Rodney Wallace replaces Javier Gil on USA East roster

There has been yet another late change to the lineup for next Friday’s M-1 Challenge event in Kansas City. M-1Global.com was notified late Thursday that undefeated light heavyweight prospect Rodney “Shonuff” Wallace has been added to the USA East roster in place of Javier Gil.

The addition of Wallace, 5-0, gives USA East yet another returning member to the squad. While Wallace did not compete for the team during its ‘09 opener in Bulgaria in March, he fought for Team USA in 2008 last May during an M-1 Challenge event in Gran Canaria, Spain.

Facing one of the M-1 Challenge’s best in Finland’s Toni Valtonen, Wallace scored an impressive two-round unanimous decision victory.

Now Wallace is back competing in the M-1 Challenge for the second time and he will once again be taking on Finland. With Valtonen having moved to heavyweight, Wallace is now slated to face light heavyweight Marcus Vanttinen.

According to M-1 officials, the late change was made due to sanctioning issues caused by the disparity in total pro fights between Vanttinen and Gil.

“Today I had a phone conversation with (matchmaker) Apy Echteld of M-1 Challenge regarding our new Team USA East member Javier Gil,” Team USA East manager Reed Wallace began to say in an exclusive statement to M-1Global.com. “Although we were very confident with Javier’s ability to compete against Team Finland’s Marcus Vanttinen, we were advised that since Vanttinen’s pro MMA record is 8-3 and Javier Gil’s record is 1-0, that this created a problem and that we would need a more experienced fighter to compete in the June 5 event .

“Rodney Wallace recently had a prior event cancel on him and was available so I spoke to him and he agreed to take this fight against Marcus on June 5 and is ready and in shape… I believe everyone will be treated to a great fight with Rodney Wallace when he puts his undefeated 5-0 record on the line.”

Wallace also added that Gil, a decorated BJJ black belt who serves as a trainer with Team Nogueira in Miami, could represent Team USA East in the future and will also compete in Wallace’s Florida-based Revolution Fighting Championships promotion.

Wallace returns to a USA East Team that will field Renato Migliaccio at lightweight, newcomer Anthony Ford at welterweight, Team Nogueira fighter Valdir Araujo, and heavyweight Mike Ottman, who also competed on the same team as Wallace in Gran Canaria last year.

In addition to USA East vs. Finland, the June 5 M-1 Challenge event will also feature head-to-head matchups between England vs. France and the World Team vs. Turkey.

Tickets are currently available at all Ticketmaster outlets, including Ticketmaster.com.