Anthony Johnson (pictured) will fight Mike Kyle at WSOF 5 on Sept. 14. Photo by Samwell Ortiz.

A light heavyweight bout between Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (15-4) and Mike “MAK” Kyle (20-9-1) headlines World Series of Fighting’s return to Revel Casino Hotel’s Ovation Hall in on New Jersey’s Revel Atlantic City on Sept. 14.

The contest serves as the main event of “World Series of Fighting 5: Johnson vs. Kyle,” which airs live on NBC Sports Network and marks the promotion’s second visit to the world-class venue.

Johnson, of Boca Raton, Fla., made his World Series of Fighting debut at the promotion’s very first event and delivered a knockout finish of the D.J. Linderman. The 29-year-old Blackzilians product returned to action in March and scored a decision win over former UFC heavyweight titleholder Andrei Arlovski.

Johnson now returns to the light-heavyweight division on a five-fight win streak and quickly is establishing himself as one of World Series of Fighting’s most dynamic athletes.

Kyle is a 12-year veteran of the sport who hails from one of MMA’s most-respected fight camps, American Kickboxing Academy. A resident of San Jose, Calif., Kyle is no stranger to the spotlight and has stepped in the cage against a who’s who list of MMA’s top fighters in two weight classes, including Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, Gegard Mousasi, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, Krzysztof Soszynski and Fabricio Werdum.

World Series of Fighting 5 features a five-fight main card in addition to a full lineup of preliminary contests. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

The live, two-and-a-half-hour NBC Sports Network telecast of the World Series of Fighting 5 main card begins at 9 p.m. ET. The night’s preliminary bouts stream live on World Series of Fighting’s official website, WSOF.com, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the fight card, which start at just $29, go on sale this Friday, July 19, at 10 a.m. ET at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000.

(Press Release)

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Jon Fitch (pictured) was one of 16 fighters on Tuesday’s UFC cut list. Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images.

Former No. 1 UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch has signed with World Series of Fighting, GracieMag.com learned on Thursday evening.

WSF officials confirmed that Fitch will fight another former UFC fighter, Gerald Harris, on June 14 in Las Vegas. Harris also posted info on the fight on his personal Twitter account.

Fitch (24-5-1, 1 N.C.) made headlines two weeks ago when he and 15 other fighters were released from the UFC. The fighter is coming off a loss to Demian Maia, and many thought that his release from the organization was unjust as the Maia fight was only his second loss in four years.

UFC President Dana White responded to criticism of the release, saying that Jon Fitch is expensive, among other things.

Harris (21-5) last fought in the UFC in 2010 when he lost to Maiquel Falcao at UFC 123. He was subsequently released from the UFC, which, much like Fitch, garnered a lot of criticism because the loss was his only one in the organization, compared to three wins.

MMAFighting.com first reported news of the Fitch-Harris match-up.

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visit GRACIEMAG.com’s Choke MMA section

Marlon Moraes solta a bica em Miguel Torres. O faixa-preta americano de Carlson não resistiu ao brasileiro. Fotos: Lucas Noonan/WSF.

Num card recheado de astros do MMA, coube ao faixa-preta Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante roubar a cena com seu Jiu-Jitsu. O lance ocorreu no primeiro evento do World Series of Fighting (WSF), em Las Vegas, show que teve transmissão ao vivo pela gigante NBC nos EUA no fim de semana.

JZ só precisou de pouco mais de um minuto para finalizar TJ O’Brien com uma chave de calcanhar dupla, que pegou joelho e pé. Com o triunfo o brasileiro cravou a 17ª vitória na carreira.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBhrN4Vpxqo

Outro destaque foi o nocautaço de Anthony Johnson, ex-UFC, em cima de DJ Linderman. O golpe foi elogiado pelo ex-patrão Dana White.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lasL-V7pPOQ

Relembre os resultados completos e abaixo as melhores fotos do evento numa galeria especial. As fotos são de Lucas Noonan/World Series of Fighting.

World Series of Fighting 1
Las Vegas, EUA
3 de novembro de 2012

Andrei Arlovski venceu Devin Cole por nocaute técnico no R1
Anthony Johnson nocauteou DJ Linderman no R1
Marlon Moraes venceu Miguel Torres por decisão dividida
Tyson Steele venceu Gregor Gracie por nocaute técnico no R1
Brian “The Bandit” Cobb venceu Ronys Torres por decisão dividida dos jurados
Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante finalizou TJ O’Brien com uma chave de calcanhar no R1
Tyrone Spong nocauteou Travis Bartlett no R1
Josh Burkman venceu Gerald Harris por decisão unânime dos jurados
David Branch venceu Dustin Jacoby por decisão unânime dos jurados
Steve Carl finalizou Ramico Blackmon com um mata-leão no R1

[flickr set=72157631935888516]

Tyson Steele e Gregor Gracie na pesagem do WSF. Foto: Tracy Lee/WSF

O World Series of Fighting (WSF) estreia neste sábado, com transmissão da gigante emissora NBC direto do Planet Hollywood, em Las Vegas. A pesagem oficial rolou na sexta e todos os lutadores bateram seus pesos sem problemas. O evento, lançado pelo ex-lutador do K-1 Ray Sefo, traz um card de respeito.

A luta principal nem é a melhor de todas, com Andrei Arlovski contra Devin Cole. Outros combates, porém, prometem ferver a jaula. Como é o caso de Gregor Gracie contra Tyson Steele, um oponente de respeito para o Gracie – Tyson tem nove vitórias e apenas um revés na carreira.

