Tag Archives: LFA

LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA, UFC

LFA alum emerge as the biggest stars of UFC 222 in Las Vegas, Nevada

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7 former fighters compete,
Several stars are born, 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, saw several more alum show up in full force and shine on the biggest stage when the UFC hosted UFC 222 in Las Vegas this past weekend.

Seven former fighters competed, which included three former champions. The seven fighters included Brian Ortega, Sean O’Malley, Mackenzie Dern, Alexander Hernandez, Pedro Munhoz, Zak Ottow, and Jordan Johnson. That group made up 29.16% of the entire card. Six of the seven fighters were victorious with the lone loss coming via controversial split decision.
“I am always excited to watch the many fighters from LFA, RFA, and Legacy show what they can do in the UFC,” stated LFA CEO Ed Soares. “What we saw on Saturday night at UFC 222 is further proof that we are are producing the top prospects in MMA.”

In the co-main event, former RFA featherweight champion Brian Ortega, stole the show with a first round knockout of former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. The undefeated contender known as “T-City” is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous submission masters in the sport, but it was an uppercut that allowed him to become the first person to finish the future Hall of Famer. The win also earned Ortega a shot at the UFC featherweight title and a $50,000 UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus.
The “Sugar Show” was also in full effect on the main card as Sean O’Malley continued to wow fans with his creative and wildly entertaining striking arsenal against Andre Soukhamthath. The LFA standout unleashed a flurry that nearly finished his opponent at the end of Round 1. Soukhamthath was literally saved by the bell as he was stumbling around as the round ended. The second round saw O’Malley impress on the ground with his underrated submission attack. However, it was the third and final round, that etched O’Malley’s name in MMA lore. After badly injuring his right foot, to the point he couldn’t stand on it, O’Malley finished out the fight by grappling. The huge lead he had built on the score cards through the first two rounds gave him the Unanimous Decision win. It resulted in a $50,000 UFC “Fight of the Night” bonus and the first time Joe Rogan interviewed a winning fighter while he was lying on his back.
Mackenzie Dern made the most anticipated UFC debut of the year in the final fight of the preliminary card. The multiple-time jiu-jitsu world champion got her start in MMA with LFA and Legacy FC. Dern has since seen every step of her progression in the sport followed closely by media and fans alike. The daughter of legendary jiu-jitsu and judo black belt Wellington “Megaton” Dias, Dern possesses the greatest grappling skills of any woman to compete in MMA. Dern used those skills in her UFC debut to close out the final round on her opponent Ashley Yoder’s back. She was unable to finish the Rear Naked Choke, but it was enough to earn her the Split Decision win.
Alexander Hernandez made his UFC debut on a week’s notice against #12 ranked Beneil Dariush. Like the old adage states, “with great risk comes great reward.” The Texan powerhouse, who made his mark under the LFA and RFA banners, wasted no time in dispatching his heavily favored and much more experienced opponent. “Alexander The Great” connected with a big left hand to knock out Dariush in just 42-seconds. The win earned him the other $50,000 UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus.
Zak Ottow also picked up a quick first round win. The RFA and Legacy FC alum earned a TKO win over UFC mainstay Mike Pyle midway through the opening round. The bout served as Pyle’s retirement bout and Ottow gave a touching show of respect to Pyle in his post-fight interview. This was Ottow’s third UFC win and the first after signing a new extension with the promotion.
Jordan Johnson got things moving in the right direction for the LFA alum at UFC 222. The former RFA light-heavyweight champion kept his undefeated record intact with a Split Decision win over former UFC heavyweight Adam Milstead. The win should set up a marquee matchup for the man who was victorious in the final bout under the RFA banner.
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 130 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA returns this Friday, March 9th with LFA 35 – Newell vs. Luque. The main event will feature the comeback fight of bona fide MMA star and inspirational congenital amputee “Notorious” Nick Newell when he faces the gritty south Texan and Bellator vet Sonny “El Loco” Luque. The event will take place at the Arena Theatre in Houston, Texas.
LFA 35 will be the fourth LFA event to take place in the City of Houston. It will also be the ninth time that the LFA has traveled to “The Lone Star State” of Texas. The entire main card of LFA 35 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.
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

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

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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.
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA BRINGS BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT  TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY WITH LFA 36 – SIMON vs. ZANI

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MAIN EVENT:
LFA BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION
 RICKY SIMON
vs.
LFA #1 BANTAMWEIGHT CONTENDER
VINICIUS ZANI
BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT
CO-MAIN EVENT:
“PRETTY BOY”
JAMALL EMMERS
vs.
BJJ BLACK BELT
TALISON SOARES
FEATHERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, MARCH 23rd LIVE on AXS TV
LIVE at the MORONGO OUTDOOR PAVILION
in CABAZON, CALIFORNIA
 
