Danillo Villefort file photo: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
World Extreme Cagefighting and UFC veteran
Danillo Villefort will meet former EliteXC title contender
Joey Villasenor in a featured middleweight matchup at
Shark Fights 13 on Sept. 11 at the Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo, Texas. Villefort replaces
Drew McFedries, who withdrew from the pay-per-view event with an injury.
Villefort will carry a two-fight winning streak into the match. The 27-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt last appeared in February, when he knocked out
Cassiano Ricardo Castanho de Freitas in less than a minute under the Bitetti Combat Nordeste banner in his native Brazil. Anchored at American Top Team, Villefort owns notable victories against “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11 cast member
Clayton McKinney and former Ring of Combat middleweight champion
Mike Massenzio. He has gone the distance only once in his 14-fight career.
Based at Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts in Albuquerque, N.M., Villasenor has posted four wins in his past five outings. The 34-year-old has not competed since he dropped a unanimous decision to reigning Strikeforce middleweight champion
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in May. Wins over current Sengoku middleweight king
Jorge Santiago,
David Loiseau,
Phil Baroni and
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos highlight Villasenor’s resume. A well-rounded veteran, he has secured 22 of his 27 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.
Meanwhile, Bellator Fighting Championships veteran
Daniel Straus will lock horns with
Karen Darabedyan in a preliminary lightweight duel. Straus replaces WEC veteran
Marcus Hicks, who bowed out of the event with an injury.
Straus, the reigning North American Allied Fight Series lightweight champion, will enter the bout on an eight-fight winning streak. The 26-year-old last fought in August, when he struck Pride Fighting Championships veteran
Joe Pearson into submission at an Xtreme Fighting Organization show. Straus also holds a decision victory over UFC castaway
Gideon Ray.
Darabedyan has not fought since his submission loss to
Will Kerr at WEC 49 in June. The 23-year-old Armenian holds black belts in three disciplines: judo, karate and tae kwon do. Victories against former WEC lightweight titleholder “Razor”
Rob McCullough and Arizona Combat Sports standout
Estevan Payan anchor Darabedyan’s resume.
Sherdog.com will stream the five-bout undercard live at 8 p.m. ET. The stream will feature the Darabedyan-Straus matchup, along with four others:
Ronnie Mann vs.
Douglas Evans,
Paul Bradley vs.
John Reese,
Devin Cole vs.
Aaron Rosa and
Pete Spratt vs.
Eric Davila.
Keith Jardine vs.
Trevor Prangley
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs.
Houston Alexander
Paul Daley vs.
Jorge Masvidal
Joey Villasenor vs.
Danillo Villefort
Brock Larson vs.
Tarec Saffiedine
Ronnie Mann vs.
Douglas Evans
Paul Bradley vs.
John Reese
Devin Cole vs.
Aaron Rosa
Karen Darabedyan vs.
Daniel Straus
Pete Spratt vs.
Eric Davila
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