CFFC 135: Ruquet vs. Shaykhaev is a mixed martial arts event promoted by Cage Fury FC and will take place on September 21, 2024 at the Florida State Fairgroundso in Tampa, Florida, United States.
Fight Card
Main Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Joey Ruquet vs. Khuseyn Shaykhaev 135 lbs Vacant Bantamweight Championship
Perry Stargel vs. Hugh Pulley 170 lbs
Cameron Kinzig vs. Vitor Resende 265 lbs
Donald Bush vs. Blake Smith 155 lbs
Kendly St. Louis vs. Collin Lubberts 170 lbs
CJ Brant vs. Mihai Culai 155 lbs
Amateur Card
Brandon Gaitor vs. Daniel Matos 155 lbs
Rueben Beard vs. Matt Hammerstone 135 lbs
Phoenix Ibe vs. Blake Torchon 145 lbs Vacant Amateur Featherweight Championship
Drew Onega vs. James Garva 155 lbs
Joelerrea Alford vs. Aldo Dominguez 155 lbs
Background
Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) officials will crown a new bantamweight titleholder when the organization returns to Tampa's Florida State Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 21, for "CFFC 135: Ruquet vs. Shaykhaev."
The night's main event features a pair of highly touted promotional newcomers vying for the vacant 135-pound crown, as Carlson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and Silverback Fight Team rep Joey "El Cazador" Ruquet (9-4) takes on undefeated Russian contender Khusein "Shy" Shaikhaev (12-0) with the title on the line.
Featured matchups already confirmed for the card include a heavyweight contender bout between the undefeated Cameron Kinzig (4-0) and Brazilian slugger Vitor "Vitao" Resende (4-1), as well as a pair of key welterweight contests with the red-hot Kendly "The Highlander" St. Louis (9-4) facing former CFFC title challenger Collin Lubberts (6-3) and promotional newcomer Perry Stargel (9-6) against another former CFFC title challenger in Hugh "The Preacher" Pulley (10-7)
Additional athletes currently booked for CFFC 135 include lightweights Brandon "The Gladiator" Gaitor (5-5) vs. Daniel "The Android" Matos (5-4) and bantamweights Rueben "GameSeven" Beard (Pro debut) vs. Matt "The Hammer" Hammerstone (0-1), while Tampa's own Brandon Lopez (9-6) and former CFFC lightweight champion Blake Smith (8-4) are each expected to appear against Donald Bush (9-4).
"After an action-packed and historic event in Tampa in July, we're incredibly excited to be able to announce another blockbuster lineup for our return to the Florida State Fairgrounds," CFFC CEO Rob Haydak said. "We've got two hungry contenders in our main event, with Joey Ruquet and Khusein Shaikhaev each looking to claim our vacant bantamweight title – the same belt that helped launch the careers of former UFC champ Aljamain Sterling, longtime veteran Jimmie Rivera, and current World MMA Awards nominee Da'Mon Blackshear, among others – but that's just the headliner.
"This card once again features some of the absolute best up-and-coming talent from not just Florida, but across the nation, as well, and it is sure to be another fast-paced night of entertainment and the best event production in developmental MMA."
An incredibly well-rounded martial artist, Ruquet enters the CFFC 135 main event following back-to-back wins under the Combate Global banner, as well as a first-round TKO victory for Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. Fighting professionally since 2015, the 32-year-old "El Cazador" also boasts training in boxing, kickboxing, muay Thai, catch wrestling and taekwondo.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Shaykhaev competes in the United States for the first time. "Shy" owns a perfect 12-0 mark compiled under the Absolute Championship Akhmat banner and the promotion's predecessor, Absolute Championship Berkut, while competing in his native Russia, as well as Kazakhstan, Poland, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Those 12 total wins include two knockouts and five submissions.