Tickets are on sale NOW through Ticketmaster.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the LFA will return to California in March with a bantamweight world title fight and a high-stakes featherweight war.
The main event of LFA 36 will feature the return of LFA bantamweight champion Ricky Simon when he defends his title against LFA #1 bantamweight contender Vinicius “Don” Zani. LFA 36 – Simon vs. Zani takes place Friday, March 23rd at the Morongo Outdoor Pavilion at the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
“I’m excited to bring an LFA title fight to Coachella Valley at LFA 36”, stated Soares. “This will be our third show in my home state of California. Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa is a beautiful 4-diamond establishment and we look forward to featuring our bantamweight world title fight at the world-class Morongo Outdoor Pavillion on March 23rd.”
Tickets for LFA 36 – Simon vs. Zani are available for purchase NOW at Ticketmaster.com.
Simon (11-1) returns tot he LFA Octagon after winning the vacant LFA bantamweight title in December in the main event of LFA 29. The fight served as the LFA’s final fight of 2017 and left fight fans and MMA pundits anxiously awaiting the next move of the wildly popular Pacific Northwesterner. Simon took home LFA gold by shutting down eight-time UFC vet Chico Camus with a bloody and dominant 5-round decision win. The title win stamped a career-year for the 25-year-old, which also saw him pick up a win a fight in front of UFC President Dana White on Week 5 of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Simon is now eager to defend his title instead of basking in the glow of 2017. He also wants to up the ante by taking on the clear cut #1 contender Vincius Zani.
Zani (11-4) will challenge the champion in one of the most anticipated title fights of 2018. Zani has been perfect since competing for the promotion. This started before the merger of RFA and Legacy FC, when he showcased his world-class Muay Thai skills in the co-main event of RFA 38. The Brazilian known as “Don Zani” defeated Joe Murphy that night with UFC President Dana White sitting cageside. Zani unleashed a barrage of leg kicks and other violent techniques that excited the crowd, while putting the division on notice. He would win his next two fights in LFA after the merger and has shown no signs of taking his foot off the pedal. In his last appearance in October, Zani defeated former RFA title challenger Joey Miolla via Unanimous Decision in the co-main event of LFA 24.
The co-main event of LFA 36 will feature the return of Jamall “Pretty Boy” Emmers (12-3). The powerful 28-year-old is one of the only people to have fought for LFA, RFA, and Legacy FC. He became the third fighter to complete this rare hat trick of promotional appearances when he co-headlined LFA 5 last year. That night, Emmers lived up to the hype surrounding him after the praise he received from UFC President Dana White on Episode 7 of Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight just a few months earlier. Emmers traveled to the high-altitude of Colorado and defeated the highly-touted Cory Sandhagen, who is now making waves in the UFC. Emmers hopes to shine once again and perhaps punch his own ticket to the UFC with a breakthrough performance at LFA 36.
Emmers will face Talison Soares (10-2), who is coming off a breakthrough performance of his own last month in the co-main event of LFA 30. The 29-year-old Brazilian prospect, who is a decorated BJJ black belt from the prestigious Checkmat academy, made his international debut against fellow top prospect and BJJ ace Fernando Padilla that night. He took full advantage of the opportunity and wowed the crowd by thoroughly out-grappling his heavily favored Mexican opponent. Soares now looks to keep the momentum moving in the right direction by defeating Emmers, who has won three straight fights since impressing the UFC boss at RFA 38. Soares knows a second straight impressive showing will catapult him to the top of what many consider LFA’s deepest division.
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Bantamweight Title Bout (135 lb)
– Ricky Simon (11-1) vs. Vinicius Zani (11-4)
Co-Main Event | Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Jamall Emmers (12-3) vs. Talison Soares (10-2)
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Tommy Aaron (5-3) vs. Troy Guerrero (5-1)
Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)
– Herdem Alacabek (3-0) vs. Jonathan Noriega (3-0)
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 150 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 36 will be the third LFA event to take place in the state of California. RFA hosted eight events inside “The Golden State” before the merger. The entire main card of LFA 36 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 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.
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA BRINGS LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT  TO MINNESOTA WITH LFA 34 – WATLEY vs. JENKINS

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LFA BRINGS
LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT
TO MINNESOTA WITH
LFA 34 – WATLEY vs. JENKINS
MAIN EVENT:
LFA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
ROBERT WATLEY
vs.
LFA #1 LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER
BRANDON JENKINS
LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT
CO-MAIN EVENT:
TRAVIS PERZYNSKI
vs.
TREY OGDEN
LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
PLUS THE RETURN OF WOMEN’S MMA PIONEER:
“MACHINE GUN”
KELLY KOBOLD
FRIDAY, MARCH 2nd LIVE on AXS TV
LIVE at the MINNETONKA BALLROOM
inside the new
MYSTIC LAKE CENTER
PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
Tickets on sale January 26th at MysticLake.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the LFA will return to Minnesota in March with a lightweight title fight, a high-stakes lightweight showdown, and the return of a women’s MMA pioneer.

