FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15
LFA 173: FERNANDO vs. BEKOEV
Presented By RINGSIDE TICKET INC
MAIN EVENT:
CHAMPION
LUCAS FERNANDO
vs.
INTERIM CHAMPION
AZAMAT BEKOEV
MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE UNIFICATION FIGHT
CO-MAIN EVENT:
5-TIME IBJJF WORLD CHAMPION
GIOVANNA CANUTO
vs.
OLYMPIC JUDO BRONZE MEDALIST
NATASHA KUZIUTINA
INTERIM WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT
PALMS CASINO RESORT
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
LIVE on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Limited tickets available at Ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – On Thursday, December 14th, LFA hosted the weigh-in for LFA 173: Fernando vs. Bekoev from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event will feature a middleweight world title unification fight between champion Lucas Fernando (9-2) and interim champion Azamat Bekoev (16-3). In the co-main event, the women’s interim strawweight title will be on the line when five-time IBJJF world champion Giovanna Canuto (4-0) faces Olympic Judo bronze medalist Natasha Kuziutina (4-1).
LFA 173 will feature veteran MMA commentator Ron Kruck, who will be joined in the booth by UFC star, RFA great, and UFC on ESPN analyst Alan “Brahma” Jouban, former UFC star and Strikeforce champion Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez, top-ranked UFC star and TUF 15 champion Michael “Maverick” Chiesa, and current UFC star and UFC Hall of Fame member Cub Swanson. The Brazilian-Portuguese commentary team will consist of top-ranked UFC star Gilbert “Durinho” Burns and Brazilian MMA analyst Max Soares. They will call the action live inside the Pearl Theatre at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will be available tomorrow night LIVE on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Every fighter, except Aireon Tavarres, Aupuni Pagaoa, and Patrick Cornett made their contracted weight when they stepped on the scale. Tavarres, Pagaoa, and Cornett will now forfeit a portion of their purses to their opponents. LFA 173 will proceed with ten bouts, which includes the championship doubleheader at the top of the card.
LFA 173 WEIGH-IN RESULTS:
Main Card (Worldwide on UFC Fight Pass at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Middleweight Title Bout (185 lb)
Lucas Fernando (184.2) vs. Azamat Bekoev (185)
Co-Main Event | Interim Women’s Title Bout (115 lb)
Giovanna Canuto (115) vs. Natasha Kuziutina (114.2)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
Mitch Ramirez (155.6) vs. Aireon Tavarres (156.8)***
*** Tavarres will pay a penalty to Ramirez.
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
Alfonso Leyva (170.8) vs. Sarek Shields (170.8)
Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
Aupuni Pagaoa (127.4)*** vs. Jordan Harris (126)
*** Pagaoa will pay a penalty to Harris.
Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
Trent Miller (183.4) vs. Oseyiomon Oiyemhonlan (181.6)
Preliminary Card:
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
Eduardo Penha (135.8) vs. Ronny Hauser (135.6)
Lightweight (155 lb)
Ilay Barlizay (154.8) vs. Tyler Jones (155.6)
Catchweight Bout (140 lb)
Patrick Cornett (140.4)*** vs. Shad Walters (139)
*** Cornett will pay a penalty to Jones.
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
Shane Shapiro (156) vs. Pat Jones (154.6)
In 2017, RFA and Legacy FC merged to form LFA, the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts. The combined forces of LFA launched the careers of over 300 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC. In 2018, the promotion joined the Imperial Family Companies group (formerly London Trust Media). In 2019, the promotion announced a broadcast partnership with UFC FIGHT PASS®. In 2021, the LFA expanded internationally by hosting multiple events in Brazil.
Please visit LFA.com for bout updates and information. Visit the official LFA YouTube page at @LFAfights. LFA is on Facebook at Facebook.com/LFAfighting. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and X (formerly Twitter) at @LFAfighting.
About LFA:
LFA is a professional Mixed Martial Arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. LFA was formed by the powerhouse merger between RFA and Legacy FC. LFA presents live Mixed Martial Arts events on a monthly basis around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, and Houston. Based in Las Vegas, NV, LFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).
About UFC FIGHT PASS®:
UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, UFC FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combats sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access UFC FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visit UFCFightPass.com.
About IMPERIAL FAMILY COMPANIES:
The Imperial Family Companies maintains a diversified portfolio with one common theme: bringing power to the people. The IFC is proud to partner with the LFA management team to showcase the greatest talents of tomorrow. Learn more about the IFC at ImperialFamily.com.
About PALMS CASINO RESORT:
Palms Casino Resort is making history as the first resort in Las Vegas fully owned and operated by a Native American Tribe. Palms Casino Resort features two distinct towers with 766 hotel rooms and suites, a diverse mix of bars, restaurants, live entertainment venues, and immersive lifestyle experiences across a 95,000-square-foot reimagined casino. Offering free valet and self-parking, the resort also includes over 190,000 square feet of meeting, convention, and event space; the Pearl, a 2,500-seat theater; an expansive pool, The Spa & Salon at Palms; a wedding chapel; the Brenden Theatre 14-screen cinema and nearly 600 units at Palms Place condominiums. Palms is located just west of the center of the Las Vegas Strip off I-15 on Flamingo Road. Palms Casino Resort is owned by The San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (“SMGHA”) an affiliate of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. For more information visit Palms.com or the Palms Press Room. Follow Palms on social media Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
