With Massachusetts’ new mixed marital arts regulations going into effect on Monday, there is already a card being planned for the DCU Center in Worcester on April 23.

Promoters Corey Fischer and Eric “Butterbean” Esch have told the Herald that they have scheduled the bouts under the Korean-based promotion company, Moosin, and the featured fight will pit former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia against Mariusz Pudzianowski.

Pudzianowski has won the World’s Strongest Man title a record five times. The 33-year-old made his MMA debut in December and this show will mark his U.S. debut.

Also signed for the card are UFC veterans Rich Clementi, Yves Edwards and Houston Alexander, according to Fischer.

“This will be the biggest card ever done, probably in the Northeast,” said Fischer. “The UFC is coming here in August and they’re going to have a hard gate to beat. I think this fight card will be better than what they’re bringing.”
According to Fischer, Moosin will be traveling all over the country. After the stop in Massachusetts, the company will stage fights in Poland and Shanghai, China. The April 23 card will be shown all over the world.

“It’ll be on pay-per-view and shown live in Korea, Poland, Canada and about 14 other countries,” said Fischer. “This will have more viewers than (the UFC’s) show.”

Butterbean, 41, said he still has one or two fights left in his body, but he will not fight in Worcester. He feels that hooking up with Moosin as a business partner will benefit him long after his fighting days are over.

“I’ve been doing it for a while now, but this is a much bigger venture,” said Esch. “This is a big show coming up.”