LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Undefeated Zach Micklewright (10-0 MMA, 1-0 WEC) will face Bart Palaszewski (34-13 MMA, 3-2 WEC) in a lightweight showdown at WEC 50, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 18, 2010, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nev.
Micklewright’s management, KO Dynasty, confirmed the bout with ProMMAnow.com on Wednesday, and stated that their fighter signed his bout agreement Tuesday night. They do not know if Palaszewski has signed his bout agreement yet or not.
Micklewright made his World Extreme Cagefighting debut at “WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff” on Dec. 19, 2009, and took home a unanimous decision against Mushin Corbbrey (7-6 MMA, 0-2 WEC).
The 23-year-old Davenport, Iowa resident is going to have his hands full against the much more experienced Palaszewski, who has been in the cage against the best the sport has to offer, and has beat the majority of them. A win over Palaszewski would be the biggest victory in Micklewright’s three-and-a-half-year professional career.
For the 27-year-old Palaszewski, fighting out of Team Curran in Illinois, he needs this win to keep his two-fight win streak within the organization going. He’s coming off wins over Anthony Pettis (11-1 MMA, 3-1 WEC) and Karen Darabedyan (9-2 MMA, 1-1 WEC). For a shot at the lightweight title, he needs to keep the momentum going.
Other bouts expected to take place at WEC 50 include a bantamweight match-up between former champ Urijah Faber (23-4 MMA, 8-3 WEC) and Takeya Mizugaki (13-4-2 MMA, 2-2 WEC) and a main event title fight featuring bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz (15-1 MMA, 5-1 WEC) taking on Joseph Benavidez (12-1 MMA, 4-1 WEC). Lightweight stand-out Shane Roller (10-2 MMA, 5-1 WEC) has been rumored for this card as well.