(These two bouts alone beat most Strikeforce Challengers events.)
CagePotato.com has learned that a trio of bouts featuring UFC veterans has been added to Worldwide MMA’s debut card in El Paso, Texas.
Karo Parisyan (19-8-4 1 NC) versus Dave Menne (45-16-2), Lyle Beerbohm (16-2) versus Jamie Varner (18-6-1 2 NC) as well as Drew Fickett (41-16) versus Kevin Knabjian (12-6) will all take place at the March 31 event.
The inaugural UFC middleweight champion, Menne is 4-1 in his past five bouts. The 37-year-old competed in the Bellator season 7 welterweight grand prix in 2009, but had his tournament hopes dashed by Omar De La Cruz who TKO’ed the veteran in the first round of their semi-final match. He submitted Eric Davila at UWF 1 Huerta vs. War Machine in his last fight in the Lone Star state in November.
Parisyan, who has struggled as of late with three losses in a row in as many bouts had perhaps his most inspired performance in recent years and glimpses of his old self against Canadian prospect Ryan Ford last may at MMA Live 1 in London, Ontario, Canada. After controlling the opening two frames with his judo and wrestling skill, the 29-year-old Armenian got caught with a knee by “The Real Deal” and was deemed unable to continue by the commission doctor when a gash opened up on his brow line as a result. An invitation to train with Georges St-Pierre to help the UFC welterweight champion prepare for his scheduled UFC 143 bout with Nick Diaz was put on hold due to GSP’s knee injury and subsequent surgery, but the former UFC 170-pound contender says he plans on taking a raincheck for his next title defense, presumably against Carlos Condit.
After being dropped by Strikeforce following back-to-back losses to Pat Healy and Shinya Aoki, previously undefeated Beerbohm is looking to right the ship. A win over the former WEC lightweight champion would do just that for “Fancypants.”
Standing in his way of a much-needed win will be Varner, who desperately needs to beat a decent name to rebound from a 2-4 (1 NC) slide in his past seven outings. Although he did pick up a confidence boosting “W” over little known Nate Jolly in his last bout at XFC 14 Resurrection in October following a brief retirement, “The Worm” will be in for a much tougher fight against Beerbohm.
First he’ll have to make it through his match-up with Drew Fickett Friday night at XFC 16 in Tennessee, though.
“Knight Rider” also has a lot to gain by coming out of the fight with Varner unscathed as he’s set to take on an underrated submission specialist in Knabjian, who will be riding a two-fight winning streak into the bout. Fickett, who from April 2010 to June 2011 went undefeated in five fights before losing to Brian Cobb at MFC 30, is hoping to snap a three-fight losing streak with a win over the Chicago native.
We’ll have more news on the remainder of the card and the venue as we receive it.