LAS VEGAS (Maj 20, 2016) -World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) has signed undefeated middleweight (185 pounds) Udsigten Phil Hawes (3-0) til en eksklusiv, multi-årig salgsfremmende aftale.

A product of the famed Jackson-Winklejohn camp in Albuquerque, N.M., 6-fods, 27-year-old Hawes who hails from Little Ferry, N.J., vil gøre hans salgsfremmende debut mod Joshua “The Prince of MMA” Key (6-11, 2 NC) on the live, five-bout NBCSN telecast (9 p.m. OG/6 p.m. PT) of WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland, at Foxwoods Resort Casino i Mashantucket, Conn. påFredag, Juni 17.

“Phil is one of the most exciting, young prospects in the sport of MMA, so we are excited to welcome him to the World Series of Fighting family, and we look forward to seeing how his career develops under our promotion,"Sagde World Series of Fighting præsident Far Chiefs.

The matchup with Key will be Hawes’ first start since 2014, his professional debut year when he ran to three straight victories, the first two by way of TKO and the third – a first round victory over Brandon Collins på Oktober 18 – by way of armbar submission.

A 2009 junior college national wrestling champion for Iowa Central Community College, the alma mater of UFC champion and Jackson-Winklejohn teammate Jon "Bones" Jones, Hawes has been described by Jones as having“limitless” potential.

Prissat fra $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. OG, og den første foreløbige kort Bout vil begynde på 6 p.m.

In the main event of the live NBCSN telecast, reigning world heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1).

In the lightweight (155 pounds) co-main event, superstjerner Jason "The Kansas City Bandit" High (19-5) og Mike "The Mars" Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
Hovedkortet (Live på NBCSN)

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

Letvægts: Jason Høj vs. Mike Ricci
Weltervægt: John Howard vs. Thiago Meller
Fjervægt: Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes
Mellemvægt: Phil Hawes vs. Joshua Key

FORELØBIG CARD (Live på WSOF.com)

Letvægts: Tom Marcellino vs. Devin Powell
Heavyweight: Juliano Coutinho vs. Justin Willis
Heavyweight: Tyler King vs. Lorenzo Hood
Weltervægt: Robert Fonseca vs. Sean Lally
Letvægts: Bruce Boyington vs. Saul Almeida
Bantamvægt: Rodrigo Almeida vs. Ben Pierre-Saint
Letvægts: Sam Watford vs. Christian Torres