Tag: Legacy Fighting Championship

Following KO Loss to Tim Means at LFC 23 on Friday, Pete Spratt Retires, Then Unretires to Appeal Loss


(Gif of the Means/Spratt ending via MMAFighting.) 

With Bellator 99, World Series of Fighting 5 and, oh yeah, Mayweather vs. Canelo all transpiring this past weekend, you might not have heard that Legacy Fighting Championships — the quiet, unassuming, off-off-off Broadway MMA promotion to the stars — held an event as well. Despite featuring a few names that only the hardest of hardcore MMA would recognize (Richard Odoms! THE Carlos Vergara!!), LFC 23 set the stage for a couple notable moments. Mainly, Leonard Garcia picking up his second straight win since being ousted from the UFC and Pete Spratt retiring following his first round KO loss to fellow UFC vet Tim Means in the evening’s main event.

Unfortunately, while we were in the midst of drafting up another “And Now He’s Retired” article to commemorate Spratt’s departure after nearly 50 professional bouts and 15 years in the sport (!), Spratt done went and unretired. After a 48 hour retirement. Vinny Magalhaes was all like “He did *what* now?” and we were all like “Not this shit again,” but it seems that Spratt will be moving forward with his CP ban-violating decision nonetheless. Here’s why:

That was a retirement thing based on a guy who got hit in the back of the head, that was still groggy thinking about his family and that type of stuff, without having had the opportunity to review what actually happened in the fight. If I looked back at it and my skills had diminished, that would be different. But that wasn’t the case. 

Me, I was thinking I just went in there and got my butt kicked, which isn’t what happened after I watched the fight.


(Gif of the Means/Spratt ending via MMAFighting.) 

With Bellator 99, World Series of Fighting 5 and, oh yeah, Mayweather vs. Canelo all transpiring this past weekend, you might not have heard that Legacy Fighting Championships — the quiet, unassuming, off-off-off Broadway MMA promotion to the stars — held an event as well. Despite featuring a few names that only the hardest of hardcore MMA would recognize (Richard Odoms! THE Carlos Vergara!!), LFC 23 set the stage for a couple notable moments. Mainly, Leonard Garcia picking up his second straight win since being ousted from the UFC and Pete Spratt retiring following his first round KO loss to fellow UFC vet Tim Means in the evening’s main event.

Unfortunately, while we were in the midst of drafting up another “And Now He’s Retired” article to commemorate Spratt’s departure after nearly 50 professional bouts and 15 years in the sport (!), Spratt done went and unretired. After a 48 hour retirement. Vinny Magalhaes was all like “He did *what* now?” and we were all like “Not this shit again,” but it seems that Spratt will be moving forward with his CP ban-violating decision nonetheless. Here’s why:

That was a retirement thing based on a guy who got hit in the back of the head, that was still groggy thinking about his family and that type of stuff, without having had the opportunity to review what actually happened in the fight. If I looked back at it and my skills had diminished, that would be different. But that wasn’t the case. 

Me, I was thinking I just went in there and got my butt kicked, which isn’t what happened after I watched the fight.

Oh boy, the old “I was wronged” defense.

Look, we are obviously not in the place to decide whether Spratt’s skills have diminished over the years (although his barely above .500 record would seem to indicate that they have) or to declare whether Means’ elbows were illegal or not (my vote is that they weren’t. Also, I’m always right about these things). That being said, Spratt’s reasoning for unretiring seems to be based on decisions as hastily-made as the ones that led him to retire all of three days ago. If the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation doesn’t overturn the loss, does that mean that Spratt will accept that he “Got his butt kicked” and re-retire once and for all?

Again, our opinion probably means fuck-all to a pioneer of the sport like Spratt, who insists that he is still “having fun” competing in MMA at the tender age of 42:

I’m having fun with the competition and at the same time I’m still learning and enjoying testing myself against these younger guys. If I wasn’t 42, people wouldn’t be talking about me retiring, or being in the twilight of my career. I never drank, never smoked, never abused my body negatively for me to be diminishing in my skills. Which I’m not.

Currently 4-6 in his past 10 fights, we would say that “The Secret Weapon’s” best days are most certainly behind him. If he is unwilling to admit that, that’s fine. But who knows? Maybe the fact that the UFC is giving a mentally unstable B.J. Penn the keys to the gun cabinet has convinced Spratt to make another run at the big time, because who the hell is going to stop him? We just hope for his sake that it won’t take another brutal knockout loss (or series of brutal knockout losses) to remind Spratt that his original decision was the right one.