The main event of LFA 34 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. LFA 34 – Watley vs. Jenkins takes place Friday, March 2nd at the Minnetonka Ballroom inside the new Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“I am excited to bring the LFA lightweight world championship to the Minnetonka Ballroom inside the new Mystic Lake Center at LFA 34”, stated Soares. “We had four fantastic events at Mystic Lake last year. I am happy to announce that LFA and Mystic Lake Casino have an agreement in place to produce four live nationally televised MMA events at Mystic Lake’s world class facility in 2018. Mystic Lake has been a great partner and we are all looking forward to watching Robert Watley defend his lightweight title against Brandon Jenkins in Minnesota on March 2nd.”
Tickets for LFA 34 – Watley vs. Jenkins will be available available for purchase January 26 at MysticLake.com.
Watley (9-1) is widely considered the top lightweight prospect in the world. The man known as “Contact” was highly regarded on the east coast regional MMA scene before signing with LFA in 2017. His fight résumé consisted of multiple regional titles and a seven-fight win streak. That earned him an immediate shot at the inaugural LFA lightweight title against the final RFA lightweight champion Thiago Moisés at LFA 17. The Maryland native shut down the RFA champion on every score card. Watley then punctuated his championship reign with a dominant TKO victory over Daryl Wilson in his first title defense at LFA 27 in November. The champ now has his sights set on picking up his tenth straight victory and second successful title defense at LFA 34.
Jenkins (11-5) earned his shot at LFA gold after winning one of the most memorable fights of 2017. The man known as “The Human Highlight Reel” added further proof to that nickname with his three round thriller against Carl Wittstock at LFA 29. Jenkins battered his foe in a highly entertaining affair that many fans and pundits considered a “Fight of the Year” nominee. The win completed a successful 2017 for the Mystic Lake security guard, which started with a TKO victory over Billy Christianson at LFA 2. Interestingly, the lone setback of the year came on the score cards of LFA 20. While many felt that Jenkins had done more than enough to earn the decision, the local favorite dropped a split decision in his hometown. Jenkins wasted no time reflecting on the controversial decision and quickly rebounded with his epic win over Wittstock. Now he has his sights set on LFA gold at LFA 34.
The co-main event of LFA 34 will feature a battle between two of the LFA’s top lightweight contenders. Perzynski (22-9) made a big statement in his LFA debut at LFA 20 last summer, when he stopped RFA vet Carl Wittstock via Rear Naked Choke inside the first two minutes of the opening round. The Minnesotan set up the submission with a barrage of strikes that thrilled his home state fans. Perzynski now looks to repeat that feat with a man who made an equally impressive LFA debut just seven days after him last summer.
Ogden (9-2) needed less than a half a round at LFA 21 last summer to match Perzynski’s accomplishment one week earlier at LFA 20. Ogden, like Perzynski, also used a Rear Naked Choke to defeat an RFA vet in his LFA debut. The win came against T.J. Brown and set up a showdown with a man who made a nearly identical promotional debut. The Kansas City based fighter Ogden now meets Perzynski in the co-main event of LFA 34. The winner is looking to gain separation in a highly competitive and deep LFA lightweight division.
The main card of LFA 34 will also feature the return of women’s MMA pioneer “Machine Gun” Kelly Kobold. After a six and a half year hiatus from the sport, she made her return to MMA last summer at LFA 20.
Kobold (18-3-2) is one of the most respected women in the sport. She has enjoyed an illustrious professional MMA career that dates back nearly sixteen years. A true pioneer for women’s MMA, Kobold returned to the sport against Christine Stanley in a bout that was ruled a draw at LFA 20. Now she is back and ready to stake a claim at the top of the LFA women’s flyweight division at LFA 34.
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Lightweight Title Bout (155 lb)
– Robert Watley (10-1) vs. Brandon Jenkins (11-5)
Co-Main Event | Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Travis Perzynski (22-9) vs. Trey Ogden (9-2)
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Jordan Griffin (14-5) vs. Darrick Minner (20-7)
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Nate Jennerman (10-3) vs. John DeVall (15-8)
Women’s Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
– Kelly Kobold (10-5) vs. TBD
Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
– Bobby Lee (7-1) vs. Nate Ammerman (4-0)
Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
– Tim Hiley (5-0) vs. Willie Whitehead (2-1)
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 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.
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA KICKS OFF 2018 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH LFA 30

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MAIN EVENT:
“CURTIOUS”
CURTIS MILLENDER
vs.
“THE PHOENIX”
NICK BARNES
 
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
 
 
CO-MAIN EVENT:
 
