Baroni-Nolte Official for Titan Fighting Championships 17

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Phil Baroni now has an opponent for his Titan Fighting Championships debut, as the promotion announced Tuesday that the “New York Bad Ass” will square off with Strikeforce veteran Nick Nolte in a middleweight clash at Titan Fighting Championships 17.

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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