Lerryan Douglas, the LFA Interim Featherweight Champion, is set to headline LFA 200 on January 25th in Prior Lake, Minnesota. In a highly anticipated title unification bout, he’ll face reigning champion Elijah Johns in a fight that promises fireworks. Originally scheduled for December 6th at LFA 198, the bout was postponed due to a medical issue with Johns, heightening the stakes for their rescheduled clash.
Douglas earned the interim belt with a stunning second-round knockout victory over Javier Reyes at LFA 190. Reflecting on the Reyes bout, Douglas said, “He was a pretty tough opponent. He was 18-2. He was an experienced guy.” His preparation for the fight revolved around takedown defense, finding his range, and employing a boxing-heavy strategy, which paid off in spectacular fashion when he secured the knockout at 2:46 of Round 2.
The victory was particularly sweet for Douglas, considering his LFA debut didn’t go as planned. At LFA 164, he suffered a knockout loss to Isaac Thompson, but that setback became a turning point. Since then, Douglas has won three consecutive fights, all by knockout. He attributes his resurgence to his team. “The most important thing that happened to me was my team,” he explained. “The right people to help me in training — it’s worked well, and I’m very confident and I trust my team.”
Winning the interim belt was a surreal experience for Douglas. “Being honest with you, I was so focused on my fight that after the fight when [LFA President Ed Soares] put the belt on my waist, I was like, ‘What the F*ck?!’ I forgot it was a title fight! I was so locked in… [the title fight experience] was awesome, and I was really happy to show everyone that I could do it.”
When asked about his approach to potential opponents, Douglas shared that he doesn’t zero in on anyone in particular. Instead, he focuses on fighting whomever the LFA puts in front of him, prioritizing preparation over specific targets.
Douglas mentioned that he believes there are similarities between Johns and James Gonzalez, whom he faced in 2021 at Ring of Combat 74. Although he lost that fight by unanimous decision, Douglas believed he did enough to win and has grown significantly since then.
“The Gunslinger” brings a finishing mindset into every fight and is confident wherever the action takes place he’ll get the better of his opponent. “I’m the kind of fighter where I’m always going to look for the finish. If I see the opportunity to submit or KO him, I’ll do it.”
Fans can expect an all-action performance from Douglas, who promises, “If you watch my fight, you’re gonna watch an exciting fight. I’m always gonna look for a finish, and I’ll bring a good fight for the fans.”
The title unification bout between Douglas and Johns will stream live on UFC Fight Pass, headlining an electrifying night at LFA 200. For more insights from Douglas, check out our exclusive November interview on YouTube.
