3 Bouts Booked for UFC's Versus Debut

D. Mandel/Sherdog.com

Welterweight standout Anthony Johnson will toe the line against John Howard in a featured matchup at UFC Fight Night 21 on March 21 at the Odeum Colorado in Broomfield, Colo. Three fights are now official for the event.

Johnson last appeared at UFC 106 in November, when he submitted to a rear-naked choke from perennial contender Josh Koscheck. The 25-year-old Georgian has not gone to a decision in more than three years and holds notable victories against American Top Team’s Luigi Fioravanti, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 6 runner-up Tom Speer and 2007 Cage Force welterweight tournament winner Yoshiyuki Yoshida; he finished all three. Johnson has delivered six of his eight career wins by knockout or technical knockout.

Spawned by the Ring of Combat promotion, Howard will carry a six-fight winning streak into the bout. Behind on the scorecards, the 26-year-old former electrician knocked out veteran Dennis Hallman with five seconds left in their bout at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale in December. The Boston-based Howard has not lost since being outpointed by one-time International Fight League middleweight champion Dan Miller in 2007.

Meanwhile, former IFL light heavyweight titleholder Vladimir Matyushenko will meet Eliot Marshall in a preliminary bout at UFC Fight Night 21.

Still going strong at age 39, Matyushenko has posted 11 wins in his last 12 fights, losing only to the world-ranked Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in that span. The Belarusian made his first appearance inside the Octagon in nearly six years when he earned a unanimous decision against Igor Pakrajac at UFC 103 in September. Victories over Nogueira, Yuki Kondo and Pedro Rizzo anchor his resume.

Marshall, an accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, has won eight of his first nine fights as a professional. Based in Boulder, Colo., the 29-year-old former Ring of Fire champion last competed at UFC 103, where he outpointed Jason Brilz on the undercard. Marshall was a semi-finalist on Season 8 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

A light heavyweight showdown pitting Brandon Vera against Jon Jones will headline UFC Fight Night 21, which will mark the promotion’s debut on the Versus network.