Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) is back for its 185th event on Friday, June 7. The show will emanate from the Horseshoe Hammond Casino in Hammond, Indiana, and feature an explosive main event pitting defending lightweight champion Kegan Gennrich against unbeaten Killcliff FC product Richie Lewis.
The show was also slated to be co-headlined by defending strawweight champion and Olympic judoka Natasha Kuziutina and challenger Bruna Ellen. However, Kuziutina pulled out of the fight with an illness this morning, and the promotion is looking to rebook the fight as soon as possible.
Fight fans can catch the main card of LFA 185 streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Main Event — Gennrich vs. Lewis
Gennrich, the defending lightweight champion and a budding star in the promotion, has overcome plenty during his six-fight winning streak dating back to 2022. After starting his MMA career 2-2, he leapt onto the prospect radar with improbable wins over a series of fighters seemingly set up for success in the LFA. The well-rounded Gennrich really turned heads when he handed unbeaten wrestler Richie Miranda his first professional defeat in a competitive fight back in April of last year. That fight saw him outpoint Miranda on the feet handle the greater share of positional control, though he has since flashed his killer instinct on the ground with three of his last four wins coming by way of submission.
The Miranda fight could serve as a blueprint for how to beat Lewis, another talented, undefeated collegiate wrestler. Lewis competed at Rutgers University, and upon starting his MMA career headed south to Kill Cliff FC, FKA Sanford MMA, among other names. As such, Lewis figures to make strides on the feet Miranda has perhaps not made at that point in his career. Of his five wins, two have come by way of knockout, but he has taken unanimous decisions in his last two bouts since.
Both fighters are tremendous athletes, and Friday’s main event may simply come down to whether or not Gennrich’s MMA experience will reign over Lewis’ competition experience in the world of wrestling, especially when weighing the presence of championship rounds.
Rest of the Card
With Kuziutina vs. Ellen off the card, there is still plenty to like about Friday’s card. In the new co-main event, Chilean standout Jose Ferreira will take on Brazilian Cassio Junior at 135 pounds. Ferreira has spent the majority of his career in Combate, and similar to compatriot and UFC lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes will try and earn his way into the UFC’s good graces with a win in his LFA debut. He’ll need to knock off the unbeaten Cassio, however, who has two wins in LFA since joining the promotion off the Brazilian regional scene.
Elsewhere, Tyler Scott and Joey Hart are two welterweight who have had a lot of success blitzing forward and finishing opponents on the feet. They now draw each other as they look to establish themselves in the LFA’s welterweight division. Sanon Sadeck, representing Burkina Faso, will battle Paul Kimble at unbeaten Paul Kimble in a fight also set to be contested at 170 pounds. Kimble is 3-0 with three finishes in his young career. Last, but not least, Zach Vasi will open the main card against John Beckett in the bantamweight division.
For up to the minute news and updates regarding LFA 185, be sure to stay locked in to MMA Sucka!
LFA 185: Gennrich vs. Lewis Results
Main Card
Richie Lewis def. Kegan Genrich via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 50-45, 50-45) — For the LFA Lightweight Championship
Jose Ferreira def. Cassio Junior via TKO at 4:03 of Round 2
Joey Hart def. Tyler Scott via Knockout at 2:30 of Round 1
Sanon Sadeck def. Paul Kimble via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
John Beckett def. Zach Vaci via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Miguel Sanson def. Jordan Burkholder via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Alberto Rodriguez def. Cauatã Samuel via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Matt Leonard def. Isaiah Flores via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Mauricio Rodriguez def. Brian Akins via Submission (Armbar) at 4:46 of Round 2
Luis Unzueta def. Daniel Jeschke via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