MEXICO’S SUBMISSION ACE
FERNANDO PADILLA
vs.
BRAZIL’S BJJ BLACK BELT
TALISON SOARES
 
FEATHERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
 
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12th LIVE on AXS TV
COSTA MESA HALL at the OC FAIRGROUNDS 
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA
 
Tickets are on sale NOW through CageTix.com/LFA
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced the promotion will kick off 2018 with an action-packed event in southern California.
The main event of LFA 30 will feature the long-awaited clash between southern California kingpins and top LFA welterweights “Curtious” Curtis Millender and Nick “The Phoenix” Barnes. LFA 30 – Millender vs. Barnes takes place Friday, January 12th at the Costa Mesa Hall at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California. The entire main card of LFA 30 – Millender vs. Barnes will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
“I’m excited to kick off 2018 by bringing LFA back to southern California”, stated Soares. “Curtis Millender and Nick Barnes are coming off big wins in LFA headlining bouts where they won in enemy territory. Now they get to face each other in the main event of LFA 30 on their home turf in a perfect headliner to start the new year.”
Tickets for LFA 30 – Millender vs. Barnes are available for purchase NOW at CageTix.com/LFA.
Millender (13-3) returns home to the building where he fought and won his first seven fights. The Orange County juggernaut is looking to build off a perfect 2017 where he won three fights, including back-to-back LFA headliners. His most recent win came via highlight reel Head Kick KO in the main event of LFA 24. Millender will meet Barnes (12-2) in a long-awaited showdown between two of southern California’s finest. The welterweight stars started their careers in the southern California regional circuit, moved on to Bellator, and will finally meet in the main event of LFA 30. Barnes, like Millender, is coming off an impressive win in an LFA headliner this past August at LFA 20.
While the main event will feature a rivalry between two of the top welterweights in LFA, the co-main event will feature a rivalry between two of the LFA featherweight division’s most talented jiu-jitsu practitioners.
Fernando Padilla (10-1) put the division on notice in October, when he submitted longtime RFA vet Darrick Minner with a Triangle-Armbar in the first round of their co-main event bout at LFA 25. Padilla, who is a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, has now won 90% of his fights by first round stoppage. He will now face a man equally dangerous on the ground when he meets Talison Soares (9-2) in the co-main event of LFA 30. Soares is a jiu-jitsu black belt from the famed Checkmat BJJ team who has made a name for himself competing in his native Brazil. Soares has a 100% finishing rate in the nine bouts he has won and will now make his international debut in the co-main event of LFA 30.
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT):
 
Main Event | Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Curtis Millender (13-3) vs. Nick Barnes (12-2)
Co-Main Event | Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Fernando Padilla (10-1) vs. Talison Soares (9-2)
Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
– Maikel Perez (4-1) vs. Charlie Alaniz (11-2)
Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
– Craig Wilkerson (7-3) vs. Jordan Wright (8-0)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Christian Aguilera (8-4) vs. Maycon Mendonça (6-3)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Vince Cachero (3-0) vs. TBD
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. 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 30 will serve as the second LFA event to take place in the state of California after the merger. RFA hosted eight events inside “The Golden State” before the merger. The entire main card of LFA 30 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 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.
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA STARTS 2018 WITH 1-2-3 PUNCH!

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LFA 30 MAIN EVENT:
“CURTIOUS”
CURTIS MILLENDER
vs.
“THE PHOENIX”
NICK BARNES
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12th LIVE on AXS TV
COSTA MESA HALL AT OC FAIR GROUNDS
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA
TICKETS ON SALE 12-11-17 AT CAGETIX.COM
LFA 31 MAIN EVENT:
“THE WOLFMAN”
BOBBY MOFFETT
vs.
KNOCKOUT SENSATION
THANH LE
INTERIM FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19th LIVE on AXS TV
COMERICA THEATRE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA
 TICKETS ON SALE 12-11-17 AT COMERICATHEATRE.COM
LFA 32 CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER:
“ALL IN”
BRENDAN ALLEN
vs.
“FLUFFY”
ANTHONY HERNANDEZ
MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
+
“SUPERMAN”
RYAN SPANN
vs.
“THE SPARTAN”
ALEX NICHOLSON
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26th LIVE on AXS TV
GOLDEN NUGGET HOTEL & CASINO
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT TICKETMASTER.COM

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced the promotion will kick off 2018 with a 1-2-3 punch in January with a trio of star-studded shows in California, Arizona, and Louisiana.

