Jimmo to face Vemola at UFC on FX

Canadian Ryan (Big Deal) Jimmo has signed with the UFC and will take on Czech fighter Karlos Vemola at the organization's first event on FX on Jan. 20.

Jimmo, who is riding a 16-fight win streak, is the current light-heavyweight champion of the Edmonton-based Maximum Fighting Championship. The Saint John native grew up in Halifax but now lives and fights out of Edmonton.

The MFC said Jimmo, whose contract with the Canadian promotion was up, will not be stripped of his belt.

It will be the karate black belt’s first appearance in the UFC as well as his first fight outside Canada.

After losing his professional MMA debut to CFL defensive end Adam Braidwood in 2007, Jimmo has not lost since. He is coming off a unanimous decision win over former UFC fighter Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at MFC 31 last month, though it was seen as a controversial decision.

The win was his second straight successful title defence, including a decision victory over Zak Cummings at the MFC’s first event in Ontario in April, after first capturing the belt over fellow Canadian Dwayne Lewis with a nasty third-round TKO by doctor’s stoppage due to a gash he opened on Lewis’ head.

Jimmo turned 30 on Sunday and tweeted Tuesday: "Happy Birthday to me ;)"

Vemola (8-2) is 1-2 in the UFC and coming off a loss to Ronny Markes at an event in August.

Also announced for the event, which will take place in Nashville, was a middleweight matchup between Eric (Red) Schafer and Jorge (El Conquistador) Rivera, a featherweight tilt between former champion Mike Brown and Vagner Rocha and lightweight contest between Rafaello Oliveira and Reza (Mad Dog) Madadi, who will also be making his UFC debut. The show is headlined by a lightweight bout between Jim Miller and Melvin Guillard.

BIG DEAL ON SILVER SCREEN?

Jimmo has also recently begun a film career. According to a story by the MFC’s Curtis Ledger, he will be starring next year in "Manos: The Search for Valley Lodge," a sequel to the 1966 horror flick "Manos: The Hands of Fate." Filming will take place in El Paso, Texas, but he’ll be able to continue training; he said he’ll have a jiu-jitsu coach on site.

The theatrical fighter, whose robot dance is his signature move following his wins in the cage and at public appearances, said he wants to be an actor after his fight career is over. And he said his first role suits him well.

“My character, he’s a bad ass dude,” Jimmo told Ledger. “He’s got a soft side, but he can kick ass, and he loves smoking cigars -- just like I do.”

James is a writer, editor and MMA enthusiast. His nickname, "Big Game" was given to him in the tradition of former Laker James Worthy and current Rays pitcher James Shields.