by Brian Knapp (bknapp@sherdog.com)
Joey Beltran will meet undefeated heavyweight prospect Chad Corvin in a preliminary matchup at UFC 113 “Machida vs. Shogun 2” on May 8 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Ten bouts are now official for the event, which will feature the ballyhooed rematch between light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
Unbeaten and untested through six professional bouts, the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Corvin last appeared in February 2009, when he earned a first-round technical knockout against Scott Barrett at an Xtreme Fighting Championships show in Knoxville, Tenn. In fact, none of Corvin’s first six opponents have lasted longer than 99 seconds against him. An accomplished high school wrestler who saw a potential collegiate career derailed by academics, he raised many an eyebrow when he knocked out South African heavyweight Rico Hattingh in 19 seconds in December 2008.
Beltran, a 5150 Combat League heavyweight champion, made his promotional debut at UFC 109 in February, when, as a late replacement for Mostapha Al-Turk, he stopped Rolles Gracie on second-round strikes. The 28-year-old Oceanside, Calif., native trains at Alliance MMA, alongside Brandon Vera, Phil Davis and current World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Beltran has posted seven wins in eight fights and holds notable victories against UFC veterans Sherman Pendergarst, Wes Combs and Houston Alexander.
In addition to the Machida-Rua rematch, UFC 113 will feature a pivotal welterweight tilt pitting Josh Koscheck against Paul Daley, a lightweight bout pairing Sam Stout with Jeremy Stephens and a heavyweight matchup between Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 quarter-finalist Matt Mitrione. The show will also mark the return of former middleweight title contender Patrick Cote, as he locks horns with Alan Belcher
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