|
 |
|
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will crown its inaugural lightweight champion in July when the promotion makes its first visit to North Carolina.
The main event of LFA 17 will feature the inaugural LFA lightweight world title fight between the final RFA lightweight champion Thiago Moisés and regional kingpin Robert Watley . LFA 17 – Moisés vs. Watley takes place Rāmere, July 21st at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, Te Tai Tokerau Carolina. Ka teata te kāri matua katoa ora me te motu i runga i AXS TV i 9 p.m. AND / 6 p.m. PT.
“LFA will crown its first lightweight champion at LFA 17 in North Carolina,” Ua parau Soares. “Thiago Moisés is one of the most dominant champions in RFA history and Robert Watley has won multiple regional titles on the east coast. I am excited to see these two proud champions face off for the inaugural LFA lightweight title on July 21st.”
Tickets for LFA 17 – Moisés vs. Watley are available for purchase NOW. You can support your favorite fighter by purchasing your tickets through CrownTickets.com and selecting their name at checkout.
Moisés (9-1) is one of the most dominant champions in RFA history. This is a promotion that has sent champions such as Sergio Pettis, Pedro Munhoz, and Brian Ortega to the UFC. The 22-year-old Brazilian dominated in all four of his RFA fights, but his title winning performance at RFA 35 is perhaps the most memorable. Moisés utilized an ultra-rare Helicopter Armbar to submit David Castillo to capture the vacant title. Highlights of the submission went viral and he was subsequently nominated for “Submission of the Year” at the annual World MMA Awards in Las Vegas. Moisés then defended his title twice and was featured on Dana White: Lookin’ For A Fight during his first title defense. He is now looking to add the inaugural LFA lightweight title to his ever-growing list of accomplishments.
Watley (7-1) is widely considered the top lightweight prospect on the east coast. The Maryland native is currently riding a seven-fight win streak that has wreaked havoc along the eastern seaboard to the point that movie buffs are now looking to amend the famous quote from Wedding Crashers: “Crabcakes, Football, and MMA. That’s what Maryland does!” Watley is looking to win a third MMA title in four consecutive title fights. Heoi, this will be the most prestigious title that he has vied for and he sees the LFA title as his proof that he his the undisputed top lightweight prospect in the sport. The surging Baltimore battering ram put the “harm” in Charm City and now looks to do the same further south as he heads to North Carolina to fight for the inaugural LFA lightweight tile.
The co-main event of LFA 17 will feature a heated border war and long-awaited rematch between top bantamweight prospects from North Carolina and Virginia, when Dylan Cala (5-1) looks to avenge the lone loss on his record against longtime rival Tony Gravely (9-4). Cala is a highly-touted prospect from “The Tar Heel State”. He is looking to defend his home turf and even the score against the only man to defeat him. That man would be Gravely, who is an NCAA Division I wrestler who grew up just north of the border in Virginia.
In the women’s bantamweight division, Alexa Conners (4-1) returns to the LFA Octagon after an exciting and triumphant performance at LFA 8. That bout served as the first televised MMA fight to take place in her home state of South Carolina. The 26-year-old now heads north of the border where she will welcome one of Brazil’s top female prospects to the Carolinas.
Talita de Oliveira (5-1) has competed five times in her native Brazil and once in Europe. Her most recent bout was a first round win in Poland, which took place one day after Conners’ most recent bout at LFA 8. The 30-year-old Brazilian submission expert is now set to make her North American debut against one of the division’s top American prospects as she faces Conners at LFA 17.
LFA 17 will also feature the promotional debut of Nathan “Whakahārangi” Maness (8-0), who is one of the top bantamweight prospects in the country. The 25-year-old regional champion is widely considered one of the south’s most promising talents. After the first two opponents he signed on to face withdrew due to various reasons, the third scheduled opponent is expected to be named soon.
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. AND / 6 p.m. PT):
Takahanga Main | Lightweight Title Bout (155 LB)
– Thiago Moisés (9-1) vs. Robert Watley (7-1)
-Main Co Takahanga | Whā a'ee (135 LB)
– Dylan Cala (5-1) vs. Tony Gravely (9-4)
Women’s Bantamweight Bout (135 LB)
– Alexa Conners (4-1) vs. Talita de Oliveira (5-1)
Whā a'ee (135 LB)
– Nathan Maness (8-0) vs. TBD
I roto i te Mahuru 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) tīmata i roto i te marama o Hānuere 2017. Kua whakarewahia RFA ko Legacy FC nga mahi o runga i 100 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 17 will serve as the second LFA event to take place on the east coast. It will also be the first time that the LFA has traveled to “The Tar Heel State” of North Carolina before or after the merger. Further information about LFA 17 kia ka kauwhautia hohoro. The entire main card of LFA 17 Ka teata ora me te motu i runga i AXS TV i 9 p.m. AND / 6 p.m. PT.
Haere ki LFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. LFA is on Facebook at Legacy Fighting Alliance. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.
About LFA:
LFA is a professional Mixed Martial Arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. LFA was formed by the powerhouse merger between RFA and Legacy FC. LFA presents live Mixed Martial Arts events on a monthly basis around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, and Houston. LFA can be seen live in over 48 miriona mau fare motu i roto i tona mahi pouaka whakaata ki AXS TV. Based in Houston, TX, LFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (Ko te Tapawaru, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, me te-iu waru whakataetae moenga, me te hoahoa whare herehere rēhita e tohu whenua anake e Zuffa, LLC. Pūmau te mana).
About AXS TV FIGHTS:
AXS TV e whawhai hakari atu LIVE konatunatua toi hōia, me ngā kaupapa kickboxing atu tetahi atu whatunga pouaka whakaata ki 45 scheduled LIVE world-class fight cards in 2017 Rāmere nights at 9pE/6pP. AXS TV Fights can be found online, i runga i Facebook a ki runga ki Twitter. AXS TV is widely distributed in the U.S. via AT&T U-irava, Tūtohinga, Comcast / Xfinity, DIRECTV, Rihi, TV kotaha, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, a te tahi atu taura, amiorangi, telco and streaming providers. The network is also carried in Canada, Mexico me te Karipiana.
|