–J. Jones

Legacy FC Signs Olympic Gold Medalist and Undefeated MMA Fighter Henry Cejudo, Debut Set for October


(We still liked it better when Brandi Chastain did it. Photo via FOX News.) 

The mixed martial arts career of Henry Cejudo is off to a promising start, to say the least. Already holding the honor of being the youngest American wrestler to ever take gold in the Olympics, Cejudo made the switch to MMA last March and has already reeled off four first round finishes in the time since. And while his opponents haven’t exactly been the caliber of, say, Ronda Rousey’s first few, comparisons between the two are being made nonetheless.

And now, it appears the bantamweight prospect will be thrust back into the limelight once again (albeit a much dimmer one), as word broke yesterday that the Olympian has signed with well known Texas-based promotion Legacy FC. In addition, Cejudo is primed to make his debut on Oct. 11 against 4-1 Ryan “Riptide” Hollis at the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas. The event will air live on AXS TV.

The four time high school state wrestling champion spoke elatedly with MMAJunkie:

It was very important to me to join a professional organization that will allow me the opportunity to continue to grow as an MMA athlete. It was equally important for me to partner with an organization that has an established track record of helping fighters grow into world-class athletes and champions. I want to fight for a credible organization and face high-caliber opponents. Legacy is that organization and has made that commitment to me.

After the jump: Cejudo’s aforementioned victory over Matsunaga in the Beijing games, a brief glimpse at Cejudo’s MMA skills via some Spanish news site and a video of Hollis’ most recent performance.


(We still liked it better when Brandi Chastain did it. Photo via FOX News.) 

The mixed martial arts career of Henry Cejudo is off to a promising start, to say the least. Already holding the honor of being the youngest American wrestler to ever take gold in the Olympics, Cejudo made the switch to MMA last March and has already reeled off four first round finishes in the time since. And while his opponents haven’t exactly been the caliber of, say, Ronda Rousey’s first few, comparisons between the two are being made nonetheless.

And now, it appears the bantamweight prospect will be thrust back into the limelight once again (albeit a much dimmer one), as word broke yesterday that the Olympian has signed with well known Texas-based promotion Legacy FC. In addition, Cejudo is primed to make his debut on Oct. 11 against 4-1 Ryan “Riptide” Hollis at the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas. The event will air live on AXS TV.

The four time high school state wrestling champion spoke elatedly with MMAJunkie:

It was very important to me to join a professional organization that will allow me the opportunity to continue to grow as an MMA athlete. It was equally important for me to partner with an organization that has an established track record of helping fighters grow into world-class athletes and champions. I want to fight for a credible organization and face high-caliber opponents. Legacy is that organization and has made that commitment to me.

After the jump: Cejudo’s aforementioned victory over Matsunaga in the Beijing games, a brief glimpse at Cejudo’s MMA skills via some Spanish news site and a video of Hollis’ most recent performance.

After defeating Japan’s Tomohiro Matsunaga to secure the gold in the Beijing 2008 games, Cejudo failed to make the cut in 2012. As a result, he ceremoniously took off his shoes, unceremoniously threw them into the crowd and retired from the sport. Because, let’s be honest, how embarrassing would it be if someone made the universal gesture for retirement only to accept a fight a few weeks later?

In any case, Cejudo announced that he was making the transition to MMA earlier this year. It would appear that he is a fast learner.

Being that his first four opponents hold a combined record of something between Kenneth Allen and Jason Reinhart in the UFC, it’s nice to see that Legacy will be giving Cejudo no easy test in Hollis for his promotional debut. Then again, Hollis is a natural flyweight whose 4 victories (2 TKO, 2 Sub) have come over similarly outmatched opponents. Opponents like the 8-12 Randy Villareal, who Hollis recently defeated via upkick KO at Big Dawg Promotions (*shudder*) in March. A video of said KO is below.

An impressive KO for sure, and one made all the more impressive by the fact that Villareal was apparently “being a butthead the whole time before the fight!” so sayeth the Youtube uploader. Surely Ruben, Chief of the Villareal tribe, will not stand for this act of disrespect.

