(PRESS RELEASE) -- LAS VEGAS – World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) has confirmed the addition of two alternate bouts – LaRue Burley vs. Joe Condon and Benny Madrid vs. Ramil Mustapayev – for its highly-anticipated, one-night, eight-man lightweight (155 pounds) tournament on Friday, Nov. 20, live on NBCSN at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT from Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz.
If neither the winner nor loser are healthy enough to re-enter the cage, however, one of the reserve fight winners will serve as a replacement in the tournament field.
“Our tournament lineup is officially complete with the addition of these matchups, and we are looking forward to having the four talented fighters selected for these two important fights, compete on this historic card and be prepared to enter the single-elimination contest if necessary,” said World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo.
The 31-year-old Burley (6-1) of Gilbert, Ariz. is looking to return to form after suffering his first career blemish, a first round (:32) KO (punch) at the hands of accomplished veteran and one of the eight tournament contestants, Brian Foster, at WSOF 23 on September 18.
Prior to the defeat, Burley had emerged one of MMA’s hottest prospects, recording victories in his first six professional fights, including a third round (3:40) TKO (punches) of fellow rising star Bubba Jenkins, after an unbeaten career as an amateur. Four of Burley’s six career wins have come by way of (T)KO or submission.
Condon (12-8) of Victorville, Calif. is also looking to return to the win column in what will be his third start for World Series of Fighting, following a unanimous decision defeat to Nick Newell at WSOF 20 on April 10.
In his promotional debut on January 17, the 29-year-old Condon submitted Jonathan Nunez with a guillotine choke in the third round (4:22) of battle at WSOF 17.
The 35-year-old Madrid (8-3) of Phoenix is coming off a splendid, first round (1:26) submission (rear-naked choke) victory over Jeff Fletcher at WSOF 23. The win snapped a three-fight skid that came after Madrid had reeled off wins in his first seven professional career fights, a streak that spanned four years between 2009 and 2013.
Mustapayev (3-1) of Albuquerque, N.M. via Moscow, Russia will make his World Series of Fighting debut and will risk a perfect, 3-0 run that he is in the midst of this year.
A member of Greg Jackson’s and Mike Winklejohn’s famed fight team, Mustapayev is fresh off a stunning, first round (3:10) TKO (punches) of Jarel Askew in a matchup that took place on August 29.
Priced from $29.99, tickets for “WSOF 25: Eight-Man Lightweight Tournament” are on sale at the Comerica Theatre box office as well as online at Ticketmaster.com and WSOF.com.
In one bracket of the eight-man tournament affair, Luis Palomino (23-11) of Miami, Fla. will square off with Rich Patishnock (6-2) of East Stroudsberg, Pa., while Brian Foster (23-7) of Sallisaw, Okla. will collide with Joao Zeferino (18-6) of Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
In the opposite bracket, Brian Cobb (20-8) of Bakersfield, Calif. will battle Mike Ricci (10-4) of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, while Islam Mamedov (12-1) of Jersey City, N.J. via Derbent, Dagestan, Russia will face Jorge Patino (38-15-2, 1 NC) of Houston, Texas via Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The winner of the fight between Palomino and Patishnock will meet the winner of the fight between Foster and Zeferino in the semifinal stage of the tournament, while the winner of the bout between Cobb and Ricci will square off with the winner of the bout between Mamedov and Patino in the semifinal stage of the event.
The two semifinal stage winners will face one another in the championship round.
In the lightweight co-main event, Jason High (18-5) of Kansas City, Mo. will duke it out with Estevan Payan (16-8, 1 NC) of Tempe, Ariz.
Doors at Comerica Theatre will open at 6 p.m. MT, and the first bout will begin at 7 p.m.
Additional bouts will be announced soon.
About World Series of Fighting (WSOF)
"World Series of Fighting" (WSOF.com) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow "World Series of Fighting" on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and "World Series of Fighting" President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.