When fighters are given their release from a major North American MMA advertising like the UFC or even Bellator — unless they are a major star — they frequently fall into obscurity about the regional/overseas circuit unless they rack up a couple of wins and wind up registering with one of the aforementioned promotions. In this regular feature for MMAOddsBreaker.com, I take a look at a few regional/overseas MMA matchups for the month of February and instead of listing off the top fights outside these major organizations, I emphasize some familiar names that you might recognize on upcoming fight cards.
LFA 59 — Feb. 1 (Phoenix, Arizona)
David Michaud (14-4) vs. Christian Aguilera (11-5)
Former UFC lightweight Michaud looks to make it four straight wins when he faces Aguilera. Since he was released from the UFC at 2015, Michaud has gone 6-2 such as a TKO win over Fernando Gonzalez Trevino in October. Aguilera meanwhile had his own three-fight win streak snapped in his last bout as he lost a decision to Matthew Frincu at LFA 44. Aguilera will seem to prevent back-to-back losses for the first time since Mar. 2016. Editor’s note: Michaud defeated Aguilera through TKO at 4:14 of the first round.
TKO 46 — Feb. 8 (Quebec City, QC) — Matchup Moved To April
Jesse Ronson (20-8) vs. Charles Jourdain (8-1)
UFC veteran Ronson defends his lightweight title against current featherweight champion Jourdain. Ronson nearly needed a second stint in the UFC back in December as he took a short notice struggle against Diego Ferreira. However the comission said he’d be cutting off too much weight and his UFC contract had been recinded. The 33-year-old has won five-straight fights. Jourdain meanwhile won the featherweight title beating Alex Morgan by first-round submission at TKO 45 in December. He’s won three-straight fights.
Cagesport 55 — Feb. 9 (Tacoma, Washington)
Anthony Hamilton (17-9) vs. Jared Torgeson (18-19) — Heavyweight title Former UFC heavyweight Hamilton intends to ensure it is three-straight wins when he faces Torgeson. The 38-year-old is coming from a unanimous decision win over Dylan Potter in Dominate FC two in September. Torgeson meanwhile has dropped five of the last six fights. Editor’s note: Hamilton defeated Torgeson via three-round unanimous choice.
ACA 92: Poland — Feb. 15 (Warsaw, Poland)
Marcin Held (25-7) vs. Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov (15-2)
UFC veteran Held faces Abdulvakhabov in a lightweight bout. Held left the UFC after defeating Nasrat Haqparast in UFC Fight Night 118 and has won back conflicts. Abdulvakhabov meanwhile is coming from a vast majority decision loss to Ali Bagov in ACB 89 in Aug, which snapped his 14-fight win streak.
Daniel Omiela??czuk (20-9-1) vs. Zelimkhan Umiev (11-2)
Former UFC light heavyweight Omielanczuk seems to avoid back-to-back losses when he faces Umiev. Omielanczuk lost three straight fights in the UFC into Stefan Struve, Tim Johnson and Curtis Blaydes before he was released in late 2017. Umiev meanwhile had his own six-fight win streak snapped as he had been finished in the first round by Evgeny Goncharov at WFCA 50 in August.
Luke Barnatt (14-6) vs. Jorge Gonzales (14-3)
UFC veteran Barnatt maintains in his third consecutive fight in the light heavyweight division when he faces Gonzalez. The 30-year-old is coming off a majority decision loss to Karol Celi??ski at ACB 88 which fell him to 2-2 in his past four fights. Gonzalez meanwhile heads into this battle on a five-fight win streak.
Efrain Escudero (30-14) vs. Amirkhan Adaev (14-4)
TUF 8 champion Escudero seems to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since Apr. 2016 when he faces Adev. Escudaro last competed to the Golden Boy MMA card at which he chose to fellow UFC veteran Gleison Tibau. Adaev meanwhile has won three-straight and five of his past six full heading into this battle.
Invicta FC 34 — Feb. 15 (Kansas City, Kansas)
Pearl Gonzalez (9-3) vs. Vanessa Porto (20-8) — Flyweight Title
Former UFC strawweight Gonzalez confronts Porto for the flyweight title in the main event of Invicta FC 34. The 32-year-old has remained undefeated since she was discharged from the UFC in late 2017, going 3-0 with Invicta. Porto has won back-to-back fights however hasn’t fought since Jan. 2018.
Milana Dudieva (12-7) vs. Karina Rodriguez (6-3)
UFC veteran Dudieva seems to create it two-straight wins for the first time since Aug. 2014 if she confronts short-notice replacement Rodriguez. Dudieva is coming off a TKO win over TUF 26’s Christina Marks at Invicta FC 28 which snapped her four-fight losing series. Rodriguez meanwhile replaces Brogan Walker-Sanchez and seems to rally from her split decision loss to DeAnna Bennett in Invicta FC 28
DeAnna Bennett (9-4-1) vs. Miranda Maverick (4-1)
TUF 26’s Bennett looks to get back on the winning track against Maverick at a flyweight bout. The 34-year-old is coming off a loss to Women’s MMA pioneer Kelly Kobold in Tuff-N-Uff at September. Maverick meanwhile has won four of her last five fights with her lone setback coming from Brogan Walker-Sanchez at Invicta FC 30 where she suffered a split decision loss.
War in the Rock — Feb 16 (Hollywood, Florida)
Michel Quinones (8-3) vs. Yosdenis Cedeno (11-6-1)
A pair of UFC veterans clash at a featherweight bout as Quinones confronts Cedeno. Quinones went 0-2 at the UFC with losses to Jared Gordon and Sage Northcutt. The 34-year-old struggles for the very first since Nov. 2017. Cedeno meanwhile appears for two-straight wins for the first time since Oct. 2013 and is coming off a unanimous decision win over Pedro Gomes at Underground Cage Fighting Championship 1 in July.
Is there a notable MMA veteran rival this month which I missed? Or is there a matchup that has been altered? Hit me up on Twitter @LynchOnSports, and I will add it in or fix it up. Thanks.
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