Does anyone see Cejudo using his grappling background to notch another quick victory, or will Hollis prove too much for the Olympian in his (semi) mainstream debut? While you discuss that, make sure to also harass Sherdog — who mislabelled the above KO as the result of a “Punch” — via the social networking site of your choice until they give Hollis his due credit.

–J. Jones

Bellator Buys Out Matt Riddle’s LFC Contract [UH-OH], “Deep Waters” Joins Season 9 Welterweight Tournament


(Riddle poses with Anthony Johnso…er…Christopher “Big Black” Boykin, a guy so cool that he forces the *fighters* to fist pose in pictures with him. Via Riddle’s Twitter.)

TUF 7‘s Matt Riddle may lack the ability to rid his body of marijuana metabolites in time for a scheduled fight, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that he lacks his own strict moral code. Case in point, following Riddle’s second positive post-fight test for the banned substance at UFC on FUEL 7 and subsequent firing, Riddle told reporters that, should the UFC suddenly want him back after he racks up six or seven wins in the next year or two, he would probably turn them down. It was a bold statement to make, especially considering the “sickening, depressing nightmare” life outside the UFC has been described as by people like Todd Duffee, who have actually had to experience it.

But as we often (and somewhat ironically) say, “actions speak louder than words.” And if Riddle was seeking to eliminate even the possibility of a UFC return down the line, he has successfully pulled it off. It has recently been announced that Riddle’s Legacy FC contract has been bought out by Bellator, which if recent reports are any indication, is where he shall now remain for the rest of his natural life. Riddle will thusly be participating in the promotion’s upcoming Season 9 welterweight tournament, as he told MMAJunkie:

I had so many options after I left the UFC, but knowing that I was able to compete in a tournament against guys like Paul Daley, Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima, signing with Bellator was an easy decision. This division is just so stacked, and being able to fight in a tournament makes it even better. Bellator is doing a lot of great things right now (Author’s note: Gee, I wonder what he’s REEFERring to *tap dances off stage*), and I want to be a part of it.

“Oh, you’ll be a part of it alright…FOREVER!!!  MU HU HA HA HA!” – Bjorn Rebney by way of Ben Goldstein.

Bellator’s welterweight tournament is set to get under way starting in the fall, although no specific dates or venues have yet to be named. Anyone give Riddle a decent chance of making some waves in his new promotion?

–J. Jones


(Riddle poses with Anthony Johnso…er…Christopher “Big Black” Boykin, a guy so cool that he forces the *fighters* to fist pose in pictures with him. Via Riddle’s Twitter.)

TUF 7‘s Matt Riddle may lack the ability to rid his body of marijuana metabolites in time for a scheduled fight, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that he lacks his own strict moral code. Case in point, following Riddle’s second positive post-fight test for the banned substance at UFC on FUEL 7 and subsequent firing, Riddle told reporters that, should the UFC suddenly want him back after he racks up six or seven wins in the next year or two, he would probably turn them down. It was a bold statement to make, especially considering the ”sickening, depressing nightmare” life outside the UFC has been described as by people like Todd Duffee, who have actually had to experience it.

But as we often (and somewhat ironically) say, “actions speak louder than words.” And if Riddle was seeking to eliminate even the possibility of a UFC return down the line, he has successfully pulled it off. It has recently been announced that Riddle’s Legacy FC contract has been bought out by Bellator, which if recent reports are any indication, is where he shall now remain for the rest of his natural life. Riddle will thusly be participating in the promotion’s upcoming Season 9 welterweight tournament, as he told MMAJunkie:

I had so many options after I left the UFC, but knowing that I was able to compete in a tournament against guys like Paul Daley, Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima, signing with Bellator was an easy decision. This division is just so stacked, and being able to fight in a tournament makes it even better. Bellator is doing a lot of great things right now (Author’s note: Gee, I wonder what he’s REEFERring to *tap dances off stage*), and I want to be a part of it.

“Oh, you’ll be a part of it alright…FOREVER!!!  MU HU HA HA HA!” – Bjorn Rebney by way of Ben Goldstein.

Bellator’s welterweight tournament is set to get under way starting in the fall, although no specific dates or venues have yet to be named. Anyone give Riddle a decent chance of making some waves in his new promotion?

