Tag: Nate Smith

LFA 100 results: Victor Altamirano earns flyweight gold at milestone event

LFA hit a milestone on Friday – and crowned a new champion.

LFA 100 marked a big milestone for the promotion, which, for the entirety of its existence has served as an unofficial feeder league for the UFC, Bellator and more.

LFA launched in January 2017 following a merger between RFA and Legacy FC. Since that time, LFA has promoted fights involving numerous competitors who went on to sign contracts with the UFC and Bellator.

A vacant flyweight title fight between [autotag]Victor Altamirano[/autotag] and [autotag]Nate Smith[/autotag] headlined Friday’s card. The bout was a one-way championship fight. Altamirano (9-1) was the only fighter of the two who could walk away with LFA gold because Smith (6-2), who took the fight on five days’ notice, missed weight by 2.6 pounds.

Altamirano won a unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 50-44) after 25 minutes of competition. It was Altamirano’s striking that proved to be the difference. Although Smith had his moments and secured a few takedowns, he wasn’t able to muster up any significant offense.

As LFA title gold was wrapped around his waist, things came full circle for Altamirano, who competed as an amateur at LFA 1 in January 2017.

Altamirano, 30, has won three straight fights. His only professional loss came to former UFC flyweight Jarred Brooks in October 2019.

The co-main event was a back-and-forth scrap and the finishing sequence was a turning of the tides. When [autotag]Charles Johnson[/autotag] was dropped by [autotag]Karlee Pangilinan[/autotag], he not only got back to his feet; he found a way to win. Johnson got up, grabbed hold of Pangilinan, and submitted Johnson with an anaconda choke.

In the card’s most violent moment, [autotag]Steven Nguyen[/autotag] returned from a nearly two-year layoff and violently face-planted opponent [autotag]Jorge Juarez[/autotag] with a brutal knockout punch. As Juarez’s unconscious body laid facedown on the canvas, Nguyen followed up with a vicious hammerfist. The fight was stopped 30 seconds into the opening round.

Earlier in the night, Tony Ferguson protege [autotag]Tommy Aaron[/autotag] channeled his inner “El Cucuy” flinging a barraged of wild and whacky strikes at opponent [autotag]Gerald Scott[/autotag]. A high-paced battle ended in Round 3 when Aaron (7-4) submitted Scott (4-1) via rear-naked choke.

On the Facebook prelims, [autotag]Maria Henderson[/autotag], wife of former UFC lightweight champion and current Bellator fighter Benson Henderson, won her amateur MMA debut. She defeated fellow debutant [autotag]Amanda Mitchell[/autotag] by unanimous decision.

LFA 100 took place Friday at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan. The main card streamed on UFC Fight Pass after prelims on Facebook.

Full LFA 100 results include:

  • Victor Altamirano def. Nate Smith via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 50-44)
  • Charles Johnson def. Karlee Pangilinan via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 2, 1:41
  • Steven Nguyen def. Jorge Juarez via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:30
  • Tommy Aaron def. Gerald Scott via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:57
  • Christian Natividad def. Evan Woolsey via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
  • Emmanuela Moliere def. Amber Danielson-Smith via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-26)
  • Maria Henderson def. Amanda Mitchell via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) – amateur bout

JP Buys vs. Nate Smith added to Dana White’s Contender Series on Nov. 17

Will the third time be the charm for the booking between JP Buys and Nate Smith?

The UFC is giving [autotag]JP Buys[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nate Smith[/autotag] another shot.

Twice the flyweight bout was scheduled for Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4 – and twice it was canceled due to visa issues with Buys (8-2 MMA). Now, his fight against Smith (6-1 MMA) has been scheduled for a third time: Nov. 17 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Multiple people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Both fighters have previously competed on DWCS.

On Season 1 in 2017, Buys lost to UFC signee Joby Sanchez by second-round TKO. Since then, Buys has made the move to Fortis MMA and now rides a four-fight winning streak. Buys’ wife, Cheyanne Buys, earned a UFC deal earlier this season by defeating Hilarie Rose.

The Buys matchup, marks Smith’s second appearance on Season 4. On Sept. 1, Smith lost to UFC contract-winner Jimmy Flick by third-round submission. Despite the loss, UFC president Dana White praised Smith’s performance and said he would be given a second shot later on in the season.

With the addition, the Nov. 17 card includes:

  • Kenneth Bergh vs. Matheus Scheffel
  • Chelsea Hackett vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth Wessels
  • Sherrard Blackledge vs. Tucker Lutz
  • JP Buys vs. Nate Smith

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Dana White’s Contender Series 31 live results (8 p.m. ET)

Follow along live as MMA Junkie brings you all the action from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Dana White’s Contender Series returns for another Tuesday night of intriguing action, as up-and-coming competitors fight for the chance to earn a UFC contract.

In the featured bout, Ring of Combat featherweight champion [autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag] (4-1) takes on [autotag]Melsik Baghdasaryan[/autotag] (4-1). Plus, LFA flyweight champion [autotag]Jimmy Flick [/autotag](14-5) meets [autotag]Nate Smith[/autotag] (6-0).

