Jorge de la Noval, CEO and Founder of Championship Fighting Alliance (CFA) today confirmed that Valentijn Overeem injured his rib during training this week and has been pulled from the main event of the organization’s May 24 card. Travis Wiuff, who previously battled Mike Kyle to a no-contest in 2010, will replace Overeem and rematch with Kyle as the new main event for CFA 11.
“Everyone at CFA wishes Valentijn Overeem a fast recovery from the rib injury he incurred this week,” said de la Noval. “He had to pull out of this fight, but fortunately we have found a replacement. I’m pleased to announce that Travis Wiuff has agreed to fight Mike Kyle and that the main event of CFA 11 is a now a rematch that both of these fighters have wanted for years. Their first fight in 2010 was ruled a no-contest and now, three years later, they finally have a chance to settle the score and to do it for all their fans live on AXS TV.”
The news of Overeem’s injury and Travis Wiuff stepping up as a short-notice replacement was made official on tonight’s episode of Inside MMA on AXS TV. Overeem will require at least six weeks to recover. CFA received the news from Overeem’s camp late yesterday and immediately sought out a new opponent for Kyle.
Wiuff (68-17) 6’3”/262 lbs. trains with the Elite Performance team out of Rochester, Minnesota. He was a two-time NJCAA All-American wrestler and the 1999 NJCAA national runner up at 265 lbs. Wiuff is an MMA veteran who has fought across three weight classes, super heavyweight, heavyweight and light heavyweight, and holds notable wins over Keith Jardine, Travis Fulton, Sean Salmon, Ricco Rodriguez and Chris Tuchscherer. He holds a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu and also possesses knockout power with 22 KOs on record.
His opponent, Mike Kyle (19-9), is a Strikeforce veteran and former light heavyweight King of the Cage Champion. He fought at the highest level of MMA with the Ultimate Fighting Championship from 2004-2005, and during that period defeated James Irvin at UFC 51 with a first round knockout. He currently trains at the famed AKA Academy in San Jose Calif., with two-time UFC heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez as his main training partner.
The first match between Kyle and Wiuff took place February 10, 2010 under the King of the Cage banner. The first round saw back and forth action with Kyle escaping a near guillotine. Kyle opened the second round with a barrage of strikes and knees. Wiuff absorbed the attack and responded with a takedown. Just as the second round came to a close, Kyle unleashed a right uppercut that hit Wiuff squarely just after the bell. Though accidental, Wiuff fell to the mat. Referee Herb Dean waved off the fight and it was ruled a no-contest. Both fighters have wanted a rematch ever since, and now Kyle vs. Wiuff 2 will take place as the main event of CFA 11 on Friday, May 24 and presented live on AXS TV starting at 9:00 p.m. ET.
In the CFA 11 co-main event, transgender fighter Fallon Fox will take on Allanna Jones in the CFA 145-pound women’s tournament semi-finals.
“CFA 11” tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com starting at $25.00 for general admission. Reserved seating is $35.00 (additional taxes and fees apply).
For more information about Championship Fighting Alliance please visit CFAFights.comand Follow on Twitter @CFAFights.
