WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

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

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.m. AGUS
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. AR Dé hAoine, Meitheamh 17

LAS VEGAS (Aibreán 12, 2016) -World Sraith de Troid (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) imeacht, beo ar NBCSN ag 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. ó Foxwoods Saoire Casino i Mashantucket, Conn. ar an Aoine, Meitheamh 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, ag ardú réalta Chris "Huggy Bear" 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) i welterweight (170 punt) affair.

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

Sa an imeacht is mó, reigning world heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) cé go, in the lightweight (155 punt) comh-príomh imeacht, superstars Jason "An Kansas City meirleach" Ard- (19-5) agus Mike "An 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, an 5-chos-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 de chuid 14 victories gairme trí (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-year-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Cain Velasquez agus 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 Rizvan Kuniev i Tóiceo.

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 twan, all-out wars with reigning, undefeated Sraith an Domhain de Troid curadh lightweight Justin "An Aibhsigh" 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, aon-oíche, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, chéad bhabhta (4:55) WHO (punches) ar Rich Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) WHO (punches) at the hands de 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 "Fadhbanna" Peralta by way of TKO (punches) sa dara babhta (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) aighneacht (chúl-naked choke) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 punt) curadh Marlon Moraes.

John Howard vs. Thiago Meller

Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Uriah Halla, Siyar Bahadurzada agus Cathal Pendred, an 5-foot-7, 33-year-old Howard of Boston, Aifreann. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) KO (punches) caillteanas Tim Means ar Nollaig 10.

Go dtí seo, Howard has notched 15 de chuid 23 victories gairme trí (T)KO nó aighneacht. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 and June 2011, Howard scored a memorable, tríú babhta (4:55) KO (punches) on submission ace Dennis "Superman" Hallman ar Nollaig 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 (chúl-naked choke) de Leonardo Rodriguez ar Meitheamh 26, 2015.

The 5-foot-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 de chuid 20 career wins, ar mhodh aighneacht.

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

Phraghas ó $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, ag 5 p.m. AGUS, agus beidh an chéad bout chárta réamh tosú ag 6 p.m.