9 Fights Signed for WEC 49

Surging Brazilian bantamweight Renan Barao will make his World Extreme Cagefighting debut in a preliminary matchup against Clint Godfrey at WEC 49 “Varner vs. Shalorus” on June 20 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Nine fights are now booked for the event, which will serve as the promotion’s debut north of the border.

Barao lost his first professional fight in 2005 and has not tasted defeat since. A training partner of reigning WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, he has rattled off 12 consecutive victories since his December 2007 match with Claudemir Souza ended in a no contest. A potent striking base, coupled with a dangerous ground game that was sharpened by one of the top schools -- Nova Uniao -- in Brazil, has transformed Barao into one of the most sought-after fighters in the country. He has secured 14 of his 20 career wins by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

Godfrey, a Rapid City, S.D.-based Ring of Fire veteran, dropped a unanimous decision to former International Fight League champion Wagnney Fabiano at WEC 47 in January; the defeat spoiled his promotional debut and snapped a string of eight consecutive victories. In 13 professional appearances, the 27-year-old has never been finished.

A lightweight match pitting former WEC champion Jamie Varner against the unbeaten Kamal Shalorus will headline WEC 49, along with a key featherweight bout pairing fast-rising contenders Josh Grispi and L.C. Davis.