Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight competitor Carmelo Marrero is scheduled to make his IFL debut on April 4 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., the promotion announced Wednesday afternoon.

Marrero, whose most notable win was an upset split-decision victory over Cheick Kongo at UFC 64, will represent American Top Team in a light heavyweight bout against Mike Ciesnolevicz of Miletich Fighting Systems.

Also added to the card are IFL veteran Brad Blackburn and newcomer Nate Lamotte.

Blackburn will take on Delson Heleno in a welterweight bout while Lamotte is set to square off against lightweight competitor Chris Horodecki.

The April show is scheduled to be televised on HDNet and will be headlined by three world title fights. Jay Hieron will defend his IFL welterweight title against Mark Miller; Vladimir Matyushenko's IFL light heavyweight title will be on the line in a bout vs. Jamal Patterson; and IFL featherweight champion Wagnney Fabiano will defend his crown against Shad Lierley.

The nine bouts made official in today's official announcement by the IFL are as follows:

Additional Bout

• 155 lbs.: Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) (7-1 IFL, 11-1 overall MMA) vs. Nate Lamotte (0-0, 6-2)
  

American Top Team vs. Miletich Fighting Systems

• 145 lbs.: Rafael Dias (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (1-0, 10-3-1) vs. L.C. Davis (Kansas City, Mo.) (2-0, 9-1)

• 170 lbs.: Emyr Bussade (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (0-0, 10-5) vs. Rory Markham (Chicago) (6-2, 12-3)

• 205 lbs.: Carmelo Marrero (Douglasville, Pa.) (0-0, 7-2) vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) (5-3, 13-3)
  

Midwest Combat vs. Renzo Gracie Academy

• 155 lbs.: Bart Palaszewski (Wonderlake, Ill.) (8-3, 29-10) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (Lithuania) (3-0, 9-2)
  

• 170 lbs.: Brad Blackburn (Olympia, Wash.) (3-2, 11-9-1) vs. Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (6-3, 13-4)

• *205 lbs.: **Vladimir Matyushenko (Belarus) (5-0, 20-3) vs. Jamal Patterson (Jersey City, N.J.) (4-1, 4-1)

Additional Championship Bouts

• *170 lbs.: **Jay Hieron (Freeport, N.Y.) (6-2, 14-4) vs. Mark Miller (Chicago) (2-1, 8-2)

• *145 lbs.: **Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (5-0, 9-1) vs. Shad Lierley (Seattle) (2-1, 2-1)

 *Championship Bout
**Current Titleholder

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com