One professional light heavyweight will be returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championships, or another will be getting his first appearance at the world’s biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) event, and who it is going to be will get decided Saturday night at Wild Rose Casino & Resort Jefferson. Houston Alexander will be taking on Rakim Cleveland in Extreme Challenge 234 as one of eight bouts getting underway at 7 p.m. This is the first MMA event hosted by the casino, and the night will include appearances by UFC world champions, Matt Hughes, Pat Miletich, Jens Pulver and Tim Sylvia, who will be greeting fans, posing for photos and signing autographs. The night will include championship fights between 145-pound title holder Ramiro “Junior” Hernandez of Bettendorf against Damion Hill of Minneapolis, Minn. and Dylan Forkner of Des Moines will fight Jarod Kirby of Burlington for the vacant 145-pound amateur title. The ladies will be featured in two matches with Helen Peralta of Des Moines facing Alondra Romero of Las Vegas, Nev. and Becca Baldwin of Des Moines taking on Terri Brinson of Muscatine. Ticket prices start at $30 and are available online at www.wildroseresorts.com and they will be available at the door. This event is open to fans of all ages.
