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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The World Series of Fighting will make their world debut on NBC Sports Network this November, and they've now booked a former UFC Heavyweight Champion for the event. The new MMA organization announced on Monday that they have booked a fight between Andrei Arlovski and Devin Cole for Nov. 3.
"We are thrilled to welcome both Andrei and Devin to the World Series of Fighting roster and to have them headline our first live event," said WSOF President Ray Sefo. "Both of these heavyweights have delivered some incredibly memorable highlights during their careers and their matchup should be a barnburner."
Arlovski would be in the midst of a three fight winning streak into this bout, but he unfortunately fell victim to a poor rule in Philippines-based promotion ONE FC last month. Taking on Tim Sylvia for the fourth time, Arlovski landed a big knockdown punch in the second round. He followed up with soccer kicks to the shoulder and head, but based on ONE FC's "open attack" rules, which hadn't been signaled by the referee, the win was taken from Arlovski and the bout deemed a no contest. That rule has since been changed, but Arlovski does not have that win.
However, it was still technically a third straight stoppage for the "Pitbull," who had lost four straight fights in Affliction and Strikeforce prior to this run.
He'll now meet Strikeforce vet Cole, who will enter with a two fight winning streak. Cole fought three times in Strikeforce, and was briefly scheduled to take a late replacement slot at UFC on Fox 4 before a 2008 sexual assault charge changed the UFC's mind . A nine-year MMA veteran, Cole holds a 20-9-1 career record, with his most recent loss coming by decision against Daniel Cormier in January of 2011.
[Andrei Arlovski art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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