Legacy Fighting Alliance, one of the most talent-rich regional promotions going today, returns with an exciting card on Friday night. LFA 157 emanates from Prior Lake, Minn., and the fans in attendance will be treated to a women’s bantamweight title fight between 4-1 prospects Melissa Croden and Jacqueline Cavalcanti.
Fight fans can catch LFA 157 streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. PST.
LFA Women’s Bantamweight Championship — Croden vs. Cavalcanti
As previously mentioned, both Croden and Cavalcanti enter Friday’s main event with a 4-1 record and have quickly made names for themselves as prospects to keep an eye on in a women’s 135-pound division thin on star power. “Scare” Croden has been extremely impressive five fights into her young career, scoring finishes in each of her wins. Regardless of Friday’s result, her killer instinct should lead to a long and fruitful career in MMA, provided she keeps the damage at a minimum. Her only defeat came to Evelyn Martins, the 20-year-old Brazilian who is one of the most impressive prospects in women’s MMA at the moment. The fight ended in a split decision, so the close nature of the fight might be a good indicator of where Croden is at in her career.
Cavalcanti, meanwhile, has shown an ability to bank rounds and win decision, though her as two wins have come by way of first and second round finish. The 25-year-old out of Portugal will no doubt be facing the toughest test of her career in Croden, and while her durability will be put to the test, the five-round nature of Friday’s fight could tell the fans a good deal about both athletes. If Cavalcanti can take Croden into the championship rounds, she may be able to push the pace and win a five-round decision in Minnesota.
On the other hand, if Croden can pick up another finish, she may have an opportunity to join fellow Canadian and former LFA champion Jamey-Lyn Horth on the UFC roster.
Rest of the Card
LFA veteran Bobby Lee returns to the promotion for the first time since 2019 against Arthur Estrázulas in Friday’s co-main event. Lee, who has seven knockouts to his name will test himself against a fighter in Brazil’s Estrázulas who also has seven knockouts in his 13 career victories. Unbeaten prospect Richie Miranda, a former collegiate wrestler, will look to make it to 7-0 against Kegan Gennrich a 6-foot-2 lightweight out of Fox Valley Grappling Club. Gennrich is currently riding a three-fight streak having most recently submitted Jake Kozorowsky with an armbar back in October of last year.
American flyweights are also scheduled to square off on Friday’s main card, with Alden Coria set to take on 2-0 Jesse Martinelli. Coria opened his career 5-0, but has been tagged with consecutive losses inside the LFA cage, so he will look to right the ship against Martinelli, a product of Shamrock FC. Montana Mixed Martial Arts’ Marnic Mann will look to put her home state on the MMA map when she faces off against Amber Brown in the women’s strawweight division, and unbeaten Quang Le out of Vietnam will seek another submission victory when he battles Ira Lukowsky. Unbeaten prospects Kibedy Gordon and Amari Sengsavanh will open the main card at a 140-pound catchweight.
LFA 157 Results
Main Card
Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Melissa Croden via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 50-45) — For the Vacant LFA Women’s Bantamweight Championship
Arthur Estrázulas def. Bobby Lee via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 2:25 of Round 2
Kegan Gennrich def. Richie Miranda via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Alden Coria def. Jesse Martinelli via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Marnic Mann def. Amber Brown via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Amari Sengsavanh def. Kibedy Gordon via KO (Punch) at 0:43 of Round 2
Preliminary Card
Griffin Parriott def. Kurtis Ellis via Submission (Arm-Triangle) at 4:51 of Round 1
Mariana Piccolo def. Rachael Lippert via Submission (RNC) at 4:44 of Round 2
Austin Judge def. Cliff Wright via TKO (strikes) at 3:57 of Round 2
Jackson McVey def. Tom Krenzel via TKO (strikes) at 3:47 of Round 1
Santos Verdinez def. Pierre Ba via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Mitchell Wilson def. Brock Hamer via TKO (punches) at 0:27 of Round 1.
Noah Gasho def. Jeffrey Tuley via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Brandon Mills def. Dylan Kiskila via Submission (RNC) at 1:48 of Round 3
