LAS VEGAS (Juny 15, 2016) -World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that Thiago Meller has withdrawn from his scheduled welterweight (170 lliura) concurs contra John “Doomsday” Howard (23-12), que ara s'enfrontarà a“Mad” Mike Arrant (15-10) in a middleweight (185 lliura) bout at the much-anticipated WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland world championship doubleheader Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) esdeveniment, viure en NBCSN (9 p.m. I/6 p.m. PT) des del Foxwoods Resort Casino en Mashantucket, Conn. a Divendres, Juny 17.

Addicionalment, invicte Marcus Surin (3-0) of Stamford, Conn. has been tabbed to step in for Sam Watford en el pes lleuger programat (155 lliura) preliminary card contest against Christian “The Terminator” Torres (0-0) of Endicott, N.Y.

Originally hailing from Orlando, Fla., la 5-peus-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, by way of (T)KO o submissió. Fins a la data, 12 de la seva 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) QUI (jubilació) de Carl Dieckmann al juliol 12, 2013.

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

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 i Cathal Pendred.

Preus des de $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. I, and the first of seven preliminary card bouts will begin at 5:45 p.m.

Tota la cartellera preliminar transmetrà en viu en un reproductor de vídeo encastat en WSOF.com.

In the main event of the five-bout, viure NBCSN transmissió, 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).

En l'esdeveniment co-estel·lar de pes lleuger, Super estrelles Jason "The Kansas City Bandit" High (19-5) i Mike "The Martian" Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND

TARGETA PRINCIPAL (Live on NBCSN)

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

Co-Principal Lleugera Esdeveniment:
Jason alta vs. Mike Ricci

De pes mitjà: John Howard vs. Mike Arrant
Pes ploma: Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes
De pes mitjà: Phil Hawes vs. Josh Key

TARGETA PRELIMINAR (Live on WSOF.com)

Lleuger: Tom Marcellino vs. Devin Powell
De pes pesat: Juliano Coutinho vs. Justin Willis
De pes pesat: Tyler King vs. Lorenzo Caputxa
Welter: Robert Fonseca vs. Sean Lally
Lleuger: Bruce Boyington vs. Saul Almeida
Pes gall: Rodrigo Almeida vs. Ben Pierre-Saint
Lleuger: Marcus Surin vs. Christian Torres