–J. Jones

Where Are They Now – Damacio Page and Kamal Shalorus Receive Future Opponents


Photo courtesy of LegacyFights.Net

UFC veterans Damacio Page and Kamal Shalorus both had fairly similar runs in the Octagon. After showing promise in the WEC, both men were disappointing at best once called up to the sport’s biggest stage. Both men went 0-3 in the UFC before receiving their walking papers during the summer of 2012. Now, they’ve both recently booked their first fights in their post-UFC careers, and neither man has an easy rebound fight lined up.

When we last saw Damacio Page, he was being choked out by Alex Caceres during UFC on Fuel TV 4, marking his fourth straight loss. “The Angel of Death” was released from his contract shortly afterwards, and now, the former UFC bantamweight has decided to sign with Legacy FC. He will make his promotional debut against 4-0 prospect Patrick Ybarra at Legacy FC 20 on May 31.

Before you start screaming “squash match,” know that Ybarra has finished all four of his professional fights by armbar, and that none of those fights made it out of the first round. Combined with the fact that seven of Page’s eight losses have come by submission, Ybarra probably has a better chance at pulling off the upset than you think.


Photo courtesy of LegacyFights.Net

UFC veterans Damacio Page and Kamal Shalorus both had fairly similar runs in the Octagon. After showing promise in the WEC, both men were disappointing at best once called up to the sport’s biggest stage. Both men went 0-3 in the UFC before receiving their walking papers during the summer of 2012. Now, they’ve both recently booked their first fights in their post-UFC careers, and neither man has an easy rebound fight lined up.

When we last saw Damacio Page, he was being choked out by Alex Caceres during UFC on Fuel TV 4, marking his fourth straight loss. “The Angel of Death” was released from his contract shortly afterwards, and now, the former UFC bantamweight has decided to sign with Legacy FC. He will make his promotional debut against 4-0 prospect Patrick Ybarra at Legacy FC 20 on May 31.

Before you start screaming “squash match,” know that Ybarra has finished all four of his professional fights by armbar, and that none of those fights made it out of the first round. Combined with the fact that seven of Page’s eight losses have come by submission, Ybarra probably has a better chance at pulling off the upset than you think.

Likewise, when we last saw Kamal Shalorus, he was getting choked out by Rafael dos Anjos in the first round of their fight at UFC on Fuel TV 3. “The Prince of Persia” has recently signed on with ONE FC, and will be facing Eduard Folayang during his promotional debut at ONE FC 9 – which coincidentally also takes place on May 31. Even though both fighters are coming off of losses, this should be a very interesting match-up. Folayang is a very entertaining striker, and one of the top fighters that ONE FC has to offer.

So what do you think? Which fighter has the better chance of ending their losing streak this May?

@SethFalvo

Despite Fireable Performances at UFC on FUEL 7, Matt Riddle and Che Mills Sign Multi-Fight Deals With Legacy FC, Cage Warriors


(When Keepin’ it Real Goes Wrong: Breakdance Edition. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.) 

Like the mighty osprey as it descends from the sky to feast on a trout, the fallout from Matt Riddle’s UFC on FUEL 7 bout with Che Mills was swift and fierce. Not only was Mills lambasted/fired for putting on a piss-poor performance, but Riddle was similarly bashed by Dana White for his efforts in victory and released from the promotion shortly thereafter (following his second failed post-fight drug test). Despite the setback, Riddle stated that he was happy to finally be freed from the hypocritical bonds of Zuffa to crush some cans, so much so that he would probably never come back to the UFC if they asked him to.

In either case, it looks like Riddle will be given plenty of opportunities to do just that in the Texas-based organization Legalize It Legacy Fighting Championships, which Riddle announced he had signed a multi-fight deal with over the weekend via Twitter:

You have to appreciate how Riddle, being the witty bastard that he is, managed to reference both his recent quotes about beating his kids and the State of Texas’ history with blood baths in one masterfully written tweet. That’s what he was doing, right?

And in other news, Riddle’s opponent at UFC on FUEL 7, Che Mills, has successfully landed on his feet as well…


(When Keepin’ it Real Goes Wrong: Breakdance Edition. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.) 

Like the mighty osprey as it descends from the sky to feast on a trout, the fallout from Matt Riddle’s UFC on FUEL 7 bout with Che Mills was swift and fierce. Not only was Mills lambasted/fired for putting on a piss-poor performance, but Riddle was similarly bashed by Dana White for his efforts in victory and released from the promotion shortly thereafter (following his second failed post-fight drug test). Despite the setback, Riddle stated that he was happy to finally be freed from the hypocritical bonds of Zuffa to crush some cans, so much so that he would probably never come back to the UFC if they asked him to.

