Tag Archives: Legacy Fighting

mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO OKLAHOMA WITH ANOTHER WORLD TITLE

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LFA BRINGS 
FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT
 TO THE “SOONER STATE” IN AUGUST
LFA 18 – AGUILAR vs. RADER

MAIN EVENT:
LFA FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION
KEVIN “ANGEL OF DEATH” AGUILAR
vs.
LFA #1 CONTENDER
JUSTIN “DARTH” RADER
FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
CO-MAIN EVENT:
BRENDAN ALLEN
vs.
CHRIS HARRIS
MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
SPECIAL ATTRACTION:
UFC VET
MIKE “THE TRUTH” JACKSON
vs.
Cris Cyborg’s older brother
RAFAEL “JACKAL” JUSTINO
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4th LIVE on AXS TV
FIRELAKE ARENA in SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA
Tickets are on sale NOW through StubWire.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will be bringining a featherweight world title fight to Oklahoma to kick off a busy August schedule.
The main event of LFA 18 will feature the return of LFA featherweight champion Kevin “The Angel of Death” Aguilar. He will put his title on the line against LFA featherweight #1 contender Justin “Darth” Rader in one of the most highly-anticipated featherweight title fights of the year. LFA 18 – Aguilar vs. Rader takes place Friday, August 4th at the FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“LFA is bringing a featherweight world title fight to Oklahoma at LFA 18,” stated Soares. “Kevin Aguilar is the LFA featherweight world champion and one of the most exciting prospects in the sport. He won the title with one of the best knockouts of the year at LFA 4. Aguilar will defend his title for the first time against Justin Rader, who is a world-class grappler and the #1 contender. Rader earned his shot at the title with his big win at LFA 15.”
Tickets for LFA 18 – Aguilar vs. Rader are available for purchase NOW at StubWire.com.
Aguilar (12-1) has long been considered one of the top pound-for-pound prospects in MMA. In February, the final Legacy FC featherweight champion strengthened that argument by capturing the inaugural LFA featherweight title against his longtime rival Damon Jackson with one of the most talked about knockout victories of the year. The proud Texan trains alongside LFA welterweight champion Derrick Krantz in Longview, Texas, but will have his first title defense on the road. Aguilar will put his title on the line when he heads into enemy territory to face one of the most revered fighters in the state of Oklahoma.
“I’ve been training nonstop and getting ready for defend my title. Now I get to show everyone what I’ve been working on,” Aguilar explained. “I’m looking forward to fighting in enemy territory, because that is the life of a champion. I will win over the crowd with an exciting fight. Justin Rader is a world-class grappler and I’m excited that he signed the paperwork. He has earned his shot. I have been training harder than I have ever trained before and I can’t wait to defend my title at LFA 18.”
Rader (7-2) is one of the most decorated grapplers to hail from a state that is synonymous with grappling. The proud Oklahoman is a two-time IBJJF no-gi jiu-jitsu world champion as a black belt, he is a 2013 ADCC Submission Grappling World Championship bronze medalist, and he was the runner-up in the Oklahoma high school wrestling championship in 2005. Rader also holds the distinct honor of being Rafael Lovato Jr.’s first black belt in jiu-jitsu. Rader will now look to add the biggest piece of hardware to his massive trophy case when he vies for the LFA featherweight title.
“I’m fighting The Angel of Death. His nickname says it all,” Rader exclaimed. “Kevin Aguilar is without a doubt, the best fighter I have ever faced. He is extremely dangerous, seasoned, and his fight demeanor is second to none. He stays at home and doesn’t force anything. The best opponents always pull the best out of me.  I just fought a little over a week ago, so to be able to turn around and fight for the title four weeks later is a great opportunity. When opportunity knocks, I answer.”
The co-main event of LFA 18 will feature a high-stakes middleweight showdown between two of the most popular middleweight prospects in the promotion. Brendan Allen (7-2) returns to the LFA Octagon after engaging in a five-round war with Eryk Anders for the inaugural LFA middleweight title in the main event of LFA 14. He came up short on the judge’s score cards, but won over a large new fan base due to the entertaining title contest that is a front-runner for “Fight of the Year”. Allen now looks to bounce back into title contention when he faces Chris Harris (9-1) in the co-main event of LFA 18. Harris is coming off a dominant win over Cortez Coleman in the co-main event of LFA 15 last month. He utilized his impressive striking skills throughout the contest and is eager to do the same next month in the co-main event of LFA 18.
LFA 18 will also feature a special attraction at welterweight. Rafael “Jackal” Justino (2-1) will make his LFA debut just six days after his younger sister Cris “Cyborg” Justino fights for the UFC women’s featherweight tile at UFC 214. He will meet UFC vet and wildly popular media personality Mike “The Truth” Jackson (0-1) who holds the impressive distinction of being one of only a handful of fighters to make their professional MMA debut in the UFC.
 
