WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

Напівсередній: JOHN HOWARD VS. THIAGO MELLER
Напівлегка вага: LUIS PALOMINO VS. SHEYMON MORAES
Великовагових: CHRIS “HUGGY BEAR” BARNETT VS. JUSTIN WILLIS

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.m. І
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. В П'ЯТНИЦЮ, Червень 17

Лас-Вегас (Квітня 12, 2016) -світовий Серії 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) подія, жити на NBCSN на 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. від Foxwoods Resort Casino в Mashantucket, Коннектикут. в п'ятницю, Червень 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, Висхідна зірка Кріс "Хаггі Ведмідь" 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) зіткнеться з експертом з подання Thiago “Minu” Meller (20-7) в напівсередній вазі (170 фунти) справа.

In a featherweight (145 фунти) scrap between two prolific strikers, Луїс "Бабуїн" Паломино (24-12) will face off with former world championship challenger Sheymon Мораес (8-1).

У головній події, reigning world heavyweight champion Благий Іванов (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) в той час як, in the lightweight (155 фунти) спільно Головною подією, суперзірки Джейсон "Канзас-Сіті Бандит" Високий (19-5) і Майк "Марсіанський" Річчі (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Кріс Барнет проти. Justin Willis

After spending the last year and a half making waves in Japan, 5 футів 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 з його 14 Кар'єра перемоги по шляху (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-даr-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Кейн Веласкес і Даніель 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, he earned a unanimous decision over Різван Kuniev в Токіо.

Луїс Паломіно проти. Sheymon Мораес

5-футовий-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, Непереможний чемпіон світу в серії боїв в легкій вазі Джастін "Виділити" 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, одну ніч, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, Перший раунд (4:55) ВООЗ (удари) на Багатий Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) ВООЗ (удари) at the hands з eventual tournament winner Брайан Фостер, Palomino will return to the featherweight division where he has held two world titles.

5-футовий-8, 25-year-old Moraes of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil returned to form in his last bout, decimating fellow knockout artist Роббі "Проблеми" Перальта by way of TKO (удари) у другому турі (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) уявлення (задній удушення) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 фунти) чемпіон Марлон Мораес.

John Howard vs. Thiago Meller

Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Урия зал, Siyar Bahadurzada і Cathal Pendred, the 5-foot-7, 33-year-old Howard of Boston, Маса. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) KO (удари) втрати Tim Means грудня 10.

Зустрітися, Howard has notched 15 з його 23 Кар'єра перемоги по шляху (T)КО або підпорядкування. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 and June 2011, Howard scored a memorable, Третій раунд (4:55) KO (удари) on submission ace Денніс «Супермен» Холман грудня 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 (задній удушення) з Leonardo Rodriguez Червень 26, 2015.

The 5-foot-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 з його 20 career wins, шляхом подачі.

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

За ціною від $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 p.m. І, і перший попередній бій карти почнеться в 6 p.m.