Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson vs. D.J. Linderman, Miguel Torres vs. Marlon Moraes Set For World Series Of Fighting Card
12:52 PM
By
Matt Manzella
In the co-main event, former WEC bantamweight champ Miguel Torres (40-5) will lock up with two-time national Muay Thai champion and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Marlon Moraes (8-4-1).
“With the addition of these two matchups, we have assembled a complete main card that we feel is stacked from top to bottom with some of the finest talent in the sport of MMA,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo. “MMA has an opportunity to expand its reach on Nov. 3 thanks to the NBC Sports Network platform and World Series of Fighting is going to be sure to make the most of this opportunity in order to take our great sport to unprecedented, new heights.”
The 28-year-old Johnson has been impressive as of late, winning three consecutive fights - two by KO - in a fourth month span. In his last start on Sept. 21, Johnson took out three-time NCAA National Wrestling Champion Jake Rosholt, with a head kick in the second round of their matchup in Tulsa, Okla.
Like Johnson, the 29-year-old Linderman, is looking to notch his fourth consecutive victory. In his last effort, the 6-foot-2 Linderman scored a vicious TKO on Dale Mitchell with an onslaught of punches. Just one month earlier, he earned a unanimous decision over Bellator vet Mike “300” Hayes, snapping Hayes’ six-fight win streak.
The 31-year-old, 5-foot-9 Torres, a Brazlian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and former protégé of famed trainer Carlson Gracie, Sr., is looking to rebound from a first round KO defeat at the hands of Michael McDonald at UFC 145.
Torres exploded onto the MMA scene in 2010, scoring a stunning 10 second TKO on Larry Pulliam with a series of punches, before going on to win his next 19 fights. After losing a unanimous decision to Ryan Ackerman in his 21st start, Torres ran to another 17 consecutive victories, winning the bantamweight title from Chase Beebe in the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) promotion, along the way, and defending the crown three times.
The 24-year-old Moraes has established himself as a highly-aggressive, dangerous force on both his feet and on the ground since his professional debut five years ago, earning six of his eight career wins by way of KO or submission. He will look to secure his third straight win after scoring a 47 second KO on Jarrod Card last April.
A student of Muay Thai since the age of nine, Moraes used his speed and ring smarts to capture two titles in the stand-up fighting sport before picking up Jiu-Jitsu at age 15. After arriving in The United States, he joined forces with UFC lightweight KO artist and countryman Edson Barboza to advance his career.
The live NBC Sports Network telecast of the World Series of Fighting event will begin at 10:30 p.m. EST/7:30 p.m. PST.
In the heavyweight main event, former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski (17-9) will square off with fellow hard-hitting KO artist and Strikeforce veteran Devin Cole (20-9).
In other main card action, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Gregor Gracie (7-2) will face off with rising prospect Tyson Steele (9-1) in a welterweight contest.
In another welterweight bout, UFC vets meet as Josh Burkman (23-9) takes on Gerald Harris (21-4).
Fast-rising star Ronys Torres (25-4) will meet dangerous submission specialist Brian Cobb (19-7) in a lightweight matchup.
In an undercard scrap, seasoned vet Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (16-6-1) will take on submission standout T.J. O’Brien (19-5) at lightweight.
Additional undercard bouts will be announced soon.
(Pictured: Anthony Johnson)
Written by Matt Manzella
Matt Manzella is the founder and managing editor of CageReligion.com, as well as ProGuitarNews.com. He also serves as a professional play-by-play commentator and MMA judge in the state of Michigan.
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