WSOF 18: Lineup Changes, Complete Card Announced For Thurs., Feb. 12
LAS VEGAS (February 3, 2015) – With five new streamed matchups set, the full nine-bout lineup is now complete for WSOF 18: Moraes vs. Hill at Edmonton Expo Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Thursday, Feb. 12.
The new additions include welterweights Andrew “Andrewconda” McInnes (5-1) vs.Cody “AK Kid” McKenzie (15-6), welterweights Mark “Sweet Dreams” Drummond(6-2) vs. Spencer “The Jedi” Jebb, lightweights Dan “Daniel San” Lariviere (3-2) vs. Garret “Nasty” Nybakken (6-6), as well as middleweights Matt “The Riotmaker” Baker (11-7) vs. Ali “The Monster” Mokdad (6-3) and middleweights Marcus “The Loudmouth Assassin” Hicks (19-24) vs. Graham Park (3-1).
In addition to the new contests, there are also a handful of changes to the NBCSN-broadcast main card, as injury has scrapped a planned matchup between Antonio Carvalho and Chris Gruetzemacher. In its place is a new matchup of lightweightsMukai “The Afrikan Assassin” Maromo (8-4) vs. Jose “The Rockstar” Rodriguez(7-3).
Lastly, injury also forced Brandt Dewsbery out of a planned welterweight fight withShane “Shaolin” Campbell (10-2), and Derek “The Gargoyle” Boyle (13-6) has agreed to serve as a replacement opponent.
WSOF 18: Moraes vs. Hill is headlined by a world bantamweight championship showdown between reigning champion Marlon Moraes (13-4-1) and undefeated challenger Josh Hill (10-0).
Priced from just $50, tickets for the event are currently on sale at Ticketmaster.com and WSOF.com. The four-fight main card airs on NBCSN at 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT local time).
Baker vs. Mokdad and Hicks vs. Park stream on WSOF.com prior to the main card beginning at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT local time). Meanwhile, McInnes vs. McKenzie, Drummond vs. Jebb and Lariviere vs. Nybakken stream on WSOF.com after the evening’s main card.
Mukai Maromo, of Edmonton, Alberta, is a Complete Fitness and Martial Arts fighter who makes his World Series of Fighting debut. Fighting professionally since 2010, Maromo boasts four of his eight career wins by knockout and owns a 2011 victory over World Series of Fighting veteran Sabah Fadai. He now meets Jose Rodriguez, of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, who began his professional career in 2007 and has earned all but one of his career wins by stoppage, including three by knockout and three by submission.
Andrew McInnes, of Edmonton, Alberta, opened his professional career in 2011 with a TKO loss to current undefeated welterweight prospect Chad Laprise. However, McInnes has since bounced back with five consecutive submission wins, four of which have come in the opening round. Included in those is an 18-second shoulder choke victory, as well as a 15-second guillotine choke. He now meets Cody McKenzie, of Spokane, Wash. Best known as a cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter 12,” McKenzie boasts 13 of his 15 career wins by submission and at one point finished 10-straight fighters via first-round guillotine choke.
Mark Drummond, of Edmonton, Alberta, made his WSOF debut in February 2014, suffering a disappointing submission loss to Brandt Dewsbery. However, he has since bounced back with a decision victory over Jarid Bussemakers and now looks to win for the first time in the WSOF decagon. He now meets Spencer Jebb, of Grand Prairie, Alberta, who brings a seven-fight winning streak to the cage. Six of his nine career wins have come by way of knockout.
Daniel Lariviere, of Ottawa, Ontario, and Garret Nybakken, of Edmonton, Alberta, each make their World Series of Fighting debuts.
LOCAL FEATURE FIGHTS (Streaming on WSOF.com – 11 p.m. ET)
- Andrew McInnes (5-1) vs. Cody McKenzie (15-6)
- Mark Drummond (6-2) vs. Spencer Jebb (9-3)
- Dan Lariviere (3-2) vs. Garret Nybakken (6-6)
MAIN CARD (NBCSN – 9 p.m. ET)
- WSOF bantamweight champ Marlon Moraes (13-4-1) vs. Josh Hill (10-0)
- Derek Boyle (13-6) vs. Shane Campbell (10-2)
- Mukai Maromo (8-4) vs. Jose Rodriguez (7-3)
- Hakeem Dawodu (3-0) vs. Tristan Johnson (9-5)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Streaming on WSOF.com – 8 p.m. ET)
- Matt Baker (11-7) vs. Ali Mokdad (6-3)
- Marcus Hicks (19-24) vs. Graham Park (3-1)