Extra championship motion comes your means on Friday evening. Whereas New Jersey-based Cage Fury units up store in Tampa Bay on the Florida State Fairgrounds with CFFC 133, the MMA bus makes a cease on the West Coast as Tachi Palace, the host venue of the unique UFC 249 in 2020 earlier than it was postponed by COVID-19, holds Urijah Faber‘s A1 Fight 23.
Dwell protection of the Friday card begins at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on the promotion’s official YouTube channel with the undercard earlier than switching over to UFC Combat Cross at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT for the primary card. It’s a particular night, as nicely.
Throughout Friday’s program, three contenders with ties to the UFC shall be enshrined into the Tachi Palace Corridor of Fame. Alex Perez, Joe Soto, and Michael McDonald make up this yr’s class. There will even be two championship fights on the high of the invoice, beginning with the A1 Fight 23 co-main occasion of the night.
Vacant Featherweight Title Up for Grabs Friday Night time in A1 Fight 23 Co-Fundamental Occasion
The Vacant A1 Fight Featherweight Championship is at stake within the co-headliner on Friday. Erick Sanchez (12-7 MMA, 1-1 A1 Fight), a veteran of each Cage Warriors and Combate World, returns to A1 Fight to face off in opposition to 15-fight veteran Bruno Souza (12-3 MMA, 1-0 A1 Fight), himself an alum of Cage Warriors, in addition to Karate Fight, within the headliner.
As per California State Athletic Fee coverage concerning regionally-based MMA exhibits, the A1 Fight 23 co-main occasion shall be an marketed most of three rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present. Efficient Jan. 1, 2024, all MMA fights on regionally-based playing cards in California are three rounds in size.
No exception was made for a championship combat.
A1 Fight 23 Co-Fundamental Occasion Fighter Comparability
Heading into the A1 Fight 23 co-main occasion on Friday evening, each contestants stand 5-foot-10, so it’s within the attain benefit class the place they achieve separation. Bruno Souza owns a one-inch benefit (70 inches to 69 inches) over Erick Sanchez.
At the moment, the oddsmakers have but to launch any cash strains for A1 Fight 23 on Friday. In case you plan on betting on this or another combat occurring in MMA this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Sanchez Seems to Construct Off February Win This Friday
Erick Sanchez comes into the A1 Fight 23 co-main occasion having posted a file of 3-2 in his final 5 fights. Final outing, he scored a unanimous determination victory over Jacob Rosales (15-9 MMA, 2-1 A1 Fight) on Feb. 22 in A1 Fight 18.
Sanchez is a person who has settled again into the groove of a constant schedule in MMA, one thing that he lacked up to now. Previous to the win in opposition to Rosales late this previous winter, he was compelled out of motion for all of 2023 on account of a postponed light-weight combat in opposition to Salvador Becerra.
Consistency is essential, notably and particularly within the sport of MMA. Will he notch one other win on Friday evening? Tune into the A1 Fight 23 co-main occasion for the reply.
Bruno Souza With Fast Turnaround Forward of A1 Fight 23 Fundamental Occasion
Within the different nook, Bruno Souza enters the featherweight championship having gone 3-2 in his final 5 MMA fights. At the moment second, he’s on a two-fight profitable streak.
Final outing, he scored a unanimous determination after three rounds in opposition to Wilson Reis (28-14 MMA) on June 7 in San Diego throughout Cage Warriors 173. Souza has the shorter hiatus between the 2 males on this combat. Whereas Erick Sanchez has been out of motion for shut to 5 months, Bruno Souza’s final combat was solely seven weeks in the past.
What sort of a coaching camp has Souza had with such a quick window between fights? Solely time will inform.
Evaluation, Movie Examine, and Prediction
It seems to be like we’ve bought one other energy vs. energy matchup within the A1 Fight 23 co-main occasion this Friday, although an edge will be given to Bruno Souza’s background as a karate fighter and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner.
Erick Sanchez Can Seize Management of a Combat
Whereas the flashy finishes in MMA are welcome, a one-sided combat with no stoppage will get the job carried out, like Sanchez did in February vs. Rosales. Though the fighters exchanged photographs in spherical one, Erick Sanchez’s had been the more practical punches by far, gorgeous Jacob Rosales within the course of throughout the spherical.
When Rosales dumped Sanchez within the first spherical, Sanchez’s submission protection was on full show, touchdown floor and pound photographs after the second Rosales takedown, preserving his foot on the fuel pedal all through the competition. If Erick Sanchez can get one sliver of daylight within the A1 Fight 23 co-main occasion, he’ll make Souza pay.
Watch Bruno Souza’s Floor Protection
Within the different nook, Bruno Souza can combat off submission makes an attempt with ease. Simply have a look at the tape of his June combat vs. Wilson Reis.
Through the second spherical of a scheduled three, Souza bought dumped by Reis with a throw after an uppercut, attempting to lock up a submission. Souza flipped the script by touchdown some elbow photographs earlier than returning to his ft.
Bruno Souza is aware of what he has to do if he finds himself on the receiving finish of a submission try.
Ultimate Ideas
The A1 Fight 23 co-main occasion goes to be a enjoyable scrap. Keep up late for this one on Friday evening.