MMA Junkie has you covered on all things DWCS 31. Stay here all night for the latest from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Up-to-the minute Dana White’s Contender Series 30 results include:

  • Dennis Buzukja vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan
  • Jimmy Flick vs. Nate Smith
  • Jose Johnson vs. Ronnie Lawrence
  • Cody Brundage vs. William Knight
  • Chase Gibson vs. Tucker Lutz

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JP Buys out of DWCS 31 bout vs. Nate Smith due to pandemic-induced work permit delays

JP Buys won’t be getting his second shot on Dana White’s Contender Series – at least not on a planned date of Sept. 1.

[autotag]JP Buys[/autotag] won’t be getting a second shot on Dana White’s Contender Series – at least not on a planned date of Sept. 1.

Due to unforeseen delays in obtaining an Employment Authorization Document (temporary worker permit), Buys (8-2) has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout against [autotag]Nate Smith[/autotag].

Buys, who is married to U.S.-born Dana White’ Contender Series Season 4 fighter Cheyanne Buys, applied for the permit in early 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the process is facing a lengthy delay.

Multiple people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the situation Tuesday but asked the remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Smith is expected to still compete at some point during the current season of Dana White’s Contender Series. According to one source, the current frontrunner to replace Buys is LFA flyweight champion [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag] (14-5).

Buys, a South African flyweight, competed on the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017. He lost to Joby Sanchez by second-round TKO. Buys, who now trains at Fortis MMA, has won four straight fights – all ended inside the distance.

With the change, the current DWCS 31 lineup includes:

  • Cody Brundage vs. William Knight
  • Jose Johnson vs. Ronnie Lawrence
  • KB Bhullar vs. Bruno Oliveira
  • Tucker Lutz vs. Victor Martinez
  • Nate Smith vs. TBA

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10 flyweights you can expect to see on Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4

The return of Dana White’s Contender Series isn’t far off, and here are 10 flyweights who are candidates to appear on the show.

Dana White’s Contender Series has become a focal point for fighters on the regional scene. Since its inception in 2017, the UFC Fight Pass-turned-ESPN+ summer original removed some of the guesswork for up-and-comers trying to make it big.

With UFC president Dana White and matchmakers Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby cageside, the stakes are high. Have an impressive, exciting win on the show, and you’re in.

Rumored for a late-June start date, DWCS Season 4 is almost here. The lineups haven’t been announced quite yet, but advanced planning is underway. While there are hundreds of fighters qualified to compete on the show, we’ll be narrowing each divisional pool to 10 fighters you should expect to see on the show this summer.

Up next, the flyweights…

* * * *

Image via LFA

Jeffrey Molina

Record: 7-2
Age: 22
Height: 5’6″
Birthplace: Lakewood, N.J.

When it comes to in-cage appearances, [autotag]Jeffrey Molina[/autotag] is one of the most experienced 22-year-old fighters in all of MMA. The Glory MMA and Fitness product is one of the gym’s secret weapons, having won six straight fights. With a 100 percent finishing rate, Molina brings a kill-or-be-killed savvy to the flyweight division. In his most recent fight in February, Molina choked out 16-fight veteran Kenny Porter. There aren’t a ton of top flyweights on the regional scene, so true tests will be few and far between. Worst-case scenario, Molina gets on DWCS and loses. There’s no harm in that. It’ll be win or learn. One thing is for sure, though: Someday Molina will be in the UFC. The sky is the limit.

Image via LFA

Richard Palencia

Record: 7-0
Age: 30
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Phoenix

It’s been a slow burn for [autotag]Richard Palencia[/autotag], but he’s starting to finally turn some heads. Since his professional debut in 2015, Palencia has competed for LFA, Combate Americas, and RITC, among other promotions. Training under John Crouch and Co. at The MMA Lab in Phoenix, Palencia is consistently getting reps against top-tier training partners. To date, Palencia has passed all tests put in front of him. Now it’s time for a step up in competition on Season 4 of DWCS.

More fighters on the next page:

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LFA 82 heads to Minnesota with vacant light heavyweight title fight on tap

LFA’s vacant light heavyweight strap will be up for grabs in February.

The first LFA title fight of the decade has been booked.

[autotag]Alex Polizzi[/autotag] and [autotag]Jamal Pogues[/autotag] collide for the vacant light heavyweight strap at LFA 82, the promotion announced on Saturday.

The event takes place Feb. 21 at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minn. It will stream on UFC Fight Pass.

A product of Chosen Few Gym in Wisconsin, Polizzi (5-0) will compete in his second LFA fight when he meets Pogues (7-2). The 28-year-old fighter has also competed for Final Fight Championship, Pure FC, and Chosen Few FC.

Through five professional outings, Polizzi has never seen the judges’ scorecards. He currently holds four TKO wins and one submission victory.

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As for Pogues, the 24-year-old Californian most recently competed (and won) on this past season of “Dana White’s Contender Series.” Although he didn’t earn a UFC contract, his performance impressed the promotion’s brass.

UFC president Dana White suggested Pogues get a few more reps in on the regional scene before he takes the jump to the big leagues.

Also added to LFA 82, a co-main event matchup between surging featherweight up-and-comers [autotag]Nate Richardson[/autotag] (7-1) and [autotag]Jake Childers[/autotag] (7-0). Additionally, a flyweight bout between undefeated fighters [autotag]Sean Stebbins[/autotag] (2-0) and [autotag]Nate Smith[/autotag] (5-0) has been added to the card.

Check out the official LFA 82 poster below: