Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), one of the top regional and feeder promotions for the UFC, is set to make its return on Friday night live from Minneapolis, Minn. for LFA 168.
The marquee fight will see rising bantamweights mix things up when talented unbeaten Mitchell McKee takes on Sean McPadden.
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Fight fans can catch LFA 168 streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT for the main card.
Main Event — McKee vs. McPadden
If this season of Dana White’s Contender Series is any indication, the LFA continues to be one of the leading avenues for fighters looking to join the ranks of the UFC. As such, the promotion’s various title pictures are in constant flux. While Friday’s main event may not be for a vacant title, the winner should be in pole position for a title shot at 135 pounds.
Mitchell McKee is a prospect fight fans need to know about, and one who should receive a hero’s welcome from the fans in Minneapolis. He did, after all, wrestle locally at the University of Minnesota, and has four finishes in as many fights since turning pro. He trains out of Kill Cliff FC under Head Coach Henri Hooft, an excellent choice of gym for already proficient wrestlers to hone in on a striking game best suited for MMA. McKee knocked out his last opponent, Ira Lukowsky, with an overhand right before following up on the ground, and could be tempted to show further striking developments in front of what is sure to be a hot crowd in his native Minnesota. In any case, he will be out to show fight fans around the world there is more than one “McKee” that needs to be the name on the tip of everybody’s tongue.
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However, McKee should face stiff opposition from 6-1 Sean McPadden. McPadden is also a native Minnesotan, but unlike McKee, he trains locally out of McCune’s Martial Arts where he is the star prospect. Like McKee, McPadden has finished each and every one of his wins as a professional, but is also backed by an 8-1 amateur record and owns submissions in five of six wins. It will be interesting to see how his grappling gels against McKee’s wrestling, but there may be a path to victory on the feet for both fighters thanks not only to McPadden’s power, but to McPadden’s striking defense. His lone loss came by way of knockout less than a minute into his fight with Allan Begosso at LFA 90.
Rest of the Card
The remainder of the card, both main card and prelims, will feature a slew of fan-friendly fights to keep an eye on. Aline Pereira, the sister of UFC light heavyweight contender and former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira, will headline the prelims against fellow 1-1 Cheyenne Bowers.
The co-main event, however, will see Bobby Lee take on Lucas Clay at a 160-pound catchweight. Lee became a regional mainstay following a stint in Bellator, but should be another local favorite as a native of St. Cloud, Minn. Clay, meanwhile, has shown a ton of promise. He is big and long for the division, and has given a good account of himself even in defeat.
Elsewhere on the main card, Kegan Gennrich meets Donald Bush in the lightweight division, while former DWCS alum Collin Huckbody takes on veteran Sean Connor Fallon at 185 pounds. Leading off the main card will be a pair of promising Vietnamese prospects. An Tuan Ho has looked the part of a future Top-10 fighter in the flyweight division, and will face his latest test against 9-9 Kendrick Latchman. His countryman, Quang Le, is a 5-0 bantamweight who trains locally and will be opening the show against veteran Sal Guerreiro.
For up-to-the-minute results and updates, be sure to stay locked into MMA Sucka!
LFA 168: McKee vs. McPadden Results
Main Card
Mitch McKee def. Sean McPadden by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Bobby Lee def. Lucas Clay by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Kegan Gennrich def. Donald Bush by Submission (Arm Triangle) at 4:34 of Round 2
Sean Fallon def. Collin Huckbody by Submission (Guillotine) at 3:08 of Round 1
An Tuan Ho def. Kendrick Latchman via Knockout at :13 of Round 2
Quang Le def. Sal Guerriero via Split Decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
Featured Prelims
Cheyanne Bowers def. Aline Pereira via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
Griffin Parriott vs. Tyler Mathison via TKO (strikes) at 3:01 of Round 2
Bailey Schoenfelder def. Badou Zaky via TKO (strikes) at 4:05 of Round 1
Early Prelims
Joey Hart def. Jeff Nielsen via TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage) at 4:34 of Round 3
Mervin Miller def. Derek Benoit via DQ (Illegal Knee) at 4:59 of Round 2
Henry Wolfbauer def. Montgomery Frederiksen via Split Decision
Nick Fishback def. Dylan Smerillo via Submission (Arm Triangle) in Round 3
Brett Bye def. C.J. Hays via Submission (Arm Triangle) in Round 1
Stephen Lesko def. Thad Becker via Unanimous Decision
