Fledgling MMA promotion United Fight League is set to return for its second event on Saturday afternoon, which emanates from the Memphis Event & Sports Center in Memphis, Tenn.
The show will be headlined by a lightweight bout between rising prospects Trey Manley and Angel Alvarez, and also feature some preliminary bouts in grand prix-style tournaments that will ultimately crown the first champions of the promotion at year’s end.
FIGHT DAY IN MEMPHIS👊
UFL2 takes over! Don’t miss out on the second half the Quarter Finals Grand Prix! LIVE on Rumble!! #UFL #MMA #MEMPHIS pic.twitter.com/qgHa4G5pbF— United Fight League (@UnitedMMALeague) May 13, 2023
Fight fans can catch UFL 2 streaming live on Rumble beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.
Main Event — Manley vs. Alvarez
Manley and Alvarez, despite competing in one of MMA’s toughest, deepest divisions, are both prospects to keep an eye on thanks to their wealth of skills and killer instinct. Manley, a local favorite, trains out of Memphis Judo & Jiu Jitsu and could be a fighter to ultimately raise the profile of the gym. After dropping his pro debut back in 2017, Manley has rebounded to score victories in each of his last four, and can make it five in a row with a win over Alvarez. In the meantime, he has picked up knockouts in three of his four wins.
Meanwhile, “Salsa King” Alvarez boasts a similar professional record to his opponent at 5-1, but has seen his career take a slightly different trajectory. After turning pro in 2020, Cuba’s Alvarez took the first loss of his career against Enrique Gonzalez at a Combate event last year. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round. Hoping to put the defeat behind him, Alvarez will likely go back to the well as three of his five wins have come by way of his own knockouts.
Rest of the Card
Light heavyweights Ben Parrish and Troy Cain will occupy the co-main event slot while four tournament bouts precede it on the main card. Dana White’s Contender Series alum Canaan Kawaihae returns to action in one of the aforementioned bouts against Rudson Caliocane. Both fighters have the commonality of being athletic featherweights with power in their hands. In other tournament bouts, Dahlen Wilson will take on Dzhokhar Duraev, relative and training partner of UFC middleweight Albert Duraev. Bellator and LFA alum Demarques Jackson will meet the dangerous Nikolay Veretennikov in welterweight field, and Leon Shahbazyan, another DWCS alum and brother of UFC middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan, is set to take on 4-1 Ryan Loder. Loder was a former Division I wrestler at the University of Northern Iowa.
The prelims will also feature its fair share of notable fights. One of the most intriguing fights on this portion of the card will be the professional MMA debut of 23-year-old Raja Jackson. Jackson is the son of former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, better known to fight fans as Rampage Jackson. The younger Jackson, who compiled a 3-0 record as an amateur, will be taking on Hastings McMillan at 170 pounds in the preliminary opener.
With fights subject to change as always, be sure to stay locked into MMA Sucka for up-to-the-minute results and updates.
United Fight League 2 Results
Main Card
Troy Cain def. Ben Parrish via Technical Submission (Kimura) at 1:12 of Round 1
Shane Sobnosky def. Tyler Ray via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ryan Loder def. Leon Shahbazyan via TKO (punches) at 1:35 of Round 1
Nikolay Veretennikov def. Demarques Jackson via Submission (Guillotine) at 1:38 of Round 2
Ashley Reese def. Stephen Costello via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Canaan Kawaihae def. Rudson Caliocane via TKO (punches) at :54 of Round 1
Brittany Cloudy def. Claudia Zamora via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Veronika Smolkova def. Kayla Yontef via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Justin Wetzel def. Renzo Martinez via TKO (strikes) at 4:15 of Round 3
Ieuan Mackenzie def. Tra’vell Boone via at Submission (RNC) 3:45 of Round 1
Ioan Harris def. Unterio Gladney via Submission (RNC) at 3:05 of Round 1
Brandon Gaitor def. Marshall Thompson Jr. via TKO (strikes) at 4:57 of Round 2
Sanon Sadeck def. TJ Welch via TKO (strikes) at 2:25 of Round 3
Raja Jackson def. Hastings McMillan via TKO (strikes) at 3:30 of Round 1
