WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

Полусреднем: JOHN HOWARD VS. THIAGO MELLER
Полулегкий вес: LUIS PALOMINO VS. SHEYMON MORAES
ТЯЖЕЛОВЕСНЫХ: CHRIS “HUGGY BEAR” BARNETT VS. JUSTIN WILLIS

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.m. И
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. В ПЯТНИЦУ, Июнь 17

ЛАС-ВЕГАС (Апреля 12, 2016) -Мировой Серии 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) событие, жить на NBCSN на 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. от Foxwoods Resort Casino в Mashantucket, Коннектикут. в пятницу, Июнь 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, восходящая звезда Крис "Хагги Медведь" 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 Джон «Судный день» Ховард (23-12) будут сталкиваться с экспертом представления Thiago “Minu” Meller (20-7) в полусреднем весе (170 фунты) дело.

В полулегком (145 фунты) scrap between two prolific strikers, Луис "Бабуин" Паломино (24-12) will face off with former world championship challenger Sheymon Мораес (8-1).

В главном событии, reigning world heavyweight champion Благой Иванов (13-1) will risk his title against Джош «Милый мишка» Коупленд (13-1) в то время как, in the lightweight (155 фунты) совместно Главным событием, суперзвезды Джейсон "Канзас-Сити Бандит" Высокий (19-5) и Майк "Марсианский" Риччи (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Крис Барнетт против. Justin Willis

After spending the last year and a half making waves in Japan, 5 футов 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. в первый раз в своей карьере.

With heavy hands and tremendous agility for a fighter of his massive stature, Barnett has notched 12 из его 14 Карьера победы по пути (T)KO, and has celebrated his wins in flamboyant fashion, with everything from cartwheels to breakdancing to hand stands.

Like Barnett, the stocky, 6-фут-3, 28-даr-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Кейн Веласкес и Даниэль 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, он получил единогласное решение судей над Ризван Kuniev в Токио.

Луис Паломино против. Sheymon Мораес

5 футов 8, 35-year-old Palomino of Miami, Флорида. via Lima, Peru is coming off an epic year in which he engaged in two, all-out wars with reigning, Непобедимый чемпион мира в серии боев в легком весе Джастин "Выделить" 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, одна ночь, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, первый раунд (4:55) ВОЗ (удары) на Богатый Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) ВОЗ (удары) at the hands из eventual tournament winner Брайан Фостер, Palomino will return to the featherweight division where he has held two world titles.

5 футов 8, 25-year-old Moraes of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil returned to form in his last bout, decimating fellow knockout artist Робби "Проблемы" Перальта через технический нокаут (удары) in the second round (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) представление (задний удушение) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 фунты) чемпион Марлон Мораес.

Джон Ховард против. Thiago Meller

Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Uriah зал, Продам Бахадурзаде и Cathal Pendred, the 5-FOot-7, 33-годовалый Говард из Бостона, Масса. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) KO (удары) потери Tim Means в декабре 10.

Встретиться, Howard has notched 15 из его 23 Карьера победы по пути (T)КО или подчинение. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 и июнь 2011, Howard scored a memorable, Третий раунд (4:55) KO (удары) on submission ace Деннис «Супермен» Холман в декабре 5, 2009, marking his third consecutive conquest in the league.

Meller of Porto Alegre, Рио-Гранде-ду-Сул, Brazil will look to collect his second win in a row, following his first round submission (задний удушение) из Leonardo Rodriguez июня 26, 2015.

5 футов 10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 из его 20 карьера побед, путем подачи.

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

По цене от $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. Коупленд, на 5 p.m. И, и первый предварительный бой карты начнется в 6 p.m.