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Main Event | Featherweight Title Bout (145 lb)
– Kevin Aguilar (12-1) vs. Justin Rader (7-2)
Co-Main Event | Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
– Brendan Allen (7-2) vs. Chris Harris (9-1)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Braden Smith (8-1) vs. Chancey Foxworth (6-4)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Rafael Justino (2-1) vs. Mike Jackson (0-1)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Tyler Shinn (8-3) vs. Chris Kelades (9-3)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Daryl Wilson (6-1) vs. Jarrod Card (16-8-1)
In September, Legacy FC and RFA officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. Legacy FC and RFA have launched the careers of over 100 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 18 will serve as the third LFA event to take place in the state of Oklahoma after the merger. Legacy FC visited “The Sooner State” seven times before the merger. Further information about LFA 18 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 18 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.
mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO DALLAS THIS FRIDAY WITH NEW MAIN EVENT LFA 16 – BEDFORD vs. FLICK

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MAIN EVENT:
 
6-time UFC vet
“BRUTAL” JOHNNY BEDFORD
vs.
Former Legacy FC title challenger
JIMMY “THE BRICK” FLICK 
BANTAMWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
CO-MAIN EVENT:
UNDEFEATED
MILES JOHNS
vs.
BJJ BLACK BELT
LEVI MOWLES
BANTAMWEIGHT BATTLE
FRIDAY, JULY 14th LIVE on AXS TV
THE BOMB FACTORY in DALLAS, TEXAS
Tickets are on sale NOW through TheBombFactory.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion has a new main event at LFA 16, which takes place this Friday, July 14th at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas.
LFA 16 will feature a new main event when six-time UFC veteran “Brutal” Johnny Bedford faces former Legacy FC title challenger Jimmy “The Brick” Flick in a bantamweight showcase. The change came when original headliner Davina Maciel was forced off the card due to visa issues, which has prevented her from traveling from her native Brazil. Andrea Lee was set to defend her flyweight title against Maciel, but will now defend her title at a later date. LFA 16 – Bedford vs. Flick takes place this Friday, July 14th at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“Johnny Bedford is an experienced and dangerous UFC vet that is on an impressive four-fight win streak,” stated Saores. “He will make his LFA debut against former Legacy FC title challenger Jimmy Flick in the new main event of LFA 16. Andrea Lee is a great champion and will defend her title at a later date since her opponent was unable to take the fight due to visa issues. We are all looking forward to the return of Andrea Lee as well as Johnny Bedford vs. Jimmy Flick this Friday night in Dallas, Texas.”
Tickets for LFA 16 – Bedford vs. Flick are available for purchase NOW at TheBombFactory.com.
Bedford (23-12-1) brings more cage experience into his LFA debut than perhaps anyone in LFA history. Bedford made his Bellator debut in May of 2010 at Bellator 19. The following year, he found himself competing on the fourteenth season of the hit UFC reality television show The Ultimate Fighter. Bedford advanced to the semi-finals of TUF 14 and earned a UFC contract. Bedford fought in the UFC for three years and had six memorable fights for the promotion. After leaving the UFC, Bedford won a regional title in Michigan and defended it three times via stoppages. He now looks to continue his winning ways in the LFA 16 headliner.
Flick (9-3) is no stranger to big-time competition and headlining status on AXS TV. Coincidentally, the man known as “The Brick” made his Legacy FC debut in December of 2012 in the main event of Legacy FC 16. Now an older, more experienced, and bigger Flick will be making his LFA debut in the main event of LFA 16. In both headliners Flick was matched against seasoned UFC veterans, but he is now four and half years older with twice the fighting experience under his belt. Flick will look to use that experience to continue the momentum he started earlier this year when he stopped Argentinian fighter Ben Vasquez in just 50 seconds in regional action.
The co-main event of LFA 16 will feature a good old fashioned Texas showdown between two of Legacy FC’s most popular fighters. Undefeated Miles Johns (4-0) will lock horns with BJJ black belt and fellow Legacy FC standout Levi Mowles (6-2) in a bout between two fighters looking for a signature win to catapult them to the top of one of LFA’s most stacked divisions. Johns returns to the cage thirteen months after winning his Legacy FC debut via TKO. He will face Mowles who is a six-time Legacy FC vet and a black belt in jiu-jitsu under Brandon Quick just like LFA 16 headliner Johnny Bedford and LFA welterweight champion Derrick Krantz.
Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Johnny Bedford (23-12-1) vs. Jimmy Flick (9-3)
Co-Main Event | Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Miles Johns (4-0) vs. Levi Mowles (6-2)
Catchweight Bout (140 lb)
– Steven Peterson (5-1) vs. Ryan Hollis (12-10)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Geoff Neal (6-2) vs. Bilal Williams (8-3)
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Damon Jackson (11-2-1) vs. Eliazar Rodriguez (7-6)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Cameron Miller (3-0) vs. Brandon Lewis (3-0)
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Fernando Salas (4-1) vs. Jessie Vasquez (2-2)
In September 2016, Legacy FC and RFA officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. Legacy FC and RFA have launched the careers of over 100 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 16 will be the second LFA event to take place in the City of Dallas. It will also be the fifth time that the LFA has traveled to “The Lone Star State” of Texas. Further information about LFA 16 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 16 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.
mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA HEADS TO NORTH CAROLINA WITH INAUGURAL LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

