Tag Archives: Brian Camozzi

LFA alum shine at UFC Fight Night 126 in Austin, Texas

9 former fighters compete, 7 win, and 
$150,000 in bonus money earned
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) and the two promotions that merged to create it, RFA and Legacy FC, were well-represented and shined on the biggest stage when the UFC traveled to the state capital of Texas on Sunday night.

Nine former fighters competed, which included five former champions. This included former titleholders from LFA, RFA, and Legacy FC. The nine fighters included Derrick Lewis, Curtis Millender, Steven Peterson, Sage Northcutt, Diego Ferreira, Geoff Neal, Brian Camozzi, Roberto Sanchez, and Alex Morono. That group made up 37.5% of the entire card. Seven of the nine fighters were victorious, but that is because one of the fights pitted two of these fighters against each other. The other loss, resulted in a $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus and also received widespread praise.
“I was excited to watch so many of the talented fighters from LFA, RFA, and Legacy do so well at UFC: Austinon Sunday night,” stated LFA CEO Ed Soares. “The goal of LFA is to develop top prospects, so when they get to the UFC, they will continue to impress under the bright lights of the UFC for years to come.”

In the co-main event, former Legacy FC heavyweight champion Derrick Lewis, who also fought for RFA, did what “The Black Beast” does best. The no-nonsense Texan unleashed his unforgiving power-punching in the third round to pick up the TKO, his tenth UFC win, while also picking up his fourth UFC bonus. This time it was a $50,000 UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus.
Millender made his UFC debut on the main card just one month after winning the main event of LFA 30. The win at LFA 30 was Millender’s third straight win in an LFA headliner and his second straight via Head Kick KO. The win earned him a UFC contract and a debut fight against a former UFC title challenger in Thiago Alves. This time around, he used a knee to score the walk-off KO. The impressive debut also earned Millender the other $50,000 UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus.
The main card also saw Northcutt, a former Legacy FC star, earn his fifth win inside the UFC Octagon, while former Legacy FC bantamweight champion and LFA standout Peterson earned a $50,000 UFC “Fight of the Night” bonus for his wildly entertaining UFC debut, which took place in the featherweight division. Peterson’s UFC debut also earned him widespread praise from fans and fellow fighters alike. Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman was quick to tweet: “Peterson is my new favorite fighter!!”
Ferreira, a former Legacy FC lightweight champion, showed no signs of ring rust as he picked up a quick TKO win in less than two minutes into the final fight of the preliminary card. The win came after Ferreira made a come back to the sport after a two-year layoff. In the bout before Ferreira’s successful return, it was a battle of LFA / Legacy FC star Geoff Neal and former RFA welterweight champion Brian Camozzi. Neal made a big statement in his UFC debut and picked up the win via Rear Naked Choke.
Sanchez also picked up his first UFC win. The inaugural LFA flyweight champion earned a submission win via Rear Naked Choke less than two-minutes into the bout. Morono got things moving in the right direction for our LFA/RFA/Legacy FC alum, when the former Legacy FC welterweight champion submitted longtime UFC vet Josh Burkman via Guillotine Choke early in Round 1.
In September 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form LFA. This new powerhouse promotion would serve as the premier developmental organization in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. RFA and Legacy FC have launched the careers of over 150 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.

LFA returns on Friday, March 2nd with LFA 34 – Watley vs. Jenkins. The main event will feature the return of LFA lightweight champion Robert “Contact” Watley when he defends his title against LFA #1 lightweight contender Brandon “The Human Highlight Reel” Jenkins. The event will take place at the Minnetonka Ballroom inside the new Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota.
LFA 34 will be the fifth LFA event to take place in the state of Minnesota. RFA and Legacy FC hosted a combined nine events in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” before the merger. Six of those events took place under the RFA banner inside the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. The entire main card of LFA 34 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Please visit 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.

RFA RETURNS TO SOUTH DAKOTA IN APRIL WITH CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER

MAIN EVENT:  RAFAEL VIANA vs. DEVIN CLARK  LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
CO-MAIN EVENT:
 LEANDRO HIGO vs.

