Former UFC, Bellator Fighters Featured on Saturday’s WFC 16 Card

West Coast Fighting Championship matchmaker Jeremy Luchau admits that he had some difficulty in piecing together the main event of his company’s upcoming event, but he was finally able to get it done.

This Saturday’s WFC 16 “King of Sacramento” is set to be headlined by a 175-pound catchweight battle between two rivals from the same city, and when it comes to regional battles, this is expected to be one for the ages.

Current WFC welterweight champ Max Griffin is set to lock horns with cross-city rival David Mitchell in a non-title tilt scheduled for five rounds.

“It wasn’t easy, but we were able to put it together,” Luchau said in a statement. “There was a lot that had to be negotiated between Max and David, but ultimately I feel like both guys were able to concede in some areas to make the fight happen.”

Griffin, a former Tachi Palace Fights champion, has won seven of his last eight fights, with four coming via knockout or submission.

Mitchell, a Team Alpha Male product, had won seven straight bouts before losing to Marcel Fortuna via decision at Dragon House 20 last July. A veteran of the UFC and WSOF, the former WFC middleweight and heavyweight titlist is looking to get back on the winning track against Griffin.

The co-main event for WFC 16 will see Josh Emmett taking on Christos Giagos in a lightweight showdown. Giagos fought for the RFA before going 1-2 in the UFC and eventually being released from the promotion in June. The unbeaten Emmett appears to be one of the more promising prospects in the division, though he’s feasted solely on region opposition thus far.

“Giagos is a game opponent and was just the what the Emmett camp was looking for to give them that boost to the next level,” Luchau added. “It’s another fight where I feel like the UFC could be the next step for either guy.” Also announced for WFC 16 is return of former UFC and Strikeforce slugger Scott Smith as he clashes with Bellator vet Justin Baesman. Lewis Gonzalez, who also fought for the WSOF and UFC, will lock horns with Ty Freeman.

A heavyweight duel between Josh Appelt and Roy Boughton will decide the division’s champion as they will fight for the vacant title.

WFC 16 will be held at McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento. The event will be available through online pay-per-view and will air live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.