WSOF 7: Johnson vs Kyle - Fight Card Updates

[keithlewis]

Newell versus Fadai Set for WSOF 7 on Dec. 7 in Vancouver, Canada


The eye-catching and undefeated lightweight "Notorious" Nick Newell (10-0) will participate in World Series of Fighting's first fight card north of the American border. Newell meets 28-year-old Canadian Sabah "The Persian Warrior" Fadai (7-2) on the NBCSN-televised main card of "World Series of Fighting 7: Johnson vs. Kyle," which takes place Dec. 7 at PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Newell last fought at August's World Series of Fighting 4, where he defeated Georgia's Keon Caldwell in the first frame with a modified guillotine choke that landed the young star a "Top Play" nod on ESPN's SportsCenter.

"I'm so honored to be part of WSOF's first event in Canada," said Newell. The opportunity to grow with this company on an international level is amazing. I'm expecting Fadai to bring it, and I can't wait to have my arm raised Dec. 7."

Meanwhile, Fadai is a member of Canada's Team Mamba, where he trains under famed striker Kultar "Black Mamba" Gill. Fighting professionally since 2007, Fadai has earned stoppage wins in all seven of his professional victories, including four knockouts and three submissions. Five of those finishes have come in the opening round.

Fadai fought most recently in October, where he needed just 84 seconds to tap out Cody Krahn with a triangle choke.

The live, two-hour NBCSN telecast of the World Series of Fighting 7 main card begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. A full lineup of preliminary bouts will also stream live on World Series of Fighting's official website, WSOF.com, beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, and venue doors open at 2 p.m. PT local time.

Canadian broadcast plans will be announced shortly.

Previously announced bouts include the night's main event, which sees hard-hitting light heavyweight Anthony "Rumble" Johnson (15-4) take on knockout artist Mike "MAK" Kyle (20-10-1), as well as a rescheduled middleweight tournament semifinal bout between Elvis "The King" Mutapcic (13-2) and Jesse "JT Money" Taylor (26-9).

A fourth main-card matchup will be announced shortly.

[keithlewis]

Rick Glenn and Georgi Karakhanyan fight at World Series of Fighting 7 for inaugural featherweight title


World Series of Fighting will soon crown the second champion in company history as Rick "The Gladiator" Glenn (14-2-1) meets Georgi "Insane" Karakhanyan (22-3-1) for the promotion's inaugural featherweight title.

The two meet at "World Series of Fighting 7: Johnson vs. Kyle," which takes place Dec. 7 at PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The night's main card airs on NBCSN at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT following prelims that stream on World Series of Fighting's official website, WSOF.com.

"Anyone who's seen Rick Glenn and Georgi Karakhanyan fight knows what kind of exciting, dynamic athletes they are in the cage," World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said. "These two have proven themselves as the top two fighters in our 145-pound division, and I can't wait to see them meet for our first-ever featherweight belt."

Glenn is a 24-year-old member of Wisconsin's famed Roufusport team. An Iowa native, Glenn has been competing professionally since 2006 and is unbeaten in his past 12 contests. He's fought twice under the World Series of Fighting banner, earning a knockout over Alexandre Pimentel in March and returning in September to score an impressive decision win over a previously unbeaten Artur Rofi.

Meanwhile, Karakhanyan brings an eight-fight win streak to the matchup. The 28-year-old Millennia MMA fighter, who was born in Russia but now makes his home in Southern California, also turned pro in 2006 and has since racked up 22 wins, including 12 submission victories and another four by knockout. He debuted for World Series of Fighting in September, scoring an impressive first-round submission win over Waylon Lowe, who had won his previous four fights by knockout.

The winner of the Glenn vs. Karakhanyan will join recently crowned welterweight champion Steve Carl as the first two title holders on the World Series of Fighting roster.

With the addition to the World Series of Fighting 7 lineup, the night's main card now includes:

Anthony Johnson vs. Mike Kyle
Rick Glenn vs. Georgi Karakhanyan - for inaugural WSOF featherweight title
Elvis Mutapcic vs. Jesse Taylor - middleweight tournament semifinal
Sabah Fadai vs. Nick Newell

[keithlewis]

World Series of Fighting 7 prelims take shape with addition of three new fights - Dwayne Lewis vs. Kalib Starnes, Shawn Albrecht vs. Josh Machan, Michael Hill vs. Jordan Knippelberg set for first-ever WSOF Canada event Dec. 7 in Vancouver


World Series of Fighting's first-ever Canadian fight continues to fill out, as three new preliminary contests have been booked for World Series of Fighting 7, including a light heavyweight matchup of Dwayne "D-Bomb" Lewis (13-8) vs. Kalib Starnes (15-8-1), a featherweight contest of Shawn Albrecht (9-5) vs. Josh Machan (11-4) and welterweights Michael "The Messenger" Hill (5-2) vs. Jordan Knippelberg (8-2).

"We're incredibly excited to be making out first trip to Canada, and our preliminary card is going to feature a great mix of the country's best veteran and prospect fighters, who will enjoy an opportunity to impress a worldwide audience," World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said. "Add that to an amazing main card that features Anthony Johnson vs. Mike Kyle in the headliner, and I think Canadian fans are going to be in for a great night of action."

