9 Bouts Inked for UFC Live 4

Welterweight contender Martin Kampmann will toe the line against John Howard in a featured matchup at UFC Live 4 “Marquardt vs. Johnson” on June 26 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. Nine fights are now signed for the summer event, which will air live on the Versus network.

Kampmann (Pictured; file photo) will enter the cage on the first two-fight losing streak of his career. The 29-year-old Dane last appeared at UFC Live 3 in March, when he came out on the short end of a controversial decision to “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 winner Diego Sanchez at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. Based at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas, the well-rounded Kampmann has secured 13 of his 17 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. “The Hitman” owns notable wins over Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Paulo Thiago, Minnesota Martial Arts Academy representative Jacob Volkmann and former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit.

A Wai Kru MMA standout, Howard, like Kampmann, has lost back-to-back bouts. The 28-year-old Boston native last competed at UFC 124 in December, when he dropped a unanimous decision to former welterweight title contender Thiago Alves. Howard has held championships inside the Ring of Combat and Combat Zone promotions.

Meanwhile, one-time UFC lightweight title contender Joe Stevenson will make his debut at 145 pounds in a key showdown with WEC import Javier Vazquez.

Having dropped anchor at Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts in Albuquerque, N.M., Stevenson last appeared at UFC Live 3 in March, when he was outpointed in a unanimous decision defeat to Team Alpha Male’s Danny Castillo. The 28-year-old Californian has secured nearly half (15) of his 31 career victories by submission. Wins over two-time Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight tournament finalist Toby Imada, American Top Team’s Yves Edwards, former two-division Deep champion Dokonjonosuke Mishima, current stablemate Melvin Guillard and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner Nate Diaz highlight the extensive Stevenson resume. He owns an 8-7 mark inside the UFC.

Vazquez last competed at WEC 52 in November, when he fell short in a unanimous decision to the fast-rising and world-ranked Chad Mendes at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The 33-year-old Cuban-born Carlson Gracie disciple has delivered more than half (11) of his 15 career victories by submission. A one-time King of the Cage lightweight titleholder, Vazquez holds notable victories against Japanese pioneer Rumina Sato, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 alum Robert Emerson, former UFC lightweight boss Jens Pulver and fellow WEC veteran Mackens Semerzier. In 20 professional outings, he has never been finished.

A matchup pairing former middleweight King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt with Anthony Johnson will headline UFC Live 4. It will serve as Marquardt’s debut at 170 pounds.

UFC Live 4 “Marquardt vs. Johnson”
Sunday, June 26
Consol Energy Center
Pittsburgh

Nate Marquardt vs. Anthony Johnson
Patrick Barry vs. Cheick Kongo
Martin Kampmann vs. John Howard
Matt Mitrione vs. Christian Morecraft
Manny Gamburyan vs. Tyson Griffin
Joe Stevenson vs. Javier Vazquez
Joe Lauzon vs. Curt Warburton
Michael Johnson vs. Edward Faaloloto
Matt Brown vs. Rich Attonito
* Matt Grice vs. Ricardo Lamas
* Nik Lentz vs. Charles Oliveira
* T.J. Grant vs. Matt Riddle

* Not Official