A1 Combat 18 Co-Main Event Breakdown

This final full weekend of February is an enormous one. Should you don’t have your popcorn now, right here’s some useful recommendation from your pals at MMA Sucka: Get to the grocery store earlier than Thursday evening.

There’s a lot motion occurring this weekend that it begins on Thursday. Your packed slate of aggressive violence begins at Tachi Palace from Lemoore, CA. The venue, which garnered nationwide headlines for being the host enviornment for the unique model of UFC 249 earlier than executives at each Disney and ESPN requested UFC CEO Dana White to cancel it in 2020 amid pandemic considerations performs host to A1 Fight 19.

Stay protection of Thursday’s present from Urijah Faber‘s promotion begins with the undercard at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on YouTube, persevering with at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on UFC Combat Go with principal card motion. All advised, barring any postponed fights between at times, 9 fights will happen.

Championship Doubleheader Begins With Light-weight Title Combat in A1 Fight 18 Co-Most important Occasion

On the prime of the invoice is a championship doubleheader, kicking off with the A1 Fight 18 co-main occasion. Supremacy at 155 lbs. is at stake because the A1 Fight Light-weight Championship shall be gained. Undefeated Anthony Figueroa (4-0 MMA, 2-0 A1 Fight) will go for the title when he meets Christian Avalos (3-1 MMA, 2-0 A1 Fight).

As per the phrases of the combat contract, this contest is an marketed most of three rounds at 5 minutes per spherical. Instantly following, motion shifts to the 115-lb. division for a championship battle between Taylor Mauldin (4-0 MMA, 1-0 A1 Fight) and Valesca Machado (12-4, 1 NC MMA, A1 Fight promotional debut) within the headliner.

Extra on that combat in a while within the week.

Taylor Mauldin is the brand new A1 Fight Strawweight Champion & sure she did win the Title with a Gogoplauta#A1Combat12 pic.twitter.com/Q1kdg2tBQ0

— Jason Hagholm (@JHagholm1) July 23, 2023

A1 Fight 18 Co-Most important Occasion Fighter Comparability

Heading into the A1 Fight 18 co-main occasion on Thursday evening, each of those males stand degree at 5-foot-10. No attain info was accessible on-line at press time.

Figueroa Returns After Almost 10 Months Away

Anthony Figueroa has but to lose to this point in his skilled MMA profession. Counting novice bouts, he’s on a five-fight successful streak relationship again to June 23, 2018.

Final trip, he scored a unanimous resolution victory towards Lucas Martino (3-2 MMA, 0-1 A1 Fight) throughout the promotion’s first anniversary present on April 28 final 12 months. After that, he was slated to return in September versus Sherrard Blackledge (5-1 MMA) throughout A1 Fight 14, however the combat was scrubbed previous to the present.

Subsequently, Figueroa was booked on the promotion’s Dec. 23 present. Simply two days earlier than Christmas, he had been scheduled to combat Alex Sanchez (14-3 MMA, 1-0 A1 Fight) for the light-weight championship within the authentic A1 Fight 16 principal occasion of the night.

That combat, too, was cancelled previous to the present. A combat for the interim light-weight championship in a restructured principal occasion was additionally withdrawn previous to A1 Fight 16 throughout the vacation season.

It’s been virtually 10 months since Anthony Figueroa final stepped within the cage. Having two scheduled fights in succession get postponed earlier than their respective reveals isn’t simple, however that is what he’s needed to cope with over the course of the final 12 months.

One query stays: Is Anthony Figueroa able to attempt for the championship? For that matter, what sort of a coaching camp has he had over the previous couple of months?

For the solutions, tune into the A1 Fight 18 co-main occasion on Thursday evening and discover out.

Christian Avalos Seeking to Trip Momentum of Two-Combat Profitable Streak into A1 Fight 18 Co-Most important Occasion

Within the different nook, Christian Avalos has posted a mark of 4-1 in his final 5 fights relationship again to his novice days. At current, he’s on a two-fight successful streak, with each of these wins coming by means of submission within the first spherical of the combat.

Most lately, he stopped Andrew Kerfoot (2-1 MMA, 0-1 A1 Fight) on Aug. 4 final 12 months throughout A1 Fight 13. In comparison with Anthony Figueroa, Christian Avalos is undoubtedly the more energizing fighter of those two males within the A1 Fight 18 co-main occasion, having fought over six months in the past.

He’s nonetheless been out for an prolonged time period, nevertheless, so how a lot ring rust is there for him? Solely time will inform.

Evaluation, Movie Research, and Prediction

Thursday’sA1 Fight 18 co-main occasion is one other a kind of toss-ups. Each males are identified to get the job completed with out having to contain the judges’ scorecards.

Figueroa Nasty with Knockouts

Anthony Figueroa has used his hanging to win a combat up to now. One want look no additional than his bout towards Matt Reed.

Through the first spherical of a scheduled three, Reed tried a leg lock, however Figueroa fought out of it and landed some floor and pound photographs. For so long as the combat lasted, Figueroa expertly utilized his floor sport to stifle any effort that Reed tried to advance on the mat.

Afterward within the spherical, Figueroa took again mount and scored with a flurry of unanswered strikes to the pinnacle. The ref had no different choice however to cease the combat. If Figueroa can capitalize with punches in bunches, this title is his within the A1 Fight 18 co-main occasion.

Avalos Can End the Present Rapidly

Within the different nook, don’t low cost Christian Avalos’ capability to complete the combat, He can full his job in a rush. Whereas there are a selection of examples of quick finishes in Avalos’ profession, all you must do is watch his novice tilt vs. Robert Davis from 2018.

Spherical one noticed Avalos and Davis stalk one another with the lads buying and selling strikes. Upon an obvious unlawful blow within the clinch, motion was paused by the referee.

Upon a restart, Avalos went in for the kill and took Davis down. A relentless burst of floor and pound strikes ended the bout. So long as Avalos can take Figueroa down, he could also be on simple road.