With Ed Ratcliff forced to bow out of this Sunday's WEC 49 event for
undisclosed reasons, undefeated Roufusport fighter Danny "Boy" Downes has stepped up to face Chris Horodecki.

WEC officials made the announcement late Tuesday night.

Featuring a lightweight fight between Jamie Varner and Kamal Shalorus,
"WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus" takes place this Sunday, June 20, at
Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The evening's main card airs
live on Versus.

Click here to view the embedded video.

WEC 49: Varner vs Shalorus takes place on June 20th, Live on Versus June 20th at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET at Rexxal Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The event is headlined by a lightweight bout between Jamie Varner and Kamal Shalorus.

Main Card

Lightweight bout: Kamal Shalorus vs. Jamie Varner
Featherweight bout: L.C. Davis vs. Josh Grispi
Lightweight bout: Chris Horodecki vs. Ed Ratcliff
Featherweight bout: Mark Hominick vs. Yves Jabouin
Bantamweight bout: Will Campuzano vs. Eddie Wineland

Preliminary Card

Lightweight bout: Karen Darabedyan vs. Will Kerr
Bantamweight bout: Wagnney Fabiano vs. Frank Gomez
Featherweight bout: Bendy Casimir vs. Erik Koch
Featherweight bout: Rafael Assuncao vs. Diego Nunes
Bantamweight bout: Chris Cariaso vs. Rafael Rebello
Bantamweight bout: Renan Barao vs. Anthony Leone

Click here to view the embedded video.

WEC 49: Varner vs Shalorus takes place on June 20th, Live on Versus June 20th at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET at Rexxal Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The event is headlined by a lightweight bout between Jamie Varner and Kamal Shalorus.

Main Card

Lightweight bout: Kamal Shalorus vs. Jamie Varner
Featherweight bout: L.C. Davis vs. Josh Grispi
Lightweight bout: Chris Horodecki vs. Ed Ratcliff
Featherweight bout: Mark Hominick vs. Yves Jabouin
Bantamweight bout: Will Campuzano vs. Eddie Wineland

Preliminary Card

Lightweight bout: Karen Darabedyan vs. Will Kerr
Bantamweight bout: Wagnney Fabiano vs. Frank Gomez
Featherweight bout: Bendy Casimir vs. Erik Koch
Featherweight bout: Rafael Assuncao vs. Diego Nunes
Bantamweight bout: Chris Cariaso vs. Rafael Rebello
Bantamweight bout: Renan Barao vs. Anthony Leone

Press Release

Edmonton, Alberta (Canada): The Fight Club (TFC), one of the fastest-growing fight promotions in Canada, had secured a main event of TFC World Welterweight Champion Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford defending his belt against the man considered to be the number one 170 lb. fighter in Hawaii, UFC veteran Brandon Wolff. The fight was to take place at TFC’s next event, “TFC 11: DESTINY” on Saturday, July 17th, live at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

Unfortunately, Wolff sustained injuries in defense of his X-1 welterweight title this past weekend, and had to pull out of his bout with Ford. Stepping in to contest the title will be two-time WEC veteran Carlo Prater.

Tickets are available through http://www.thefightclub.ca/, or (780) 991-5670.

“DESTINY” will be shown on pay-per-view across Canada on Shaw, Shaw Direct, Bell TV, and Viewers Choice, offering virtually all Canadians the opportunity to purchase and watch the show live. The event will also be broadcasted at many commercial establishments, bars, pubs, lounges, and casinos across Canada. In addition, through a distribution agreement with Ringside Boxing & MMA, the event will be televised to a potential worldwide audience of over 150 million viewers (on a delayed basis). News on a press conference will be announced soon.

Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford (12-2) is viewed by many to be the next great Canadian welterweight after UFC 170-pound kingpin Georges St-Pierre. A native of Edmonton, “The Real Deal” won the TFC welterweight title on December 5th of last year when he knocked out California native John Walsh (10-5) in just thirteen seconds at “TFC 9: TOTAL CHOAS.” Ford holds victories over UFC vets Pete Spratt, CJ Fernandes, and Tommy Speer, who he defeated via first round submission at the most recent TFC event, “TFC 10: HIGH OCTANE” on March 19th. Ford is currently riding a four-fight win streak. In regards to the change in opponent, Ford is unfazed. “It doesn’t change my approach to the fight. I’m ready for anyone. I’m a fighter, and that’s what I do. Carlo is a good fighter, he’s a tough guy, so I think it’s going to be a test for me, and hopefully I come out on top.” And that’s exactly what he plans to do. “You never know. I can say something, but as soon as that bell rings, it all changes. I’m looking to win, and that’s my prediction.”

Carlo Prater (24-7-1) is a well-respected veteran who has faced and defeated many top MMA fighters in the sport today. A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Prater is a very dangerous combatant who has a lot of tools to finish any opponent. In 2008 he challenged WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit for the belt. The result was a loss, but afterwards, Prater dropped to the 155-pound class and won the Palace Fighting Championships lightweight belt. Now, he’ll step back into the familiar territory of the welterweight ranks and face Ryan Ford for the TFC 170-lb. strap. During his eight-year career, Prater has faced well-known competitors such as Drew Fickett, Derrick Noble, Condit, Brock Larson, and Antonio McKee, and holds victories over Melvin Guillard, Spencer “The King” Fisher, Condit (they have defeated each other once), and Pat Healy.

