Anthony Njokuani vs. Shane Roller targeted for "WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber" in April

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Two of the WEC's brightest lightweight stars will likely meet in an intriguing contest with title-shot implications undoubtedly on the line.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the organization that Anthony Njokuani (12-2 MMA, 3-1 WEC) and Shane Roller (7-2 MMA, 4-1 WEC) have verbally agreed to meet at "WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber."

Bout agreements are expected to be finalized shortly.

Featuring a featherweight title fight between current champ Jose Aldo and an ever-popular challenger in Urijah Faber, WEC 48 takes place April 24 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. The event marks the organization's first foray into the pay-per-view market.

Njokuani, a Nigerian native who grew up in Dallas but now resides in Las Vegas, comes to the fight with a three-bout win streak. All three of the wins came via TKO, and all three of the wins resulted in the devastating striker being awarded the evening's "Knockout of the Night."

Njokuani's lone WEC loss came to current lightweight champion Benson Henderson in January 2009. "The Assassin's" only other loss was delivered courtesy of fellow contender Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in a 2007 matchup under the Ring of Fire banner.

Njokuani has found himself in high demand following a spectacular high-kick finish of Chris Horodecki this past December.

Meanwhile, Roller currently carries a two-fight win streak into the cage. The Team Takedown fighter earned "Submission of the Night" honors at this past November's WEC 44 event when he latched in a third-round rear-naked choke on Danny Castillo in a bout Roller appeared to be less than 90 seconds away from losing.

Roller also toppled Marcus Hicks at WEC 42 in August 2009.

Roller's lone WEC loss also came to current champ Henderson at WEC 40 in April 2009. In one of the more exciting sub-two-minute bouts in recent memory, Roller opened aggressively and dropped Henderson before "Smooth" quickly turned the tide in earned a TKO win just 1:41 into the bout.

The winner of the Njokuani-Roller matchup will undoubtedly have the inside track on a lightweight title fight in their next outing.

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Last edited 2/23/10 7:28PM by twenty20dollars
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