Lewis, of Fort McMurray, Alberta, boasts past clashes with MMA notables Razak Al-Hassan, Chris Camozzi Marvin Eastman, Wilson Gouveia, Ryan Jimmo and Emanuel Newton, among others. Lewis briefly retired from the sport following a particularly frustrating loss to Gouveia, but the draw of the sport was too strong, and he returned to the cage in July, scoring a unanimous decision win over Tim Chemelli.

Starnes, a five-time UFC veteran and former Armageddon Fighting Championship middleweight champion, fought most recently in August, when he needed just 81 seconds to score a TKO win over Clay Davidson. The 38-year-old native of Surrey, British Columbia, currently boasts a three-fight win streak, a run that includes a heavyweight bout with six-time UFC veteran Tim Hague.

Albrecht, of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, is the head coach of West Coast Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with seven years of professional MMA experience. Despite his ample grappling history, Albrecht has earned eight of his nine career wins by way of knockout.

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Machan has elected to handle his fights in a different manner, notching 10 of his 11 career wins by way of submission. The Red Deer, Alberta, resident is also in the midst of an incredible run of success, winning 11 of his past 12 fights including an incredible run of four-straight wins by tapout - two of which took 22 seconds or less.

Hill, of Kelowna, British Columbia, is perhaps best known for his time as a cast member on "The Ultimate Fighter 16," where he fought as a member of UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson's team. Most recently, he came up short in a bid for the Aggression Fighting Championship welterweight title, losing by submission with just 31 seconds remaining in the five-round championship bout.

Meanwhile, Knippelberg, of Trail, British Columbia, brings a three-fight win streak to the cage, a run that includes two submission wins of one minute or less. Overall, Knippelberg has won seven of his past eight fights and owns five of his eight career wins by submission.


NBCSN-TELEVISED MAIN CARD

Anthony Johnson vs. Mike Kyle
Rick Glenn vs. Georgi Karakhanyan - for inaugural WSOF featherweight title
Elvis Mutapcic vs. Jesse Taylor - middleweight tournament semifinal
Sabah Fadai vs. Nick Newell


WSOF.COM-STREAMED PRELIMINARY CARD

Kalib Starnes vs. Dwayne Lewis
Shawn Albrecht vs. Josh Machan
Michael Hill vs. Jordan Knippelberg

[keithlewis]

Lance Palmer vs. Georgi Karakhanyan for 145 Title at WSOF 7


Georgi "Insane" Karakhanyan (22-3-1) will still compete for World Series of Fighting's inaugural featherweight title, but he'll face a new opponent, Lance "Unstoppable" Palmer (7-0), an impressive young fighter whose addition makes this new championship matchup just as exciting as the originally planned bout.

Rick "The Gladiator" Glenn (14-2-1) withdrew from the World Series of Fighting 7 bout due to personal reasons.

"We wish Rick Glenn all the best and know that he still has a very bright future ahead of him in our promotion," World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said.

World Series of Fighting recently signed a multi-fight deal with Palmer, who now meets Karakhanyan to determine the promotion's first 145-pound champion.

Karakhanyan and Palmer meet in the five-round, co-main event of next month's "World Series of Fighting 7: Johnson vs. Kyle" event, which takes place Dec. 7 at PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The night's main card airs live on NBCSN at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, following prelims that stream live on World Series of Fighting's official website, WSOF.com.

Palmer is a former four-time All-American collegiate wrestler at Ohio State University. A member of California's famed Team Alpha Male, Palmer currently trains alongside MMA standouts Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez, Chad Mendes, Danny Castillo and T.J. Dillashaw, among others. Palmer made his professional debut in 2011 and remains undefeated through his first seven contests, including a recent decision win that saw him claim the Resurrection Fighting Alliance featherweight title.

"I'm very excited to start this next chapter of my career," said Palmer. "To be able to come in and fight for a title in a top promotion is a great honor, and I'm looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans."

Meanwhile, Karakhanyan brings an eight-fight win streak to the matchup. The 28-year-old Millennia MMA fighter, who was born in Russia but now makes his home in Southern California, turned pro in 2006 and has since racked up 22 wins, including 12 submission victories and another four by knockout. He debuted for World Series of Fighting in September, scoring an impressive first-round submission win over Waylon Lowe, who had won his previous four fights by knockout.

"It is unfortunate that Rick had to pull out of the fight," said Karakhanyan. "As professional, my job is to adapt and be prepared for anything and everything. I'm really excited to fight. Don't matter who it is, I just want to fight. Lance Palmer is a tough opponent, and I'm looking forward to beating him for the belt!"

The winner of the Karakhanyan vs. Palmer matchup will join recently crowned welterweight champion Steve Carl as the first two title holders on the World Series of Fighting roster.

NBCSN-TELEVISED MAIN CARD

Anthony Johnson vs. Mike Kyle
Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Lance Palmer - for inaugural WSOF featherweight title
Elvis Mutapcic vs. Jesse Taylor - middleweight tournament semifinal
Sabah Fadai vs. Nick Newell

WSOF.COM-STREAMED PRELIMINARY CARD

Kalib Starnes vs. Dwayne Lewis
Shawn Albrecht vs. Josh Machan
Michael Hill vs. Jordan Knippelberg