LAS VEGAS (Juni 15, 2016) -World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) vandaag aangekondigd dat Thiago Meller has withdrawn from his scheduled welterweight (170 pond) wedstrijd tegen John “Doomsday” Howard (23-12), die zal nu worden geconfronteerd“Mad” Mike Arrant (15-10) in a middleweight (185 pond) bout at the much-anticipated WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland world championship doubleheader Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) evenement, live op NBCSN (9 p.m. EN/6 p.m. PT) van Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. op Vrijdag, Juni 17.

Bovendien, ongeslagen Marcus Surin (3-0) of Stamford, Conn. has been tabbed to step in for Sam Watford in de geplande lichtgewicht (155 pond) preliminary card contest against Christian “The Terminator” Torres (0-0) of Endicott, N.Y..

Originally hailing from Orlando, Fla., de 5-foot-9, 28-year-old Arrant, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, resides in Las Vegas, where he is a member of legendary champion Randy “The Natural” Couture’s Xtreme Couture fight squad.

Arrant is looking to return to the win column following a unanimous decision defeat in his last start on August 7, 2015, at the hands of two-time UFC veteran Brock Jardine.

Prior to the loss, Arrant had reeled off six consecutive victories, five of which he produced in the first round, via (T)KO of onderwerping. Daten, 12 zijn 15 professional wins have been finishes.

During the six-fight win streak, Arrant seized his first championship – regional promotion SteelFist Fight Night’s welterweight title – with a first round (5:00) WHO (pensionering) van Carl Dieckmann juli 12, 2013.

Like Arrant, the 5-foot-7, 33-year-old Howard boasts a phenomenal finish rate with 15 zijn 23 professional victories having come by way of (T)KO of onderwerping.

Howard will make his promotional debut with World Series of Fighting following a second stint with the UFC that spanned seven fights and included wins over Uriah Hall, Siyar Bahadurzada en Cathal Pendred.

Geprijsd vanaf $39.99, tickets for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland are on sale at WSOF.com and Foxwoods.com.

Doors at The Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino will open at 5 p.m. EN, and the first of seven preliminary card bouts will begin at 5:45 p.m.

De gehele voorafgaande strijd kaart zal live stream op een integreerbare videospeler op WSOF.com.

In the main event of the five-bout, wonen NBCSN uitzending, reigning World Series of Fighting heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov (13-1) will put his title on the line against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (12-3).

In de lichtgewicht co-main event, supersterren Jason "The Kansas City Bandit" High (19-5) en Mike "The Martian" Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND

Belangrijkste kaart (Live op NBCSN)

World Series of Fighting Heavyweight Championship Main Event:
Blagoy Ivanov (Kampioen) vs. Josh Copeland (Uitdager)

Lichtgewicht Co-Main Event:
Jason High vs. Mike Ricci

Middengewicht: John Howard vs. Mike Arrant
Vedergewicht: Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes
Middengewicht: Phil Hawes vs. Josh Key

VOORAF CARD (Live op WSOF.com)

Lichtgewicht: Tom Marcellino vs. Devin Powell
Zwaargewicht: Juliano Coutinho vs. Justin Willis
Zwaargewicht: Tyler King vs. Lorenzo Hood
Weltergewicht: Robert Fonseca vs. Sean Lally
Lichtgewicht: Bruce Boyington vs. Saul Almeida
Bantamgewicht: Rodrigo Almeida vs. Ben Pierre-Saint
Lichtgewicht: Marcus Surin vs. Christian Torres