After receiving a one year suspension and a $2,500 fine for a failed drug test in December, former UFC fighter James Irvin (15-8) will fight next week in Poland in the headliner for KSW 15 (Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki 15). At the March 19 event he’ll meet that promotions light heavyweight champion Mamed Khalidov (21-4-2) for the title.
The event takes place at Towar Hall in Warsaw, Poland and the bout was made official by the promotion on Wednesday.
Irvin will be Khalidov’s third opponent named for the event, after opponents Matt Lindland and Thales Leites were forced to withdraw due to injuries.
Irvin had been scheduled to meet Houston Alexander at the upcoming Shark Fights 14 event, but was pulled from the card after the California State Athletic Commission announced a positive steroid test following a Tachi Palace Fights 7 loss to Jorge Oliveira on December 2. Since that time Irvin has fought once, a no-contest result after Irvin hit opponent Mike Crisman with an illegal knee at a Gladiator Challenge: Young Guns 4 event.
Khalidov is 1-1-1 in his last three bouts but is 18-1-2 in his last twenty-one matches. He recently earned a TKO victory over Yuki Sasaki on December 30 at the World Victory Road Presents: Soul of Fight event in Japan. Before that bout he defended his KSW title by fighting Ryuta Sakurai to a draw in May of last year. The loss was to, thenSengoku middleweight champ Jorge Santiago, at a Sengoku 12 event in March for that promotions title, losing by unanimous decision.
The KSW 15 event also features the Finals to that promotions Lightweight and Welterweight tournaments featuring bouts between Maciej Górski vs. Niko Puhakka and Aslambek Saidov vs. Ruben Crawford.
You can find more information on the event at the promotions homepage at http://konfrontacja.com/en/index.php