In addition to Prater, TFC has added several other fights to “DESTINY,” including:

- Mitch Clarke (6-0) vs. Curtis “The Demon” Demarce (8-7) – for the TFC Canadian Lightweight Title – A five-fight win streak has earned “The Demon” a title shot against the undefeated Mitch Clarke. Clarke, who is moving down from welterweight, will make his debut at 155 lbs.

- Ryan “The Kid” McGillivray (9-4-1) vs. Andrew Buckland (11-6-1) – 170 lbs. – Edmonton’s Ryan McGillivray makes his return to the TFC cage in a much-anticipated rematch with Calgary’s Andrew Buckland. The two fought to a draw April 23, 2010 in a three-round war that saw a 2nd round point deduction for an illegal blow by Buckland cost him a victory.

- Rio Wells (3-0) vs. Jason Zorthian (3-3) 170 lbs. – Ex-CFL football star Rio Wells puts his undefeated MMA record on the line against a very tough Jason Zorthian.

- Jorge Ravanal, Jr. (2-1) vs. Dave Hale (0-0) – 160 lbs

- Chuck Pelc (2-1) vs. Joel Powell (2-2) – 170 lbs.

The Fight Club is also pleased to announce the addition of Ron “The Yacman” Yacovetti, who will now handle play-by-play commentary cageside for “TFC 11: DESTINY.” “The Yacman,” who is the face of the MMA social networking website FightLaunch.com, has done fight commentary for several other organizations, including the Korean MMA promotion Spirit MC (Spirit Martial Challenge), and the Florida-based Art of Fighting promotion. In addition, Ron co-hosts a weekly Web TV series entitled “The Yac & J Show,” a comedic news magazine style show.

Look for the additional fights to be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.thefightclub.ca/

Official fighter weigh-ins for this weekend's "WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus" event take place this Saturday, June 18, at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The festivities, which are free and open to the public, begin at 7 p.m. ET (5 p.m. MT local time), and doors open at 4 p.m. ET.

As always MMAjunkie.com will have a live video stream, courtesy of the WEC, available for the weigh-ins.

Canadian fans get special access to fighters from the upcoming WEC 49 card on Thursday.

World Extreme Cagefighting officials have opened the event's open workouts to both media and fans.

The free event, which takes place June 17 from 1-3 p.m. MT (local time), takes place on the Newcap Stage at the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Click here to view the embedded video.

WEC 49 is set to take place at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on June 20 and will be headlined by lightweight bout between Jamie Varner and Kamal Shalorus.

Main Card

- Kamal Shalorus vs. Jamie Varner
- L.C. Davis vs. Josh Grispi
- Chris Horodecki vs. Ed Ratcliff
- Mark Hominick vs. Yves Jabouin
- Will Campuzano vs. Eddie Wineland

Preliminary Card

- Karen Darabedyan vs. Will Kerr
- Wagnney Fabiano vs. Frank Gomez
- Bendy Casimir vs. Erik Koch
- Rafael Assuncao vs. Diego Nunes
- Chris Cariaso vs. Rafael Rebello
- Renan Barao vs. Anthony Leone

The fight card for next weekend's WEC 49 event is again complete with the official preliminary-card addition of Anthony Leone vs. fellow promotional newcomer Renan Barao.

MMAjunkie.com first reported this past weekend that verbal agreements were in place for the bantamweight fight. WEC executives since have made it official.

WEC 49 takes place June 20 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Bantamweight Anthony Leone has signed a four-fight deal with World Extreme Cagefighting and makes his promotional debut later this month when he meets fellow promotional newcomer Renan Barao on the WEC 49 preliminary card.

Ryan Ciotoli of Bombsquad Sports Management today alerted MMAjunkie.com of Leone's signing and debut. A source close to the event said verbal agreements are in place, though bout agreements have not been signed.

WEC 49 takes place June 20 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Unified 4 in Friday night at the Mirage Banquet Hall in Edmonton, Alberta. The main event was supposed to be Travis Briere vs George Belanger but that was cancelled due to any injury to Briere. Cody Krahn stepped into the main event on 3 days notice to take on Jonathan Cardinal. Krahn fought and won last Friday by Kimura early in the 1st round but came out unscathed.

Main Event
Johnathan Cardinal (1-1) vs Cody Krahn (7-2)

Tyson Russel (3-1) vs James Cardinal 145 (0-0)
Chase Maxwell (3-0) vs Anthony Middlekoop 170 (0-0)
Gary Espinar (1-1) vs Josh Ladoucer 135 (0-1) *Espinar was 0.8 overweight
John Grant (0-0) vs Eric Chouinard (0-3) 185
Kurtis Higgins (0-0) vs Patrick Glaude (0-1) LHW
Damian Krushelniski (0-0) vs Tim Brown (0-1) 170
Bobby Kalmakoff (1-5) vs Cody Cullinan (0-0) SHW
Eric McKay (0-0) vs Todd Molineaux (0-0) 155