Heavyweight Derrick Mehmen will return to competition on Friday night at Titan FC 40 in Coral Gables, Florida as he is slated to meet DJ Linderman on the fight card coming from the BankUnited Center.
This will be the first fight for Mehmen (19-7) since losing to WSOF heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov last year at WSOF 24 and he was initially scheduled to fight UFC veteran Jack May. However, Titan FC officials announced earlier this week that May was out of the event and Mehmen would now meet Linderson.
Five of Mehmen’s previous six fights have taken place in the World Series of Fighting and he recently explained to The MMA Report why he decided to exit the World Series of Fighting for Titan FC.
“After talking with my management and [Titan FC COO] Lex [McMahon], it just seemed like a great platform to showcase my skills and really make one last push to get in the UFC and get back with Zuffa,” Mehmen stated.
Check out Mehmen’s complete interview with The MMA Report below (Note: Interview was recorded when Mehmen was scheduled to face May).