Gladiator - Main Event *Update*

Gladiator has its main event.

After sifting through multiple options to match against Thiago Silva on Oct. 10 at Family Arena, the promotion has found its man.

Brash Texan Marcus Sursa will step up and meet Silva, a UFC vet who has fought the likes of Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, and Alexander Gustafsson.

Sursa is 15-9 with all but one of his victories being by finish, with six KO/TKOs and eight submissions.

"This is like a real-life Rocky Balboa story," Gladiator president Kenny Nowling said. "This kid is as hungry as a lion who hasn't ate in a year. He has extremely heavy hands and knockout power. This is the biggest opportunity of his life and he's going to come 110-percent."

Sursa has won four of his last five and is coming off a loss to Kelvin Tiller in March.

The search to match up Silva (16-4) was exhaustive.

"We offered the fight to Brandon Vera but unfortunately he is under contract with another organization," Nowling said. "We had 20 different candidates and Marcus jumped off the page."

Also added to the card is the return of Sal Woods. Woods has fought the best of the best St. Louis MMA has had to offer: Tyron Woodley, Michael Chandler, Steve Berger, Chris Heatherly, and Eric Irvin to name a few. Woods will be dusting off just over a year's worth of ring rust come October. Woods will face Jake Constant.

Talented up and comer Cjay Hunter will take on Zach Feers.

Gladiator is actively searching for local lightweight and welterweight match-ups for the Blackzilians Carrington Banks and Jason Jackson. Coaches and gym owners are encouraged to contact Nowling or Gladiator matchmaker Kain Royer.

"When it is all said and done, I challenge anyone to show me a card that has ever taken place in St. Louis that is more stacked than this one," Nowling said.

Full fight card (subject to change):

Thiago Silva vs Marcus Sursa
Victor Moreno vs Valdir Araujo
Lucas Lopes vs Tom Watson
Josh Weston vs Andrews Nakahara

Rob Washington vs Yuri Villefort
Sal Woods vs Jake Constant
Chris Manuel vs Lucas Gwaltney
Zach Feers vs Cjay Hunter
Mike Carwile vs Montuelle Prater
Matt Murphy vs Gary Becker
Cory Lund vs Josh Epps
Chris Beal vs Ryan Sutton

Gladiator
Saturday, October 10
Family Arena, St. Charles, MO