John Kolosci
TUF 6 vet takes on two-time UFC vet Dec. 2 in Tampa
A pair of Midwest veteran fighters will meet at XFC 15 in Tampa on Dec. 2.
Shonie Carter, a UFC veteran and contestant on Season 4 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” is out of his bout with Ryan Thomas, a two-fight UFC vet. Stepping in on short notice to take Carter’s place is another former TUF contestant, John Kolosci. Sources close to the bout confirmed the news to Heavy.com on Monday, saying verbal agreements are in place and the bout agreement is expected to be finalized today. The fight is expected to take place at a 180-pound catch weight, sources said.
Kolosci (15-8) is just a week removed from his last fight, a split decision victory over Dan Bolden at Hoosier Fight Club 9 in Valparaiso, Ind., near his Northwest Indiana training home. That win snapped a two-fight skid for Kolosci. He was submitted by Kenny Robertson at Bellator 25 in August 2010, then suffered a TKO against UFC vet Forrest Petz in April. Prior to that, Kolosci, who twice fought Mac Danzig on Season 6 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” notched arguably the biggest win of his pro career, a 42-second submission of UFC vet Luigi Fioravanti in June 2010. Kolosci fought at welterweight on TUF and his fights after that, but returned to middleweight for his win earlier this month.
Thomas (12-7) started his career 9-1, earning a shot in the UFC. But he went 0-2 there before being cut thanks to a pair of armbar submissions against Ben Saunders and Matt Brown. Last year, Thomas signed with Bellator and made his debut against Ben Askren, dropping a controversial technical submission when the official believed he was out from a choke. He wasn’t, but couldn’t get any revenge in the rematch, losing a unanimous decision. This year, Thomas has gone 1-1 in fights in his native Midwest. He beat TUF 12 hopeful Daniel Head in February, then lost to Strikeforce vet Jonatas Novaes in May.
XFC 15 takes place Dec. 2 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. The HDNet-broadcast event includes bouts between Bellator vet Eric Reynolds and Novaes; Bellator vets Felice Herrig and Carla Esperaza; and TUF 13’s Charlie Rader vs. UFC and TUF vet Corey Hill.