It’s almost here. After weeks of waiting, Urijah Faber‘s A1 Combat has returned for its first event since the end of July. Friday night, the California-based MMA promotion heads to Wheatland and Hard Rock Live for A1 Combat 24: Night of Champions.
The show is named as such because the main card features four championship contests to cap the show. Live coverage of this big evening begins at 7:30 pm ET/ 4:30 pm PT on the official A1 Combat YouTube channel with the undercard. Main card action immediately follows at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT.
If there are no late postponements between now and fight night, the final version of A1 Combat 24 features 17 bouts.
Night of Champions Concludes With Flyweight Title Fight
As previously mentioned, we’ll have four title fights on this show, highlighted by the A1 Combat 24 main event of the evening. The Vacant A1 Combat Flyweight Championship is at stake when Terrance Saeturn (6-1 MMA, 5-1 A1 Combat) meets up with Carlos Puente Jr. (8-8-1 MMA, A1 Combat promotional debut), an alumnus of Combate Global , the LFA, CFFC. and LXF.
Due to California State Athletic Commission policy regarding locally and regionally-based shows, the A1 Combat 24 main event is an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close the show. As of Jan. 1, 2024, the commission mandated a three-round maximum length for all title fights from locally or regionally-based promotions. No exceptions were made for title fights.
A1 Combat 24 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the A1 Combat 24 main event on Friday night, Carlos Puente Jr. stands as the taller man at 5-foot-7, compared to the 5-foot-5 frame of Terrance Saeturn. No reach advantage information was accessible at press time.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Terrance Saeturn installed as a -549 betting favorite on the money line, while Carlos Puente Jr. counters as a +350 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight in MMA and/or combat sports this weekend, please wager responsibly.
“Wrong Turn” Wants Fourth Win in 12 Months Friday Night
Terrance Saeturn, nicknamed “Wrong Turn”, has posted a mark of 4-1 over his last five fights. At the moment, he’s on a three-fight winning streak.
Most recently, he scored a first-round knockout (punches) of Stav Shwartz (3-1 MMA, 0-1 A1 Combat) on May 17 during A1 Combat 20. Recently, Saeturn talked with Michael Hernandez about his upcoming title bid.
“Feels good,” Saeturn said. “I’m just taking it like another fight because that’s what it is. I’m not making it bigger than what it is because it’s just a fight.”
In that same interview, he discussed the fact that he could have appeared during season eight of Dana White’s Contender Series.
“I feel like a win here will absolutely solidify a position in the next season of Contender Series. They actually wanted me to be ready– my management team wanted me to be ready for August for a short-notice thing. I took it with a grain of salt because I just didn’t want to– I personally didn’t want to prepare for a slim chance or a hope of filling in for somebody. Things happen for a reason and opportunities present themselves. After this last fight against Stav, I did get a call and people were telling me that some guys at the UFC were kind of interested.”
While a spot on Contender Series didn’t happen this year for Terrance Saeturn, he might not need it after all. If he secures the championship Friday, he’ll be 6-1 under Faber’s banner and the fourth win in the last 365 days dating back to Sept. 7 of last year. That could be reason enough for a contract.
Puente Aiming a Return to Win Column on Friday
In the other corner, Carlos Puente Jr. has gone 2-2-1 in his last five fights. Most recently, he fought to a draw after three rounds against Victor Rosas (7-2-1 MMA) last November during LXF 12 for the Vacant LXF Flyweight Championship.
Thus, it goes without saying that Puente’s fight versus Saeturn isn’t virgin territory by any stretch of the imagination. Nine months removed from the draw after the shot at 125-lb. gold in Shawne Merriman’s promotion, he’ll find himself in search of gold at flyweight again on Friday night.
What has he learned from the draw last fall? Will he be able to hand Terrance Saeturn his first loss since last year? Tune in and find out.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
The A1 Combat 24 main event looks to be another one of those strength versus strength affairs. Who will emerge victorious?
Saeturn Can Punch His Way to Victory
Throughout his career, Terrance Saeturn has won three fights by way of knockout. While it doesn’t happen too often, such a win can be a sight to behold, like what took place in May vs. Shwartz. During the opening round, Shwartz scored with elbow shots from the bottom position to try and knock Saeturn off his gameplan and attempted submissions for good measure.
Upon a pause in the action for an accidental eye poke, Saeturn turned on the heat, knocking Shwartz down with a right-handed punch and pouring it on with ground and pound shots to force referee Herb Dean to step in and end the fight.
If Terrance Saeturn can load up the right hand at the right time, he’ll walk away the winner.
Carlos Puente Jr. Can Work Quickly
In the other corner, Carlos Puente Jr. has been known to get the finish in a hurry. Just look at the tape of the second round of his fight versus Roger Blanque. About 30 seconds into the period, Puente dropped Blanque and immediately went to work on the ground, rolling over and applying the torque to lock up an arm-triangle choke in 59 seconds.
Blanque was forced to tap out by stamping feet on the canvas. If Carlos Puente Jr. hunts for the takedown immediately after the start of a round, look out.
Final Thoughts
This is an awesome way to end a night of champions. Don’t miss the A1 Combat 24 main event.
Prediction: Terrance Saeturn by First-Round Knockout.
