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With heavyweight prospect Bobby Lashley out of “PFC: Best of Both Worlds” due to ankle ligament damage suffered in training, fellow American Fight League fighter Ron Sparks (3-0) has stepped up on short notice to fill the role.

Sparks will take on fellow undefeated heavyweight Mike Hayes (3-0) on the Feb. 6 event at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, Calif. Representatives from the organization alerted MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the change Thursday night.

“PFC: Best of Both Worlds” is a hybrid event that will feature both MMA and boxing bouts, with the boxing portion of the card slated for a Showtime broadcast.

Sparks signed with the American Fight League in 2008, and he was rumored to be working on a possible matchup with super-heavyweight Bob Sapp. When that bout fell through the Kentucky native issued a challenge to Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson. That fight was also never arranged, and Sparks has yet to receive a bout through his contract with the Kentucky-based American Fight League.

Sparks last fought in September 2006 for the Kentucky-based Caged Inferno organization. “The Monster” won his first three professional contests in a combined time of 77 seconds, but has yet to see action since that stretch.

Provided Lashley doesn’t encounter any complications in his recovery process, the former WWE superstar is now expected to make his Palace Fighting Championship debut on May 8 at PFC 13.

The full card of MMA and boxing bouts for “PFC: Best of Both Worlds” now includes:

MMA BOUTS

Chad Mendes vs. Leland Gridley
Ulysses Gomez vs. David Suarez
Brandon Cash vs. Steve Gavin
Alexis Vila vs. Ben Nguyen
Mike Hayes vs. Ron Sparks
Joey Cabezas vs. Joe Morales
BOXING BOUTS

Champ Andre Ward vs. Henry Buchanan (for NABO super-middleweight title)
Joshua Kpakpo Allotey vs. John Molina
Sharon Gaines vs. Carina Moreno
Champ Manuel Quezada vs. Eric Boose (for WBC CABOFE heavyweight title)
Mike Dallas, Jr. vs. Anthony Martinez
Dewey Cooper vs. Arthur Williams
Anthony Cannon vs. Tony Hirsch
Flavio Mendoza vs. Poppies Martinez
Paul Mendez vs. Justin Wines
Ruben Cuellar vs. James Ventry