JOEY MIOLLA
BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
FEATURE FIGHT:
JORDON LARSON vs. BRIAN CAMOZZI
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2016 LIVE ON AXS TV
LIVE at the SANFORD PENTAGON in SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
 
Tickets on Sale Now at Ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) president Ed Soares announced today that the RFA will be returning to South Dakota in April and is set to crown its first light-heavyweight champion and a new bantamweight champion. In the main event, Devin “Brown Bear” Clark will fight for a world title in his hometown against top Brazilian prospect Rafael “Gaucho” Viana. In the co-main event, Joey “The Beast” Miolla and Leandro “Pitbull” Higo will battle for the vacant bantamweight crown.
RFA 37 – Viana vs. Clark takes place Friday, April 15th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
“I am excited to announce that the RFA will be bringing two world title fights to South Dakota in April,” stated Soares. “Rafael Viana and Devin Clark are undefeated and two of the top 205-pound prospects in the world. They will compete for the inaugural RFA light-heavyweight title in the main event of RFA 37. In the co-headliner, Joey Miolla and Leandro Higo will both return to the Sanford Pentagon to fight for the vacant RFA bantamweight title.”
Tickets for RFA 37 – Viana vs Clark are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com. You can also support your favorite fighter buy purchasing your tickets through CageTix.com/RFA.
Clark (5-0) is the most successful 205-pound fighter in RFA history and is looking to become the promotion’s first light-heavyweight champion in front of his hometown crowd. Clark is an NJCAA wrestling champion and a Golden Gloves boxing champion that has quickly seen his name rise to the top of several MMA light-heavyweight prospect rankings.  The Lincoln High School graduate has earned over half of his career wins inside the RFA Octagon and will be looking for the biggest win of his career in the main event of RFA 37.
“It’s an honor to fight for the inaugural RFA light-heavyweight title in front of my hometown crowd in Sioux Falls,” stated Clark. “Becoming the first RFA light-heavyweight champion will mean even more to me since I get to do it against such a talented and tough opponent.”
Viana (6-0) is the older brother of Bellator star Guilherme Viana and he also trains alongside UFC star Glover Teixeira. He is a BJJ black belt and the reigning Shooto Brasil light-heavyweight champion. Viana, like Clark, has proven to be clinical with his finishing ability and is eager to fight outside of his native Brazil for the first time. His international debut will also be his first fight televised worldwide and Viana is looking to take full advantage of it.
“I am very honored to be given this opportunity,” stated Viana. “This will be my first international fight and it is a great honor to fight for the inaugural RFA light-heavyweight title. I will put on a great show for the fans at RFA 37.”
The co-main event of RFA 37 will culminate in crowning the third bantamweight champion in RFA history. The first two champions, Pedro Munhoz and Luke Sanders, went 4-0 in the RFA before signing with the UFC. The vacant RFA bantamweight title will be up for grabs between two men who made their RFA debut on the same card last summer in back-to-back bouts. Joey Miolla (8-1) and Leandro Higo (15-2) represented their home countries on the historic “USA vs. BRAZIL” event that took place last August at RFA 29. Both men were victorious that night and showed why they are two of the most highly-regarded 135-pound prospects in the sport. On Friday, April 15th, Miolla and Higo will face off inside the same building that they made their RFA debut last summer, but this time the winner will be walking away with RFA gold strapped around their waist.
RFA 37 will also feature one of South Dakota’s favorite sons as Jordon Larson (6-2) is set to return in the welterweight feature fight. Larson will be making his fourth appearance for the RFA in his hometown of Sioux Falls against Colorado native Brian Camozzi (5-2). Larson, who has been the recipient of three of the loudest ovations in RFA history, will once again make the walk to the RFA Octagon in front of his adoring hometown fans. He will face Camozzi, who is the younger brother of UFC star Chris Camozzi. The younger Camozzi brother made a huge statement in his RFA debut in January. He showcased his dynamic skill set by becoming the first person to finish Tyler Milner and he did it in less than one round.
RFA 37 – Viana vs Clark takes place Friday, April 15th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Additional bouts on the main card and preliminary card of RFA 37 will be announced soon. This will be the promotion’s fourth event to take place in “The Mount Rushmore State” of South Dakota and it will be the fourth RFA event of 2016. The entire main card of RFA 37 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT thisFriday, April 15th.
Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.