DALLAS, TX, December 21, 2011 – There’s been a change at the top of the inaugural Element Fighting Championship card scheduled for January 14th at the Plano Convention Center. “EFC: The Rise” was supposed to feature a showdown between two DFW-based fighters in Marcus “The Wrecking Ball” Hicks returning to regional competition for the first time since April of 2010 against Dallas Jawbreaker Roy Spoon but that’s now out due to injury.
Instead, stepping up to face Hicks will be none other than the man who recently defeated Spoon at XKO 13 in Team Jorge Jurgel’s Josh Lee. The Longview-based fighter has made a resurgence as of late winning 4 out of his last 5 bouts and going undefeated in 2011. He’ll now look to further that streak against his toughest opponent yet in the WEC veteran to start off this new year on the right track.
We spoke to his trainer/manager JC Cox who relayed his fighter’s thought process entering this bout at EFC 1.
“Although this fight is on short notice, I feel good,” he said. “I just came off that big win over Roy Spoon and I didn’t take any damage in that fight so I’m healthy. I was looking forward to take some time to relax and enjoy the family but this is another good opportunity to beat another established name and a top guy in the south. I want to start my year off with a bang by beating Marcus Hicks then I can take that time to spend with my family afterwards before making a run at TUF.”
Below is the full card for the event as we’re seeing it now. For more information, please visit the EFC website.
Element Fighting Championship 1 – “The Rise” – Fight Card
• 170 lbs.: Joshua Lee (7-11) vs. Marcus Hicks (12-4)
• 155 lbs.: Francisco Barragan (7-7) Vs. Warren Stewart (10-16)
• 155 lbs.: Faez Miraki (1-0) Vs. Van Vo (0-5)
• 205 lbs.: Daniel Miller (1-0) Vs. Michael Saunders (1-1)
• 170 lbs.: Brandon Farran (5-4) Vs. Jarret Jones (5-5)
• 170 LBS.: Clinton Roberts (1-2) Vs. Hayward Charles (3-2)
• 265 lbs.: Rodney McFarland (2-4) Vs. Jason House (7-5)
• 135 lbs.: Jeremy Myers (3-3) Vs. Randy Villarreal (8-6)
• 145 lbs.: Drew Pendleton (4-0) Vs. Alden Herbert (4-0)
• 265 lbs.: Dale Mitchell (2-4) Vs. James Hall (4-5)
* card subject to change without prior notice.
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