If everything goes to plan, the World Series of Fighting will crown its first champion before the end of 2013.
MMAFighting.com reported on Tuesday that the budding MMA promotion will be holding a four-man tournament beginning later this summer for the inaugural middleweight belt.
Participating in the tourney will be former The Ultimate Fighter veteran Jesse Taylor, UFC veterans Dave Branch and Danilo Villefort, and Elvis Mutapcic, who recently vacated his Maximum Fighting Championship 185-pound title to sign with WSOF.
The first semi-final matchup is set for WSOF 4 on August 10 at a yet to be finalized venue in California. The second semi-final bout will take place in September at WSOF 5, although the exact date and location have not yet been confirmed.
The winners, barring any unforeseen injuries or other issues, will square off sometime in December for the promotion’s first ever championship belt.
Taylor has been on a tear as of late and is currently riding a six-fight winning streak, which includes a February victory over fellow TUF alum Kendall Grove. “JT Money” most recently defeated John Phillips to defend his Cage Warriors Fighting Championship middleweight crown.
Mutapcic is also on a bit of a hot streak, winning 10 out of his last 11 bouts. “The King” most recently took a unanimous decision over Sam Alvey to defend his MFC title this past February.
Both Branch and Villefort are coming off of decision wins at WSOF 2, which took place in Atlantic City this past March.
NBC Sports Network will once again broadcast these future WSOF cards and is set to air the entire tournament.
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