Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) is back with another stacked card as LFA 202 takes center stage, featuring a mix of rising prospects and undefeated fighters looking to make a statement. With title implications and future UFC opportunities on the line, this event promises to deliver high-level action across multiple divisions. Here’s a breakdown of the key matchups and predictions for the event.
Featherweight Fight: Derrick Patterson (2-2) vs. Noufel El Kasri (2-1)
Opening the night in the featherweight division, Derrick Patterson faces Noufel El Kasri in what should be a competitive bout. Patterson has had some growing pains but has been putting things together and is currently on a two-fight win streak, which includes a victory over Vincenzo Ianuzzo. Meanwhile, El Kasri has been away from the scene for a couple of years and will be fighting down a weight class from where he has competed previously. Patterson is probably the safer pick thanks to his recent activity and success, but something tells me El Kasri is the higher-ceiling fighter. I’ll bank on his potential to get the win in what may end up being a close fight. El Kasri by Unanimous Decision.
Prediction: Noufel El Kasri def. Derrick Patterson via Unanimous Decision
Lightweight Fight: Dan Gura (1-0) vs. Farman Hasanov (2-0)
Two undefeated lightweights will collide in a high-stakes battle when Dan Gura takes on Farman Hasanov. Gura had a seven-year amateur career but only recently turned pro. He made his debut fighting at New England Fights (NEF) against Ed Davis, where he was brought in as an underdog but flipped the script by submitting Davis in the first round. Gura has an impressive finishing rate and seems to be flying under the radar in this fight.
Officially, Hasanov is 2-0, but the jury is still out on him. He did win his most recent fight against Niagara Top Team’s Luke Roberts, and his size and physicality certainly stand out. However, I do wonder if his cardio will hold up, especially considering he is cutting down to 155 pounds for this fight. With a tough weight cut ahead of him, I’ll take a chance on Gura to finish late. Gura by KO in Round 3.
Prediction: Dan Gura def. Farman Hasanov via KO (Round 3)
Strawweight Fight: Jayde Sheeley (3-1) vs. Cristina Brador (2-1)
Jayde Sheeley was active in 2024 but had mixed results despite winning both of her bouts. She won one fight last year because of disqualification, and in her most recent outing, she submitted Hannah Brobyskov without any real difficulties. She is a bit smaller even by strawweight standards, but she has good footwork and looks to have sharp grappling.
Cristina Brador will have the size advantage coming in at 5’6″ with a bit of a reach advantage, but it remains to be seen if it will be a significant factor in this fight. Brador, like her opponent, is also coming into this fight after securing a quick submission win, backpacking Ailine David and sinking in a rear-naked choke in round one. I’m expecting a high-level back-and-forth fight between two skilled grapplers. I’ll take Brador to pull out a close one by decision in a fight that could go either way.
Prediction: Cristina Brador def. Jayde Sheeley via Unanimous Decision
Lightweight Fight: Kevin Carrier (3-0) vs. Kyle Pufahl (5-2)
Kevin Carrier was supposed to fight Tyler Jones in his last fight, but unfortunately for him, Jones withdrew, and he ended up fighting Carlo Ricci on short notice. Carrier did his job and managed to take out Ricci. He’s upping the ante this time by taking on Pufahl, who, in my opinion, is much higher level compared to Ricci.
I expect Pufahl to come out aggressive and go for the early KO finish, but Carrier has solid level changes and is quite the grappler. I’m expecting Carrier to have a tough round 1 but to bank rounds two and three with his grappling and control time making the difference.
Prediction: Kevin Carrier def. Kyle Pufahl via Unanimous Decision
Bantamweight Fight: Sierra Dinwoodie (3-0) vs. Nikol Aguirre (2-0)
Sierra Dinwoodie had an epic fight in her last outing vs. Hope Chase. She is very tall and lengthy but appears to be very comfortable getting her work off the ground. She nearly managed to finish Chase by rear-naked choke several times in her last outing.
