World Series of Fighting travels to Florida for the first time, as Coral Gables’ BankUnited Center plays host to “World Series of Fighting 6: Burkman vs. Carl” on Oct. 26.
Josh Burkman and Steve Carl meet for inaugural welterweight title
Carson Beebe faces Marlon Moraes in co-main event
Justin Gaethje and Dan Lauzon square off in lightweight bout
In the night’s NBCSN-televised main event, resurgent veteran Josh “The People’s Warrior” Burkman (26-9) meets Steve Carl (20-3) with the inaugural World Series of Fighting welterweight title on the line.
In the evening’s co-feature, Carson “Little Juggernaut” Beebe (14-2) and Marlon Moraes (11-4-1) clash in a bantamweight matchup that could lead to a future title shot for the winner.
And in a featured lightweight matchup, undefeated prospect Justin Gaethje (9-0) faces Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (17-4).
The nationally televised event, which airs live on NBCSN, marks the promotion’s debut in the Sunshine State.
Tickets for the fight card, which start at just $29, go on sale this Friday, Sept. 6, at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000.
The live, two-hour NBCSN telecast of the World Series of Fighting 6 main card begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. A full lineup of preliminary bouts will also stream live on World Series of Fighting’s official website, WSOF.com beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and venue doors open at 5 p.m. ET.
“We’ve been looking forward to making our debut in Florida for some time now, and I’m proud to say we will be in Coral Gables on Oct. 26,” World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said. “Our headliner will see us award either Josh Burkman or Steve Carl the first championship belt in our promotion’s history, and I think that matchup will be something special. The whole lineup we’re planning will be fantastic, and I look forward to making more announcements very soon.”
Burkman is a 10-time UFC veteran who first entered the spotlight in 2005 as a cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter 2.” Injuries briefly slowed the Utah native’s career, but since 2009 Burkman is 8-1 in nine appearances, a run that includes three wins while competing for World Series of Fighting. Most recently, Burkman registered the biggest win of his career to date by earning a technical submission win over Jon Fitch in just 41 seconds.
Meanwhile, Carl is a military veteran whose fighting career was born in the Modern Army Combatives Program. An Iowa native, the 28-year-old began his professional career in 2005 and has already registered 20 career victories, including an incredible 15 wins by submission. Carl has already competed twice under the World Series of Fighting banner, registering a pair of first-round submission wins over Tyson Steele and Ramico Blackmon, and he brings a six-fight win streak to the contest.
Illinois-native Beebe, the brother of former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe, has built an impressive 9-1 mark in his past 10 appearances. Most recently, the wrestling specialist earned a hard-fought decision win over Joe Murphy at June’s World Series of Fighting 3 event.
He now meets three-time World Series of Fighting veteran Moraes, who has used his time in the organization to catapult up the world rankings, working from relative obscurity to top-10 status in rapid fashion. A 25-year-old Brazilian with devastating striking and impressive grappling skills, Moraes has already downed Miguel Torres, Tyson Nam and Brandon Hempleman in previous World Series of Fighting appearances.
The 24-year-old Gaethje is a member of Colorado’s Grudge Training Center and has looked absolutely spectacular in a pair of World Series of Fighting wins over veterans Brian Cobb and Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante. Competing professionally since August 2011, Gaethje has fought to a decision just once, earning seven knockouts and one submission in nine appearances.
Meanwhile, Lauzon made his World Series of Fighting debut in June and dominated 50-fight veteran John Gunderson en route to a unanimous-decision win. The 25-year-old Lauzon, brother of UFC lightweight standout Joe Lauzon, currently boasts a five-fight win streak.
“We are thrilled to bring World Series of Fighting to Coral Gables,” said Global Spectrum’s Lorenzo Muniz, General Manager at the BankUnited Center. “Our venue is the perfect setting for mixed martial arts, and we are excited to showcase these world-class fighters here at the BankUnited Center.”
Additional bouts will be announced shortly.
