COLUMBUS, OH (July 3, 2013) – Live mixed martial arts action will return to Columbus on Saturday, July 27, as Ultimate Victory Challenge presents UVC 24: Impact at the Aladdin Shrine Center. The professional and amateur card is filled top to bottom with top talent, including a heavyweight headliner between Bellator MMA veterans Dan Spohn and William Penn.
In the main event, Dan “Dragon” Spohn (8-3 / fighting out of Columbus, OH) will move up to the heavyweight ranks, as he is set to welcome William “The King” Penn (7-3 / fighting out of Detroit, MI) to the UVC cage for the first time.
“This will be the biggest fight in Ohio this summer, both literally and figuratively,” stated UVC co-owner Rick Pyles. “Both Spohn and Penn have been to the big show and both want to prove that they are ready to get back there. And both guys want to prove that the same way: with a knockout.”
Spohn made his UVC debut in February 2013, when he submitted Robert Morrow with a rear naked choke at UVC 22. He then returned to the UVC cage in May, when he again submitted Aaron Mays with an arm bar off of his back to take home his second straight win. Normally known as a striker, Spohn has shown a different side of his game in recent outings that makes him more dangerous than ever inside the cage. The four-time Bellator veteran will compete over 205 pounds for the first time since defeating UFC veteran Josh Hendricks at a catchweight of 215 pounds in 2011. Spohn also holds notable victories over Josh Stansbury, John Hawk, and Dane Bonnigson.
“I’m excited to fight for UVC again, especially at the Aladdin Shrine right here in Buckeye Country,” Spohn said. “I’m actually happy about fighting at heavyweight. It will take a lot of the stress of cutting weight off. I’m a large 205 so this should be fun!”
Making his first appearance for UVC, Penn will look for his fifth straight victory and fourth in a row inside the first round when he welcomes Spohn to the heavyweight ranks. The Bellator MMA veteran has stepped into the cage with some of the best fighters in the sport, including Raymond Lopez, current UFC contender Stipe Miocic, and multi-time Sambo world champion Blagoi Ivanov. He has earned back-to-back knockout victories over notable UFC veteran Josh Hendricks and Strikeforce veteran Jason Riley.
In a highly anticipated bout between two debuting fighters, Robbie “The Machine” Michaels (0-0 / fighting out of Tiffin, OH) will finally take on Chris “Rush Hour” Tucker (0-0 / fighting out of Cincinnati, OH) in a welterweight bout. The two were slated to meet at UVC 23 in May for the UVC amateur welterweight title before weigh-in complications canceled the bout just hours before the event was slated to start.
Now, both fighters will look to kick start their professional careers with a win. A former Cleveland State wrestler with over 90 career wins, Michaels went 5-0 as an amateur including a UVC 20 victory over D.J. Weatherby. Tucker posted a 5-2 amateur record and was looking to turn pro when he was offered a fill-in spot against Michaels at UVC 23.
In amateur action, the culmination of the UVC bantamweight tournament will feature rising stars Jordan Schembri (3-0 / fighting out of Columbus, OH) and Darnell “Achilles” Pettis (4-1 / fighting out of Bedford, OH) in one of the night’s most anticipated bouts.
More bouts, including the co-main event and a total of three more professional bouts, will be announced in the coming days.
Tickets for UVC 24: Impact are available via LocalMMATickets.com and start at just $25, plus applicable service fees.
For more information, visit UVC on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube @UVCMMA, or download the UVC MMA app in iTunes or the Google Play store.
Pro Bouts:
265 lbs – Dan Spohn (8-3) vs. William Penn (7-3)
170 lbs – Robbie Michaels (0-0) vs. Chris Tucker (0-0)
Amateur Bouts:
135 lbs – Jordan Schembri (3-0) vs. Darnell Pettis (4-1) – bantamweight title
About Ultimate Victory Challenge
Ultimate Victory Challenge, LLC is the premier promoter of mixed martial arts (MMA) cage fights in Central Ohio. Founded in 2008, UVC operates under direction of the progressive Ohio Athletic Commission and has held 23 events to date. UVC has featured many of the area’s top fighters, including Luke Zachrich, Lance Palmer, Dan Spohn, Victor O’Donnell, Julian Lane, Jon Washington, and Matt Lanning. UVC is a family-friendly MMA experience that puts fighters first. For more information on UVC, visit www.UVCMMA.com.