FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
LFA 168: McKEE vs. McPADDEN
MAIN EVENT:
MINNESOTA ALL-AMERICAN WRESTLER
MITCH McKEE
vs.
TOP MINNESOTA PROSPECT
SEAN McPADDEN
BANTAMWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
LIVE on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
Tickets are available NOW at Ticketmaster.com
MYSTIC LAKE CASINO HOTEL
PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will kick off its busy fall schedule in Minnesota in September. The main event of LFA 168 will feature an All-Minnesota superfight between the top two homegrown talents from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. LFA 168 will be the nineteenth LFA event to take place in the state.
LFA 168 takes place Friday, September 22nd at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The main event will feature a bantamweight showdown when University of Minnesota All-American wrestler “Merciless” Mitch McKee faces fellow top Minnesota prospect Sean “Lucky” McPadden. 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 kick off our fall schedule with a high-stakes headliner in Minnesota between the top two prospects in the state at LFA 168,” stated Soares. “Mitch McKee and Sean McPadden are Minnesota’s top homegrown talents and will battle for state bragging rights and a place at the top of the bantamweight division. McKee is an All-American wrestler from the University of Minnesota, while McPadden started winning fights for us as an amateur 8 years ago in the RFA. Now they are looking to stand alone as the top prospect in the state. Our amazing fight fans in Minnesota will be out in full force when McKee and McPadden square off at Mystic Lake on September 22nd.”
Tickets for LFA 168: McKee vs. McPadden are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com.
McKee (4-0) is one of the most decorated wrestlers to ever compete for the NCAA Division I wrestling powerhouse program at the University of Minnesota. Likewise, he is now considered one of the most decorated collegiate wrestlers currently competing in professional MMA. During his time competing for the Golden Gophers, McKee was a one-time All-American, four-time NCAA National Qualifier, two-time U.S. Junior Freestyle Wrestling National Champion, and currently ranks twelfth all-time for the program with 33 career pins. The man known as “Merciless” has been just as merciless in the Octagon as he was on the mats. In four career MMA bouts, he has finished all four of his opponents by knockout or technical knockout. That perfect 4-0 run includes three wins in the LFA and one in Bellator. McKee always comes prepared with his corner often consisting of fellow Golden Gopher legends Logan Storley and Gable Steveson. Storley competed for LFA before becoming a Bellator champion and Steveson is a two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling National Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist in Wrestling.
McPadden (6-1) is a man that literally grew up inside the LFA Octagon. In fact, he started competing for the promotion as an amateur, when he was just 20-years-old in 2015. This was all the way back when the promotion was still called the RFA. McPadden won four amateur fights for the promotion with two coming in the RFA and his last two amateur fights coming after the merger for the LFA. Three of those four wins came via three different submission holds and it became clear early on in his MMA career that he had a knack for the submission grappling aspect of the sport. That would carry over seamlessly once he turned pro at the end of 2018. McPadden won his first three fights as a pro for the LFA and four of his six wins have taken place inside the LFA Octagon. More impressively, he has an identical 100% finishing rate to his instate-rival McKee. He also trains under Greg Nelson at The Academy MN. This is a man and gym that knows exactly the type of challenge a former Golden Gopher legend will pose to McPadden. That is because Nelson is the man that helped turn Brock Lesnar into a UFC champion.
Main Card (Available worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS®):
Main Event | Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
Mitch McKee (4-0) vs. Sean McPadden (6-1)
Co-Main Event | Catchweight Bout (160 lb)
Bobby Lee (13-8) vs. Lucas Clay (9-2)
Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
Alton Cunningham (9-4) vs. Darian Weeks (6-3)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
Kegan Gennrich (6-2) vs. Donald Bush (8-2)
Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
Collin Huckbody (12-5) vs. Sean Fallon (16-8)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
Quang Le (5-0) vs. Sal Guerriero (6-3)
Preliminary Card:
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
Taner Trembley (0-0) vs Griffin Parriott (2-0)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
Joey Hart (2-1) vs. Jeff Nielsen (2-2)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
Coty Milhausen (3-2) vs. Christian Turner (3-2)
Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)
Derek Benoit (1-0) vs. Mervin Miller (3-0)
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 280 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 @LFA_Fighting. 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:
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.
