World Series of Fighting returns to Canada for their 21st show tonight, and the card features two title fights. Even though one of the fighters has yet to weigh in. And the undercard features two guys from the same camp fighting each other on virtually no notice due to an opponent backing out. Oh WSOF, you’re so wacky.
The main event sees Team Alpha Male’s Lance Palmer defending his featherweight title against Canadian veteran Chris Horodecki (21-5-1, 1 NC, 1-0 WSOF). Even though he’s only 27 (and looks like he’s 12), Horodecki has competed all over the place from the IFL to the WEC to Bellator. After a win at WSOF 14, he’s being pushed into a title match against Palmer (9-1, 2-1 WSOF). He picked up the title from Rick Glenn late last year after failing to secure it in a title bout in late 2013. It’s basically striker vs. grappler, as Horodecki is known for his flashy attacks on the feet while Palmer was a four-time All American wrestler at Ohio State.
The co-main event sees WSOF heavyweight champ Smealinho Rama taking on Bellator vet Blagoi Ivanov. Ivanov (11-1)was late getting his visa, and wasn’t able to arrive in Edmonton until after the weigh-ins. Because he’s a HW nowhere near the 265-pound limit though, he’ll officially weigh in today and the fight will go on.
Rama (9-1, 2-0 WSOF) picked up the title with a 51-second finish of Derek Mehmen in October, and will be competing in his home province (he’s from Calgary). You might know Ivanov as one of the few men to defeat Fedor Emelianenko in Sambo, and for nearly dying after getting stabbed in the heart in a bar fight in 2012. He won four straight in Bellator after that, but lost to Alexander Volkov in a HW tourney final. That was his last fight before now.
As for the amusing battle of teammates on the undercard, you can read more about it here.
The undercard will be streamed live on Bloody Elbow starting at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT, and the main card will air on NBC Sports Network starting at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Here’s a look at the full card.
Main Card
Lance Palmer vs. Chris Horodecki
Smealinho Rama vs. Blagoi Ivanov
Mark Drummond vs. Michael Hill
Hakeem Dawodu vs. Chuka Willis
Prelims
Thiago Goncalves vs. Marcus Hicks
Dan Lariviere vs. Mike Scarcello
Louie Grover vs. Michael Hay
Postlims (?)
Stephen Beaumont vs. Jose Rodriguez
Roger Alves vs. Danny Doig
Tim Smith vs. Spencer Rohovie
Nick Hrabec vs. Garret Nybakken
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