In either case, it looks like Riddle will be given plenty of opportunities to do just that in the Texas-based organization Legalize It Legacy Fighting Championships, which Riddle announced he had signed a multi-fight deal with over the weekend via Twitter:

You have to appreciate how Riddle, being the witty bastard that he is, managed to reference both his recent quotes about beating his kids and the State of Texas’ history with blood baths in one masterfully written tweet. That’s what he was doing, right?

And in other news, Riddle’s opponent at UFC on FUEL 7, Che Mills, has successfully landed on his feet as well.

Despite “giving up” in the third round of his fight with Riddle (White’s words, not ours), Mills has already signed a five-fight deal with UK-based promotion Cage Warriors, a promotion that has seen such names as Irish phenom Conor McGregor, Paul Daley, and TUF 6 runner-up Tommy Speer fight under its banner.

None of the details regarding Mills’ signing figures or debut opponent/date have been made available, but Cage Warriors CEO Graham Boylan had the following to say upon breaking the news (via MMAJunkie):

Che Mills is the best U.K. welterweight outside of the UFC at the moment, so I’m extremely happy that he has decided to come on board. A fighter of his caliber wouldn’t have been short of offers, but the fact that Che has opted to sign for Cage Warriors is proof that the guy is determined to return to the top. I have no doubt that he’ll get there too.

I’m a big fan of Che Mills. When the UFC recently released a bunch of guys, Che was the one I really wanted to bring in. He comes from a great camp and is always exciting to watch. 

We will update you on the details of these two signings as soon as we are made aware.

–J. Jones

Legacy Fighting Championship 14 ‘Quick Results’

The Arena Theatre in Houston, Texas was the host of Friday nights Legacy Fighting Championship 14 event, which aired live on AXS TV. The event was highlighted by a welterweight interim title match between Jeff Rexroad and Lucas Pimenta, as well as a flyweight bout between veteran Antonio Banuelos and Josh Sampo. Rexroad managed to […]

The Arena Theatre in Houston, Texas was the host of Friday nights Legacy Fighting Championship 14 event, which aired live on AXS TV.

The event was highlighted by a welterweight interim title match between Jeff Rexroad and Lucas Pimenta, as well as a flyweight bout between veteran Antonio Banuelos and Josh Sampo.

Rexroad managed to survive a beating in the first round from Pimenta who looked as if he could stop things with his fists. Pimenta tagged Rexroad with a big right but was unable to end things as his opponent managed to recover. In the second round, following an easy takedown by Pimenta, Rexroad was able to work a submission, attempting a gogoplata and switching it into modified arm-triangle choke to end the bout claiming the interim title.

Rexroad on his win and a likely unification bout with champion Jorge Patino.

“This is a choke that I’ve been working. Don’t really have a name for it, but you kind of use the arm instead of the leg….Unfortunately (Jorge Patino) got injured. I was looking forward to the fight. When he gets healthy, I’d be honored to fight him.”

Check out the full ‘Quick Results’ below:

Main Card (AXS TV)

Welterweight interim title bout: Jeff Rexroad def. Lucas Pimenta via Submission (Modified arm-in triangle choke) – R2 @ 3:17
Flyweight bout: Josh Sampo def. Antonio Banuelos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Bantamweight bout: Steven Peterson def. Cody Williams via Submission (Omoplata) – R2 @ 4:46
Welterweight bout: Derrick Krantz def. Brandon Farran via Submission (Rear-naked choke) – R1 @ 1:11
Welterweight bout: Lester Batres def. Jon Harris via TKO (Strikes) – R1 @ 2:11
Flyweight bout: Matt Schnell def. Ryan Hollis via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Featherweight bout: Darrion Caldwell def. David Armas via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Preliminary Card

Welterweight bout: Charlie Ontiveros def. Anthony Tatum via Unanimous Decision
Catchweight (180-lbs) bout: Terrance Ferguson def. Patrick Hutton via Submission (Rear-naked choke) – R1
Welterweight bout: Kaileb Cummins def. Patrick Greene via Submission (Guillotine choke) – R3