World Series Of Fighting announced a three year TV deal with NBC Sports Network yesterday and then unveiled an eyebrow-raising headliner for their next event.
Former UFC welterweight star Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson will move up to the heavyweight division to take on Andrei Arlovski in the main event of WSOF 2 which takes place on March 23rd live on NBC Sports.
Since leaving the UFC after a series of failed attempts to make the 170lb limit, ‘Rumble’ has managed to reinvent himself at 205lbs, picking up three wins in the division with his last being a KO win against DJ Linderman at WSOF 1.
UFC President Dana White had indicated at that stage that he was interested in welcoming ‘Rumble’ back to the UFC after that, but instead the fighter will stick with World Series Of Fighting for the time being and make yet another move up in weight.
There he’ll meet former UFC heavyweight champion Arlovski who’s managed to somewhat rejuvinate his own career after a dismal 0-3 run in the Strikeforce organization, having now put together a 4-0 (1nc) run in the past 18 months or so.
It’s undoubtedly a curious match-up, but an intriguing one nonetheless with ‘Rumble’ having that kind of power that could test Arlovski’s notoriously weak chin. On the other hand this may be a step to far for the former welterweight and a loss at this stage could jepoardize his chances of a return to the UFC.
