UFC Completes Card for Versus Debut

Duane Ludwig will meet promotional newcomer Darren Elkins, a late replacement for an injured Spencer Fisher, in a preliminary lightweight match at UFC on Versus 1 on March 21 at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colo. The UFC on Tuesday finalized an 11-fight lineup for the event, which marks its debut on the Versus network.

Anchored at the Grudge Training Center, where he trains alongside former middleweight King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt, Ludwig has lost two of his past three fights. The 31-year-old Denver native submitted to an armbar from Jim Miller at UFC 108 two months ago in a bout he accepted on short notice. A potent stand-up fighter, Ludwig has delivered more than half (10) of his 19 career victories by knockout or technical knockout. However, he has not won inside the Octagon since he knocked out Canadian veteran Jonathan Goulet in 11 seconds back in January 2006.

Elkins last fought in November, when he defeated UFC veteran Gideon Ray by unanimous decision at a Hoosier Fight Club event. He has rattled off back-to-back wins since his 13-second TKO loss to journeyman Ted Worthington. Based at Duneland Vale Tudo, where he trains with current World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight contender Eddie Wineland, Elkins owns eight first-round finishes among his 11 victories.

Injuries forced the UFC to shuffle the deck elsewhere, as former Sportfight welterweight champion Mike Pierce will collide with the Alaska-based Julio Paulino. An Octagon rookie, Paulino replaces the injured Rob Kimmons.

Pierce, a 29-year-old Portland, Ore., native, lost to Jon Fitch by unanimous decision at UFC 107 in December but acquitted himself nicely and had one of the world’s top welterweights on his heels in the third round. A stout wrestler who favors takedowns and ground-and-pound, he holds notable wins over one-time WEC title contender Brock Larson, International Fight League veteran Mark Miller and Strikeforce’s Paul Bradley.

Paulino will carry a seven-fight winning streak into his UFC debut. The 34-year-old stopped UFC veteran Rob Yundt on second-round punches at an Alaska Fighting Championship show last month and also holds a knockout victory against the well-traveled Terry Martin. Paulino has secured 16 of his 17 career wins by KO, TKO or submission and has never been finished in 19 professional appearances.

A light heavyweight matchup pairing Jon Jones with Brandon Vera will headline the UFC’s Versus debut, along with a pivotal heavyweight clash between the world-ranked Junior dos Santos and Gabriel Gonzaga.