More championship action comes your way on Friday night. While New Jersey-based Cage Fury sets up shop in Tampa Bay at the Florida State Fairgrounds with CFFC 133, the MMA bus makes a stop on the West Coast as Tachi Palace, the host venue of the original UFC 249 in 2020 before it was postponed by COVID-19, holds Urijah Faber‘s A1 Combat 23.
Live coverage of the Friday card begins at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on the promotion’s official YouTube channel with the undercard before switching over to UFC Fight Pass at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT for the main card. It’s a special evening, as well.
During Friday’s program, three contenders with ties to the UFC will be enshrined into the Tachi Palace Hall of Fame. Alex Perez, Joe Soto, and Michael McDonald make up this year’s class. There will also be two championship fights at the top of the bill, starting with the A1 Combat 23 co-main event of the evening.
Vacant Featherweight Title Up for Grabs Friday Night in A1 Combat 23 Co-Main Event
The Vacant A1 Combat Featherweight Championship is at stake in the co-headliner on Friday. Erick Sanchez (12-7 MMA, 1-1 A1 Combat), a veteran of both Cage Warriors and Combate Global, returns to A1 Combat to face off against 15-fight veteran Bruno Souza (12-3 MMA, 1-0 A1 Combat), himself an alum of Cage Warriors, as well as Karate Combat, in the headliner.
As per California State Athletic Commission policy regarding regionally-based MMA shows, the A1 Combat 23 co-main event will be an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close the show. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, all MMA fights on regionally-based cards in California are three rounds in length.
No exception was made for a championship fight.
A1 Combat 23 Co-Main Event Fighter Comparison
Heading into the A1 Combat 23 co-main event on Friday night, both contestants stand 5-foot-10, so it’s in the reach advantage category where they gain separation. Bruno Souza owns a one-inch advantage (70 inches to 69 inches) over Erick Sanchez.
Currently, the oddsmakers have yet to release any money lines for A1 Combat 23 on Friday. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening in MMA this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Sanchez Looks to Build Off February Win This Friday
Erick Sanchez comes into the A1 Combat 23 co-main event having posted a record of 3-2 in his last five fights. Last time out, he scored a unanimous decision victory over Jacob Rosales (15-9 MMA, 2-1 A1 Combat) on Feb. 22 in A1 Combat 18.
Sanchez is a man who has settled back into the groove of a consistent schedule in MMA, something that he lacked in the past. Prior to the win against Rosales late this past winter, he was forced out of action for all of 2023 due to a postponed lightweight fight against Salvador Becerra.
Consistency is key, particularly and especially in the sport of MMA. Will he notch another win on Friday night? Tune into the A1 Combat 23 co-main event for the answer.
Bruno Souza With Quick Turnaround Ahead of A1 Combat 23 Main Event
In the other corner, Bruno Souza enters the featherweight championship having gone 3-2 in his last five MMA fights. At the present moment, he’s on a two-fight winning streak.
Last time out, he scored a unanimous decision after three rounds against Wilson Reis (28-14 MMA) on June 7 in San Diego during Cage Warriors 173. Souza has the shorter hiatus between the two men in this fight. While Erick Sanchez has been out of action for close to five months, Bruno Souza’s last fight was only seven weeks ago.
What kind of a training camp has Souza had with such a brief window between fights? Only time will tell.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
It looks like we’ve got another strength vs. strength matchup in the A1 Combat 23 co-main event this Friday, though an edge can be given to Bruno Souza’s background as a karate fighter and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner.
Erick Sanchez Can Seize Control of a Fight
While the flashy finishes in MMA are welcome, a one-sided fight without a stoppage gets the job done, like Sanchez did in February vs. Rosales. Although the fighters exchanged shots in round one, Erick Sanchez’s were the more effective punches by far, stunning Jacob Rosales in the process during the round.
When Rosales dumped Sanchez in the first round, Sanchez’s submission defense was on full display, landing ground and pound shots after the second Rosales takedown, keeping his foot on the gas pedal throughout the contest. If Erick Sanchez can get one sliver of daylight in the A1 Combat 23 co-main event, he’ll make Souza pay.
Watch Bruno Souza’s Ground Defense
In the other corner, Bruno Souza can fight off submission attempts with ease. Just look at the tape of his June fight vs. Wilson Reis.
During the second round of a scheduled three, Souza got dumped by Reis with a throw after an uppercut, trying to lock up a submission. Souza flipped the script by landing some elbow shots before returning to his feet.
Bruno Souza knows what he has to do if he finds himself on the receiving end of a submission attempt.
Final Thoughts
The A1 Combat 23 co-main event is going to be a fun scrap. Stay up late for this one on Friday night.
