UFC
Titan Fighting Championships 18 loses McFedries and Markham, gain Jake and Jared Rosholt
May 25, 2011 - 9:15:50 AM Titan Fighting Championships 18 loses McFedries and Markham, gain Jake and Jared Rosholt

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

A pair of high profile removals from this week's Titan Fighting Championships 18 event, set to air live on HDNet, left Titan officials in a bind, but they've found replacements for each loss and are good to go for Friday's event.

UFC vets Drew McFedries and Rory Markham were each forced out of the event at the last minute, McFedries due to being hospitalized with an infection late last week and Markham for taking a film role that is taking him out of the country prior to Friday's event.

However, the organization managed to snag the Rosholt brothers, UFC vet Jake and his younger brother Jared, to step in for the card, as they face John Ott and Kirk Grinlinton, respectively.

"We were extremely disappointed when the management for Drew and Rory informed us of the news. However, this is the fight business and having promoted fights since the age of 24, I've dealt with a lot of hurdles in promoting shows," said Titan CEO Joe Kelly. "While losing Drew and Rory from the show hurts, we took the news in stride I am very excited that the fans in attendance at Memorial Hall and those watching live on HDNet are going to see two future stars in this sport step up on short notice and test themselves."

Jake Rosholt, a three time NCAA Division I wrestling champion at Oklahoma State University, made his MMA debut in 2007 and has compiled an 11-3 record since. Two of his losses came during his three fight stint in the UFC, but since his release he's won five of six fights, with all five victories coming in the first round. Rosholt meets John Ott on the card, who in March moved up in weight to face Bobby Lashley, losing a three round decision. Their fight will take place at a 200 lb. catchweight.

The younger Rosholt was a standout at Oklahoma State himself, earning All-American honors multiple times. Since making the transition to MMA, the heavyweight has won two consecutive fights, and is making a name for himself as a submission grappler.

"When you look at brother acts in MMA, it's clear that Ken and Frank Shamrock are the best brother-tandem to have ever grace this sport," Kelly said. "However, when the respective MMA careers of the Rosholt Brothers have come to an end, I have no doubt in my mind that Jake and Jared will surpass the Shamrocks as the greatest brother duo in MMA history. I believe that Jake Rosholt will return to the UFC and eventually claim the middleweight title and those that I know who have seen Jared Rosholt train tell me that he is going to be a future UFC Heavyweight Champion. Having two future UFC champions compete together on national television so early in their respective careers is going to be special."

The event, taking place from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Mo., airs live on HDNet beginning at 10PM ET.