MAIN EVENT: Busurman Zhumagul vs. Daniel Morrison
With reigning CFFC welterweight champion Kevin Pease vacating the title ahead of a planned move down to the lightweight division, the undefeated Busurman "Bushido" Zhumagul (4-0 MMA, 4-0 CFFC) and the more experienced Daniel "The Lion Tamer" Morrison (7-2 MMA, 2-0 CFFC) get a chance to fight for a belt previously held by the likes of CFFC Hall of Famers Sean Brady, George Sullivan and Jonavin Webb, not to mention more recently by current UFC athletes Bassil Hafez, Eric Nolan, Charles Radtke anmd Jeremiah Wells.
Zhumagul has been nothing short of spectacular in his CFFC run, wrapping up his amateur career with the organization in 2024 before turning pro and rattling off four straight stoppage wins, with all four ending in the first round. Just 21 years old and standing 6-foot-4, the Kyrgyzstan native now lives and trains in Philadelphia and appears to have an incredibly bright future ahead. However, he now takes on what is by far the most experienced opponent of his career.
Morrison earned his way into the title fight with a dominant decision win over former CFFC title challenger Hugh Pulley in October. It was Morrison’s third straight win overall, and he actually stands at 7-1 in his past eight appearances, with the lone loss coming to fellow CFFC vet and current Professional Fighters League athlete J.P. Saint Louis. Hailing from John Wai Martial Arts, Morrison believes he's ready for his shot at the UFC and knows that taking out Zhumagul might get him exactly what he wants.
CO-MAIN EVENT: Nikita Leshukov vs. Will Starks
The CFFC lightweight title currently sits vacant after Angel Alvarez beat then-champ Jesse Roberts this past September but failed to make weight for the contest and was unable to walk away with the title. Enter Nikita "The Gorilla" Leshukov (8-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) and Will "Soldier of Christ" Starks (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC).
Originally from France, Leshukov has relocated to Las Vegas, where he's training with the famed Xtreme Couture squad. Undefeated and just 24 years old – and with six stoppages among his eight career wins – Leshukov is starting to find his name on several "prospects to watch" lists, and taking home a CFFC title would be a huge step forward in his career. However, Starks has different ideas.
Currently riding a four-fight win streak, including a regional title winning performance in his last outing, Starks is 7-1 in his past eight overall appearances and is used to facing top-caliber opposition. Taking out an undefeated stud en route to claiming CFFC gold would be a massive step for Starks in his march to the UFC, as well.
FEATURED BOUT: Arisa Matsuda vs. Ayan Tursyn
The night's first pro title fight will crown a strawweight champion in the CFFC for the first time since former double champ Fatima Kline vacated the belt to sign with the UFC in 2024, and two International standouts will face off for the honor when Japan's Arisa Matsuda (7-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) takes on Kazakhstan's Ayan Tursyn (8-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
A former professional baseball player, Matsuda turned her attention to MMA in 2021 and found immediate success. She has opened her career with seven straight victories, claiming a DEEP Jewels interim title in 2023 and picking up a win at a "Road to UFC" event in China this past May, as well. She now fights in the U.S. for the first time with CFFC gold on the line.
Meanwhile, Tursyn also makes her U.S. debut in the contest. The former Octagon League champion suffered the lone loss of her career this past April via split decision but bounced in November with a first-round stoppage victory in her native country before making the trip overseas in hopes of getting the attention of UFC matchmakers.
Damien Anderson vs. Alejandro Gutierrez
One of the most anticipated matchups of the evening takes place between a pair of blue-chip prospects at bantamweight, with New Jersey's Damien "Demon Hands" Anderson (4-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) taking on New Mexico's Alejandro "Hondo" Gutierrez (4-1 MMA, 1-0 CFFC).
