Palhares’ WSOF welterweight title defense against the longtime UFC contender was previously announced as the headliner for World Series of Fighting 16.
Now, the match has a date and a venue: The event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. WSOF president Ray Sefo confirmed the details Thursday with MMAFighting.com.
The controversial Palhares (16-6) earned the title with a submission victory over Steve Carl in just 1:09 in his company debut at WSOF 9. Fitch (26-6-1, 1 no-contest), meanwhile, is 2-1 in WSOF.
The Palhares-Fitch bout was originally scheduled for July, but Palhares had to drop out in order to attend to his mother’s health issues.
The co-feature bout will be a featherweight title fight. Rick Glenn (15-2-1), who defeated Georgi Karakhanyan in an upset at WSOF 10 to become champion, will defend his title against Lance Palmer (8-1), a Team Alpha Male fighter.
The card is added to a busy time for MMA in the region. UFC 181 is on Dec. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center; the TUF 20 Finale is on Dec. 12 at the Palms Casino; and UFC on FOX 13 is on Dec. 13 in Phoenix, a market which makes up a considerable portion of the live fan base which normally travels to Las Vegas events. WSOF 16 will air from 9-11 pm ET on NBCSN, which means the show will partially over lap with UFC on FOX 13.
Palhares’ WSOF welterweight title defense against the longtime UFC contender was previously announced as the headliner for World Series of Fighting 16.
Now, the match has a date and a venue: The event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. WSOF president Ray Sefo confirmed the details Thursday with MMAFighting.com.
The controversial Palhares (16-6) earned the title with a submission victory over Steve Carl in just 1:09 in his company debut at WSOF 9. Fitch (26-6-1, 1 no-contest), meanwhile, is 2-1 in WSOF.
The Palhares-Fitch bout was originally scheduled for July, but Palhares had to drop out in order to attend to his mother’s health issues.
The co-feature bout will be a featherweight title fight. Rick Glenn (15-2-1), who defeated Georgi Karakhanyan in an upset at WSOF 10 to become champion, will defend his title against Lance Palmer (8-1), a Team Alpha Male fighter.
The card is added to a busy time for MMA in the region. UFC 181 is on Dec. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center; the TUF 20 Finale is on Dec. 12 at the Palms Casino; and UFC on FOX 13 is on Dec. 13 in Phoenix, a market which makes up a considerable portion of the live fan base which normally travels to Las Vegas events. WSOF 16 will air from 9-11 pm ET on NBCSN, which means the show will partially over lap with UFC on FOX 13.
