WSOF31: IVANOV VS. ΚΟΠΕΛΑΝΔΙΑ
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

ΚΑΛΥΤΕΡΟ ΒΑΡΟΣ: JOHN HOWARD VS. THIAGO MELLER
ΠΥΓΜΆΧΟΣ ΕΛΑΦΡΟΎ ΒΆΡΟΥΣ: LUIS PALOMINO VS. SHEYMON MORAES
Βαρέων βαρών: CHRIS “HUGGY BEAR” BARNETT VS. JUSTIN WILLIS

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 Ρ.Μ.. ΚΑΙ
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. ΤΗΝ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΉ, JUNE 17

LAS VEGAS (Απρίλιος 12, 2016) -World Σειρά πάλης (WSOF.com) today announced the addition of three star-studded matchups to complete the main card for its WSOF31: Ιβάνοφ vs. Copeland world heavyweight championship Mixed Martial Arts (ΜΜΑ) συμβάν, ζουν σε NBCSN σε 9 μ.μ. ET / 6 μ.μ.. από Foxwoods Resort Casino στο Mashantucket, Conn. την Παρασκευή, Ιούνιος 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, ανερχόμενο αστέρι Chris "Huggy Αρκούδα" 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) θα συγκρουστεί με έναν ειδικό υποβολής Thiago “Minu” Meller (20-7) σε ένα welterweight (170 λίρες) υπόθεση.

In a featherweight (145 λίρες) scrap between two prolific strikers, Luis "μπαμπουίνους" Palomino (24-12) will face off with former world championship challenger Sheymon Moraes (8-1).

Στο κύριο γεγονός, reigning world heavyweight champion Blagoy Ιβάνοφ (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) ενώ, in the lightweight (155 λίρες) συν-κύριο γεγονός, σούπερ σταρ Jason "Η πόλη του Κάνσας Bandit" Υψηλή (19-5) και Ο Mike "The Martian" Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Chris Barnett vs. Justin Willis

After spending the last year and a half making waves in Japan, η 5-πόδι-9, 29-year-old Barnett of Tampa, Fla. will suit up as “Huggy Bear,” and make his way onto a major stage in the U.S. for the first time in his career.

With heavy hands and tremendous agility for a fighter of his massive stature, Barnett has notched 12 από του 14 καριέρα νίκες μέσω της (Τ)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-ναίr-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Cain Velasquez και Daniel Cormier, 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 Ο Rizvan Kuniev στο Τόκιο.

Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes

The 5-foot-8, 35-year-old Palomino of Miami, Fla. via Lima, Peru is coming off an epic year in which he engaged in twο, all-out wars with reigning, αήττητο World Series of Fighting ελαφρύς πρωτοπόρος Justin "Το Highlight" 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, μια νύχτα, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, πρώτο γύρο (4:55) ΠΟΥ (γροθιές) επί Πλούσια Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) ΠΟΥ (γροθιές) at the hands του eventual tournament winner Brian Foster, 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 Robbie "Προβλήματα" Peralta by way of TKO (γροθιές) στο δεύτερο γύρο (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) υποβολή (πίσω γυμνή έμφραξη) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 λίρες) πρωταθλητής Marlon Moraes.

John Howard vs. Thiago Meller

Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Uriah Hall, Siyar Bahadurzada και Cathal Pendred, ο 5-FOot-7, 33-year-old Howard of Boston, Μάζα. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) KO (γροθιές) απώλεια για Tim Means τον Δεκέμβριο 10.

Μέχρι σήμερα, Howard has notched 15 από του 23 καριέρα νίκες μέσω της (Τ)KO ή την υποβολή. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 and June 2011, Howard scored a memorable, τρίτο γύρο (4:55) KO (γροθιές) on submission ace Dennis "Σούπερμαν" ΙΙηι τον Δεκέμβριο 5, 2009, marking his third consecutive conquest in the league.

Meller of Porto Alegre, Ρίο Γκράντε ντο Σουλ, Brazil will look to collect his second win in a row, following his first round submission (πίσω γυμνή έμφραξη) του Leonardo Rodriguez τον Ιούνιο 26, 2015.

The 5-foot-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 από του 20 κερδίζει καριέρα, μέσω της υποβολής.

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

Τιμές από $39.99, tickets for the event are on sale at WSOF.com and Foxwoods.com.

Οι πόρτες στο The Grand Theatre στο Foxwoods Resort Casino θα ανοίξουν για το WSOF31: Ιβάνοφ vs. Κοπελάνδη, στο 5 μ.μ. ΚΑΙ, και η πρώτη προκαταρκτική περίοδο κάρτα θα αρχίσει στις 6 μ.μ.