The Ultimate Fighting Championship has signed U.K.-based heavyweight and Czech Republic native Karlos Vemola (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to a multi-fight deal. Vemola will face H.I.T. Squad disciple Jon Madsen (5-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) at UFC 116 in his octagon debut.
The news was first reported today by Fighters Only and subsequently confirmed to MMAjunkie.com by sources close to the event, who said that both parties have verbally agreed to the bout and are expected to put pen to paper shortly.
UFC 116 is expected to take place July 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. A heavyweight title unification match between current champion Brock Lesnar and interim champion Shane Carwin is expected to headline.
Vemola, nicknamed "The Terminator," fights out of London Shootfighters alongside UFC vets John Hathaway and Mostapha Al Turk. A veteran of the U.K.-based Cage Fighters Championship, seven of his victories come by way of first-stoppage, with four victories by rear naked choke.
According to the Fighter's Only report, the heavyweight shares a long-running beef with current UFC heavyweight James McSweeney, who accused him of using performance enhancing drugs.
Madsen, meanwhile, is fresh off a unanimous decision win over Al Turk in his most recent performance at UFC 112. A veteran of "The Ultimate Fighter 10," he was eliminated by finalist Brendan Schaub in the show's quarterfinals, though he rebounded from the setback with a win over fellow cast mate Justin Wren in the show's finale this past December.
Vemola vs. Madsen is expected for the non-televised portion of UFC 116.
Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/18910/ufc-sig ... fc-116.mma