WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

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

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.M. ЖӘНЕ
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. ЖҰМАДА, МАУСЫМ 17

LAS VEGAS (Сәуір 12, 2016) Күресудің -World Series (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) оқиға, NBCSN AT өмір сүріп 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. Mashantucket жылы Foxwoods Resort Casino бастап, Конн. жұмада, Маусым 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, жұлдызы Крис «Huggy Bear» Барнетт (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) полусреднем салмағы бойынша (170 фунт) іс.

In a featherweight (145 фунт) scrap between two prolific strikers, Луис «Baboon» Паломино (24-12) will face off with former world championship challenger Sheymon Moraes (8-1).

Негізгі жағдайда, reigning world heavyweight champion Blagoy Иванов (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) уақыт, in the lightweight (155 фунт) тең басты оқиға, жұлдыздар Джейсон «Kansas City Bandit» Жоғары (19-5) мен Майк «Марс» Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Крис Barnett В.С.. Justin Willis

After spending the last year and a half making waves in Japan, 5 фут-9, 29-year-old Barnett of Tampa, Флорида. will suit up as “Huggy Bear,” and make his way onto a major stage in the U.S. мансабында алғаш рет.

With heavy hands and tremendous agility for a fighter of his massive stature, Barnett has notched 12 оның 14 жолымен мансап жеңістері (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-иәr-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Қабыл Velasquez мен 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 Ризван Kuniev Токиода.

Луис Palomino қарсы. Sheymon Moraes

The 5-foot-8, 35-year-old Palomino of Miami, Флорида. via Lima, Peru is coming off an epic year in which he engaged in twThe, all-out wars with reigning, жеңіл чемпионы күрес непобедимый World Series Джастин «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, бір түндік, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, Бірінші тур (4:55) ДДҰ (соққылары) бойынша Бай Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) ДДҰ (соққылары) at the hands туралы eventual tournament winner Брайан 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 Робби «мәселелері» Peralta by way of TKO (соққылары) Екінші раундта (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) ұсыну (Артқы жалаңаш штуцер) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 фунт) чемпион Марлон 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 мен Cathal Pendred, The 5-foot-7, 33-year-old Howard of Boston, Масса. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) KO (соққылары) Шығынға Tim Means желтоқсан 10.

Күнге дейін, Howard has notched 15 оның 23 жолымен мансап жеңістері (T)KO немесе ұсыну. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 and June 2011, Howard scored a memorable, үшінші раунды (4:55) KO (соққылары) on submission ace Деннис «Superman» Hallman желтоқсан 5, 2009, marking his third consecutive conquest in the league.

Meller of Porto Alegre, Рио-Гранди-ду-Сул, Brazil will look to collect his second win in a row, following his first round submission (Артқы жалаңаш штуцер) туралы Leonardo Rodriguez маусымда 26, 2015.

5 фут-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 оның 20 career wins, ұсыну жолымен.

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

Бастап бағаланған $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, жанында 5 p.m. ЖӘНЕ, және бірінші алдын ала картасын жекпе басталады 6 p.m.