Former World Extrmem Cagefighting lightweight champion Jamie Varner is heading to Titan Fighting Championship to headline their upcoming TFC 20 event on September 23rd. Standing across Varner inside the historic Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas will be Alonzo “Zo Diddy” Martinez. The bout was announced yesterday on website of Titan Fighting Championship (www.TitanFighting.com).
“We’ve had the pleasure of featuring former world champions on many of our recent Titan Fighting events on HDNet and we are excited to continue that trend with Jamie Varner,” said Titan Fighting Championship CEO Joe Kelly “Stylistically, Jamie and Alonzo are almost identical. Both are former wrestlers who aren’t afraid to let their hands go. Varner vs. Martinez will be a great way to kick off our fall schedule.”
Varner (17-5-1) returned to action at XFO 39 in May after a six month hiatus following his release from the WEC. Fighting above his weight class at welterweight, Varner took on the heavy-handed striker Tyler Combs and took home a technical submission (north/south choke) victory in the opening round. Prior to the win over Combs, the former champ was winless in his last four bouts that prompted Varner to begin training at the AMA Fight Club in New Jersey. Under the guidance of Mike Constantino, the former college wrestler has begun to re-tool his game and being able to train with UFC veterans Jim Miller, Dan Miller and Charlie Brenneman will only aid the process.
“Jamie is re-focused and re-dedicated to MMA and demonstrated that by moving cross-country to New Jersey in order to work with one of the best camps in the country right now in AMA,” said Kelly. “With AMA, he not only has a chance to return to his previous form but become better than he was when he was the reigning WEC lightweight champion.”
Martinez (31-14-1) comes in on a four fight winning streak, including two wins under the Titan Fighting Championship banner (TFC 16 & 17). The veteran of 46 professional MMA bouts, Martinez was part of the inaugural Bellator events and is 9-1 over his last ten bouts.
“Alonzo is no joke and having won nine out of his last ten, a win over Varner is the icing on the cake he needs to earn a long-term contract with a major national promotion,” said Kelly
In addition to the Varner vs. Martinez bout, Titan Fighting Championship 20 will also feature the return of rising national bantamweight sensation Anthony “Sharkbait” Guiterrez (3-0) he takes on Laramie Schaffer (4-2).
Tickets for the event are currently on-sale at Ticketmaster.com (www.Ticketmaster.com) and the Memorial Hall box office and start as low as $35.
Quotes taken from official press release.
