Robert Watley Set To Defend Legacy Fighting Alliance Lightweight Title at #LFA34 In Minnesota

Legacy Fighting Alliance has announced that the promotion will return to Minnesota in March with a lightweight title fight, a high-stakes lightweight showdown, and the return of a women’s MMA pioneer.

The main event of LFA 34 will feature the return of LFA lightweight champion Robert Watley when he defends his title against LFA #1 lightweight contender Brandon Jenkins. LFA 34 – Watley vs. Jenkins takes place Friday, March 2nd at the Minnetonka Ballroom inside the new Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Watley (9-1) is considered the top lightweight prospect in the world. His fight resume consists of multiple regional titles and a seven-fight win streak. That earned him an immediate shot at the inaugural LFA lightweight title against the final RFA lightweight champion Thiago Moisés at LFA 17. The Maryland native shut down the RFA champion on every score card. Watley then defended his title with a dominant TKO victory over Daryl Wilson in his first defense at LFA 27 in November. The champ now has his sights set on picking up his tenth straight victory and second successful title defense at LFA 34.

Jenkins (11-5) earned his shot at LFA gold after winning one of the most memorable fights of 2017. The man known as “The Human Highlight Reel” added further proof to that nickname with his three round thriller against Carl Wittstock at LFA 29. Jenkins battered his foe in a highly entertaining affair that many fans and pundits considered a “Fight of the Year” nominee. The win completed a successful 2017 for the Mystic Lake security guard, which started with a TKO victory over Billy Christianson at LFA 2. Interestingly, the lone setback of the year came on the score cards of LFA 20. While many felt that Jenkins had done more than enough to earn the decision, the local favorite dropped a split decision in his hometown. Jenkins wasted no time reflecting on the controversial decision and quickly rebounded with his epic win over Wittstock. Now he has his sights set on LFA gold at LFA 34.

The co-main event of LFA 34 will feature a battle between two of the LFA’s top lightweight contenders. Travis Perzynski (22-9) made a big statement in his LFA debut at LFA 20 last summer, when he stopped RFA vet Carl Wittstock via Rear Naked Choke inside the first two minutes of the opening round. The Minnesotan set up the submission with a barrage of strikes that thrilled his home state fans. Perzynski now looks to repeat that feat with a man who made an equally impressive LFA debut just seven days after him last summer.

Trey Ogden (9-2) needed less than a half a round at LFA 21 last summer to match Perzynski’s accomplishment one week earlier at LFA 20. Ogden, like Perzynski, also used a Rear Naked Choke to defeat an RFA vet in his LFA debut. The win came against T.J. Brown and set up a showdown with a man who made a nearly identical promotional debut. The Kansas City based fighter Ogden now meets Perzynski in the co-main event of LFA 34. The winner is looking to gain separation in a highly competitive and deep LFA lightweight division.

The main card of LFA 34 will also feature the return of women’s MMA pioneer Kelly Kobold. After a six and a half year hiatus from the sport, she made her return to MMA last summer at LFA 20.

Kobold (18-3-2) is one of the most respected women in the sport. She has enjoyed an illustrious professional MMA career that dates back nearly sixteen years. A true pioneer for women’s MMA, Kobold returned to the sport against Christine Stanley in a bout that was ruled a draw at LFA 20. Now she is back and ready to stake a claim at the top of the LFA women’s flyweight division at LFA 34.

Fight Card (Subject to Change):
Main Card (AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)

155 Title – Robert Watley (10-1) vs Brandon Jenkins (11-5)

155 – Travis Perzynski (22-9) vs Trey Ogden (9-2)

145 – Jordan Griffin (14-5) vs Darrick Minner (20-7)

145 – Nate Jennerman (10-3) vs John DeVall (15-8)

125F – Kelly Kobold (10-5) vs TBD

125 – Bobby Lee (7-1) vs Nate Ammerman (4-0)

185 – Tim Hiley (5-0) vs Willie Whitehead (2-1)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.