Onetime UFC heavyweight title contender Jeff Monson will
return to action on April 1 against former two-division King of the
Cage champion Tony
Lopez in the main event of Fight
Time 4 “MMA Heavyweight Explosion.”
Monson and Lopez will vie for
the vacant International Sport Karate Association heavyweight MMA title at War
Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Although Monson is reportedly eying
a drop to light heavyweight in the near future, “The Snowman” asserts that he is
not overlooking his impending opponent.
“I’m excited about this upcoming
title fight. Tony is a difficult opponent and will be tough to beat, but I’ve
been keeping my training up in preparation for him,” Monson stated in a release.
“My management team and I have been exploring options for my career and dropping
to light heavyweight is top of the list. I’ve cut to [205 pounds] before and
feel comfortable there, so I know I can dominate in the light heavyweight
category.”
A product of Florida’s American
Top Team -- where he is trained by Fight Time promoter and former Olympic
boxing gold medalist Howard Davis, Jr. -- Monson rides a six-fight win streak
into his showdown with Lopez. Since his departure from the UFC in 2006, the
40-year-old has competed under the banner of more than 20 different promotions.
After running off three-straight victories inside the Octagon, Monson
challenged Tim
Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight title and was defeated soundly, losing a
unanimous decision to “The Maine-iac” in November 2006. A veteran of 51 pro MMA
fights, Monson has submitted 26 of his defeated foes over the course of his
13-year career.
Lopez has fought for Bellator, World
Extreme Cagefighting and EliteXC, among
others, and has won four consecutive bouts. From 2007 to 2010, “Kryptonite”
assembled an impressive 16-fight win streak. A six-year veteran of the sport,
the Californian has finished all but three of his career victims since turning
pro in 2005.
title fight. Tony is a difficult opponent and will be tough to beat, but I’ve
been keeping my training up in preparation for him,” Monson stated in a release.
“My management team and I have been exploring options for my career and dropping
to light heavyweight is top of the list. I’ve cut to [205 pounds] before and
feel comfortable there, so I know I can dominate in the light heavyweight
category.”
A product of Florida’s American
Top Team -- where he is trained by Fight Time promoter and former Olympic
boxing gold medalist Howard Davis, Jr. -- Monson rides a six-fight win streak
into his showdown with Lopez. Since his departure from the UFC in 2006, the
40-year-old has competed under the banner of more than 20 different promotions.
After running off three-straight victories inside the Octagon, Monson
challenged Tim
Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight title and was defeated soundly, losing a
unanimous decision to “The Maine-iac” in November 2006. A veteran of 51 pro MMA
fights, Monson has submitted 26 of his defeated foes over the course of his
13-year career.
Lopez has fought for Bellator, World
Extreme Cagefighting and EliteXC, among
others, and has won four consecutive bouts. From 2007 to 2010, “Kryptonite”
assembled an impressive 16-fight win streak. A six-year veteran of the sport,
the Californian has finished all but three of his career victims since turning
pro in 2005.
No comments:
Post a Comment