Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 33: Faber vs. Rivera is a mixed martial arts event promoted by Urijah Faber's A1 Combat and will take place on January 30, 2026 at the Hard Rock Live in Wheatland, California, United States.
Fight Card
Main Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Combat Jiu-Jitsu Urijah Faber vs. Francisco Rivera Jr. 155 lbs
Middleweight Nick Maximov vs. Buddy Wallace 185 lbs Middleweight Championship
Flyweight Ezekiel Martinez vs. Desmond Alvarado 125 lbs
Women's Featherweight Carlene Chandler vs. Forrest Molinari 145 lbs
Bantamweight Hector Fajardo vs. Joe Murphy 135 lbs
Featherweight Bruno Souza vs. Dennis Linton 145 lbs
Welterweight Jackson Hemauer vs. Jonathan Hanes 170 lbs
Welterweight Vakhtang Chumburidze vs. Gavin Rice 170 lbs
Flyweight Tyler Poalillo vs. Kenny Howell 125 lbs
Welterweight Sinjen Smith vs. Troy Green 170 lbs
Preliminary Card
Welterweight David Mistulov vs. Dani Ghazi 170 lbs Amateur Welterweight Championship
Welterweight Derek Cook vs. Joshua Thomas 170 lbs
Bantamweight German Doev vs. Traehone Banda 135 lbs Amateur Bantamweight Championship
Flyweight Thaddeus Stern vs. Isaac Garcia 125 lbs
Women's Flyweight Victoria Pascual vs. Cassidy Roblero 125 lbs
Background
Legends and New Blood: Faber vs. Rivera Jr. Headlines A1 Combat 33 in Wheatland!
The Hard Rock Live in Wheatland, California, is set to become the epicenter of West Coast combat sports as Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat returns for its most ambitious event to date. On January 30, 2026, A1 Combat 33: Faber vs. Rivera brings a high-octane mix of world-class MMA and elite grappling to the Sacramento area. This special event is anchored by a unique collision between two icons of the sport and a middleweight title war that has the local fans buzzing with anticipation.
Main Event: A Legend Returns in the Squared Circle
In a headline attraction that bridges generations of California fighting, "The California Kid" Urijah Faber steps back into the spotlight for a Combat Jiu-Jitsu superfight against the heavy-hitting Francisco "Cisco" Rivera Jr. Faber, a Hall of Famer and the architect of Team Alpha Male, remains one of the most dynamic athletes in the history of the sport. He faces a terrifying test in Rivera, a UFC veteran known for possessing some of the most devastating power in bantamweight history. With Combat Jiu-Jitsu rules allowing open-palm strikes on the ground, this 155-pound clash promises all the technical brilliance of elite grappling with the visceral intensity of a real fight.
Middleweight Championship: The Stockton Protege vs. The A1 Veteran
The stakes for professional gold are at an all-time high in the co-main event as Nick Maximov battles Buddy Wallace for the A1 Combat Middleweight Championship (185 lbs). Maximov, a standout protégé of the Diaz brothers, brings a relentless pace and high-level wrestling pedigree back to the cage as he seeks to secure regional gold and a ticket back to the big leagues. Standing in his way is Buddy Wallace, a veteran of the A1 Combat cage who has fought through a gauntlet of top-tier talent to earn this title shot. This is a classic Sacramento vs. Stockton showdown that will decide the true king of the 185-pound division.
Olympic Excellence and Rising Stars
The undercard features a historic transition as four-time World Wrestling Championship medalist and U.S. Olympic Team Trials finalist Forrest Molinari continues her journey into the cage. Fighting out of the world-renowned MMA Lab, Molinari brings a wrestling resume that is virtually unmatched in the sport today as she takes on the gritty Carlene Chandler in a featherweight showcase. Additionally, former LFA champion and Lyoto Machida protege Bruno Souza returns to action, bringing his elite "Karate MMA" style to the featherweight division against the resilient Dennis Linton.
A Showcase of Future Champions
From the opening amateur title bouts featuring rising stars like David Mistulov and German Doev to the highly anticipated professional debut of Jackson Hemauer, A1 Combat 33 is designed to highlight the sheer depth of the California talent pool. With flyweight burners like Ezekiel Martinez and Desmond Alvarado set to push a frantic pace and Team Alpha Male standout Hector Fajardo looking to extend his winning streak, the Hard Rock Live will be vibrating with energy from start to finish. This event is more than just a fight card; it is a celebration of the enduring warrior spirit that defines the West Coast MMA scene.
#A1Combat33 #A1Combat #UFCFightPass #MMA #FightNight #Sacramento #RoadToTheUFC
