WSOF Press Release: Gracie, Huckaba, Gauthje, Cobb, Lauzon Added to WSOF 3

WSOF Press Release: Gracie, Huckaba, Gauthje, Cobb, Lauzon Added to WSOF 3  

World Series of Fighting will hit The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas with a stacked world-class MMA card, headlined by a welterweight rematch between superstars Jon Fitch (24-5) of and Josh “The People’s Warrior” Burkman (25-9) on Friday, June 14, live on NBC Sports Network, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

In the light heavyweight (205 pounds) co-main event, hard-hitting, 27-year-old Tyrone “King of the Ring” Spong (1-0), a decorated champion and veteran of 77 professional kickboxing bouts, will make his much-anticipated, second start under MMA rules against fellow KO artist Angel “The Dream” DeAnda (11-2), DeAnda has scored TKOs in 10 of his 11 career victories, including his last four starts.

 “We are coming off a spectacular event showcasing some of the world’s greatest mixed martial arts athletes and up-and-coming talent of the sport and are looking forward to returning to Las Vegas with another outstanding night of world-class competition in the World Series of Fighting cage on NBC Sports Network,” said World Series of Fighting President and six-time world kickboxing champion and two-time Hall of Famer, Ray Sefo. 

The second meeting between the 35-year-old Fitch, a member of San Jose, Calif.-based Team AKA, and the 32-year-old Burkman, a winner of four consecutive fights, comes slightly more than seven years after Fitch submitted Burkman with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their initial encounter that, coincidentally, also took place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Fitch has since gone on to become one of the top-ranked 170 pound fighters in the world, defeating the likes of Thiago Silva, twice as well as Diego Sanchez, Mike Pierce, Ben Saunders and Erick Silva and fighting all-time great B.J. Penn to a draw. Burkman is coming off his second consecutive win under the World Series of Fighting banner, a highlight reel, first round (3:04) TKO (knee and punches) of Aaron Simpson in Atlantic City, N.J., on March 23. At the inaugural World Series of Fighting event last Nov. 3, Burkman earned a unanimous decision over Gerald Harris.

Also slated for battle on the four-bout TV card is heavyweight rising star and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Rolles Gracie (8-1), who will face off with Dave Huckaba (21-4).

Undefeated prospect Justin Gaethje (8-0), fresh off a first round TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) of J.Z. Cavalcante at the World Series of Fighting event on March 23, will collide with Brian Cobb (20-7), in a lightweight (155 pounds) contest. In his last effort at the first World Series of Fighting event, Cobb took a split decision over Ronys Torres.

In preliminary card action, battle-tested submission specialist John Gunderson (34-14) will be pitted against Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (16-4) in a lightweight scrap. All 16 of Lauzon’s professional career victories have come by way of TKO or submission.

Fellow undefeated prospects Krasimir Mladenov (8-0) and Kendrick Miree (5-0), will square off at middleweight (185 pounds)