Brian Foster (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Although several years ago it wasn’t clear what the future held for Brian Foster’s fighting career, the welterweight has persevered, and worked his way into a main event fight at WSOF 17.

Back in 2010, Foster had rebounded from a submission loss to Chris Lytle, by scoring consecutive victories over Forrest Petz and Matt Brown. Then, prior to a scheduled bout with Sean Pierson at UFC 129, a pre-fight medical revealed that he had incurred a brain hemorrhage. Foster recovered from the setback, but he was soon sidelined once again, due to a serious groin injury.

After going throughout 2012 without fighting, Foster returned to action in 2013, and since then, he’s gone 4-1. Due to his recent run, Foster has made his way to WSOF, and a main event fight with fellow UFC vet, Jake Shields (30-7-1).

At a pre-fight presser on Thursday, Foster (22-6) was asked about the adversity he’s overcome to make it back to a big stage promotion. The 30 year-old stated:

“It was a hard road, but honestly there wasn’t any other promotion that I’d rather come back to. It’s one of those things man. You get set back. This sport has a history of many different kinds of setbacks, and I’m just fortunate enough to have made it. To be here right now.”

Foster is coming off a unanimous decision win over Gilbert Smith at Titan FC 28 last May, and has won four in a row since he was submitted by Daniel Roberts in 2013.

Shields, meanwhile, will be competing under the WSOF banner for a second time on Saturday. In his promotional debut last October, he tapped out Ryan Ford in the opening round. The former UFC contender and Strikeforce champ is 3-1, with 1 no contest in his last 5 fights.

WSOF 17 will be hosted by the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the main card will be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.