"The Ultimate Fighter 12" veteran Marc Stevens (12-5 MMA, 0-0 SF) is expected to meet Renzo Gracie pupil John Cholish (5-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) in a preliminary card fight at "Strikeforce and M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Silva."MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) learned from sources close to the negotiations that verbal agreements are in place for the bout with contracts expected shortly.
"Strikeforce and M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Silva" takes place Feb. 12 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., and features the quarterfinals of the promotion's eight-man heavyweight grand prix.
The event's televised main card airs on Showtime and features Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva and Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov.
The preliminary bout is Stevens' first step toward redemption after a disappointing turn on the cast of "TUF 12." Picked first by coach Josh Koscheck, with whom he had previously wrestled, he took on Cody McKenzie in the reality show tournament's first round and was choked out cold in 17 seconds by McKenzie's patented guillotine.
Despite the loss, Stevens was considered a front-runner for the tournament's wild-card slot and was later picked to meet Aaron Wilkinson for a second chance at "TUF" glory. But lighting struck twice when Wilkinson caught him in a guillotine choke in the second round and forced him to tap out.
Stevens had never before been submitted by guillotine in 17 professional fights. Prior to the show, the New Yorker had picked up four consecutive wins in regional competition capped by a submission win over Al Buck at Iron Will Fighting Championship 2.
Cholish, too, started his career off on the wrong end of a guillotine choke, but has since racked up five consecutive wins in regional competition. He trains with Renzo Gracie Fight Team in New York City.
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