Bayou Fighting Championship will host Fightville 2 Friday August 24, 2018 from the Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette, LA. Fightville promoter, former UFC veteran Tim Credeur, has partnered with Joe Ancona of Bayou Fighting Championship to expand the brand due to the boom of MMA in South Louisiana. If you are in the Lafayette area, weigh-ins will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday August 23, 2018 at Dix Daquiris located at 101 Liberty Ave Lafayette, LA.
BFC: Fightville 2
The 14-fight card is stacked with the best talent Lafayette and South Louisiana has to offer. There are also fighters representing Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Oklahoma. The card is headlined by a welterweight title match between Eric Scallan, head instructor of Gladiators Academy of Youngsville and a Lafayette native, and Evolution Fight Team/Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Ruston pro veteran Christopher Anthony.
The Main Eventers
Eric Scallan
Eric Scallan, with 18 professional bouts and 13 wins, is looking to rebound from his defeat in January 2018. According to Tapology, Scallan is the third ranked welterweight in Louisiana and the 23rd ranked welterweight and 10th ranked middleweight in the Southeast. “Easy E” Scallan has a very impressive ground game as he was a state champion runner-up at Holy Cross HS (Metairie) and also wrestled collegiality at Wartburg College (Iowa.) During his time at Wartburg College, Scallan was a part of the 2005 NCAA Division III National Championship team.
Scallan was also a competitor on the first season of Bellator: Fight Master where he selected Joe Warren as his coach. Other accolades include being the former Atlas Fights welterweight champion. The B.S. graduate of Psychology from University of Louisiana-Lafayette will not let the fact that Anthony has defeated two of his training partners get into his head, however.
“There’s no animosity, but he did take out two of my training partners so I’m ready to step up,” Scallan stated in a quote prepared in the Fightville 2 Press Kit courtesy of Ken Cooper.
This will be the first time in several years Scallan gets to compete in his hometown. “I’m excited, the last time I fought in Lafayette was six or seven years ago. We have that country attitude, that fighting mentality that’s in our culture. If you put my name on a card, we’re going to bring a fight.”
The 32-year old feels at this point in his career he can use his experience to his advantage. “As I get older I’m more well-rounded, but I finish on the ground. He’s going to have to catch me or this is going my way.”
Christopher Anthony
Christopher Anthony will look to continue his current streak and make it three in a row. The 38-year old Anthony fights out of Elevation Fight System and Gracie BJJ Ruston under Jared Baker, who is his BJJ coach. Anthony looks like he had a great camp and is ready to go.
“We sharpened a lot of things. I know he’s pretty solid on the ground. It’s going to be about who makes the first mistake,” Anthony said in the Press Kit. Anthony may have taken out two of Scallan’s training partners but is not taking for granted that Scallan could be the third.
“He’s tough and I always respect my opponents, but I need to show my athleticism. If I’m on my game, I’ll come out on top.”
He also made it a point to thank the promoter for granting him a main event spot. “I want to thank Tim Credeur for giving me a main event on his show.”
Other Highlights for the Night
First Professional Fight of the Night
The co-main event and the first pro bout of the night will feature hometown Gladiators Academy of Lafayette bantamweight Bruce Moore as he takes on Alexandria, LA’s Devonaire Jones. The 30-year old Moore is 1-1 with a split decision victory in his debut. Jones is currently riding a three-fight skid with an overall record of 1-4. Jones has dropped his last three bouts in a row all by first round submission, so Moore will likely plan to take the fight to the ground, especially with a black belt the level of Tim Credeur coaching. Both fighters need this win to get their careers spun around in the right direction.
Heavyweight Amateur Title Bout
Rounding out the four-fight main card are two amateur championship bouts. The first is a heavyweight scrap between Gladiators Academy of Crowley’s own Brandon Hebert as he takes on Darrell Neal Jr. of Mississippi Combat Alliance in Natchez, MS. Hebert is 3-0 in his amateur career with three first round knockouts. Tim Credeur had nothing but good things to say about the heavy hitter from the Lafayette area.
“He’s a talented kid with three first round finishes, the most difficult thing is finding someone who will take a fight against him,” Credeur said.
Neal is riding a rough string of losses, all by knockout, which could spell a quick night for Neal.
Lightweight Amateur Title Bout
The Fightville amateur lightweight title will also be up for grabs as this bout could be the potential fight of the night. Two UFC veterans lead their respective fighters and next generation of fighters into action. Credeur’s AJ Fletcher will take on Alan Belcher’s Jalen Hill.
Tapology’s No. 5-ranked lightweight in the state, Fletcher, will look to rebound after his first professional loss and get back on the winning track. All four of his wins have come by knockout with his lone loss a decision not in his favor. Fletcher has also competed in kickboxing where he has a record of 4-0. Hill, who fights out of Alan Belcher’s Mobile gym, his currently 3-0 in his amateur career thus far and looks to keep that “0” in the loss column.
Both guys are two of the hottest lightweight in the whole Gulf Coast area and could both compete for a large organization down the road.
“These are two of the best prospects in the gulf coast,” Credeur stated. “They’re our best 155ers on their way to going pro. This fight will go a long way to defining which one of these guys gets a ticket to the big show the quickest.”
The Lafayette area has always been a hotbed for MMA action. The rest of the card is full of Lafayette and the area’s hottest and youngest talents spanning all weight classes. In addition to Gladiators Academy and Alan Belcher Gym, Headkicks MMA of Lafayette also has several representatives on the fight card. Tankhead Fight Club out of Shreveport and Russell Jones Kickboxing of Baton Rouge will also represent the state with competitors.
The Boom of MMA in South Louisiana
MMA in South Louisiana is about to take a meteoric rise with the expansion of Bayou Fighting Championship. Promoter Tim Credeur is excited to bring MMA action back to the hub city.
“It’s an honor to bring MMA back to Lafayette after four years on a big stage at the Heymann Center after the sport has given me so much. The young guys I have competing on this card from Eric Scallan to AJ Fletcher are so talented and I can’t wait for everyone to see all the hard work they’ve put in.”
Matchmaker Joe Ancona is very excited and feels the future of MMA in Louisiana in on the right track.
“It’s a booming industry right now. Louisiana is producing some of the top athletes in the world and we are excited to provide them with a packed venue to show off their skills. We have some extremely high-level guys opening gyms and spreading their knowledge to those coming up in the sport. Gyms like Gladiators Academy, Alan Belcher’s MMA, Headkicks MMA, Russell Jones Kickboxing, Tankhead MMA, Nola BJJ, Mid City Martial Arts, Gold Dragon, Eric Graham MMA, Mushin MMA, T-Webb MMA, Ronin and so many more. My apologies if I’m forgetting anyone.”
Bayou Fighting Championship is just getting started with their take over of South Louisiana. October 24, 2018 they will be in Baton Rouge for the debut of BFC in that city. Make sure to follow BFC and MMASucka for your Louisiana MMA coverage.
