Global Warrior Challenge finalizes 'British Invasion' fight card, broadcast team

Global Warrior Challenge holds its inaugural event on Saturday with a pay-per-view pitting Americans against fighters from the U.K.

The 11-fight card has been finalized, and the promotion also has set its broadcast team for the show, featuring a pair of well-known veteran commentators and a former UFC champion.

Ron Kruck, Karyn Bryant and Jens Pulver will be in the booth for “Global Warrior Challenge: British Invasion” on Saturday at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The event is available via pay-per-view for $29.95. Tickets also are available, ranging between $37 and $102, with the first fight set to go at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The plan is for Global Warrior Challenge to host a series of country-vs.-country fight cards, though plans for future shows have not yet been announced.

Kruck is part of AXS TV’s “Inside MMA” weekly live newsmagazine show and also has done play-by-play in the past, including for International Fight League and Shark Fights. Bryant, a veteran of MTV, TNT, CNN and Showtime, hosts “MMA. H.E.A.T.” and frequently can be seen on FUEL TV’s pre- and post-fight UFC shows.

Pulver was the UFC’s first lightweight champion and also fought for PRIDE and the WEC. Since leaving the WEC on a five-fight skid, “Lil’ Evil” has gone 5-5. Most recently, he was submitted by Masakatsu Ueda at ONE FC 8 in April. Notable victories for the 14-year pro include B.J. Penn, Dennis Hallman, Caol Uno and Cub Swanson.

The first GWC card includes many veterans of major promotions like the UFC, Strikeforce, WEC and Bellator. In the main event, UFC vet Oli Thompson (10-5) takes on Bellator vet Kevin Asplund (15-5) in a heavyweight bout. Asplund has dropped four straight, while Thompson is 1-1 since the UFC released him on a two-fight skid.

In addition, the card features former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (51-19) in a fight against Marcin Lazarz (5-1), Strikeforce vet Bobby Lashley (8-2) in a heavyweight fight vs. Matthew Larson (2-2), UFC vets Drew Fickett (43-19) vs. Andre Winner (14-7-1), plus UFC vet Kendall Grove (17-13) vs. Danny Mitchell (12-3) and WEC vet L.C. Davis (19-5) vs. James Saville (11-5).

The full fight card for “Global Warrior Challenge: British Invasion” includes:

• Kevin Asplund vs. Oliver Thompson
• Drew Fickett vs. Andre Winner
• Matthew Larson vs. Bobby Lashley
• Marcin Lazarz vs. Ricco Rodriguez
• Wayne Cole vs. Jack Marshman
• Kendall Grove vs. Danny Mitchell
• LC Davis vs. James Saville
• Justin Davis vs. Max Nunes
• Jake Huen vs. Dayman Lake
• Colby Covington vs. Michael “Black Death” Johnson
• Tony Hervey vs. Jake Murphy

(Pictured: Oli Thompson)