A featherweight clash between two young prospects is on the horizon as World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) has found Erik Koch a replacement for Josh Grispi in Francisco Rivera on Nov. 11 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.
WEC general manager Reed Harris confirmed the bout to MMA Fighting.
Koch earned a spot on the WEC roster in 2009 after tearing through the regional circuit. The "New Breed" only went the distance once in eight fights before entering the Zuffa owned promotion. Koch had a successful debut against Jameel Massouh, winning the fight by unanimous decision. Koch's undefeated record didn't last very long, however, the 22-year-old prospect couldn't handle the wrestling of Chad Mendes, losing the fight by unanimous decision. Koch would get back to his feet quickly, slapping on a triangle choke and forcing Bendy Casimir to submit.
Can Koch keep the momentum going against the undefeated Rivera?
Not much is known about the undefeated prospect Rivera. Not only will this be his first fight for a big promotion, but it will also be his first professional bout outside of California. In his five victories, Rivera has earned three knockouts and two decisions.
In the main event of WEC 52, former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber makes his debut at bantamweight when he takes on former number one contender Takeya Mizugaki. Also on the card, undefeated featherweight prospect Chad Mendes looks to keep his hot streak alive when he meets Javier Vazquez. In a bantamweight contest, former number one contender Joseph Benavidez looks to rebound after coming up short in a recent title bout when he battles Wagnney Fabiano.
For results and live fight coverage of WEC 52: "Faber vs. Mizugaki," stick with MMAmania by clicking here.
Get the latest gear
