Fresh off a technical knockout win over Houston Alexander little more than two weeks ago, Joey Beltran will get a shot in the big show, taking on decorated grappling champion and member of the famed Gracie clan, Rolles Gracie, at UFC 109: "Relentless" at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 6, 2010.
"Mexicutioner" is stepping up on super short notice after Gracie's original opponent, Mustapha Al-Turk, was forced off the card because of visa issues. Beltran's sponsor, Triumph United, was the first to break the news.
He'll certainly have his work cut out for him against the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and son of Rolles Gracie Sr.
Gracie made his mixed martial arts debut under the IFL banner in late 2007, submitting Sam Holloway via rear naked choke in the Team Championship Finals. After seeing no action in 2008, Gracie competed twice this year for China's Art of War promotion, including a submission win (arm-triangle choke) over Peter Graham just last month.
In addition to his destruction of Alexander, Beltran recently took out Tracy Willis at 5150 Combat: "Rumble at the Rally" via strikes. He has won six of his last seven, with a decision loss to Tony Lopez KOTC: "Distorted" being the lone loss during the nearly 14-month span.
UFC 109: "Relentless" will feature a light heavyweight battle between elder statesmen Randy "The Natural" Couture and Mark "The Hammer" Coleman. Middleweights Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen will battle in the co-featured fight of the night for perhaps an opportunity to challenge 185-pound deity, Anderson Silva, in early 2010.
To check out the latest UFC 109 fight card click here.
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