· Vianna Injured, Magalhaes vs. Knight Now Main Event At MMA Xplosion

· Article author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Posted on 01/04 at 12:28 PM

An injury has forced middleweight prospect Vitor Vianna from a scheduled main event bout against Bristol Marunde on January 29, as MMA Spot first reported. The organization announced the injury today, and that a light heavyweight bout between "The Ultimate Fighter 8" veteran and former jiu-jitsu world champion Vinny Magalhaes (4-5) and Damien Knight (3-0) is the new main event.

The MMA Xplosion event, which will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, will feature an "International Team Challenge," with Team USA squaring off with Team Brazil and Team Kazakhstan taking on Team Mexico. The Magalhaes vs. Knight bout will be part of the Team USA vs. Team Brazil challenge.

Chidi Njokuani (4-1), the brother of UFC fighter Anthony Njokuani, will also be part of the event, as he will take on Wand Fight Team member and Team Brazil's Sidney Silva (8-3).

Xtreme Couture fighter Dustin Phillips (12-5), a veteran of Bellator and Shark Fights, will take on Team Brazil's Odis Ruiz as well.

In other news, Michelle Gutierrez was removed from a female special attraction at the event as well, as she was not mentioned in today's release.

Brothers Ardak and Beibit Nazarov will lead Team Kazakhstan against the likes of Team Mexico's Art Ramirez and Josh Montalvo.

The current fight card for MMA Xplosion "International Team Challenge" on Jan. 29:

USA vs. Brazil

205 lbs: USA ’s Damien Knight (3-0) vs. Brazil ’s Vinny Magalhaes (4-5)
185 lbs: USA ’s John Wood (7-5) vs. Brazil ’s Jamen Olney (0-1)
170 lbs: USA ’s Chidi Njokuani (4-1) vs. Brazil ’s Sidney Silva (8-3)
170 lbs: USA ’s Jason Trevino (3-3) vs. Brazil ’s Christian "Tidi" Squeti (11-5-1)
145 lbs: USA ’s Casey Johnson (1-0) vs. Brazil ’s Pedro Munhoz (3-0)
155 lbs: USA ’s Dustin Phillips (12-5) vs. Brazil ’s Odis Ruiz (2-1)

Mexico vs. Kazakhstan