LAS VEGAS (أكتوبر 10, 2016) - بطولة العالم للقتال (www.WSOF.com) announced that it has tabbed four military veterans for action in three different bouts, including one that will air on its live NBCSN telecast (10:30 عصرا. و/7:30 عصرا. PT), to kick off it’s “Who’s The Toughest?” program at WSOF34: Foster vs. الدروع, at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, حضن. في السبت, نوفمبر. 12.

The league also announced that Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-4) has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled heavyweight matchup with former world champion Smealinho “The Prince” Rama (9-2) due to a knee injury. Rama will now face Kevin Sears (4-2).

“We are extremely excited to launch the ‘Who’s The Toughest?’ program with a group of four professional fighters that have served our country valiantly, and who have since been looking for a potentially career-changing opportunity to compete on a major stage,"قال العالم سلسلة من الرئيس القتال والد رؤساء.

World Series of Fighting announced in May that it would be launching “Who’s The Toughest?” in order to provide military veterans who are active or aspiring MMA fighters, with the opportunity to compete under its promotion.

Leading off the live NBCSN telecast of WSOF34, شين كروشتن (11-4) و جيريمي ماهون (5-4) – both U.S. Marine Corps veterans – will do battle in a 150-pound catchweight contest.

في الوزن الثقيل الخفيف (205 جنيه) matchup that will headline the WSOF34 preliminary bout card, الامريكى. Marine Corps veteran Brandon Collins (3-2) سوف تصطدم مع Chris Morgan (0-0), who will make his professional debut.

The fourth veteran, former U.S. Army ranger Nicoli Navarro (3-1), will square off with unbeaten upstart Alan Gutierrez (2-0) في خفيفة الوزن (155 جنيه).

Shane Kruchten vs. جيريمي ماهون

6 أقدام 1, 32-year-old Kruchten of San Diego, كاليفورنيا. saw action in the Iraq War in 2003 و 2004, and was subsequently awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and a Combat Action Ribbon for his efforts in battle before retiring from the military with the rank of Lance Corporal.

منذ أن أصبح محترفًا 2007, Kruchten has donated a portion of each of his fight purses to the Mighty Oaks Warrior Foundation, a California-based retreat for veterans run by fellow U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former World Series of Fighting competitor Chad Robichaux.

Kruchten’s start will bring an end to a two-and-a-half-year hiatus that he took following a loss to مايك كوري by way of second round (2:59) تسليم (المجردة الخلفي خنق) in what was Kruchten’s World Series of Fighting debut. قبل هزيمة, Kruchten had reeled off 11 انتصارات متتالية, 6 via submission and 3 بواسطة (تي)KO.

The 5-foot-10, 37-year-old Mahon of Houston, Texas was deployed to Iraq during the initial invasion of the country in 2003, and later served as a security contractor in Fallujah, working to procure the safety of civilians there.

Before retiring as a Sergeant, Mahon earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal as well as a Presidential Unit Citation. He runs a non-profit organization, DAWG Foundation, which trains dogs and offers them to veterans in need of everyday assistance.

Mahon is looking to notch his third straight victory following a second round (4:22) منظمة الصحة العالمية (اللكمات) من ديفيس سيلفستر في Bellator 149 في فبراير 19.

Brandon Collins vs. Chris Morgan

6 أقدام 1, 32-year-old Collins of Houston, Texas was also a recipient of a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal during his eight-year stint (2004-2012) with the Marine Corps that saw him tour Afghanistan where he was a special operations officer and his unit’s martial arts instructor.

Collins was a member of his North Carolina base’s boxing team and, after relocating to California, he quickly transitioned to MMA.

Morgan, a 6-foot-3, 28-year-old resident of Denver, حضن. will make his first professional start after a three-year amateur career that saw him compile an overall record of 5-2. جميع 5 of his victories came inside the first round of action via (تي)KO أو تقديم.

Nicholi Navarro vs. Alan Gutierrez

وقدم 6, 30-year-old Navarro of Denver served in the Army’s 75^عشر Ranger Regimen, a special operations unit, بين 2004 و 2008, eventually reaching the rank of Corporal.

During his four-year tenure in the military, Navarro earned a Combat Infantry Badge, an Expert Infantry Badge and a Parachutist Badge.

Navarro is a student of retired, former Muay Thai world champion and UFC star Duane “Bang” Ludwig. All three of Navarro’s professional victories to date have come by way of (تي)KO أو تقديم.

While not a veteran, 5 أقدام و 11, 23-year-old Gutierrez of Skagit Valley, غسل. was born into and raised by a family of Marines, مع والده, mother and brother all having served. Gutierrez dedicates each of his fights to his recently deceased brother.

Gutierrez made quick work of each of his first two professional opponents, حتي اليوم, submitting Ryan Schecterson with a brabo choke in the first round (2:00) of action in Gutierrez’s professional debut on May 9, 2015, and scoring a first round (1:11) KO (اللكمات) في Taylor Roberts في فبراير 27.

سعرها من $20, tickets for “WSOF34: فيتش مقابل. Shields” are on sale at the Budweiser Events Center box office, BudweiserEventsCenter.com, and by phone at 1-877-544-TIXX.

In the main event of WSOF34, reigning world welterweight (170 جنيه) بطل جون فيتش (28-7-1, 1 NC) will collide with number one contender and fellow decorated superstar جيك شيلدز (31-8-1).

In the welterweight co-main event, بول برادلي (23-6), will make his promotional debut for World Series of Fighting and take on former top 10 في المرتبة العالم يوشين "الرعد" Okami (32-10).

Additional matchups for “WSOF34: فيتش مقابل. Shields” will be announced soon.