Las Vegas (Kia 17, 2016) - World Series o te whawhai (www.WSOF.com) announced today that it is launching a groundbreaking program designed to support and further the athletic careers of military veterans who actively compete, or are seeking to compete, in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

"WSOF: Who’s The Toughest?” will include a dedicated recruitment program that will see World Series of Fighting President and six-time world champion Rangatira Matua and his staff visit MMA gyms, beginning with a location in San Diego, Calif. next month, in order to evaluate the pool of competitors with veteran status.

The first two recruits from the program will square off with each other live on NBCSN at WSOF35, which will take place at a location to be announced, i runga iRāhoroi, Nov. 12, one day after Veterans Day.

“We are looking forward to embarking on this venture that will allow us to give back to our armed forces that serve our country and protect our freedom,"Said Rangatira.

“As one of the major leagues in the sport of MMA with a national television platform in NBC and NBCSN, we have the ability to offer a potentially life-changing opportunity to fighters who are ready to make the jump, and we intend to leverage our position in the industry to benefit any veterans that show promise,"Ka mea a World Series o te whawhai Tumu Carlos Silva.

I roto i te Hānuere, World Series of Fighting placed its first military veteran – Caros "Te Future" Fodor – in action. Fodor, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps just six days after his high school graduation, was sent to Kuwait for the Iraq invasion after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and eventually earned the rank of sergeant before completing his military stint in 2007.

Fodor will be back in action on Rāhoroi, Hōngongoi 30, when he faces his adopted brother Phoenix Jones, aka Ben Fodor, at WSOF32, live on NBCSN from XFINITY Arena in Everett, Horoi., timata i 10:30 p.m. AND/7:30 p.m. PT.

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