IFL Announce April Card - MMAUniverse.com

The International Fight League have announced the card for their next event: International Fight League: New Blood, New Battles 2.

Brad Blackburn is among four athletes who have been added to the card when the International Fight League returns to the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Friday, April 4. The IFL veteran will take on Delson Heleno in a welterweight clash, one of nine mixed martial arts bouts on the slate.

The IFL has also announced the addition of three other pros to complete the lineup, including featherweight Rafael Dias and light heavyweight Carmello Marrero who will represent American Top Team in its first IFL action, as they take on Miletich Fighting Systems’ L C Davis and Mike Ciesnolevicz, respectively. Also added to card is Nate Lamotte, who will take on 20-year-old phenom Chris Horodecki in a lightweight bout.

The charismatic Blackburn has three wins in five IFL decisions, including a victory over Hieron last June. His only bout since then was a no contest against Travis Cox in Florida last September. Dias won his IFL debut on Feb. 29, submitting Santino Defranco in the first round. Marrero and Lamotte will be making their first IFL appearances in New Jersey.

As previously announced, IFL titleholders Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko, Jay Hieron, and Wagnney Fabiano will defend their belts on April 4. Matyushenko will battle Jamal Patterson for the light heavyweight crown; Hieron will take on Mark Miller (Chicago) at 170 lbs, and Fabiano will accept the challenge of Shad Lierley at 145 lbs. In a non-title bout, Rory Markham will oppose Emyr Bussade in a matchup of welterweights.