WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

वेल्टरवेट: JOHN HOWARD VS. THIAGO MELLER
Featherweight: LUIS PALOMINO VS. SHEYMON MORAES
वज़नदार: CHRIS “HUGGY BEAR” BARNETT VS. JUSTIN WILLIS

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 बजे. व
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. शुक्रवार को, जून 17

लास वेगास (अप्रैल 12, 2016) लड़ने के -World सीरीज (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 (एमएमए) घटना, पर NBCSN पर रहते हैं 9 बजे. ईटी / 6 बजे. Mashantucket में Foxwoods रिज़ॉर्ट कैसीनो से, क्ोन. शुक्रवार को, जून 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, उभरता सितारा क्रिस "Huggy भालू" बार्नेट (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) एक वेल्टरवेट में (170 पाउंड) चक्कर.

In a featherweight (145 पाउंड) scrap between two prolific strikers, लुइस "लंगूर" Palomino (24-12) will face off with former world championship challenger Sheymon मोरेस (8-1).

मुख्य समारोह में, reigning world heavyweight champion Blagoy इवानोव (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) जबकि, in the lightweight (155 पाउंड) सह-मुख्य घटना, सुपरस्टार जेसन "कैनसस सिटी बैंडिट" उच्च (19-5) व माइक "मंगल ग्रह का निवासी" रिक्की (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

क्रिस बार्नेट बनाम. Justin Willis

After spending the last year and a half making waves in Japan, 5 फुट 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 के बारे में उनकी 14 के माध्यम से कैरियर की जीत (टी)को, 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-हाँr-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (यूएफसी) greats कैन Velasquez व डैनियल 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 टोक्यो में.

बनाम लुइस Palomino. Sheymon मोरेस

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 two, all-out wars with reigning, लड़ हल्के चैंपियन का अपराजित विश्व सीरीज जस्टिन "उजागर" 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, एक रात, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, प्रथम चरण (4:55) किसे (घूंसे) पर रिच Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) किसे (घूंसे) at the hands की eventual tournament winner ब्रायन फोस्टर, 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 रोबी "समस्याओं" Peralta by way of TKO (घूंसे) दूसरे दौर में (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) प्रस्तुत (रियर नग्न गला घोंटना) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 पाउंड) समर्थक मार्लोन मोरेस.

John Howard vs. Thiago Meller

Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Uriah Hall, Siyar Bahadurzada व Cathal Pendred, the 5-foot-7, 33-year-old Howard of Boston, सामूहिक. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) को (घूंसे) को नुकसान Tim Means दिसंबर में 10.

तारीख तक, Howard has notched 15 के बारे में उनकी 23 के माध्यम से कैरियर की जीत (टी)KO या समर्पण. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 and June 2011, Howard scored a memorable, तीसरे दौर (4:55) को (घूंसे) on submission ace डेनिस 'सुपरमैन' Hallman दिसंबर में 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 (रियर नग्न गला घोंटना) की Leonardo Rodriguez जून को 26, 2015.

The 5-foot-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 के बारे में उनकी 20 कैरियर की जीत, प्रस्तुत करने के माध्यम से.

The preliminary bout card lineup for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland will be announced soon.

से कीमत $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, पर 5 बजे. व, और पहली बार प्रारंभिक कार्ड मुक्केबाज़ी में शुरू हो जाएगा 6 बजे.