Championship Doubleheader Announced for Victory FC 51

Victory Fighting Championship on Wednesday announced three bouts for its upcoming Victory FC 51 card, which takes place June 24 in Des Moines, Iowa.

The event will be held inside Buccaneer Arena, and the main card will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.

Victory FC 51 will be anchored by the vacant bantamweight championship between Shawn West and UFC veteran Robert Emerson. Rakim Cleveland will take on former UFC fighter Mike Rhodes for the promotion’s vacant middleweight crown in the co-feature.

Emerson gained notoriety by being a cast member of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 and embarked on a UFC career that saw him go 3-3 with one no-contest before being released. From there, Emerson went on a tear that saw him win seven of his next eight, including five straight victories. Two of those triumphs were inside the Bellator cage, but in October 2014, “The Saint” lost to Rafael Silva at Bellator 127 and eventually tested positive for the banned substance modafinil. He was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission and is looking to resume his career against West, who has won seven straight bouts.

The third bout Victory FC announced is a featherweight showdown between Rick Glenn and Ramiro Hernandez.