Las Vegas (May 20, 2016) -World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) has signed undefeated middleweight (185 amakhilogremu) ithemba Phil Hawes (3-0) i okukhethekile, iminyaka eminingi sivumelwano yokukhangisa.

A product of the famed Jackson-Winklejohn camp in Albuquerque, N.M., the-foot 6, 27-year-old Hawes who hails from Little Ferry, N.J., uyokwenza DEBUT yakhe asetshenzisiwe ngokumelene Joshua “The Prince of MMA” Key (6-11, 2 NC) on the live, five-bout NBCSN telecast (9 p.m. KANYE/6 p.m. PT) of WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland, at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. onFriday, June 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,"Kusho World Series of Ukulwa President Baba 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 on October 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.

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, owokuqala wokulungiselela ikhadi iziqubu uzoqala at 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 amakhilogremu) co-main umcimbi, 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)

Esilula: Jason High vs. Mike Ricci
Welterweight: John Howard vs. Thiago Meller
Featherweight: Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes
Middleweight: Phil Hawes vs. Joshua 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: Sam Watford vs. Christian Torres