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LFA 17 – MOISÉS vs. WATLEY

MAIN EVENT:
 
RFA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
THIAGO MOISÉS
vs.
REGIONAL KINGPIN
ROBERT WATLEY
 
LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
 
 
CO-MAIN EVENT:
 
“THE FUTURE”
DYLAN CALA
vs.
NCAA DIVISION I WRESTLER
TONY GRAVELY
 
FEATHERWEIGHT REMATCH
 
 
PLUS:
UNDEFEATED
NATHAN “MAYHEM” MANESS
and
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT WAR
ALEXA CONNERS vs. TALITA DE OLIVEIRA
 
 
FRIDAY, JULY 21tst LIVE on AXS TV
GRADY COLE CENTER in CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
Tickets are on sale NOW through CrownTickets.com 
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 Friday, July 21st at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“LFA will crown its first lightweight champion at LFA 17 in North Carolina,” stated 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. However, 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 “Mayhem” 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. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Lightweight Title Bout (155 lb)
– Thiago Moisés (9-1) vs. Robert Watley (7-1)
Co-Main Event | Bantamweight Bout (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)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Nathan Maness (8-0) vs. TBD
In September 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. RFA and Legacy FC have launched the careers of over 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 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 17 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.
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 million homes nationally through its television deal with 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. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).
About AXS TV FIGHTS:
AXS TV Fights presents more LIVE mixed martial arts and kickboxing events than any other television network with 45 scheduled LIVE world-class fight cards in 2017 Friday nights at 9pE/6pP. AXS TV Fights can be found online, on Facebook and on Twitter. AXS TV is widely distributed in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH, Sling TV, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, and other cable, satellite, telco and streaming providers. The network is also carried in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale

FNU Combat Sports Show: Weekly Wrap Up

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Tony Penecale, Tom Padgett and Rich Bergeron break down the week that was in combat sports and look forward to upcoming events in this September 22 broadcast. We discuss Liam Smith’s brutal knockout loss to Canelo Alvarez, preview Kovalev vs. Ward, and outline the upcoming weekend’s boxing schedule. We also discuss Don King’s “N-word” slip and a couple examples of fighters being upset with the rigors of fighting professionally. First, we examine why Joe Warren had no sponsors going into his bout last Friday that served as the co-main event of Bellator 161. Then we delve into the Al Iaquinta contract dispute with the UFC that took him off UFC 205 recently. We also look back on UFC Fight Night 94 and preview UFC Fight Night 95.