UFC Signs Tom Blackledge, Kurt Warburton, and Rob Broughton From UK’s Wolfslair
The UFC has signed light heavyweight Tom Blackledge, welterweight Kurt Warburton, and heavyweight Rob Broughton from the UK’s Wolfslair MMA Academy, which also includes current UFC fighters Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Michael Bisping, and Cheick Kongo.
According to Fighters Only, all three fighters signed four-fight deals and are expected to make their UFC debuts later this year, while two more Wolfslair fighters are set to appear on upcoming seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.
A jiu jitsu black belt, Blackledge (9-6) appeared as an assistant coach with “Rampage” on The Ultimate Fighter 10 and is coming off back-to-back first-round stoppages in 2009 in M-1 Challenge.
Broughton (14-5-1), also an M-1 Challenge veteran, is coming off winning an eight-man heavyweight tournament in January with a submission of Neil Wain, KO of James Thompson, and unanimous decision over Oli Thompson in the finals.
Warburton (7-2-1) earned a unanimous decision over Thomas Maguire in October in his most-recent bout and has gone 1-1-1 in three matchups against TUF 9 lightweight winner Ross Pearson.
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I guess Dana’s real high on these fighters out of the Wolfslair. He just resigned Kongo to a 6 fight deal and they have Rampage and Bisping under contract. Must be a real good camp for Dana to have so many of them under contract.
Whatever.
I’m not sure I see the sense in signing these guys, who have decent but not spectacular records, and come from a decent but not top-shelf camp.
I can only assume that Kongo and the rest of his fellow Wolfslair fighters were signed more for promotional and entertainment reasons then anything sport-related…
I can pretty much tell u that blackledge an broughton will turn heads in the ufc believe me, wolfslair is a world class camp otherwise top American fighters woudnt want to train for fights there wen they come over here! There is an aspect of commercial signing I think but these guys mean business believe me! Look at past fight an records on YouTube, you’ll see!!!