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. AND
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. PA LACHISANU, JUNE 17
Las Vegas (April 12, 2016) -World Series wa Kumenya Nkhondo (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) chochitika, padziko NBCSN pa 9 p.m. Opuma / 6 p.m. kuchokera Foxwoods Amachita Casino mu Mashantucket, Conn. pa Lachisanu, June 17.
In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, kukwera nyenyezi Chris "Huggy Nyamuliranani" 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) mu welterweight (170 mapaundi) chibwenzi.
In a featherweight (145 mapaundi) scrap between two prolific strikers, Luis "Baboon" Palomino (24-12) will face off with former world championship challenger Sheymon Moraes (8-1).
Kwenikweni chochitika, reigning world heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) pamene, in the lightweight (155 mapaundi) co-waukulu chochitika, wozipambanitsa Jason "The Kansas City Bandit" High (19-5) ndipo 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, 5-phazi 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 wake 14 ntchito kupambana kudzera (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-inder-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Kaini Velasquez ndipo 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 ku 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 twndi, all-out wars with reigning, undefeated World Series wa Kulimbana ndi opepuka ngwazi Justin "The Yosangalatsa" 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, limodzi usiku, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, woyamba wozungulira (4:55) WHO (nkhonya) pa Wolemera Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) WHO (nkhonya) at the hands a eventual tournament winner Brian kulimbikitsa, 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 "Mavuto" Peralta by way of TKO (nkhonya) mu kwachiwiri (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) kugonjera (kumbuyo-maliseche Choke) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 mapaundi) ngwazi Marlon Moraes.
John Howard vs. Thiago Meller
Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Uriya Hall, Siyar Bahadurzada ndipo Cathal Pendred, ndi 5-kuot-7, 33-year-old Howard of Boston, Misa. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) KO (nkhonya) akulephera Tim Means pa December 10.
Mpaka pano, Howard has notched 15 wake 23 ntchito kupambana kudzera (T)KO kapena kugonjera. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 and June 2011, Howard scored a memorable, kwachitatu (4:55) KO (nkhonya) on submission ace Dennis "Chitsulo" Hallman pa 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 (kumbuyo-maliseche Choke) a Leonardo Rodriguez pa June 26, 2015.
The 5-foot-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 wake 20 career wins, mwa kugonjera.
The preliminary bout card lineup for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland will be announced soon.
Wogulira kuchokera $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, pa 5 p.m. AND, ndipo woyamba kuyambirira khadi podwala lidzayamba 6 p.m. |
