All 24 fighters participating in Saturday’s highly-anticipated, live NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) televised World Series of Fighting 13: “Moraes vs. Bollinger” Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event at Sands Bethlehem Event Center will weigh in on Friday. The weigh in is open to the public, free of charge, and will stream live on WSOF.com
In the main event of the 12-bout fight card, World Series of Fighting reigning bantamweight (135 pounds) champion Marlon Moraes (13-4-1) of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. via Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will face off with fellow superstar and submission ace Cody Bollinger (16-2) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. in a non-title, 140-pound catchweight contest.
Bollinger stepped up and accepted the challenge last week on short notice after Moraes’ original opponent and championship challenger, Josh Hill, announced that he would not be able to compete. The red-hot Moraes, who became the first World Series of Fighting bantamweight champion in history on March 29 by defeating Josh Rettinghouse by unanimous decision, is seeking his eighth consecutive victory over top-flight competition while Bollinger, who has claimed 10 of his 16 career wins by way of (T)KO or submission is looking to notch his fourth straight conquest.
In other action on the four-bout, live NBCSN telecast that begins at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, rising stars Ozzy Dugulubgov (5-2) of Hackensack, N.J. and Keon “The Black Assassin” Caldwell (9-2) of Moultrie, Ga. will collide in a lightweight (155 pounds) contest. Dugulubogov has earned four of his five career wins via (T)KO or submission, while the hard-hitting Caldwell has earned all nine of his career victories with a finish, with eight having come by way of (T)KO.
In another bantamweight tilt, emerging talent Timur “Lucky” Valiev (7-1) of Albuquerque, N.M. will face off with well-versed Isaiah “The Beast” Chapman (6-1) of Barberton, O.H. The 24-year-old Valiev is riding a six-fight win streak. Chapman, also 24 years of age, is a dangerous player in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do.
The live NBCSN telecast will kick off with a lightweight matchup between East Coast sensations and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu standouts Frankie Perez (8-1) of Howell, N.J. and Tom Marcellino (7-2) of Amsterdam, N.Y. The 25-year-old Perez has defeated five of his eight opponents to date by way of submission while the 30-year-old Marcellino tapped out four of the seven opponents he has conquered.
The four-bout main card will be preceded by a seven-bout undercard featuring a collection of up and coming professional talent, including several prospects from the Northeast region of the U.S.
Tickets for World Series of Fighting 13: “Moraes vs. Bollinger,” which include cageside seats for just $129, are currently on sale at Ticketmaster.com. Doors at Sands Bethlehem Event Center open at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, with a full preliminary card getting underway at 6 p.m. ET.
