WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING RETURNS TO FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO IN CONNECTICUT WITH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MEGA-EVENT ON FRIDAY, RAU HLI 17, NYOB RAU NBCSN

TICKETS FOR WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
ON SALE FRIDAY, PLAUB HLI 1

LIGHTWEIGHT CO-MAIN EVENT:
JASON HIGH VS. MIKE RICCI

Las Vegas (Lub peb hlis ntuj 29, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that it will return to Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. with a stacked lineup of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights led by a world heavyweight championship showdown between reigning kingpin Blagoy Ivanov(13-1) and Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1), nyob rau NBCSN ntawm 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT rau hnub Friday, Lub rau hli ntuj 17.

In the lightweight (155 phaus) co-ntsiab kev tshwm sim, superstars Jason "Lub Kansas City Bandit" High (19-5) thiab Mike "Lub Martian" Ricci (11-4) will square off with the number one contender ranking at stake.

Luv nqi los ntawm $39.99, tickets for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland, go on sale on Friday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 1 ntawm 10 a.m. THIAB, at WSOF.com and Foxwoods.com.

“We are looking forward to returning to the great state of Connecticut, and putting on another phenomenal world championship event featuring some of our top superstars, for fans at Foxwoods Resort Casino,"Hais tias lub ntiaj teb no Series ntawm Sib ntaus sib tua Thawj Tswj Hwm Leej Txiv Chiefs.

Blagoy Ivanov vs. Josh Copeland

Ivanov of Sulfia, Bulgaria is a 5-foot-11, 29-year-old Judo black belt and Sambo master who has earned 11 ntawm nws 13 career MMA wins by way of (T)KO los yog cuav. Thaum lub 2008 World Sambo Championships, he made his first big mark in combat sports, defeating all-time great Fedor Emelianenko.

Ivanov made his way to World Series of Fighting after a near-flawless, 8-fight run under the promotion of Bellator, posting an overall, 7-1 record there. He seized the World Series of Fighting heavyweight championship from Smealinho Rama, forcing Rama to tap out from a guillotine choke in the third round (1:17) of their matchup on June 5, 2015, and successfully defended the title for the first time on October 17, xeem ib tug thib ob puag ncig (4:33) TKO rau Derrick Mehman nrog ib tug barrage ntawm punches.

Copeland of Denver, Ncej puab. is coming off his World Series of Fighting debut victory, a unanimous decision over Mike “300” Hayes, at WSOF29 on March 12. Lub 6-taw-1, 33-year-old teammate of undefeated World Series of Fighting lightweight champion Justin "Lub Highlight" Gaethje has notched 8 ntawm nws 13 career wins, to date, ntawm (T)KO los yog cuav.

Jason High vs. Mike Ricci

Following his near 18-month absence from competition, High of Kansas City, Miss. made his long-awaited return to the cage on November 20 at WSOF25, after signing an exclusive, multi-fight contract with World Series of Fighting, and scored a thunderous, ob puag ncig (:47) KO rau Estevan Payan with a head kick-punches combination.

Lub 5-ko taw-9, 34-year-old High, a veteran of the UFC and Strikeforce, initially caught the attention of the MMA world while fighting at an elite level in Japan under the promotion of K-1 and Dream where he faced and defeated the likes of Andre Galvao thiab Hayato “Mach” Sakurai. High also holds a victory over retired phenom Kuv Jordan.

Ricci of Montreal, Quebec, Canada reached the final round on the 16th season of the hit competition reality show Qhov kawg Fighter.

Lub 6-taw, 30-year-old member of famed trainer Firas Zahabi’s Tristar Gym fight team is looking for his fourth consecutive win, after defeating the likes of Jorge Gurgel, George Sotiropoulos thiab Joe Condon, whom Ricci conquered by way of first round (2:41) KO with a head kick at WSOF25.

Doors at The Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino will open for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland, ntawm 5 p.m. THIAB, thiab cov thawj ua ntej card bout yuav pib thaum 6 p.m.

Ntxiv bouts yuav muab tshaj tawm sai.

Sau ntawv cia Ncua