LFA 97 set for Jan. 15 in Kansas with Nick Browne vs. Arthur Estrazulas

LFA returns to Kansas to kick off its 2021 schedule, and the promotion’s vacant lightweight title will be on the line.

LFA returns to Kansas to kick off its 2021 schedule, and the promotion’s vacant lightweight title will be on the line.

Promotion officials recently announced that [autotag]Nick Browne[/autotag] (10-1) and [autotag]Arthur Estrazulas[/autotag] (12-4) will meet in a rescheduled headliner for LFA 97, which streams live on UFC Fight Pass on Jan. 15 from Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan.

The two were originally slated to meet at November’s LFA 95 event but was postponed due to pre-fight COVID testing procedures implemented before the event.

“I am excited to announce that we are kicking off UFC Fight Pass’ busy 2021 schedule with a stacked fight card at LFA 97,” LFA CEO Ed Soares stated. “Nick Browne and Arthur Estrazulas were originally scheduled to fight for the LFA lightweight championship at LFA 95, but with the safety of our fighters in mind during fight week, their title fight was rescheduled to headline LFA 97.

“Browne and Estrazulas are Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts that also love to strike. They will fight for the vacant LFA lightweight title on Jan. 15, which will be the first live event on UFC Fight Pass in the new year.”

Browne makes his third consecutive appearance under the LFA banner. In his past two outings, he notched a decision win over grappling ace Ben Egli and a submission of four-time LFA veteran Trey Ogden.

Meanwhile, Estrazulas’ past two appearances were also under the LFA banner, a pair of first-round rear-naked choke wins over Dominic Clark and Steve Kozola.

The LFA 97 lineup:

MAIN CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Nick Browne vs. Arthur Estrazulas – for vacant lightweight title
  • [autotag]Jacob Rosales[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jose Martinez[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kamuela Kirk[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Andrew Yates[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kelly D’Angelo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Loveth Young[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jordan Mapa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Michael Stack[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Thomas Petersen[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Kimo Lewis[/autotag]

LFA 84 set for Phoenix; Impa Kasangany vs. Daniel Madrid title fight headlines

LFA 84 is officially on tap – and the middleweight title will be on the line.

The vacant middleweight title will be filled at LFA 84.

The event is set to take place Friday, March 20 at Arizona Federal Theatre in Phoenix and is headlined by a middleweight title fight between [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] and [autotag]Daniel Madrid[/autotag]. The card will stream live on UFC Fight Pass. The promotion announced details Tuesday.

A victor on the most recent season of Dana White’s Contender Series, Kasanganay (6-0 MMA) was not offered a contract by the UFC brass. UFC president Dana White said glowing things about Kasanganay’s dominant upset win over Kailin Hill, but wanted the six-fight pro to return to the regional scene to get more experience before taking the step up.

In November, Kasanagany was named to MMA Junkie’s monthly edition of “On the Doorstep.” However, his bout that month was cancelled when Kasanganay had a medical issue the night prior to the fight.

As for Madrid (13-3 MMA), the 35-year-old has risen quietly through the 185-pound regional ranks. Madrid has won four straight fights – all by submission. The Arizona-based fighter will have a home game of sorts, when he competes for the LFA title.

The LFA middleweight championship was vacated when then-titleholder Brendan Allen signed with the UFC in July.

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Other additions to the card include a bantamweight bout between [autotag]Richard Palencia[/autotag] (8-0) and DWCS alum [autotag]Desmond Torres[/autotag] (7-2), a bantamweight fight between Kevin Natvidad (8-1) and [autotag]Kyle Estrada[/autotag] (10-4), and a featherweight matchup between [autotag]Luke Faultersack[/autotag] (6-3) and DWCS and Bellator veteran [autotag]Kamuela Kirk[/autotag] (9-3).

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