WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

WELTERWEIGHT: JOHN HOWARD VS. THIAGO MELLER
Featherweight: LUIS PALOMINO VS. SHEYMON MORAES
HEAVYWEIGHT: CHRIS “HUGGY BEAR” BARNETT VS. JUSTIN WILLIS

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.M. ATI
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. Lori Jimo, Oṣù 17

Las fegasi (April 12, 2016) -World Jara ti Gbigbogun (WSOF.com) today announced the addition of three star-studded matchups to complete the main card for its WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland world heavyweight championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) ìṣẹlẹ, gbe lori NBCSN ni 9 p.m. Et / 6 fi aidunnu. lati Foxwoods Resort Casino ni Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, June 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, nyara Star Chris "Huggy Bear" Barnett (14-2) will make his World Series of Fighting debut against Team AKA prodigy Justin Willis (4-1).

Also stepping in the decagon cage for the first time, battle-tested warrior John “Doomsday” Howard (23-12) will collide with submission expert Thiago “Minu” Meller (20-7) ni a welterweight (170 poun) ibalopọ.

In a featherweight (145 poun) scrap between two prolific strikers, Luis "Inaki" Palomino (24-12) will face off with former world championship challenger Sheymon Moraes (8-1).

Ni awọn akọkọ iṣẹlẹ, reigning world heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) nigba ti, in the lightweight (155 poun) àjọ-akọkọ iṣẹlẹ, superstars Jason "The Kansas City Bandit" to gaju (19-5) ati Mike "The Martian" Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Chris Barnett vs. Justin Willis

After spending the last year and a half making waves in Japan, awọn 5-ẹsẹ-9, 29-year-old Barnett of Tampa, Fla. will suit up as “Huggy Bear,” and make his way onto a major stage in the U.S. for the first time in his career.

With heavy hands and tremendous agility for a fighter of his massive stature, Barnett has notched 12 ti re 14 Iṣẹ Ajé victories nipa ọna ti (T)KO, and has celebrated his wins in flamboyant fashion, with everything from cartwheels to breakdancing to hand stands.

Like Barnett, the stocky, 6-foot-3, 28-nitõtọr-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Kaini Velásquez ati Daniel Cormier, has been enjoying success in Japan under the promotion of Inoki Genome Federation (IFG).

Willis will make his first start of 2016, and look to extend his win streak to four consecutive bouts. In his last effort on August 29, he earned a unanimous decision over Rizvan Kuniev in Tokyo.

Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes

The 5-foot-8, 35-year-old Palomino of Miami, Fla. via Lima, Peru is coming off an epic year in which he engaged in twawọn, all-out wars with reigning, undefeated World jara ti ija lightweight asiwaju Justin "The saami" Gaethje, both of which earned "Fight of the Month” honors.

After closing out 2015 with a gutsy appearance in World Series of Fighting’s first-ever, ọkan-night, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, akọkọ yika (4:55) WHO (punches) lori Rich Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) WHO (punches) at the hands ti eventual tournament winner Brian Foster, Palomino will return to the featherweight division where he has held two world titles.

The 5-foot-8, 25-year-old Moraes of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil returned to form in his last bout, decimating fellow knockout artist Robbie "Isoro" Peralta by way of TKO (punches) ni keji yika (3:21) of their matchup at WSOF26.

A seasoned Muay Thai stylist, Moraes ran to seven straight victories in his first seven starts as a professional MMA competitor before being handed his first career defeat by way of third round (3:46) ifakalẹ (ru-ìhoho choke) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 poun) asiwaju Marlon Moraes.

John Howard vs. Thiago Meller

Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Uraya Hall, Siyar Bahadurzada ati Cathal Pendred, awọn 5-foot-7, 33-year-old Howard of Boston, Ibi. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) KO (punches) pipadanu si Tim Means on December 10.

Titi di akoko yi, Howard has notched 15 ti re 23 Iṣẹ Ajé victories nipa ọna ti (T)KO tabi ifakalẹ. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 ati Oṣù 2011, Howard scored a memorable, kẹta yika (4:55) KO (punches) on submission ace Dennis "alagbara" Hallman on December 5, 2009, marking his third consecutive conquest in the league.

Meller of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil will look to collect his second win in a row, following his first round submission (ru-ìhoho choke) ti Leonardo Rodriguez lori June 26, 2015.

The 5-foot-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 ti re 20 career wins, nipa ọna ti ifakalẹ.

The preliminary bout card lineup for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland will be announced soon.

Owole lati $39.99, tickets for the event are on sale at WSOF.com and Foxwoods.com.

Doors at The Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino will open for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland, ni 5 p.m. ATI, ati ni igba akọkọ ti alakoko kaadi ija yoo bẹrẹ ni 6 p.m.