Las Vegas (June 15, 2016) -World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that Thiago Meller has withdrawn from his scheduled welterweight (170 amakhilogremu) umncintiswano ngokumelene John “Doomsday” Howard (23-12), abayoba manje nazo“Mad” Mike Arrant (15-10) in a middleweight (185 amakhilogremu) bout at the much-anticipated WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland world championship doubleheader Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) umcimbi, bahlala on NBCSN (9 p.m. KANYE/6 p.m. PT) kusukela Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, June 17.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, Ezingakanqotshwa Marcus Surin (3-0) of Stamford, Conn. has been tabbed to step in for Sam Watford e esihleliwe lightweight (155 amakhilogremu) preliminary card contest against Christian “The Terminator” Torres (0-0) of Endicott, N.Y..

Originally hailing from Orlando, Fla., 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, by way of (T)KO noma ukuzithoba. Kuze kube manje, 12 of yakhe 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 (retirement) of Carl Dieckmann on July 12, 2013.

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

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 Uriya Hall, Siyar Bahadurzada futhi Cathal Pendred.

Ontengo yakhe yayinqunyiwe kusuka $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. KANYE, and the first of seven preliminary card bouts will begin at 5:45 p.m.

The wonke mpi ikhadi zokukwazi ziyogobhozela bukhoma i isilawuli isiqophi umdlali on WSOF.com.

In the main event of the five-bout, siphile NBCSN telecast, 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).

Esimweni co-main engasindi, superstars Jason "The Kansas City Bandit" High (19-5) futhi Mike "The Martian" Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND

IKHADI MAIN (Live on NBCSN)

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

UHlelo Co-Main Indawo:
Jason High vs. Mike Ricci

Middleweight: John Howard vs. Mike Arrant
Featherweight: Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes
Middleweight: Phil Hawes vs. Josh Key

IKHADI Preliminary (Phila on WSOF.com)

Esilula: Tom Marcellino vs. Devin Powell
Wesibhakela: Juliano Coutinho vs. Justin Willis
Wesibhakela: Tyler King vs. Lorenzo Hood
Welterweight: Robert Fonseca vs. Sean Lally
Esilula: Bruce Boyington vs. USawule Almeida
Bantamweight: Rodrigo Almeida vs. Ben Pierre-Saint
Esilula: Marcus Surin vs. Christian Torres