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With champ Sean Mora out, Seibert and Ruiz gunning for interim bantamweight belt at Friday's event!
Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns to the legendary 2300 Arena this Friday night for "CFFC 153: Seibert vs. Ruiz," where an interim bantamweight title will be on the line in the evening's elevated headliner, when Lucas "Steel City" Seibert takes on Sebastian "El Gallo" Ruiz.
The undefeated Seibert and entertaining scrapper Ruiz claimed the featured spot after reigning CFFC flyweight champion Bilal Hasan withdrew from the event, and when a suitable replacement opponent for challenger Ben Coyle could not be secured in short order. Now the bantamweights will try and use the increased spotlight on their matchup to gain the attention of UFC matchmakers and make a bid for a Dana White's Contender Series spot later this summer.
Additionally, in the night's co-main event undefeated Georgiran prospect Itso Babulaidze will take on the heard-hitting DeWitt "Crazy Cat" Dixon, who recently made a return to MMA following a three-fight run in bareknuckle boxing.
Let's take a closer look at the matchups.
MAIN EVENT: Lucas Seibert vs. Sebastian Ruiz
The undefeated Lucas Seibert (6-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) and the always entertaining Sebastian Ruiz (7-4 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) meet with interim gold on the line in the first CFFC main event for both men. Ruiz was initially expected to face reigning bantamweight titleholder Sean Mora for the belt at this past month's CFFC 151, but with the champion currently unable to defend his belt, an interim title will be introduced, and he had no issue with the change of date or opponent.
Seibert is unbeaten in 11 combined fights across his amateur and professional run. The 26-year-old prospect now makes his CFFC debut, though he did shine in a previous appearance at FURY Professional Grappling 13, where he scored a submission win over NCAA Division I wrestling champion Lucas Byrd.
Meanwhile, Ruiz debuted for the promotion in 2025 with a win over Nodir Alidodov. Ruiz was then slotted to face CFFC reigning bantamweight champion Sean Mora in March before the Cuban titleholder withdrew from the event. Ruiz then immediately accepted a rescheduled matchup against Lucas Seibert for an interim belt.
With Dana White's Contender Series matchmakers currently filling out the promotion's summer lineup, an impressive victory here could provide either man with an awfully important opportunity.
CO-MAIN EVENT: Itso Babulaidze vs. DeWitt Dixon
The elevated co-main event sees a key welterweight clash between undefeated Marquez MMA athlete Itso Babulaidze (6-0 MMA, 2-0 CFFC) taking on promotional newcomer DeWitt Dixon (4-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Georgia's Babulaidze fought five times under the CFFC banner before making a successful professional debut for the promotion, as well. Babulaidze then went on to compete twice for the Professional Fighters League but didn't receive a long-term deal, and he returned to CFFC in November to take out a previously undefeated Kyle Hill.
Meanwhile, DeWitt was a promising 3-1 prospect after kicking off his MMA run in 2021, earning two wins by finish before stepping away for a three-sight run in bare-knuckle boxing. This past September, he made the return to MMA with a second-round finish over 21-fight veteran Peter Petties and now looks to keep the momentum going in his return to his original combat sport discipline.
Tyler Berger vs. Sebastian Seagraves
Featherweights with plans to reach the next stage meet next as transplanted Philadelphia resident Tyler Berger (2-1 MMA, 1-1 CFFC) takes on South Carolina's Sebastian Seagraves (1-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Originally hailing from Oregon, Berger was a three-time Division I All-American wrestler at Nebraska before making his way to MMA. He suffered a setback in his CFFC debut, dropping a spirited split-decision to talented prospect Jeremiah Delgado this past August. He returned to action in February, scoring a second-round TKO win and now makes a quick turnaround two months later hoping to build a win streak in his sprint to the UFC.
Meanwhile, Seagraves had an impressive amateur career, going 6-1 with six finishes, including four fights that ended in the first round. He made his pro debut this past June, scoring a first-round knockout and now hopes to earn a similar result in his CFFC debut.
