On Monday, World Series of Fighting announced a new three-year TV deal to land on NBC Sports Network as well as their second show slated to take place on March 23 from the Revel Resort and Casino in Atlantic City.
Now that card has a main event.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski is expected to meet Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in a special heavyweight attraction on the card.
World Series of Fighting Vice President and Matchmaker Ali Abdel-Aziz confirmed to Bleacher Report that verbal agreements are in place for the main event bout, with contracts expected back at any time.
Both Arlovski and Johnson fought on the inaugural World Series of Fighting card last November, and following the show Johnson mentioned the possibility of moving to heavyweight for the chance to face the former UFC champ when speaking to MMAWeekly.com last year:
I’d take it if they offered it to me. I was actually thinking about it today. I was thinking about it today whenever I watched the fights, I watched the whole card today, and I was like it would be crazy if I got to fight Andrei Arlovski
If it happened, I would accept it. Andrei’s a great athlete. I remember when he won the title, I remember when he lost the title, I’ve followed his career. He’s a great fighter, a real athlete, a real fighter too, so it would be an honor to fight him. If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t it doesn’t. That’s just something that popped in my head this morning, what if it did happen? That would be crazy.
It looks like Johnson will get his wish, although don’t expect the former welterweight to stick around heavyweight outside of this one-fight deal. Johnson is expected to face Arlovski for this main event fight and then return to the light heavyweight division where he’s gone 3-0 thus far in his career.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com