Two main-card bouts are official for World Series of Fighting 24
Nick Newell, who was already booked on the card, now has an opponent in Tom Marcellino and a flyweight title fight between Magomed Bibulatov and Donavon Frelow is also set, WSOF executive vice president Ali Abdel-Aziz told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani on Tuesday. WSOF 24 will be held on Oct. 17 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.
Newell (12-1) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Joe Condon in April. Before that, he lost the only bout of his career thus far in a lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje in July 2014. Newell, 29, boasts a 3-1 record with WSOF. The Connecticut native is a congenital amputee, who was born without a left hand.
Marcellino (7-3) is coming off a loss to Frankie Perez last September. Before that, he had won three straight on the regional circuit. Marcellino, 31, is an upstate New York native.
Bibulatov and Frelow were supposed to meet for the vacant WSOF flyweight belt at WSOF 22 earlier this month, but the fight was postponed due to a Bibulatov injury. Bibulatov (9-0) is a top Chechnyan prospect. Frelow (5-0) has won both of his fights in WSOF, including a first-round guillotine choke submission victory over Carlos Garcia at WSOF 22 on Aug. 1.
WSOF 24 is headlined by a welterweight contender bout between Jon Fitch and Yushin Okami. The co-main event features a heavyweight title fight between Blagoy Ivanov and Derrick Mehmen. Also on the card, Matt Hamill will make his return to MMA against fellow former UFC fighter Vinny Magalhaes.