Anderson is a highly accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who has relocated to Texas to train at Austin's highly touted Simple Man Martial Arts. Anderson was scheduled to make his CFFC debut in March before injury forced him to delay his much-anticipated homecoming fight until now, where he'll take on the hard-hitting Gutierrez, who made an instant impact in his first CFFC appearance, needing just 17 seconds to take home the TKO win.
Neither athletes has seen a fight go into the third round thus far in their careers, so don't blink in this one.
Ben Coyle vs. Trevor Wells
A pair of flyweights looking to climb the ranks clash when familiar face Ben Coyle (6-4 MMA, 3-2 CFFC) takes on promotional newcomer Trevor Wells (10-6 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Coyle is currently on a four-fight winning streak that has seen him claim all four wins via stoppage. However, he missed weight for a scheduled August appearance in a CFFC 145 matchup that was ultimately scrapped, so he's got something to prove at the scales before he looks to continue his dominant run. Meanwhile, Wells was a cast member on "The Ultimate Fighter 31" in 2023, where suffered an opening round loss in the tournament. After initially stumbling for a bit post-"TUF," Wells has earned back-to-back decision wins and looks to make it three in his CFFC debut.
Jeremiah Delgado vs. Derrick Patterson
Kicking off the main card is a featherweight matchup between Pennsylvania's Jeremiah Delgado (1-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) and New York's Derrick Patterson (2-3 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
At just 21 years old, Delgado is one of the top young guns at Marquez MMA and is looking to prove the future is now with the spotlight of this opportunity. However, standing in his way is Patterson, who recently saw a two-fight win streak snapped and is opening to get back in the win column and the expense of his opponent, who is a decade younger.
CJ LaFragola vs. JAKE VALDES
The final preliminary bout of the evening takes place at a catchweight of 180 pounds, as a resurgent CJ FaFragola (3-3) takes on late replacement Jake Valdes (2-1).
LaFragola, who has spent his entire professional career under the CFFC banner, has suffered setbacks against a couple of top prospects along the way but looked outstanding in and August victory and believes he's finally found the key to consistent results. He now takes on Valdes, who steps in on just one week's notice and looks to extend his current two-fight win streak. He fights for the first time since May, thought he has twics had scheduled fights fall through during that time away.
Tyler Berger vs. Abraham Charles
The night's first pro bout sees the return of Tyler "The Real Oregon Gangster" Berger (1-1) to take on CFFC Muay Thai veteran Abraham Charles (2-0).
A three-time All-American wrestler at Nebraska, Berger made his CFFC debut in August and lost a heartbreaking split decision to top young talent Jeremiah Delgado. He now returns seeking his first win for the promotion as he takes on Charles, who makes his CFFC MMA debut two years after competing at the orgization's first ever CFFC Muay Thai card.
NextGen: Taylor Drees vs. Kayana La Torre
The inaugural NextGen women's bantamweight title is on the line in the first championship bout of the night, when Taylor "Sweet T" Drees (2-0) faces Kayana La Torre (2-0) in a battle of undefeated athletes.
Wisconsin's Drees makes her promotional debut after earning first-round submission wins in each of her first two appearances, including a victory in just 19 seconds in her most recent outing this past September. Now she gets the biggest opponent of her young career.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia's own La Torre has gone to a decision in each of her first two wins, including at CFFC NextGen 1 this past July. La Torre was expected to return to action in October before her opponent withdrew from the card.Four months later, she's back in the cage, and there's CFFC gold on the line.
NextGen: Aself Carr vs. Dalton Pedrick
The evening kicks off in the bantamweight division as promotional newcomer Aself "Lord Self" Carr (0-0, 1 NC) takes on the returning teenager Dalton Pedrick (1-1).
Carr actually made his amateur debut this past October and was awarded a TKO win in the third round. However, following sustained protests from his opponent, the World Kickboxing Association declared the bout a no contest. He'll now make his second appearance while still looking for the first result of his career. He'll take on Pedrick, who had memorable appearances on each of CFFC's two NextGen events in 2025, going the distance each time and splitting the results.
|
