LFA 174: Jones vs. Gennrich (Prior Lake, Minnesota)

With Interim Champ Jefferson Nascimento recovering from his win in November and hoping for a call from the UFC, Wisconsin’s Kegan Gennrich (7-2) steps in to take on LFA 155lb Champ JaCobi Jones (6-2). Jones won the LFA title in May after some brutal ground and pound versus BJJ Black Belt Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani. He then went on DWCS and lost via Decision… Jones is a 3-time All-American wrestler at D-II Colorado State University-Pueblo and came up through the LFA (his only fight outside the LFA was his appearance on DWCS). He’s coming from Denver and Factory X. Gennrich is also a wrestler. He won a High School State Wrestling title in Wisconsin before going on to wrestle 1 year at the University of Wisconsin (D-I). Gennrich has rattled off 5 wins in a row including wins over Richie Miranda and most recently Donald Bush. Both fighters are wrestlers with Jones preferring to end fights violently with ground and pound while Gennrich has 3 wins via Submission. The two have combined for 8 finishes (3 KOs, 5 Subs).

Our co-main event features unbeaten Quang Le (6-0) and Kansas City’s Cody Peterson (6-1). Le is making his 6th LFA appearance and is coming off a razor-thin split decision win at LFA 168 in September. Originally from Vietnam, Le brings 3 submission wins into his 1st co-main event fight. Peterson is fighting for the first time since 2019. The father of 6 has 5 finishes in 6 wins (1 KO, 4 Subs) and is also a Pro Boxer with 7 pro boxing fights. He made his Pro Debut way back at RFA 6 in 2013. The two have combined for 7 submission wins and 6 first-round finishes.

Also on the card:

– 3-time All American wrestler Wes Schultz (4-1) returns for the first time in almost a year against newcomer Maurice Morris (6-3). Schultz suffered his first Pro loss in this building against Dylan Budka last January, Budka is now in the UFC. After a bounce-back win in May he’s looking for his 3rd win in the LFA Octagon at LFA 174. Morris has a 100% finishing rate and has won 3 straight. He also comes from a wrestling background. He was a 3-time South Carolina State Champion Wrestler in high school and has 4 first-round finishes as a Pro in MMA.

– In our 3rd fight of the night, Adamu Isah (3-1) steps in on short notice to take on the more experienced Devante Sewell (11-8). Isah suffered his only loss as a Pro in this building last year, but rebounded in August. He comes from a Taekwondo background and trains with the killers at Kill Cliff FC in Florida. Sewell is making his 3rd LFA appearance, but is still looking for his 1st win in the LFA. Nicknamed “The Grinder” he prefers to get his work done on the canvas. He comes in riding a 2-fight win streak and has 6 submission wins in his 11 Pro wins. This looks like your typical Striker vs. Grappling matchup.

– After an impressive LFA Debut in August, Denver’s Kendra McIntyre (2-0) returns to take on Jayde Sheeley (1-1) in our second fight of the night. McIntyre comes from a Muay Thai background and is coming off an impressive win over Alandria Rosales in August. She trains at High Altitude Martial Arts alongside many high profile Elevation Fight Team athletes. Sheeley is the daughter of K-1 great Scott Sheeley. She comes from a striking background, but has been working a lot on her grappling of late. She is coming off her first win as a Pro in June at LFA 160.

– We kick off the night with Heavyweight Strikers Steven Asplund (1-0) and Billy Ray Valdez (2-0). Asplund is a Minnesota product who has never tasted defeat as a Pro or Amateur. He won his Pro Debut in just 11 seconds in November against LFA-vet Anthony Garrett. Valdez hails from Albuquerque and is coming off a win in his LFA Debut in August. He has won 3 straight going back to his Amateur career. Don’t blink in this one, the two have combined for3 first-round finishes and just 5:29 of cage time as Pros.

A few facts about LFA 174 from Producer AJ Pacheco.