German heavyweight Andreas Kraniotakes has agreed to replace three-time UFC heavyweight title contender Pedro Rizzo as the opponent for former UFC champion Tim Sylvia in the headliner of ProElite’s Nov. 5 event in Moline, Illinois, Sherdog.com has learned from a source close to the situation.
Rizzo announced Monday via Twitter that he had sustained a partially torn tendon in his left arm while training in Holland and would be unable to face Sylvia.
Kraniotakes (Pictured), who originally applied for the promotion’s eight-man heavyweight tournament, was in San Diego preparing for his Nov. 26 main event fight at a Superior Fighting Championship/M-1 Global joint show in Duren, Germany, when he got the call from ProElite matchmaker Rich Chou.
“My fans have been asking me to make my U.S. debut for a long time now,” Kraniotakes, 29, told Sherdog.com on Monday. “I want to thank ProElite for not only making it happen, but putting me in their main event with one of the biggest names in the heavyweight division.”
A winner of three straight fights, all first-round stoppages, Kraniotakes said he was taken aback when he first received the offer to fight the famous American big man.
“When I got the call, I had to sense the moment and told Rich that I’ll have to take counsel with my pillow about the fight before I could give my final answer,” Kraniotakes said. “The more I got used to the idea, though, the more I understood that the moment I’ve waited for was finally here. This is a great breakthrough opportunity for me. It’s been an incredible year so far and I will try to end it with a bang!”
Besides Sylvia-Kraniotakes, a second heavyweight bout between former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski and 300-fight veteran Travis Fulton is set to take place on the Nov. 5 card. The organization’s eight-man heavyweight tournament is set to kick off in Moline as well.
Follow Tim Leidecker on Twitter at @TimLeidecker or contact him at www.facebook.com/Rossonero1.
Kraniotakes (Pictured), who originally applied for the promotion’s eight-man heavyweight tournament, was in San Diego preparing for his Nov. 26 main event fight at a Superior Fighting Championship/M-1 Global joint show in Duren, Germany, when he got the call from ProElite matchmaker Rich Chou.
“My fans have been asking me to make my U.S. debut for a long time now,” Kraniotakes, 29, told Sherdog.com on Monday. “I want to thank ProElite for not only making it happen, but putting me in their main event with one of the biggest names in the heavyweight division.”
A winner of three straight fights, all first-round stoppages, Kraniotakes said he was taken aback when he first received the offer to fight the famous American big man.
“When I got the call, I had to sense the moment and told Rich that I’ll have to take counsel with my pillow about the fight before I could give my final answer,” Kraniotakes said. “The more I got used to the idea, though, the more I understood that the moment I’ve waited for was finally here. This is a great breakthrough opportunity for me. It’s been an incredible year so far and I will try to end it with a bang!”
Besides Sylvia-Kraniotakes, a second heavyweight bout between former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski and 300-fight veteran Travis Fulton is set to take place on the Nov. 5 card. The organization’s eight-man heavyweight tournament is set to kick off in Moline as well.
Follow Tim Leidecker on Twitter at @TimLeidecker or contact him at www.facebook.com/Rossonero1.
via:Sherdog
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