WSOF 20: Melvin Guillard Pulled From Co-Main Event

LAS VEGAS (April 6, 2015) – World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that it has withdrawn Melvin Guillard from his scheduled, live NBCSN televised lightweight (155 pounds) co-main event matchup with Ozzy Dugulubgov, and replaced Guillard with streaking finisher Lucas Montoya, who was originally slated for preliminary card action at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, April 10.

Guillard was pulled from the WSOF 20 card after failing to deliver his required medical exam results by the April 6 deadline.

The lightweight matchup between Nick Newell (11-1) of Springfield, Mass. and Joe Condon (12-7) of Victorville, Calif. has been designated the new WSOF 20 co-main event.  Montoya’s original opponent, Abdula Dadaev, will no longer compete on the card, but will receive his fight purse.

“We are disappointed that we are in a position where we have to pull Melvin from this event but, given the fact that he did not turn in his required medical exam results by this  morning’s deadline, we were left with no other choice but to do so,” said WSOF President Ray Sefo.

“Melvin and his camp were reminded more than once about the hard deadline,” continued Sefo, “yet they failed to deliver what was necessary in order for him to compete.”

Montoya (8-3) of Layton, Utah will enter the cage on a four-fight win streak, with three of the four victories having come by way of TKO or submission.  His opponent, Dugulubgov (6-2) of Hackensack, N.J., is looking for his second straight win after delivering a thunderous KO (punch) on Keon Caldwell at WSOF 13 on Sept. 13, 2014.

The live NBCSN telecast of WSOF 20: Branch vs. Markes will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

In the main event, superstars David Branch (15-3) of New York, N.Y. and Ronny Markes (15-3) of Natal, Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil will collide in a contest that represents the second matchup in the WSOF multi-event tournament that will crown its winner the inaugural WSOF world light heavyweight (205 pounds) champion.

Making their respective WSOF debuts, undefeated Ben Fodor (5-0-1), also known as costumed crime fighter “Phoenix Jones” of Seattle, Wash., and fellow rising star and Iraq war veteran Emmanuel Walo (7-2-1) of Jersey City, N.J. will throw down in a welterweight (170 pounds) contest.

Steve Mocco (4-1) of Coconut Creek, Fla. will battle Juliano Coutinho (6-1) of West Yarmouth, Mass. in a heavyweight tilt and the first bout on the live NBCSN telecast.

A six bout preliminary card will precede the live televised main card.

Tickets for the WSOF 20: Branch vs. Markes, priced from $39.99, are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Doors at the Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino open at 5:00 p.m. ET, and the first preliminary bout begins at 6:00 p.m.