FRIDAY, JANUARY 13
LFA 150: FARIAS vs. SWEENEY
MAIN EVENT:
7x BJJ WORLD CHAMPION
ARY FARIAS
vs.
“WONDERBOY” PROTÉGÉ
JOHN SWEENEY
BANTAMWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
MYSTIC LAKE CASINO HOTEL
PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
LIVE on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
Tickets are available NOW at Ticketmaster.com
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will return to Minnesota in January. The main event of LFA 150 will feature a high-stakes bantamweight showdown between the two of the sport’s most dynamic prospects. LFA 150 will be the seventeenth LFA event to take place in the state. The promotion’s sesquicentennial event, just like its 50th event, will take place in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
LFA 150 takes place Friday, January 13th at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The main event will feature a bantamweight showdown when seven-time BJJ world champion Ary “AstroBoy” Farias faces Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson protégé John “Hollywood” Sweeney. The entire main card will be available worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“We are excited to bring such a compelling main event to Minnesota at LFA 150,” stated Soares. “Ary Farias and John Sweeney are two of the most exciting bantamweight prospects in the world with nearly identical records. However, that is where the similarities end. They possess dynamic fighting pedigrees in distinctly different martial arts. Farias is a BJJ black belt, seven-time BJJ world champion, and one of the most decorated grapplers to ever compete in MMA. Sweeney is a Karate black belt, protégé of the great Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, and a dangerous knockout artist in his own right. This main event has all the ingredients for a special fight that you do not want to miss!”
Tickets for LFA 150: Farias vs. Sweeney are available for purchase NOW through Ticketmaster.com.
Farias (12-3) is on a short list when it comes to discussing the most decorated BJJ practitioners to ever compete in MMA. The seven-time BJJ world champion was born into the world of combat sports in Manaus, the state capital of Amazonas in northwestern Brazil. At the age of 11, Farias signed on to ASLE, one of the top BJJ academies in the world. This is the same academy where UFC star Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and UFC star / LFA great Jaqueline Amorim were developed prior to making the move to MMA. Farias lived and trained with “Jacare” for the next five years at the ASLE training camp. He would eventually make the move to Rio de Janeiro and has trained extensively with some of the biggest names in BJJ such as Ricardo Vieria, Rogerio Camões, Yuri Simoes, and Ramon Lemos. Farias will be making his fourth appearance under the LFA banner and is coming off a win over five-time UFC veteran Michinori Tanaka in the main event of LFA 138.
Sweeney (11-3) is a Karate black belt and protégé of UFC star Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The South Carolinian is known as “Hollywood” as he possesses the same dynamic striking prowess and star qualities that has carved out a legendary career for his mentor. In fact, “Wonderboy” just added to his legacy this past weekend with a masterclass performance in the main event of UFC Orlando, which is now a frontrunner for “Fight of the Year”. Sweeney will now look to do the same next month to give his dojo, Upstate Karate in Simpsonville, South Carolina, back-to-back headlining wins. The flashy karateka has all the tools to do just that, as he has shown a flair for the dramatic in his fights, which has seen him secure 5 wins by way of knockout or technical knockout. Sweeney will be making his third appearance under the LFA banner and is coming off a notable win over LFA standout Ricardo Dias in the co-main event of LFA 137.
Currently Announced Fight Card (Available worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS®):
Main Event | Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
- Ary Farias (12-3) vs. John Sweeney (11-3)
Co-Main Event | Heavyweight Bout (265 lb)
- Thomas Petersen (6-1) vs. Richard Foster (6-4)
Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
- Miguel Sanson (4-0) vs. Mark Climaco (7-1)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
- Scott Writz (6-2) vs. Jalin Fuller (6-2)
Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
- Wes Schultz (3-0) vs. Dylan Budka (4-1)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
- Quang Le (4-0) vs. Henry Huff (4-3)
Preliminary Card:
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
- Santos Verdinez (1-0) vs. Darius Miller (0-0)
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
- Kyle Zimick (0-0) vs. Emanuel Pugh (0-2)
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 260 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. LFA is on Facebook at Facebook.com/LFAfighting. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and 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 MYSTIC LAKE CASINO HOTEL:
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, the premier gaming facility in the Midwest, continually creates new, fun and exciting entertainment experiences for its guests. Mystic Lake® offers gaming, three lively bars, exceptional dining at seven restaurants, headline performers, unique special events and luxurious accommodations. Located 25 minutes southwest of Minneapolis / St. Paul in Prior Lake. Please visit MysticLake.com for more information.
