Harris-Ruiz, Vila-Dodson Pegged for TPF 9

Gerald Harris (top) | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Also scheduled for the event is a flyweight clash between Alexis Vila and John Dodson. The show is expected to take place at Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

Harris was recently cut by the UFC following his first loss with the promotion. Prior to losing to Chute Boxe product Maiquel Jose Falcao Goncalves at UFC 123, however, Harris had earned a 3-0 record in the Octagon. Additionally, Harris garnered two “Knockout of the Night” bonuses for his finishes of Dave Branch and John Salter, respectively. Harris has stopped 14 of his 17 career victims, finishing eight by knockout and six by submission.

Ruiz comes off back-to-back defeats after a 2-0 start to 2010. Prior to the defeats, the 33-year-old had won four-straight contests, including a heavyweight victory over Gan McGee last year. The veteran recently lost a bid to capture the TPF middleweight crown, and contended for the Strikeforce light heavyweight strap in 2008.

A bronze medalist at the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta in freestyle wrestling, Vila is undefeated in his professional mixed martial arts career. The Cuban-born American Top Team fighter has finished his last six opponents and holds seven of his eight career wins by either knockout or submission.

In Dodson, Vila faces an opponent as unorthodox as they come. Like Vila, the Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts-trained fighter is a top-10 flyweight. Unlike Vila, however, is Dodson’s affinity for creating techniques out of thin air. Dodson has won back-to-back contests, with his most recent victory coming at the expense of John Moraga at Nemesis Fighting “MMA Global Invasion.”

Jeff Sherwood contributed to this report.