Ordinarily, a Saturday evening of MMA entails a card from the UFC, however not this week. Whereas Dana White and his crew are catching their collective breath from final week’s Noche UFC on the Las Vegas Sphere earlier than heading to France for the promotion’s third annual go to to Paris subsequent weekend, UFC Struggle Move is the place to be for fights in primetime.
Atlantic Metropolis-based Cage Fury Combating Championships (CFFC) takes benefit of a uncommon UFC-free Saturday by holding CFFC 135. The Florida State Fairgrounds is the place the promotion units up store this weekend for the cardboard inside Leisure Corridor.
Reside protection of the present begins at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT on the promotion’s OnlyFans channel with the prelims. Essential card motion follows at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on UFC Struggle Move. All instructed, absent of any postponed or canceled fights between now and the weekend, the ultimate model of CFFC 135 encompasses a full 12-fight card.
Set ’em straight, Mr. Hill!
Catch #CFFC135 THIS SATURDAY ONLY on #UFCFIGHTPASS! pic.twitter.com/6Q1seiIBWH
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 17, 2024
Vacant Bantamweight Championship at Stake in CFFC 135 Essential Occasion
Highlighting the evening’s actions is the battle for the Vacant CFFC Bantamweight Championship within the CFFC 135 major occasion. Joey Ruquet (9-4 MMA, CFFC promotional debut) returns to the cage for the primary time in 54 weeks in opposition to undefeated Khusein Shaikhaev (12-0 MMA, CFFC promotional debut.)
The winner succeeds Vilson Ndregjoni, who was stripped of the 135-lb. belt resulting from failing to make the bantamweight championship most in June of 2023, because the titleholder. As with all CFFC championship fights within the skilled ranks, the CFFC 135 major occasion is an marketed most of 4 rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.
If, nevertheless, the scorecards produce a draw after the contracted size of the combat, it then proceeds to a fifth spherical as a tiebreaking process.
CFFC 135 Essential Occasion Fighter Comparability
Heading into the CFFC 135 major occasion on Saturday night, Joey Ruquet stands because the taller man at 5-foot-8, in comparison with the 5-foot-7 body of Khusein Shaikhaev. Ruquet owns a 64-inch attain, with no such data accessible for Shaikhaev at press time.
Presently, the oddsmakers haven’t any cash traces accessible for CFFC 135 on Saturday evening. In case you plan on betting on this or another combat occurring in MMA or fight sports activities this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Ruquet Appears to be like to Run Successful Streak to 4 on Saturday
Joey Ruquet enters the CFFC 135 major occasion having posted a report of 3-2 in his final 5 fights. Presently, he’s gained three fights in a row.
On Sept. 8 of final yr, he scored a second-round knockout (punches) of Joe Penafiel (11-6 MMA) throughout Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA from VyStar Veterans Memorial Enviornment in Jacksonville. After the combat, he talked about getting again within the cage after an extended layoff.
“I feel I obtained a bit of little bit of an adrenaline dump,” Ruquet started. “It’s been a number of years since I’ve fought stay, so I feel that obtained to me a bit of bit. Aside from that, we caught to the gameplan, saved our distance, tried to attract out of him. As soon as he began over-pressuring, the elbows [were] our gameplan. That’s precisely the way it labored.”
He hasn’t fought in a conventional MMA contest in over two years, courting again to his time in Combate International. In July of 2022, he scored a unanimous determination after three rounds in opposition to Joe Murphy (10-6 MMA). How a lot ring rust does Ruquet have going into the CFFC 135 major occasion?
Solely time will inform.
Shaikhaev Set to Make Stroll for First Time in Nearly Three Years
Within the different nook, Khusein Shaikhaev has but to lose up to now in his skilled MMA profession. The veteran of Russia’s ACA final bested Pavel Vitruk (19-6-1 MMA) in November of 2021.
Shaikhaev was purported to have returned to the cage this previous April versus Michel Lima (19-6-1 MMA) throughout LFA 182 however the combat was postponed previous to the present happening for undisclosed causes. It’s been shut to 3 years since he’s set foot within the cage.
What sort of coaching camp has he been in a position to have coming off of a three-year hiatus? Will that period of time off be a hindrance to Shaikhaev forward of the CFFC 135 major occasion?
Evaluation, Movie Research, and Prediction
Each fighters are coming in off of prolonged gaps of their respective careers. Who would be the new champion?
Ruquet Can Punch His Option to Victory
Joey Ruquet is a superb striker, one thing that was illustrated in his bareknuckle combat in opposition to Joe Penafiel final yr. In the course of the second spherical of a scheduled three, Ruquet scored with some nasty elbows, bloodying Penafiel’s face all of the whereas.
Smelling blood within the water, Ruquet continued to tee off with strikes, together with a punch to the physique that despatched Penafiel to the mat. A flurry of floor and pound photographs ended the competition.
Search for Ruquet to come back out like a home on fireplace within the CFFC 135. If he can discover a house for the massive photographs, look out.
Shaikhaev Slick With Subs
Within the different nook, Khusein Shaikhaev has completed seven fights inside the space with 5 of these stoppages being submissions. One want look no additional than his combat in opposition to Mateusz Juszczac.
Throughout spherical two, Shaikhaev dropped Juszczac and scored with some floor and pound photographs earlier than transitioning to again mount, persevering with to melt up his opponent with punches. From there, he rolled over to use the torque and lock in a rear-naked choke, forcing Juszczac to faucet out.
Khusein Shaikhaev must drop Joey Ruquet at his earliest alternative. If he will get a bit of daylight, he’s golden.
Last Ideas
With no UFC fights occurring this week, the CFFC 135 major occasion runs unopposed. You don’t have any excuse in the case of lacking it.
Prediction: Joey Ruquet by Second-Spherical Knockout.
