By Danny Jones @Tidy_MMA on X
2024 is shaping up to be a defining year for LFA lightweight Richie Miranda.
In the co-main of LFA’s inaugural Louisville event on March 29th, the Mexican-American showcased superior striking output, striking accuracy, ground control, and takedowns to secure a unanimous decision victory over a formidable 6-1 Kegan Agnew.
Following that bout at LFA 180, however, Miranda amicably parted ways with Head Coach Ben Jones and The Den Training Center. Referring to his departure as a graduation, the Californian pursued a new venture at Bloodline Combat Sports in Costa Mesa, under coaches Cub Swanson, Anthony Murataya Gonzalez, Dale Roybal, Philipe Della Monica, and Felipe Fogolin.
The move preceded a Fight of the Night against former LFA Welterweight Champion Maycon Mendonça at LFA 190 on August 23rd. Winning the bout via unanimous decision, “El Machete” demonstrated greater ground control, takedowns, and striking output alongside an incredible durability against Mendonça; indeed, former UFC athlete Gilbert Melendez – accompanying Ron Kruck on commentary – stated “I truly believe a lesser man would have been down to the strikes that [Richie] Miranda has taken to the body and the elbows on the way in”.
Originally scheduled to compete for the LFA Lightweight Championship on December 6th at LFA 198, Miranda’s third year as a professional mixed martial artist is certainly proving momentous.
“It’s been great – [a] great year so far” Miranda says. “I transitioned from leaving my old coach that was with me for a bunch of fights to now joining a new team. Like I said before, I feel like I graduated; [I] needed more challenge for myself, and just more resources to be able to compete at a higher level. It’s been great being under Cub Swanson and the team I assembled with my coaches as well – my new coaches and other coaches that I had in the past… [I’ve gained a] wealth of knowledge, and I just know I’ve been getting better everyday”.
“Going into [the first bout since joining Bloodline Combat Sports] you still have those thoughts, you know, because you’re in a new place” Miranda admits. “I was still going in there confident – I’m always confident in my skillset and the work that I put in. [However] even just the way I performed – and the way I fought – just made me realise moving [gyms] was a great thing for me, and just opened a bunch of opportunities”.
Holding a 9-1 professional record, Miranda has competed exclusively with LFA since his promotional debut at LFA 128 on April 8th 2022. Across his seven LFA bouts, all of which took place on the main card, the former University of Nebraska at Kearney collegiate wrestler has amassed six promotional victories that include two submissions, one TKO, two unanimous decisions, and one split decision.
Returning for his eighth LFA bout at LFA 198, the 30-year-old was originally set to compete for the LFA Lightweight Championship against current champion Richie Lewis. However, with Lewis out of the matchup due to injury, “El Machete” now competes in a non-championship contest against LFA debutant Hugo Oyarzún.
Make no mistake, Oyarzún is a formidable opponent. Following in the footsteps of Ignacio Bahamondes, Victor Valenzuela, and Jose Ferreira, Oyarzún is the fourth Chilean to compete for LFA. Originally from Castro, Chiloé Island, the 32-year-old currently trains out of the renowned Entram Gym in Tijuana, Mexico. Entering LFA 198 holding an 8-3 professional record, “La Máquina” is returning from a contentious split decision loss that cruelly ended a four-bout win-streak. The matchup between Miranda and Oyarzún is the third American-versus-Chilean bout in LFA history; Chilean athletes remain undefeated in the promotion.
Of course, the loss of a Championship opportunity for Miranda in the eleventh hour will undoubtedly cause disappointment. However, it does not detract from an otherwise sensational year – and the Californian knows the UFC is watching.
“I know my style is what they are looking for” Miranda admits. “I’m exciting. I have finishes. I have submissions, knockouts. I also got a short notice opportunity [with UFC] of course, before my fight in March. I didn’t get selected, but I know I’ve been on that UFC radar”.
Marking the twenty-fifth LFA event of the year, LFA concludes a stellar 2024 with LFA 198 in Commerce, California – the twentieth Californian event in promotion history.
For the third time in his LFA tenure, Miranda competes at The Commerce Casino & Hotel in his home state of California at LFA 198. The 30-year-old, who hails from Santa Ana, remains undefeated as a professional in The Golden State.
Having masterfully curated a walkout that echoes the savagery of the performance that follows, “El Machete” will once again walkout to “Mask and Da Glock” by Three 6 Mafia; the song that accompanied the preceding walkouts to his 2024 victories over Kegan Agnew and Maycon Mendonça. By his own admission, the track – which features a sample of Al Pacino’s iconic “Here comes the pain” from Carlito’s Way – puts Miranda “in the mood to go out there and kill”.
Despite this ferocity, however, one would be hard-pressed to find an individual of calmer demeanour, or greater humility. Indeed, in all seven of his LFA bouts, Miranda was the one to offer a gesture of respect to his opponent.
Even during the perilous moments of a professional bout, Miranda maintains a steadfast stoic disposition.
“I think it [comes] through training” Miranda explains. “Just through my whole life – competing/wrestling. You win matches, you lose matches. In a fight, every start of the round is another opportunity to go out there and finish the opponent; to go out there and get a KO. [If] I’m dominating, then we keep dominating, but even if I’m down on the card or whatever, I just know I have another five minutes to get this guy… you don’t always win in the training room, so that makes you reflect too. It’s okay to lose in practice, it’s just gonna prepare you for the fight”.
The author extends his utmost gratitude to Richie Miranda and Jamie McClintock for making this article possible.
Photo credit to Jerry R Chavez (@chavopix on Instagram). Photo kindly provided by Richie Miranda (@el_machete714 on Instagram).