DeAndre Anderson vs. Anthony Dilemme
Familiar faces clash in a featherweight matchup of two athletes looking to return to the win column, when DeAndre "The Protege" Anderson (6-6 MMA, 104 CFFC) takes on Anthony Dilemme (7-1 MMA, 6-1 CFFC).
Anderson had one of the most incredible debuts in CFFC history in 2021, taking out the talented Jose Perez in just 11 seconds. However, four straight losses followed, forcing the Alabama native to reset, and he now returns to the promotion after two-and-a-half years away. In his return, he'll take on former champion Dilemme, who earned the belt with a spectacular first-round finish of Beau Samanaiego in 2024 before dropping the belt in a razor-thing decision loss to Ryan Cafaro this past May. Eleven months later, he returns to the cage, looking to get back to winning ways.
Andre Monroe vs. Jordan Morgan
Heavyweights hit the cage early in their career next as Andre "Dre" Monroe (1-0) takes on "Smoov" Jordan Morgan (1-0).
Beta Academy's Monroe put together an impressive amateur run, going 6-2 and ending on a five-fight win streak, and picking up three different regional titles in his final three appearances. The 34-year-old Maryland resident made his professional debut in November and picked up a TKO win. Meanwhile, Morgan is a Philadelphia native now living in New York and training at David Branch Jiu Jitsu. The 31-year-old spent three seasons in the NFL before making his way to brief stops in the Canadian Football League and XFL, but now hopes to put together a successful run as a fighter after picking up a win in his pro debut in October.
Shane Marshall vs. Anthony Montalvo
The night's main card kicks off with a pair of promising light heavyweights, as Shane "Night Train" Marshall (Pro debut) takes on Anthony Montalvo (1-0).
District Martial Arts product Marshall makes his professional debut under the bright lights of UFC FIGHT PASS following an impressive 6-1 amateur run that ened on a four-fight win streak and by earning a pair of regional titles in his final two appearances, each by stoppage. Meanwhile, Montalvo is a former Arizona State and Oklahoma State wrestler who wrapped up his college career in 2023 and made his amateur debut 10 months later. Thus far, he's fought five times total in his combined pro and amateur career and has earned stoppage wins in all five outings.
Razohnn Gross Jr. vs. Ian Russell
The featured preliminary bout of the evening takes place at light heavyweight between a pair of promotional newcomers, as Razohnn "2Great" Gross Jr. (Pro Debut) takes on Ian "The Carpeneter" Russell (1-0).
Carnicella MMA's Gross hails from New Jersey and makes the walk as a professional for the first time after a 4-1 amateur record that saw him pick up a pair of regional titles along the way. Meanwhile, American Kickboxing Academy's Russell makes the journey cross-country looking to stay perfect early in his career. Russell made his pro debut in August and picked up a decision win after going 5-1 as an amateur with three finishes along the way.
Demetri Nictas vs. Lou Raimo
The night's first professional bout of the evening takes place at flyweight, as Longo's MMA product Demetri Nictas (0-1) looks to rebound from a setback in his professional debut when he takes on CULTR Fight Club's Lou Raimo (Pro debut), who makes the walk as a professional for the first time.
Nictas had mixed results as an amateur, but he owns more kickboxing experience than he does MMA and could prove challenging on the feet, especially given the majority of his career thus has been contested well above 125 pounds. Meanwhile, Raimo competes under the professional ruleset for the first time following a 4-1 amateur career that he wrapped up in October by picking up a title at a regional event in New York.
NextGen: Dalton Pedrick vs. Nemateillo Tukhtasinov
The night kicks off with the lone NextGen bout of the evening, as teenage sensation Dalton Pedrick (2-1) returns to take on promotional newcomer and fellow 19-year-old prospect Nemateillo Tukhtasinov (2-1) in a flyweight matchup.
Quintella MMA's Pedrick dropped his amateur debut in a rousing matchup at CFFC NextGen 1 this past July. However, he's since returned to score two straight wins under the CFFC banner, including a slick armlock submission last time out. Meanwhile, Rami Elite's Tukhtasinov has followed a similar career path, dropping his amateur debut but since rattling off two straight wins that he carries into his CFFC debut.
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