WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING Returns to NBCSN this Weekend

World Series of Fighting returns to NBCSN this Saturday, Oct. 17, live at 8:30 p.m. ET, highlighted by a welterweight bout between Jon Fitch (26-7-1) and Yushin "Thunder" Okami (30-9) from Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. The winner of the fight is expected to face Jake Shields for World Series of Fighting's vacant welterweight title.

Fitch first challenged for the WSOF welterweight title in December 2014 (WSOF 16), which resulted in a submission loss to then-champ Rousimar Palhares. Okami made his WSOF debut in March 2014 (WSOF 9), earning a submission win over Svetlozar Savov, but fell short in a bid for the WSOF middleweight title by fourth-round submission loss to David Branch in November 2014 (WSOF 15).

The co-main event features Blagoy Ivanov (12-1) defending his WSOF heavyweight title against Derrick "Caveman" Mehmen (19-6). In his WSOF debut this past June (WSOF 21), Ivanov scored a third-round submission win over then-WSOF heavyweight champion Smealinho Rama to claim the belt. Mehmen has won seven of his last eight bouts.

In addition, Magomed "Gladiator" Bibulatov (9-0) will face Donavon Frelow (5-0) in the first-ever WSOF flyweight title fight.

Tomorrow's card also features bouts between "Notorious" Nick Newell (12-1), who went undefeated through his first 11 career fights despite being born with just one fully-developed arm, and Tom Marcellino(7-3) in the lightweight division; and Vinny "Pezao" Magalhaes (12-7) and Matt "The Hammer" Hamill(11-5) in the light heavyweight division.

Play-by-play announcer Todd Harris will be joined by mixed martial artists and analysts Bas Rutten and Joey Varner to call the action from Foxwoods.

NBC Sports Live Extra: World Series of Fighting will be streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra via "TV Everywhere," giving consumers additional value for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku and Apple TV.

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