LFA will showcase middleweights on Friday night, as Josh Fremd and Bruno Oliveira will compete in the main event of LFA 98. The non-championship fight headlines a live card from the Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas, USA.
Follow along throughout the evening for live coverage of the event.
A full preview of the card can be viewed here.
Quick Results:
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
Bout 1: Obinwa Ikebunna def. Dan Olajiga via Submission, Armbar (RD 1, 0:58)
Main Card (9:00PM EST / 8:00PM CST) (UFC Fight Pass)
Bout 2: Zac Pauga def. Ashby Thomas via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 2:21)
Bout 3: Joshua Silveira def. Matt Paul via Submission, Rear Naked Choke (RD 1, 2:46)
Bout 4: Tabatha Ricci def. Vanessa Grimes via Submission, Armbar (RD 1, 1:07)
Bout 5: Dakota Bush def. Austin Clem via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 0:57)
Bout 6: Richard Palencia def. Jeimeson Saudino via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 7: Lucas Clay def. JJ Okanovich via Decision, Unanimous
Live Coverage:
Bout 8: Josh Fremd (6-1) vs. Bruno Oliveira (8-2) (LFA Middleweight Tournament Semi-Finals)
Fremd Continues Streak of Stoppage Wins, Defeats Oliveira In Middleweight Tournament
Josh Fremd continued his streak of stoppage wins in the main event, defeating Bruno Oliveira in the semi-finals of LFA’s middleweight tournament.
Fremd scored a left hook that dropped Oliveira late in the first round. He followed-up with hammerfist punches to a grounded Oliveira before the referee stopped the fight.
Fremd has now moved on to the finals of the LFA bracket. His opponent in the finals will be decided on February 19th, as the other semi-final fight between Anthony Adams and Gregory Rodrigues will happen.
Fremd made the claim after the fight that he will win a title in the near future. He shouted out Nick Browne, the current LFA Lightweight Champion, claiming both of them will hold belts soon.
“Nick Browne, I know you got your belt two weeks ago. I’m coming for mine [too], baby,” said Fremd in his post-fight interview.
Fremd entered the fight after a strong 2020 in LFA, where he earned two stoppage wins. Fremd was given LFA’s “Fighter of the Year” award after 2020.
Oliveira was returning months after losing a fight on UFC show “Dana White’s Contender Series.”
Bout 7: JJ Okanovich (7-1) vs. Lucas Clay (6-1) (Lightweight)
Clay Showcases Grappling In Decision Win
Lucas Clay earned an impressive win in the co-main event, defeating JJ Okanovich in a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 & 29-28) to earn his third consecutive win as a pro.
Clay’s best moments in the fight were on the ground, where he was able to control Okanovich and make him defend submissions.
Okanovich was wobbled early in the first round after a spinning back fist connected. The strike from Clay allowed the fight to go to the ground. Clay spent most of the round on the back of Okanovich where he looked for a rear naked choke.
Clay was early to score a takedown in the second round of the fight. He smothered Okanovich with strikes for the entire round.
A large portion of the final round took place in the clinch. Clay landed a takedown before the round ran out of time.
After the fight. Clay was upset that he wasn’t able to show striking as much.
“That was not the fight that I trained a month-and-a-half for. I busted my butt to put on a boxing display and I swear I am a better striker than that,” said Clay in his post-fight interview.
The fight was Clay’s return to LFA after three fights in other promotions.
Okanovich was making his LFA debut in the fight. He previously has earned five wins in Bellator and one victory on UFC TV series “Dana White’s Contender Series.”
Bout 6: Richard Palencia (8-0) vs. Jeimeson Saudino (9-6) (Bantamweight)
Palencia Takes Scorecard Win In Return, Remains Undefeated
Richard Palencia’s sharp striking allowed him to pick up a decision win (29-27, 29-27 & 29-27) against Jeimeson Saudino on Friday, extending his record to nine wins as a pro.
Palenica consistently threw a higher volume of punches than Saudino throughout the fight, connecting with lots of jabs and kicks.