[flickr set=72157631918287868]

Outra luta interessante será a de Ronys Torres contra Brian “The Bandit” Cobb.

No card principal, os americanos apostaram em dois ex-UFCs: Anthony “Rumble” Johnson e Miguel Torres, que vão para dentro de DJ Linderman e do brasileiro Marlon Moraes, respectivamente.

Em outro aperitivo de luxo do cardápio, Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante que terá TJ O’Brien pela frente. O ex-Pride Fabinho Mello também retorna ao MMA de elite, contra Waylon Lowe.

Fique ligado no GRACIEMAG.com para saber tudo sobre o WSF e palpite: quem vai fazer a melhor luta do evento de hoje? E a melhor finalização?

World Series of Fighting
Las Vegas, EUA
3 de novembro de 2012

Andrei Arlovski vs Devin Cole
Anthony Johnson vs DJ Linderman
Miguel Torres vs Marlon Moraes
Gregor Gracie vs Tyson Steele
Ronys Torres vs Brian “The Bandit” Cobb
JZ Cavalcante vs TJ O’Brien
Tyrone Spong vs Travis Bartlett
Gerald Harris vs Josh Burkman
David Branch vs Dustin Jacoby
Steve Carl vs Ramico Blackmon
Waylon Lowe vs Fabio Mello

Miguel Torres in UFC / Photo by Josh Hedges/UFC

The UFC’s not the only promotion bringing in big MMA stars. World Series of Fighting, the new event on the block, has announced the signing of two fighters formerly under the employ of Dana White and Co.: Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Miguel Angel Torres, who round out a worthy card to air on US broadcasting giant NBC.

The new event on network television also brings some new rules, like a ban on elbows, something MMA fans have been calling for for some time. The date for the maiden show is November 3, direct from Las Vegas. Johnson takes on DJ Linderman, while Miguel faces Marlon Moraes.

And the promoters aren’t relying only on those two matchups to win an audience. There’s further star power on the card, with: Andrei Arlovski vs. Devin Cole, Gregor Gracie vs. Tyson Steele, Ronys Torres vs. Brian “The Bandit” Cobb an d Gesias Cavalcante vs. TJ O’Brien

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-9AjnTudFo

“We put together a complete card, with some of the greatest talent presently in the MMA scene,” said WSF president and former K-1 kickboxer Ray Sefo. “MMA has a chance to expand its reach this November 3, thanks to the NBC Sports Network and World Series of Fighting platform. We’ll make the most of this opportunity, to bring our great sport to new heights,” he added.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF_inFcXhsI

“When I found out that Ray Sefo, who I’ve been a fan of ever since K-1 first started, was involved with the event, I signed on right away,” said Gregor. “My brother Rolles will be on the same card, and it’ll be exciting.”

World Series of Fighting
Las Vegas, USA
November 3, 2012

Andrei Arlovski vs Devin Cole
Anthony Johnson vs DJ Linderman
Miguel Torres vs Marlon Moraes
Gregor Gracie vs Tyson Steele
Ronys Torres vs Brian “The Bandit” Cobb
JZ Cavalcante vs TJ O’Brien
Tyrone Spong vs Travis Bartlett
Gerald Harris vs Josh Burkman
David Branch vs Dustin Jacoby
Steve Carl vs Ramico Blackmon
Waylon Lowe vs Fabio Mello

Miguel Torres no UFC. Foto: Josh Hedges/UFC.

Não é só o UFC que tem conseguido cativar os grandes astros do MMA. O novo World Series of Fighting anunciou a contratação de dois ex-lutadores do Ultimate Anthony “Rumble” Johnson e Miguel Angel Torres, e fechou um card de respeito para um evento a ser exibido pelo canal NBC, um dos gigantes dos EUA.

O evento traz algumas novidades nas regras, como o veto às cotoveladas, um pedido antigo dos fãs de MMA. A data para a estreia é 3 de novembro, direto de Las Vegas. Johnson encara DJ Linderman e Miguel terá o brasileiro Marlon Moraes pela frente.

O card não se resume aos dois e promete pegar fogo, com Andrei Arlovski vs Devin Cole, Gregor Gracie vs Tyson Steele, Ronys Torres vs Brian “The Bandit” Cobb e Gesias Cavalcante vs TJ O’Brien.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-9AjnTudFo

“Montamos um card completo, com alguns dos melhores talentos do MMA atual”, disse o presidente do WSF, o ex-lutador do K-1 Ray Sefo. “O MMA tem a oportunidade de expandir seu alcance em 3 de novembro, graças à plataforma de rede NBC Sports e World Series of Fighting. Vamos fazer o máximo nesta oportunidade, a fim de que nosso grande esporte chegue a um novo patamar”, completou.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF_inFcXhsI

“Quando soube que o Ray Sefo, de quem sou grande fã desde o começo do K-1, estava envolvido com o evento, assinei na hora”, disse Gregor. “Meu irmão Rolles vai estar no mesmo card também e vai ser bem empolgante”.

World Series of Fighting
Las Vegas, EUA
3 de novembro de 2012

Andrei Arlovski vs Devin Cole
Anthony Johnson vs DJ Linderman
Miguel Torres vs Marlon Moraes
Gregor Gracie vs Tyson Steele
Ronys Torres vs Brian “The Bandit” Cobb
JZ Cavalcante vs TJ O’Brien
Tyrone Spong vs Travis Bartlett
Gerald Harris vs Josh Burkman
David Branch vs Dustin Jacoby
Steve Carl vs Ramico Blackmon
Waylon Lowe vs Fabio Mello