also serve mixed drinks, martinis, and margaritas.

For entertainment, the bar will show UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, and other televised MMA fights as well as WWE, boxing events, and mainstream sports such as football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. Live Mixed Martial Arts fights such as Corral’s C3 Full Contact Fighting events will be held on weekends in their outdoor area, along with Cross Fit challenges and other competitions.

Living up to its name, the bar promises to have “Knock Out” servers and bartenders. Corral is in the process of hiring “Knock Out Girls” with a love for sports and fitness to serve the diners, and they will don skirts and referee shirts to compliment the sports bar theme. The decor of the dining area will resemble a boxing ring with a ceiling reminiscent of the canvas and televisions as cornerposts. And Corral plans to decorate the walls with photographs of Chicagoland’s well-known professional fighters and dedicated MMA instructors and promoters who will be invited to visit the bar.

For more information on Knock Outs and to stay posted on the date of its grand opening, visit their website at www.KOrestaurant.com or stay networked through their Facebook and Twitter pages.