The main event of LFA 30 will feature the long-awaited clash between southern California kingpins and top LFA welterweights “Curtious” Curtis Millender and Nick “The Phoenix” Barnes. LFA 30 – Millender vs. Barnes takes place Friday, January 12th at Costa Mesa Hall at  OC Fair Grounds in Costa Mesa, California.
The following week, LFA heads to Arizona with a fierce interim featherweight title fight in the Valley of the Sun. In the main event, former RFA title challenger and BJJ black belt Bobby “The Wolfman” Moffett battles knockout sensation Thanh Le for the LFA interim featherweight title. LFA 31 – Moffett vs. Le takes place Friday, January 19th at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona.
LFA caps the month of January with a pair of title fights in southern Louisiana. In the main event, former LFA title challenger Brendan “All In” Allen faces top undefeated prospect Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez for the vacant LFA middleweight title. In the co-headliner, red-hot Ryan “Superman” Spann will lock horns with UFC vet Alex “The Spartan” Nicholson for the inaugural LFA light-heavyweight title. LFA 32 – Allen vs. Hernandez takes place Friday, January 26th at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The entire main card of all three of these events will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“I’m excited to kick off 2018 with three straight weeks of LFA action across the country”, stated Soares. “Curtis Millender and Nick Barnes are coming off big wins in LFA headliners and will meet in the main event of LFA 30 in southern California on January 12th. The following week, we head to Arizona with top contenders Bobby Moffett and Thanh Le meeting for the interim featherweight title in the main event LFA 31. We finish the month with two title fights at LFA 32 in southern Louisiana. Brendan Allen faces Anthony Hernandez for the vacant middleweight title in the main event and Ryan Spann will take on Alex Nicholson for the inaugural light-heavyweight title in the co-headliner.”
Millender (13-3) returns home to the building where he fought and won his first seven fights. The Orange County juggernaut is looking to build off a perfect 2017 where he won three fights, including back-to-back LFA headliners. His most recent win came via highlight reel Head Kick KO in the main event of LFA 24. Millender will meet Barnes (12-2) in a long-awaited showdown between two of southern California’s finest. The welterweight stars started their careers in the southern California regional circuit, moved on to Bellator, and will finally meet in the main event of LFA 30. Barnes, like Millender, is coming off an impressive win in an LFA headliner.
The main event of LFA 31 is a fight that casual fans and MMA purists alike are salivating over. It pits a rugged and accomplished BJJ black belt in Moffett (10-2) against one of the most dynamic strikers in all of MMA in Le (7-1) with the LFA interim featherweight title on the line. On paper, this is a textbook grappler vs. striker bout at its highest form. However, both men bring so much more to the table than what their respective martial arts backgrounds represent. Moffett, who trains out of The MMA Lab, has shown a willingness to throw down with anyone, while Le trains with BJJ wunderkind and UFC star Ryan Hall in northern Virginia.
LFA will conclude its busy month of January with a pair of title tilts in southern Louisiana. LFA standout and Louisiana native Allen (8-2) will get a second shot at LFA gold after going five rounds with current UFC star Eryk Anders for the inaugural LFA middleweight title in June. Allen quickly rebounded six weeks later with a submission win in the co-main event of LFA 18. He will face another highly-touted undefeated prospect for the title. This time it comes in the form of the northern California destroyer Hernandez (5-0). The man known as “Fluffy” has finished everyone he has faced inside the first round.
The co-main event of LFA 32 will crown the inaugural LFA light-heavyweight champion. Spann (12-5) is a former Legacy FC title challenger that will look to capture LFA gold in front of his home crowd. “Superman” is riding considerable momentum heading into this fight after dispatching a pair of top contenders in the first round of his last two bouts at LFA 23 and LFA 27. He will face Nicholson (10-4) who has been a man on fire since his four-fight run with the UFC ended in May. The Florida native has been a tour de force since then as he looks to make his way back. In the past two months, “The Spartan” has knocked out three quality opponents in grand total of 3 minutes and 28 seconds.
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 150 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
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.
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO DALLAS NEXT WEEK WITH NEW MAIN EVENT LFA 28 – JACKSON vs. LUNA

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MAIN EVENT:
“THE LEECH”
DAMON JACKSON
vs.
LUIS LUNA
 
LIGHTWEIGHT REMATCH
 
 
CO-MAIN EVENT:
 
“TRAIL BLAZER”
KEVIN HOLLAND
vs.
“MOOSE”
CHRIS BACHMEIER
 
MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8th 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 28, which takes place next week at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas.

