WSOF 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino Card Complete With 12 Bouts

LAS VEGAS (March 9, 2015) – The complete 12-bout lineup for the highly-anticipated World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz. on Saturday, March 28 is complete with the addition of 7 new, live NBCSports.com-streamed preliminary bouts, including two lightweight (155 pounds) contests – Lucas Montoya (8-3) vs. Raymond Pina (4-1), and Benny “El Hijo” Madrid (7-2) vs. Jimmy Spicuzza (5-2).

The remaining additions include a 180-pound catchweight matchup between Joe Gigliotti (3-0) and Brendan “Tiny Shorts” Tierney (11-6), a bantamweight (135 pounds) scrap between Randy Steinke (15-8) and Juan Archuleta (5-0), a middleweight (185 pounds) tilt between Dan Huber (3-2) and Israel Aquino (0-0), a welterweight (170 pounds) contest between Matthew Frincu (5-1) and Eric Regan(15-24) and a bantamweight collision between Joe Madrid (4-2) and Erik Villalobos(1-0).

WSOF 19: Gaethje vs. Palomino will be headlined by a world lightweight championship showdown between undefeated, reigning kingpin Justin Gaethje (13-0) of Safford, Ariz. and aggressive-minded, hard-hitting challenger Luis “Baboon” Palomino (23-9) of Miami, Fla.

In co-main event action, the WSOF multi-event, four-man light heavyweight (205 pounds) tournament will kick off with a rematch between superstar Thiago Silva (16-3) of Sao Paulo, Brazil and inspirational fighter Matt “The Hammer” Hamill (11-5) of Loveland, Ohio.

The evening’s four-fight main card airs live on NBCSN, beginning at 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MT local time), with preliminary bouts streaming live on NBCSports.com, beginning at 7 p.m. ET (5 p.m. MT local time).

Lucas Montoya, of Layton, Utah, carries a four-fight winning streak into the contest and is 7-1 in his past eight overall contests. The 28-year-old made his WSOF debut in August, scoring a first-round stoppage of Jimmy Spicuzza. He now meets Raymond Pina, of Tucson, Ariz., who looks to rebound from the lone professional loss of his career.

Benny Madrid, of Phoenix, Ariz., opened his career with seven straight wins, including four wins by knockout and two by submission. He now looks to rebound from the first two losses of his professional run. He now meets Jimmy Spicuzza, of Las Vegas, a three-time WSOF veteran.

Joe Gigliotta, of Cleveland, Ohio, is an undefeated prospect, who has earned his first three wins by stoppage, including two submissions and one knockout. He now faces Brendan Tierney, of Tempe, Ariz., a Power MMA fighter who has yet to fight to a decision in 17 career outings.

Randy Steinke, of Glendale, Ariz., is an MMA Lab fighter who makes his WSOF debut on the strength of a six-fight winning streak. He now faces undefeated prospect Juan Archuleta, of Venice Beach, Calif., who has earned three of his first five wins by knockout.

Dan Huber, of Mesa, Ariz., makes his WSOF debut against Israel Aquino, of Reno, Nev., who fights for a professional for the first time.

Matthew Frincu, an Australian native now living in Arizona, brings a three-fight winning streak to the cage and has never fought to a judges’ decision in six professional contests. He faces Eric Regan, of Phoenix, Ariz., who makes his WSOF debut.

Joe Madrid, of Tucson, Ariz., fights for the first time under the WSOF banner against fellow promotional newcomer Erik Villalobos, of Glendale, Ariz.

MAIN CARD
Champ Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino for lightweight title
Matt Hamill vs. Thiago Silva – light heavyweight tourney opening round
Jake Heun vs. Teddy Holder – light heavyweight tourney reserve bout
Timur Valiev vs. Ed West

PRELIMINARY CARD
Krasimir Mladenov vs. Clifford Starks
Lucas Montoya vs. Raymond Pina
Benny Madrid vs. Jimmy Spicuzza
Joe Gigliotti vs. Brendan Tierney
Randy Steinke vs. Juan Archuleta
Dan Huber vs. Israel Aquino
Matthew Frincu vs. Eric Regan
Joe Madrid vs. Erik Villalobos