Undefeated Strikeforce fighter Derek Brunson (9-0) has stepped in on three days’ notice to replace Terry Martin and take on Kendall Grove in a middleweight title bout at Saturday’s ShoFIGHT 20 in Springfield, Mo.
After Martin was pulled from the event due to licensing issues, Brunson didn’t hesitate to take on the former UFC fighter, which will be for the vacant 185-pound belt. The 28-year-old Brunson hasn’t fought since a win over Nate James in November.
He was supposed to take on former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo (Jacare) Souza at the organization’s March 3 event in Columbus, but he was denied a fight licence after failing an eye exam. The Ohio commission would not permit him to fight with contact lenses; he subsequently tweeted that he would get laser eye surgery to avoid this situation in future.
Taking place at the O’Reilly Family Event Center, ShoFIGHT 20 is headlined by another title fight between Karo (The Heat) Parisyan and John (Guns) Gunderson for the vacant welterweight belt. The event will feature 20 veterans of the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, WEC and PRIDE, including Grove, Parisyan, Lyle Beerbohm and Marcus Aurelio.
Here is the full fight card:
Main Card
Main Event – ShoFIGHT Welterweight Championship
John ‘Guns’ Gunderson vs. Karo ‘The Heat’ Parysian
Co-Main Event – ShoFIGHT Middleweight Championship
Derek Brunson vs. Kendall ‘Da Spyder’ Grove
Lyle ‘Fancy Pants’ Beerbohm vs. Marcus ‘Maximus’ Aurelio – 165lbs
Matt Kovaks vs. Mike Wessell – Heavyweight
Jonatas Noveas vs. Drew Fickett – 160lbs
Chris ‘Gritz’ Gruetzmacher vs. Roli Delgado – 145lbs
Lucas Lopes vs. ‘Smilin’ Sam Alvey – 185lbs
Chris ‘Crazyman’ McDaniel vs. Charles ‘Kid Kaos’ Bennett – 150lbs
James ‘JP’ Reese vs. Sevak Magakian – 155lbs
Alan Gibson vs. Dustin Phillips – 145lbs
Undercard
Mike Brazzle vs. Karen Darabedyan – 170lbs
Lucas ‘the Hillbilly Lightstorm’ Overcast vs. Matt ‘Luke Duke’ Lucas – 205lbs
Rabert Saborudden vs. Jacob ‘Straight Jacket’ Ritchie – 125lb
Jason Ignacek vs. Gary Michaels – 135lbs