LFA 28 will feature a new main event when UFC vet Damon “The Leech” Jackson battles longtime rival and fellow Legacy FC alum Luis Luna in a lightweight rematch. The change came when original headliner Evan Cutts suffered an injury in training. Undefeated prospect Jaleel Willis was set to face Cutts, but will now have his LFA debut at a future date. LFA 28 – Jackson vs. Luna takes place this Friday, December 8th 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.
“Damon Jackson is a UFC vet and former Legacy champion that is coming off an impressive submission win at LFA 16,” stated Soares. “He will face his longtime rival Luis Luna, who has been wanting a rematch with Jackson for over four and a half years. LFA started at The Bomb Factory in Dallas in January and returned in July. We will continue our exciting history in Big D next week at LFA 28.”
Tickets for LFA 28 – Jackson vs. Luna are available for purchase NOW at TheBombFactory.com.
Jackson (12-2-1) comes into this fight looking to remind people that history has a way of repeating itself in the world of combat sports. In April 2013, Jackson faced Luna (14-6) in his fifth professional fight. The bout was Luna’s eleventh as a professional fighter. Jackson won the bout via armbar, but not without a bit of controversy.
The fight was back and forth until Jackson landed an illegal knee to a downed opponent in Round 1. The referee stopped the action and re-centered the fighters, but Luna was angry. When Jackson put his hand out to touch gloves, Luna ignored the gesture and threw a left hook and a flurry of punches that dropped Jackson. The NAIA All-American, Jackson, used his elite wrestling skills to survive the round.
In Round 2, both fighters came out firing. Luna gained top position off a trip that he utilized during the early striking exchange. Jackson, who is a master scrambler and appropriately nicknamed “The Leech”, quickly got back to his feet and landed a double-leg takedown. He then advanced seamlessly into a full mount. After raining down some ground and pound, Luna turned and Jackson moved with him, while transitioning into a fight-ending belly down armbar at the 1:15 mark of Round 2.
Jackson got the win that night, but Luna feels that the fight is not finished. While Jackson went on to gain fame fighting for Legacy FC, UFC, and LFA, Luna also elevated his profile by fighting in Legacy FC and is widely considered one of the top lightweights in the state of Texas. While Jackson is looking to have history repeat itself, Luna is aiming to prove another old adage. That would be the one that says lightning never strikes twice in the same place. Therein, as the Bard would tell us, lies the rub. The LFA 28 headliner will settle this bad blood rivalry, while also determining which maxim expresses the most truth.
Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
 
Main Event | Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Damon Jackson (12-2-1) vs. Luis Luna (14-6)
Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
– Kevin Holland (10-3) vs. Chris Bachmeier (10-1)
Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)
– Alonzo Menifield (4-0) vs. Otavio Lacerda (9-4)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Miles Johns (5-0) vs. Caio Machado (10-4)
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Steven Peterson (15-6) vs. Dustin Winter (6-4)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Melvin Jordan (5-2) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (4-3)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Ramiz Brahimaj (4-0) vs. Ben Simons (2-1)
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 150 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 28 will be the third LFA event to take place in the City of Dallas. It will also be the seventh time that the LFA has traveled to “The Lone Star State” of Texas. Further information about LFA 28 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 28 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.
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO DALLAS IN DECEMBER WITH  LFA 28 – CUTTS vs. WILLIS

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MAIN EVENT:
 
“THE BUTCHER”
EVAN CUTTS
vs.
“THE REALEST”
JALEEL WILLIS
 
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
 
 
CO-MAIN EVENT:
 
“THE LEECH”
DAMON JACKSON
vs.
“LANDSHARK”
THAI CLARK
 
LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8th 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 will return to northern Texas next month at LFA 28 with a pair of talented veterans facing undefeated prospects at the top of the card.
In the main event, Legacy FC standout Evan “The Butcher” Cutts faces top undefeated prospect Jaleel “The Realest” Willis in a welterweight war. In the co-headliner, UFC vet Damon “The Leech” Jackson squares off with undefeated Kansan Thai “Landshark” Clark in a lightweight showdown.  LFA 28 – Cutts vs. Willis takes place this Friday, December 8th 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.
“Evan Cutts is a long-time Legacy FC standout that has made a name for himself by taking out big name prospects,” stated Soares. “He will make his LFA debut against Jaleel Willis, who is one of the top undefeated welterweight prospects in the sport. LFA started at The Bomb Factory in Dallas in January and returned in July. LFA 28 will continue our exciting history in Big D on Friday, December 8th.”
Tickets for LFA 28 – Cutts vs. Willis are available for purchase NOW at TheBombFactory.com.
Cutts (8-3) is a longtime Legacy FC standout that will be making his LFA debut in front of his friends and family in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. “The Butcher” has made a career out of cutting through the dreams of highly-touted prospects, while proving to be one of the most formidable ground specialists in the 170-pound division. In 2011, not long after his 20th birthday, the now 26-year-old Texan made his pro debut and quickly gained global recognition later that year. This happened when he faced Reagan Penn, the prodigious younger brother of UFC Hall of Fame member B.J. Penn. Cutts eagerly took the high-profile bout and made the most of his opportunity by defeating the jiu-jitsu wunderkind. Cutts later reached the quarter-finals of Bellator’s hit reality television show Fight Master. Now the Legacy FC standout is looking to hand another highly-touted prospect his first career loss in the main event of LFA 28.

