WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

WELTERWEIGHT: JOHN HOWARD VS. THIAGO MELLER
Полулегком вага: LUIS PALOMINO VS. SHEYMON MORAES
Цяжкавагавых: CHRIS “HUGGY BEAR” BARNETT VS. JUSTIN WILLIS

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.m. І
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. У ПЯТНІЦУ, Чэрвеня 17

Лас-Вегасе (Красавіка 12, 2016) -Мировой Серыі Fighting (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 (MMA) падзея, жыць на NBCSN на 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. ад Foxwoods Resort Casino ў Mashantucket, Канэктыкут. у пятніцу, Чэрвеня 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, Узыходзячая зорка Крыс "Хагія Мядзведзь" Barnett (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) у нападаючым вазе (170 фунты) справа.

In a featherweight (145 фунты) scrap between two prolific strikers, Луіс "бабуіны" Паломино (24-12) will face off with former world championship challenger Sheymon Мораес (8-1).

У галоўным падзеі, reigning world heavyweight champion Добры Іваноў (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) у той час як, in the lightweight (155 фунты) сумесна Галоўнай падзеяй, суперзвезды Джэйсан "Канзас-Сіці Бандыт" Высокі (19-5) і Майк "Марсіянскі" Рычы (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Крыс Барнетт супраць. Justin Willis

After spending the last year and a half making waves in Japan, 5 футаў 9, 29-year-old Barnett of Tampa, Фларыда. will suit up as “Huggy Bear,” and make his way onto a major stage in the U.S. упершыню ў кар'еры.

With heavy hands and tremendous agility for a fighter of his massive stature, Barnett has notched 12 з яго 14 Кар'ера перамогі па шляху (T)KO, 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-дыr-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Кейн Веласкес і Даніэль Кормье, 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 Рызван Kuniev ў Токіо.

Луіс Паломино супраць. Sheymon Мораес

The 5-foot-8, 35-year-old Palomino of Miami, Фларыда. via Lima, Peru is coming off an epic year in which he engaged in two, all-out wars with reigning, Непераможны чэмпіён свету ў серыі баёў у лёгкай вазе Джасцін "Вылучыць" 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, адну ноч, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, Першы раўнд (4:55) СААЗ (ўдары) на Багаты Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) СААЗ (ўдары) at the hands з eventual tournament winner Браян Фостэр, 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 Робі "Праблемы" Перальта by way of TKO (ўдары) у другім туры (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) прадстаўленне (задні ўдушэнне) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 фунты) чэмпіён Марлон Мораес.

John Howard vs. Thiago Meller

Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Урыя зала, Siyar Bahadurzada і Cathal Pendred, the 5-foot-7, 33-year-old Howard of Boston, Маса. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) KO (ўдары) страты Tim Means снежань 10.

Сустрэцца, Howard has notched 15 з яго 23 Кар'ера перамогі па шляху (T)КО або падпарадкаванне. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 and June 2011, Howard scored a memorable, Трэці раўнд (4:55) KO (ўдары) on submission ace Дэніс «Супермэн» Холман снежань 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 (задні ўдушэнне) з Leonardo Rodriguez чэрвеня 26, 2015.

The 5-foot-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 з яго 20 career wins, шляхам падачы.

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

Па кошце ад $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, на 5 p.m. І, і першы папярэдні бой карты пачнецца ў 6 p.m.