Baroni-Nolte Official for Titan Fighting Championships 17

Phil Baroni | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

TFC 17 takes place March 25 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., and will be broadcast live in North America on HDNet. The Baroni-Nolte scrap is the event’s first official pairing.

A knockout puncher with power in both hands, Baroni recently finished his second run with the UFC and rides a three-fight losing streak heading into the contest. He was outpointed by fellow UFC vet Joe Riggs at Strikeforce “Lawler vs. Shields” before returning to the UFC as a welterweight in 2009.

After a unanimous decision defeat to Amir Sadollah in the 34-year-old’s first fight in the Octagon in almost five years, Baroni made the move back up to middleweight to take on prospect Brad Tavares at UFC 125. After dropping Tavares with a left hook early, the tide turned quickly and Baroni was eventually knocked out with a flurry of punches. He was released by the promotion after the loss.

Nolte began his career in 2009, competing at Strikeforce Challengers 5 in just his second professional fight. After earning a win over Andy Waters with a triangle choke, Nolte tested the waters of the Bellator Fighting Championships in his next outing, losing by arm triangle to Drew Dober at Bellator 16 last April.

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