WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

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

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 Вечер. И
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. Во петокот, Јуни 17

LAS VEGAS (Април 12, 2016) -World Серија Борба против (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 (МЛД) Настанот, живеат во NBCSN 9 вечер. ЕТ / 6 вечер. од Foxwoods одморалиште казино во Mashantucket, Конектикат. во петокот, Јуни 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, зголемувањето на ѕвезда Крис "Huggy мечка" Барнет (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 Johnон „Судениот ден“ Хауард (23-12) will collide with submission expert Thiago “Minu” Meller (20-7) во велтер категорија (170 фунти) Аферата.

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

Во главниот настан, reigning world heavyweight champion Благој Иванов (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) а, in the lightweight (155 фунти) ко-главен настан, суперѕвезди Џејсон "Канзас Сити Превод" Висок (19-5) и Мајк "На Марс" Ричи (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Крис Барнет vs. Justin Willis

After spending the last year and a half making waves in Japan, 5-метарски-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. for the first time in his career.

With heavy hands and tremendous agility for a fighter of his massive stature, Barnett has notched 12 на неговата 14 во кариерата победи по пат на (Т)КО, 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-Полесноr-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Каин Веласкез и Даниел 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 во Токио.

Луис vs Palomino. 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 twна, all-out wars with reigning, непоразен Светската серија на Борба лесни шампион Џастин "Врв" 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, една ноќ, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, Првиот круг (4:55) СЗО (тупаници) на Богата Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) СЗО (тупаници) at the hands на eventual tournament winner Брајан Фостер, 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 Роби "проблеми" Peralta by way of TKO (тупаници) во вториот круг (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) поднесување (задните гол задави) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 фунти) шампион Марлон Moraes.

Он Хауард vs.. Thiago Meller

Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Uriah сала, Сијар бахадурзада и Cathal Pendred, на 5-foot-7, 33-годишниот Хауард од Бостон, Маса. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) КО (тупаници) загуба Tim Means декември 10.

До денес, Howard has notched 15 на неговата 23 во кариерата победи по пат на (Т)КО или поднесување. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 and June 2011, Howard scored a memorable, третиот круг (4:55) КО (тупаници) on submission ace Денис "Супермен" Hallman декември 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 (задните гол задави) на Leonardo Rodriguez јуни 26, 2015.

The 5-foot-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 на неговата 20 career wins, по пат на поднесување.

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

Со цена од $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 вечер. И, и првите прелиминарни рунда картичка ќе започне во 6 вечер.