Her opponent, Nikol Aguirre, is a bit of an enigma, but sometimes that can be a positive thing. Coming in at 5’4″, which is smaller for a bantamweight, I’m expecting her power to make up for her size. With two KO victories to her name thus far, I’d imagine her plan will be to unload on Dinwoodie and try to take her out early. However, I expect Dinwoodie to be more than prepared for that and to use her grappling to diffuse Aguirre. Dinwoodie should be able to get a takedown, and this time she’ll get the submission she was hunting for in her last fight. Dinwoodie by Submission in Round 2.
Prediction: Sierra Dinwoodie def. Nikol Aguirre via Submission (Round 2)
Heavyweight Fight: Joe Taylor (6-0) vs. Phillip Latu (6-2)
Joe Taylor and Phillip Latu are known more for fighting at 205 lbs, but it’s not too surprising that both men would agree to leave a punishing weight cut out of this and fight closer to their natural weight. This is a regional fight for a regional purse, after all.
Taylor had previously retired, so I’m pleasantly surprised to see him back, but this is a tough matchup for him. Latu is a knockout artist who had been on the UFC’s radar. Although Latu fell short, suffering a KO defeat vs. Navajo Sterling on Dana White’s Contender Series, he possesses a power advantage here, and Taylor will need to find a way to neutralize that to have a chance. I expect Latu to find a finish over the popular Taylor and spoil the party by getting a KO and handing Taylor his first pro mma loss. Latu by KO in Round 2.
Prediction: Phillip Latu def. Joe Taylor via KO (Round 2)
Co-Main Event Bantamweight Fight: Shuya Kamikubo (14-2-1) vs. Bakhtovar Yunusov (10-0)
The co-main event will feature a battle between two seasoned bantamweight contenders Japan’s Shuya Kamikubo who’ll be taking on Tajikistan’s Bakhtovar Yunusov. Kamikubo is a veteran of One FC and also had a spell on Road to the UFC where he had mixed success. This will be Kamikubo’s first MMA fight since December 2023 where he beat a debuting fighter, Jung Woo Bae, by first round submission.
He’ll be taking on Marquez MMA’s Bakhtovar Yunusov who will be looking to keep his unbeaten streak alive. Like his opponent, Yunusov is also returning to action following a break in competition. His last fight he secured a ground and pound finish over Bobur Rakhmonov, who was a low level opponent.
Yunusov’s finishing rate can’t be ignored and I’d imagine that the oddsmakers will have him pegged as the favorite going into this contest. Expect this to be a back and forth fight. I’ll be surprised if Yunusov can end this fight by finish considering Kamikubo has never been stopped before, but this is a fight that he should be able to edge out. Yunusov by Decision.
Prediction Bakhtovar Yunusov def. Shuya Kamikubo via Unanimous Decision
Main Event: Flyweight Fight: Phumi Nkuta (8-0) vs. Adrian Garcia (8-2-1)
Phumi Nkuta will be making his highly anticipated LFA debut in this fight vs Goat Shed MMA’s Adrian Garcia. Nkuta’s has achieved a great deal of success in his MMA career thus far. He is the former CFFC Flyweight Champion and the current Peak FC flyweight champion.In his last bout Nkuta challenged Jesse Tafoya for the Peak FC flyweight title and made quick work of his opponent forcing the ringside physician to call off the fight due to a cut suffered by Tafoya.
He’ll be taking on Florida’s Adrian Garcia who’ll be fighting under the LFA banner for a second time. In his last fight, Garcia traveled to the west coast to take on hometown favorite Daniel Park in Los Angeles at LFA 190. Despite being the betting underdog, Garcia managed to get the nod despite having the edge in pro experience.
Garcia should be applauded for taking another difficult fight here as the blue corner fighter. I’d imagine he’s feeling confident and unphased at the idea of being an underdog for this one but this fight is Phumi Nkuta’s to lose. He is the more well-rounded fighter and I don’t think Garcia is going to give him a look he hasn’t seen before. Garcia is still young and a loss here won’t be too detrimental for his career, but unfortunately for him Nkuta just happens to be one of the top flyweight contenders in the country and he should be able to come out on top of this one.
Prediction: Nkuta by Unanimous Decision