Willis (8-0) makes his LFA debut to much fanfare. Widely-regarded as one of the top prospects in the world at 170-pounds, the Memphis native has done it all and made it look easy up to this point. The Bellator and WSOF vet has run roughshod over the competition throughout his three and a half year career. After winning a regional title in his hometown over the summer, Willis signed a multi-fight contract with LFA, the leading developmental organization for prospects looking to reach the UFC. His first assignment as an LFA fighter will be the perfect task for the hungry, young welterweight. The 25-year-old heads into enemy territory to face a man many consider a true “prospect killer” in the headlining bout of LFA 28. If successful, the man known as “The Realest” could cement his case as the realest threat to current LFA welterweight champion James Nakashima, while also pushing himself up the overall pound-for-pound prospect list.

The co-main event of LFA 28 will feature another showdown between a battle-tested veteran looking to regain past glory and an aspiring undefeated prospect looking for a marquee win. Three-time UFC vet and former Legacy FC featherweight champion Damon “The Leech” Jackson is moving back up to the lightweight division, which is the same weight class where he made his UFC debut on the main card of UFC 177. He will take on undefeated Bellator vet Thai “Landshark” Clark, who will be competing in his first live televised fight. The Kansas native is looking to take advantage of this opportunity by staying undefeated against his toughest test to date.
Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Evan Cutts (8-3) vs. Jaleel Willis (8-0)
Co-Main Event | Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Damon Jackson (12-2-1) vs. Thai Clark (7-0)
Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)
– Alonzo Menifield (4-0) vs. Otavio Lacerda (9-4)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Miles Johns (5-0) vs. Caio Machado (10-4)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Steven Peterson (15-6) vs. Tristan Grimsley (7-7)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Melvin Jordan (5-2) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (4-3)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Ramiz Brahimaj (4-0) vs. Chad Box (3-0)
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 150 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 28 will be the third LFA event to take place in the City of Dallas. It will also be the seventh time that the LFA has traveled to “The Lone Star State” of Texas. Further information about LFA 28 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 28 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.
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA HEADS TO NEBRASKA WITH LFA 25 COCHRANE vs. RODRIGUES

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MAIN EVENT:
DAKOTA COCHRANE
vs.
CIRO “BAD BOY” RODRIGUES
 
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
 
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20th LIVE on AXS TV
RALSTON ARENA in OMAHA, NEBRASKA
 
Tickets are on sale NOW through CAGETIX.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will head to Nebraska, the birthplace of RFA, next month at LFA 25.

The main event of LFA 25 will feature the battle-tested Nebraskan and RFA mainstay Dakota Cochrane. He will face the explosive Brazilian powerhouse Ciro “Bad Boy” Rodrigues in a welterweight war. LFA 25 – Cochrane vs. Rodrigues takes place Friday, October 20th at the Ralston Arena in Omaha, Nebraska. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“I am excited to bring LFA to Nebraska, the birthplace of RFA,” stated Soares. “RFA hosted six events in the Cornhusker State and LFA will continue our great history in the state on October 20th. Dakota Cochrane is one of the most accomplished fighters in Nebraska. He will headline LFA 25 against Ciro Rodrigues, who is coming off a huge knockout win last month in his LFA debut.”
Tickets for LFA 25 – Cochrane vs. Rodrigues are available for purchase online NOW at CAGETIX.com and will be available at the box office at 10:00 am on Monday, September 18th.
Cochrane (29-12) was the most active fighter in RFA history before the promotion merged with Legacy FC earlier this year to form LFA. He made his debut for the promotion at its inaugural event RFA 1 in December 2011. Cochrane went on to compete for RFA at five of its first six events and holds the record for most fights in RFA history with eight RFA fights to his credit. During his time with the promotion, Cochrane headlined three RFA events and fought for the inaugural RFA lightweight title. The proud Nebraskan also fought for Legacy FC last October and made his LFA debut in April. Cochrane now looks to add another chapter to his lengthy history with the promotion by headlining LFA 25 in his hometown of Omaha. He will be looking for his thirtieth career win in the process.
Rodrigues (21-6) signed with LFA this summer after making a name for himself in his native Brazil for the past 11 years. The Brazilian known as “Bad Boy” made his professional MMA debut when he was 17-years-old and rose to prominence in his home country. The Nova União trained fighter won one of Brazil’s most prestigious titles, when he captured the Jungle Fight world title in 2015. That win came during an impressive streak, which has seen Rodrigues win eight of his last nine fights over the past four years. The biggest of those wins, however, came last month in his LFA and international debut. In that fight, Rodrigues knocked out three-time UFC vet David Michaud in less than two minutes in the main event of LFA 19. He now looks to double-down in the main event of LFA 25.
RFA visited the state of Nebraska a total of six times and produced an incredible amount of talent at those six events. Fourteen fighters went on to sign with the UFC. Tim Elliott, James Krause, Derrick Lewis, Jessamyn Duke, Jordan Rinaldi, Julian Marquez, Mirsad Bektic, Pedro Munhoz, Kamaru Usman, Efrain Escudero, Andrew Sanchez, Luke Sanders, Grant Dawson, and Anthony Smith are the fourteen fighters that competed for the RFA in Nebraska before signing with the UFC.
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Dakota Cochrane (29-12) vs. Ciro Rodrigues (21-6)
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 25 will serve as the first LFA event to take place in the state of Nebraska. RFA visited the “Cornhusker State” six times before the merger. That includes the inaugural RFA event in December 2011. Further information about LFA 25 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 25 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.
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA BRINGS  LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT TO THE “SOONER STATE” IN NOVEMBER LFA 27 – WATLEY vs. WILSON

