After a false start, former boxing champion Pawel Wolak is set to make his MMA debut on Dec. 5.
The 33-year-old Wolak has agreed to fight on the Dec. 5 Matrix Fights 9 card in Philadelphia, according to the event’s promoter Sam Caplan.
Wolak hoped to make his MMA debut on the Oct. 11 Predator Fighting Championship 17 card, however, the Illinois Athletic Commission refused to license him due to concerns over his lack of experience. According to Caplan, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission has since officially licensed Wolak to compete in MMA. His opponent has yet to be signed, however, he will fight at a 160-pound catchweight.
Wolak, who has trained with the likes of Renzo Gracie and Eddie Alvarez, enters MMA as a rookie after compiling a 29-2-1 pro boxing record (19 knockouts). After defeating Yuri Foreman to win the vacant NABF light middleweight title in March 2011, Wolak fought Delvin Rodriguez to a draw in what was named the 2011 Fight of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Wolak lost the rematch to Rodriguez in Dec. 2011, in what currently stands as his final boxing match.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Polish fighter is also licensed to fight MMA in New Jersey.
Matrix Fights 9, headlined by Jesus Martinez vs. LeVon Maynard, will take place at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory in Northeast Philadelphia.