The first round was the most hectic in the fight, as it saw a knockdown and point deduction.
Palencia landed an overhand right halfway through the first round that rocked Saudino.
While Palencia had a strong first round, all judges scored it an even 9-9, as Palencia was deducted a point after accidentally striking Saudino in the groin.
The fight was both fighter’s return to action after over a year outside of the cage.
Saudino’s previous fight was his first win in six fights.
The win for Palencia was his third under the LFA banner.
Bout 5: Dakota Bush (7-2) vs. Austin Clem (4-1) (Lightweight)
Bush Scores Head Kick, Stops Clem Within A Minute
Dakota Bush put together explosive strikes to pick up a win on the main card, catching Austin Clem with a combination of stikes in the first minute that stopped the fight.
Bush connected with a head kick that clearly stunned Clem while his back was up against the cage. He then landed a series of punches that dropped Clem, causing the referee to stop the fight.
The win was Bush’s first stoppage win due to strikes since his pro debut. He was excited about his win afterwards.
“I’ve been looking for this for a long time,” said Bush in his post-fight interview.
Bush added to his already experienced LFA record with the win. He now has five wins in the promotion through seven fights. His previous bout was a first-round win against Brian Del Rosario.
Clem had won his three previous fights leading up to Friday, including a win over Aaron Chalmers on a Bellator card.
Clem missed weight for the fight, coming in just half-a-pound over the non-championship lightweight limit.
Bout 4: Tabatha Ricci (3-0) vs. Vanessa Grimes (1-5) (Strawweight)
Ricci Earns Armbar, Earns Fourth Win As A Pro
Tabatha Ricci picked up a fast win on Friday, defeating Vanessa Grimes with an armbar in the first round.
Ricci controlled the fight on the ground before securing the submission. She scored a takedown early in the fight after Grimes charged forward with punches.
Ricci won her LFA debut in September, defeating Kelsey Arnesen on scorecards in September.
Grimes is now on a large six-fight losing streak.
Bout 3: Joshua Silveira (3-0) vs. Matt Paul (3-2) (Light Heavyweight)
Silveira Remains Undefeated, Gets Submission Win
Joshua Silveira showed his grappling skills on the main card, submitting Matt Paul in the first round with a rear naked choke. The win for Silveira came after he scored a takedown and maneuvered his way around Paul for a minute.
The win is Silveira’s fourth as a pro and his second in LFA. His previous fight was in October, where he submitted Fernando Alvarado in the third round.
The bout was Paul’s first since 2018.
Bout 2: Zac Pauga (1-0) vs. Ashby Thomas (1-0) (Light Heavyweight)
Pauga Uses Ground and Pound To Earn Second Win
Zac Pauga had a dominant win against Ashby Thomas to start the main card, throwing ground and pound from the crucifix position that made the referee stop the fight in the third minute.
Pauga scored with punches and elbows that cut Thomas open before the referee stopped the fight in the first round.
Pauga won his pro debut on an LFA card in 2020, defeating Zac Cavender via decision.
Thomas made his pro debut in 2020 as well, defeating Awsome Thurman back in February.
Bout 1: Dan Olajiga (0-0) vs. Obinwa Ikebunna (1-0) (Middleweight)
Ikebunna Wins LFA Debut Within A Minute, Submits Olajiga
Obinwa Ikebunna picked up a quick submission win on the prelims, catching Dan Olajiga in the first minute with an armbar to end the fight.
Ikebunna secured the armbar while on his back. The submission came shortly after Olajiga scored a takedown and looked to get control in full mount.
Ikebunna was ecstatic after winning his fight.
“I feel like I’m living a dream right now,” said Ikebunna in his post-fight interview.
The fight was Ikebunna’s second win as a pro. His MMA debut was in November of 2019, where he defeated Lee Hagel.
The loss for Olajiga was his pro debut.
‘Medical Clearance Issue’ Takes Prelims Fight Out of Lineup
LFA announced on Friday that a “medical clearance issue” took a fight between Marisol Ruelas and Marisa Chavez off the card. The fight was set to take place during the preliminary card.
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