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MAIN EVENT:
 
LFA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
ROBERT WATLEY
vs.
LFA #1 CONTENDER
DARYL WILSON
 
LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
 
 
CO-MAIN EVENT:
 
MYRON DENNIS
vs.
RYAN SPANN
 
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
 
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th LIVE on AXS TV
FIRELAKE ARENA in SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA
 
Tickets are on sale NOW through 

HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will be bringing a lightweight world title fight to Oklahoma in November.
The main event of LFA 27 will feature the return of LFA lightweight champion Robert Watley. He will put his title on the line against LFA lightweight #1 contender Daryl Wilson in battle between two of the hottest 155-pound prospects in MMA. LFA 27 – Watley vs. Wilson takes place Friday, November 10th 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 lightweight world title fight to Oklahoma at LFA 27,” stated Soares. “Robert Watley is the LFA lightweight world champion and one of the top prospects in the sport. He won the title by defeating the final RFA lightweight champion Thiago Moisés at LFA 17. Watley will now defend his title for the first time against Daryl Wilson, who earned his title shot with a highlight reel 64-second knockout of Jarrod Card at LFA 18.”
Tickets for LFA 27 – Watley vs. Wilson are available for purchase NOW at FireLakeArena.com. You can also support your favorite fighter by purchasing your ticket through CombatTickets.com and selecting their name at checkout.
Watley (8-1) was considered one of the top lightweight prospects in the sport before signing with LFA earlier this year. His fight résumé consisted of multiple regional titles throughout the east coast and an impressive seven-fight win streak. That earned him an immediate shot at the inaugural LFA lightweight title against the final RFA lightweight champion Thiago Moisés in the main event of LFA 17 in July. The Maryland native capitalized on that opportunity by shutting down the highly-touted RFA champion on every score card en route to his eighth consecutive victory. Watley now looks to put a stamp on his divisional dominance with his first title defense at LFA 27.
Wilson (7-1) is a home grown Oklahoma talent that made his pro debut for Legacy FC two years ago after competing twice for the organization as an amateur. In August, he made his LFA debut at LFA 18 on the heels of four straight wins. He fought longtime Oklahoma City lightweight standout Jarrod Card and needed only 64-seconds to dispatch the former Bellator fighter. Wilson stopped the 11-year MMA vet Card with a stunning one-punch KO that is now a popular pick for “KO of the Year”. More importantly, that KO catapulted him to #1 contender status. The Sapulpa, Oklahoma native will now get a shot at the title in front of his home crowd in the main event of LFA 27.
The co-main event of LFA 27 will feature a long-awaited showdown between two of the biggest names in the LFA light-heavyweight division. Myron Dennis (15-6) returns to the LFA Octagon against Ryan Spann (11-5), who is the man he was originally scheduled to face in the main event of LFA 9 in April. Spann was injured while training for that fight and Dennis ended up fighting Brazilian standout Danilo Marques instead. The change of opponent did not change Dennis’ desired outcome as the former Legacy FC light-heavyweight champion picked up the hard fought decision win. Spann fought less than two weeks ago at LFA 23 and earned arguably the biggest win of his career. Spann battered LeMarcus Tucker before choking him out via Rear Naked Choke in Round 1. Now the table is set for Dennis and Spann to meet once and for all at LFA 27.
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Lightweight Title Bout (155 lb)
– Robert Watley (8-1) vs. Daryl Wilson (7-1)
Co-Main Event | Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)
– Myron Dennis (15-6) vs. Ryan Spann (11-5)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Derrick Adkins (10-4) vs. Alex Hernandez (7-1)
Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
– Tyler Shinn (8-4) vs. Kendrick Latchman (6-3)
Women’s Strawweight Bout (115 lb)
– Micol DiSegni (2-1) vs. Morgan Solis (1-0)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Kyle Driscoll (5-3) vs. Ken Coulter (5-3)
In January 2017, Legacy FC and RFA merged to form LFA, which is the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Legacy FC and RFA have launched the careers of over 125 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 27 will serve as the fourth 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 27 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 27 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.