Former WBC light heavyweight middleweight champion Pawel Wolak will make his professional mixed martial arts debut on December 5th at Matrix Fights 9 in Philadelphia.
Matrix Fights promoter Sam Caplan announced that Wolak will be on the card in a press release on Tuesday and an opponent for Wolak will be announced shortly.
“During his time as an active boxer, Pawel was a top ten ranked fighter and held world titles in two separate weight classes,” Caplan said. “Pawel wrestled in high school and for the past couple of years he has received world class training from Renzo Gracie’s top MMA and BJJ instructors while also sparring the likes of Eddie Alvarez and Frank Edgar.”
“Simply put, Pawel Wolak has all the tools to be a wrecking machine in MMA. I played a small role in helping launch the championship MMA careers of Cole Konrad and Michael Chandler and it’s exciting to have the opportunity to promote Pawel in his first pro MMA bout.”
“A lot of promotions pursued Pawel and his camp in order to try and get him to make his debut on their show. We are very excited that Pawel and his management team chose Matrix Fights as the promotion where he will launch his professional MMA career.”
Wolak was looking to make his professional MMA debut earlier this month, but the Illinois Athletic Commission denied his request for a license due to his lack of experience in mixed martial arts.
“I plan on being champion,” stated Wolak. “I am not doing this for fun I am doing this because I want to be world champion and the most successful crossover boxer ever into MMA and I believe I will be. It won’t be tomorrow. It’s a process. But I come in respecting every fighter out there regardless of their records and rank. I’m not dumb enough to think that nobody is unbeatable. That’s why we fight.”
Matrix Fights 9 will come from the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 5th and the current fight card is below.
Jesus Martinez (9-5) vs. LeVon Maynard (12-10)
Will Martinez (9-3-1) vs. Ian Rammel (7-6)
Brylan Van Artsdalen (8-11) vs. Steve McCabe (6-16)
Ryan Cafaro (0-1) vs. Matt Kakareka (0-0)
Jo Meunier (2-0) vs. Cheron Gregory (0-1)
Pawel Wolak (0-0) vs. TBA