With most of the MMA world focused on UFC Fight Night 47 this weekend, there wasn’t much going on that was newsworthy. Sometimes it’s nice to see fights actually take center stage rather than the theatrics that surround this sport at times. A pair of promotions did have time to add a few bouts to some upcoming September cards however. World Series of Fighting continues to make additions to their next venture on NBC Sports Network, as WSOF 13 will take place on September 13th in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The card is headlined by a previously announced bout between bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes and undefeated TUF veteran Josh Hill. The organization also announced three bouts for that same day, although it is unlikely all three end up on the main card once the event is full. Keon Caldwell and Ozzy Dugulubgov will meet in a lightweight bout that is important to the WSOF futures of both men, as each dropped their last appearance with the company. Caldwell was submitted by Nick Newell in his lone WSOF appearance, while Dugulubgov fell to 2-1 with the promotion dropping a split decision to Jonathan Nunez. A pair of fighters on a bit more of a roll are 24-year-old bantamweights Timur Valiev and Isaiah Chapman. After dropping his first career bout, Valiev has won seven straight including a flying knee victory in his WSOF debut. Chapman has amassed a 6-1 record in pro MMA to go along with his 12-1 amateur record, giving him plenty of experience heading into his first WSOF appearance. Finally, lightweight Tom Marcellino returns to WSOF after picking up three wins on the regional circuit. In his lone WSOF fight, Marcellino was on the wrong end of a flying knee from Brenson Hansen back in March 2013. Marcellino will faced 8-1 Ricardo Almeida disciple Frankie Perez, who suffered his first career loss in his last outing. ONE FC added four bouts to ONE FC 20, which takes place the prior day in Cambodia. This card will be headlined by the crowning of ONE FC’s inaugural flyweight champion, as Brazil’s Adriano Moraes takes on Filipino Geje Eustaquio. Another key bout on the card will be the one announced yesterday, a lightweight rematch between Strikeforce and UFC veteran Caros Fodor and South African striker Vuyisile Colossa. Colossa took a unanimous decision home in their first encounter as he was able to outstrike Fodor across 15 minutes. He has not competed since that December 2013 bout though, while Fodor got back in the winner’s circle with a first-round kimura against Willy Ni in May. One note coming out of UFC Fight Night 47 is that the promotion is exploring new options for the Octagon canvas following complaints from Sara McMann and several of the competitors on TUF 20. In typical Dana White fashion, he was quoted as saying “We’ve literally been working on that forever.” While there’s no timetable for a new canvas, White has admitted that the current iteration does need some improvements. This could be the type of change which has no effect at all, but in the past we’ve seen how even poorly placed or applied logos to the Octagon surface can come into play, so it will be something to keep an eye on.
