World Series of Fighting’s debut Phoenix event is rounding into shape.
Three new bouts were announced on Thursday for the March 28 card, which is headlined by the WSOF lightweight title fight between champion Justin Gaethje and challenger Luis Palomino.
In a light heavyweight bout, the American Top Team’s Jake Heun (8-3) takes on Teddy Holder (8-1). Heun has won two in a row and five of six heading into his WSOF debut. Holder, of Tennessee, brings a seven-fight win streak into his WSOF debut. This matchup is a reserve bout in WSOF’s tournament to crown its first 205-pound champion.
At bantamweight, Jackson’s MMA product Timur Valiev (8-1) meets veteran Ed West. Valiev, of Dagestan, has won eight in a row, the last two coming in WSOF. Tucson’s West (18-9) has dropped four of his past five, with three of his losses and the lone win in that stretch occurring in Bellator.
Also announced was middleweight matchup between Clifford Starks (10-2) and Krasimir Mladenov (12-0). A UFC and Bellator vet from Tempe, Starks takes a two-fight win streak into the bout. Bulgaria’s Mladenov is 3-0 in WSOF, with all three victories coming by way of decision.
Heun-Holder and Valiev-West will both be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network live main card, while Starks-Mladenov is an undercard bout.