LFA continues it's huge 2025 with another awesome card. This card features multiple fights in which the winner will very likely get into the UFC or be on the Contender Series later on in the year. The card is broadcast on UFC Fight Pass on Thursday at 11:00 PM ET.
URAN SATYBALDIEV (7-1) vs. LEON SOARES (9-2) – Light Heavyweight Championship
Uran Satybaldiev was meant to be on the Contender Series last year but was never booked. It is likely he got injured but with a win here I would expect to see him on the show. He is tall for the weight class and really only wrestles. His striking isn't very great as he mostly comes forward throwing overhands so he can close the distance to try get a take down. Once he does get a take down he is heavy on top but isn't super active. Bruno Assis was able to put him in some tough positions on the ground with defensive submission attempts and his own take downs. I was able to find some tape on Leon Soares but he's just beating up terrible competition. He's a wrestler himself and doesn't like to engage on the feet. This is just a lay up for Satybaldiev to get him a good win on paper prior to DWCS. But honestly, Satybaldiev is pretty flawed himself so I don't know how far he could get in the UFC.
Pick: Uran Satybaldiev by KO/TKO. High confidence.
ALLAN BEGOSSO (8-3-1) vs. MACIAS URENA (9-3) – Bantamweight
This is a tough fight to predict as Allan Begosso has been on a pretty bad run recently, but I still think he is pretty good. He is small for bantamweight but has a well-rounded skill set overall which will be useful in a fight like this. His most recent losses have been to guys that are also well rounded fighters like John Sweeney and Farid Basharat, but Urena isn't that. Urena is coming into this fight with a huge size advantage which he will look to use on the feet to get a knock out. His take down defense did look better than expected in his most recent fight against Kasey Tanner who will definitely be on DWCS now. Begosso is a guy I think could still go on a run and make it to a big promotion and in this fight he's going to need to get the grappling going. Urena still has holes in his game in the grappling and Begosso should look to exploit that.
Pick: Allan Begosso by decision. Low confidence.
SHARAF DAVLATMURODOV (19-5-1) vs. CHRISTIANO FROHLICH (11-6) – Middlewieght
Not sure what to expect from Frohlich as he hasn't fought for over two years and has accepted this fight on short notice. Frohlich has been very inactive but over the course of his career has found himself in fights all over the world. He has a black belt in BJJ but has been fighting in kickboxing recently. Every fight I found of his he looked sloppy and not great. Sharaf looks like he is trying to get a contract in a big U.S. promotion again as he was released from Bellator. He is a wrestler who keeps his hands quite low on the feet. He doesn't always get a take down on his first attempt but he likes to work against the cage until he gains control. From there he likes to look for submissions instead of focusing on ground and pound. Who knows what Frohlich is going to look like as he hasn't fought for a long time, but at least Sharaf has been fighting good competition in ACA and Bellator.
Pick: Sharaf Davlatmurodov by KO/TKO. Medium confidence.
JOSH HOKIT (3-0) vs. EZEKIEL LATU (5-3) – Heavyweight
It is good to see Josh Hokit staying busy as he looks like he has some potential at heavyweight. He's an athletic guy who is confident striking but finds most of his success grappling. I looked into Ezekiel Latu and his fights are fun to watch but he isn't beating Hokit. He's a shorter, older, slower Junior Tafa pretty much. Hokit should have a huge grappling advantage here.
Pick: Josh Hokit by KO/TKO or submission. High confidence.
STAV KOREN (6-0) vs. CHASE WHITMER (3-1) – Bantamweight
This fight should be a banger. Koren is all action and Whitmer comes to scrap as well. Koren is massive for bantamweight and lands with huge power on the feet with his boxing. He wants the fight to get to the ground though where he can look to grapple. Whitmer is a pressure fighter, always trying to close the distance and get take downs of his own. I don't think Koren has had to deal with someone who will pressure him as much as Whitmer will so this should be a good test for him. Koren should have more ways to win though. His power on the feet is no joke and he seems to land very often with it. Whitmer hunts for take downs a lot which could slow Koren down but from what I have seen Whitmer isn't a super dominant wrestler. I don't think this goes the distance but I like koren's chances as he can land from range and also control the grappling if he wants.
Pick: Stav Koren by KO/TKO. Medium confidence.
BEATRIZ MESQUITA (3-0) vs.HOPE CHASE (4-2) – Women's Bantamweight
Beatriz Mesquita has a massive BJJ background, with 10 world championship gi wins, and 5 world nogi championships. She has also won gold medals across the world over a very long period of time. Coming into MMA her BJJ is obviously elite but everything else needs time. Her striking is very average and her take downs aren't great either. Hope Chase is a step up in competition for her but Chase has been quite inactive, taking a 3 year break before returning against Sierra Dinwoodie who could be a big prospect at Bantamweight. Dinwoodie dominated the grappling in that fight but she is much bigger than Mesquita. Either way, it's hard to not see Mesquita find some way to get the fight down to the ground where she should be able to lock up a submission.
AZIZBEK TEMIROV (5-0) vs. DANIEL ARAUJO (6-0) – Bantamweight
Azizbek Temirov is the brother of Ramazonbek Temirov who just got a big win over Charles Johnson in the UFC. Like his brother he has a boxing background and fights in a very similar way. He is small for the division but makes up for it with very fast footwork and hands. He has showcased one punch KO power on numerous occasions and is always ready to throw counters. Despite having a professional boxing background, Araujo's MMA boxing leaves him very open. His chin is up in the air as he moves forward throwing looping shots. He looks to have a very big gap in his wrestling which Temirov could likely exploit as well. This is also Araujo's second fight at bantamweight so maybe there is some concern with the weight cut. Araujo is much taller than Temirov but if anything that suits Temirov as he wants to get into the pocket to land hooks and uppercuts.
Pick: Azizbek Temirov by KO/TKO. Medium confidence.
EZRA ELLIOT (3-0) vs. JOSE VASQUEZ (3-0) – Bantamweight
This is a grappler vs, striker match up and I think Elliot's grappling is going to be the big factor here.
Pick: Ezra Elliot by submission. Medium-high confidence.
