The Tampa-based mixed martial arts promotion, Art of Fighting, will feature eleven professional MMA fights including a world title bout between defending WFO champion Marcio Cruz and Dave “Pay Me” Yost on the Payday card on April 3, 2010 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla. AOF 7 tickets are available online at Ticketmaster or at the USF Sun Dome box office.

Cruz earned his WFO belt at AOF 3 in August 2009 when he defeated Tampa native Tom Sauer via TKO at 3:43 in round two. As former UFC fighter he has also defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir at UFC 57 in Feb. 2006 and currently holds a professional fight record of six wins and two losses while coming off a four-fight win streak.

Yost has almost as much quantitative experience with a record of 6-1 but never faced any opponents of the same caliber as Cruz did. Although he has won his last two fights in quite convincing fashion via TKO and submission respectively in the very first round, he has only half the momentum of Cruz.

While both fighters and have a very well rounded game that allows them to finish the fight no matter where it takes them, Cruz is without a doubt the favorite in this bout mostly based on his stint with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the defeat of Mir. Although this title match is scheduled for five rounds of five minutes each it will most likely be over in the first or second round. Expect fireworks from Cruz and Yost!

Aside from the highly volatile title bout, AOF will feature a women's MMA bout for the first time in the history of the company which was launched by Nathan and Nicholas Smith in January 2009. In the spirit of 'firsts' both female fighters will make their professional MMA debuts on Saturday.

After the originally scheduled Michelle Gutierez had to pull out of the fight due to injury AOF match maker, Nick Smith, quickly replaced her with kickboxing champion Catia Vitoria from Las Vegas who happens to be a training partner of Gutierez. Vitoria will face multiple-title Muay Thai champion Tiffany Connell from St. Petersburg, Fla. in a 115-lbs bout that promises to be one of the most explosive fights of the night.

Fights will begin at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on The Fight Network via tape delay.

Complete AOF 7 fight card: