Tag: Lucas Clay

‘The Ultimate Fighter 31’ rosters revealed, includes eight former UFC fighters

Check out the 16 fighters who made the cut for “TUF 31” – including eight former UFC fighters.

“The Ultimate Fighter” is back for a 31st season, which will be coached by lightweight stars [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag].

Set to debut May 30 on ESPN and run until Aug. 15, the series will include men’s bantamweights and lightweights, as first reported on MMA Junkie’s “Spinning Back Clique.” Filming began in February in Las Vegas.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) will square off after the conclusion of the series at a date and location yet-to-be-determined.

In addition to an announcement of rosters Saturday, the promotion announced the upcoming season will have a theme of “Redemption,” which pins former UFC fighters against rising prospects.

Dozens of fighters applied and only 16 were selected. Scroll below to see who made the cut.

LFA 128 results: Aaron McKenzie edges out title-winning split decision over Lucas Clay

A new LFA lightweight champion was crowned on Friday.

LFA returned to action on Friday in Sioux Falls, S.D., to crown a new lightweight champion.

The main event between [autotag]Aaron McKenzie[/autotag] and [autotag]Lucas Clay[/autotag] capped off an exciting main card of fights at LFA 128 that produced five finishes before it. The event took place at Sanford Pentagon.

McKenzie (11-2-1) and Clay (8-2) had a lot on the line as the vacant lightweight title hung in the balance. Both entered the bout with strong win streaks and hoped to add another win while claiming LFA gold.

The fight was back and forth over the first few rounds.

In the first, McKenzie implemented his strong grappling game, neutralizing Clay’s offense. However, in the second, Clay was able to stop some takedowns and land damaging strikes.

The third round caught McKenzie a little by surprise, as Clay went to the grappling game and nearly pulled off a solid rear-naked choke submission attempt. The finish would not come and the fight continued on to the championship rounds.

In the fourth, McKenzie was able to get back to his world and keep the fight on the ground for the majority of the frame. Clay nearly reversed positions to change the course, but the story of the round was McKenzie’s grappling.

The fifth and final round felt like the fight was on the line, with each fighter having an edge in two rounds each. McKenzie fought off an early submission scare and leaned heavily on his wrestling throughout the round. Clay was able to break free and fire off some heavy offense in the final moments, but the fight concluded, leaving questions about how the judges would render their decision.

The judges were split, as two saw the fight in favor of McKenzie with scores of 48-47, and one judge had the same score in Clay’s direction.

“I want to be in the UFC,” McKenzie said during his post fight interview with UFC welterweight [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag]. “I want to be in the UFC with all of my heart. I want to prove I belong.”

Full results of LFA 128 include:

  • Aaron McKenzie def. Lucas Clay via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
  • Jimmy Lawson def. Marino Eatman via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:34
  • Richie Miranda def. Devon Dixon via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 2:07
  • Bryce Meredith def. Jay Viola via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:04
  • Mitch McKee def. Jalen Jackson via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:02
  • Thad Jean def. Sarek Shields via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:40

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On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with April wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator, or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

  • An under-the-radar New Englander looks to capture his second CES MMA title weeks after he captured his first – and punch his ticket to the UFC.
  • An 8-1 fighter hopes a win over a prospect with the same record finally propels him into the big show.
  • A veteran Oklahoma-born fighter continues to improve and feels an LFA title win will show he’s ready for the next level.
  • A surging prospect with a funky arsenal of submissions wants to add another highlight to his reel, an LFA title to his trophy case, and a UFC contract to his resume.
  • A South Carolina-based bantamweight is eager to keep up his exciting fights in order to catch the eye of a major promotion.

On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC or Bellator with August wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one of which for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

This month:

  • After four years away, an undefeated flyweight hopes to pick up a win in another exciting fight, like his Dana White’s Contender Series victory in 2017.
  • A young Mexican up-and-comer hopes to get on the radar of a major promotion as she seeks her fourth finish in six fights.
  • A fan-favorite fighter from Mississippi hopes his unbeaten streak since his UFC release continues with another barn burner at his new weight class.
  • A St. Louis plumber struggling to find willing opponents gets a homecoming in his third LFA appearance.
  • A Machida brothers underling is ready to write MMA history of his own when he competes for an LFA title.

LFA 98 results: Josh Fremd earns middleweight title shot with massive knockout

Josh Fremd punched his ticket to an LFA middleweight title fight with a highlight-reel knockout in the main event of LFA 98 on Friday.

[autotag]Josh Fremd[/autotag] is the first man to advance to the finals of the LFA middleweight tournament.

Fremd (7-1) scored a brutal first-round knockout of [autotag]Bruno Oliveira[/autotag] (7-3) in Friday’s LFA 98 headliner, solidifying his spot in the championship round of the four-man grand prix.

LFA 98 took place at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan. The entire card streams on UFC Fight Pass.

Fremd wasted no time locking up Oliveira with a trip takedown and planting him on his back inside the first 30 seconds of the fight. The Brazilian stayed patient, and climbed back to his feet to break away into striking range.

The pair threw some blows back-and-forth, but then Fremd found his desired target. Fremd scored with a clean left hook that instantly rocked and dropped Oliveira. Fremd pounced with a few hammerfists on the ground, and the referee dove in to halt the action.

An ecstatic, who trains out of Factory X in Colorado, reveled in the biggest victory of his career.

“This is the biggest win of my career,” Fremd said in his post-fight interview with Alan Jouban. “You don’t know my striking, you don’t know my boxing. I’ve always had (power), I just haven’t shown it.”

Fremd now moves on to an opportunity to fight for the vacant LFA middleweight title later this year. He will fight the winner of Anthony Adams (8-2) and Gregory Rodrigues (7-3), who will meet in the other semifinal bout at LFA 100 on Feb. 19.

“Both of those guys that are in that fight,” Fremd said. “I look forward to fighting either one of them. No preference.”

Full LFA 98 results included:

  • Josh Fremd def. Bruno Oliveira via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:37
  • [autotag]Lucas Clay[/autotag] def. [autotag]J.J. Okanovich[/autotag] via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • [autotag]Richard Palencia[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jeimeson Saudino[/autotag] via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
  • [autotag]Dakota Bush[/autotag] def. [autotag]Austin Clem[/autotag] via TKO (head kick, punches) – Round 1, 0:57
  • [autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag] def. [autotag]Vanessa Grimes[/autotag] via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:07
  • [autotag]Joshua DaSilveira[/autotag] def. [autotag]Matt Paul[/autotag] via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:46
  • [autotag]Zac Pauga[/autotag] def. [autotag]Ashby Thomas[/autotag] via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:21