FRIDAY, JANUARY 10
LFA 199: FARIAS vs. ZHUSUPOV
Presented By MONSTER ENERGY
MAIN EVENT:
7x JIU-JITSU WORLD CHAMPION
ARY FARIAS
vs.
3x PANKRATION WORLD CHAMPION
SABIT ZHUSUPOV
FEATHERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
LIVE on UFC FIGHT PASS®
TACHI PALACE CASINO RESORT
LEMOORE, CALIFORNIA
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT LFATIX.COM
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will kick off its 2025 schedule in one of the most influential venues in MMA history. This will happen when the LFA hosts its first event at the iconic Tachi Palace Casino Resort in California at LFA 199. The event will be the first live event featured on UFC FIGHT PASS® in 2025 and will take place on the eve of the UFC’s first event of the new year, which features LFA great Mackenzie Dern in the main event. LFA 199 will be the twenty-first LFA event to take place in the Golden State.
Tachi Palace Casino Resort is Central California’s premier event venue for live MMA. It has a history in the sport dating back to WEC 1 in June of 2001. In fact, this event took place just two months after the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports created the Unified Rules of MMA, which laid the groundwork for the sport to become legally regulated in the United States and abroad.
In the nearly two and half decades since, the venue has been the home to WEC, PFC, and Tachi Palace Fights. These are promotions that started the careers of many MMA legends including Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, Karo Parisyan, Chris Leben, Chael Sonnen, and Urijah Faber. LFA commentators Ron Kruck, Gilbert Melendez, and Alan Jouban also got their start at Tachi Palace Casino Resort. Kruck made his broadcasting debut at WEC 9, while Melendez (WEC 5) and Jouban (Tachi Palace Fights 8) both made their professional MMA debut at this venue.
LFA 199: Farias vs. Zhusupov, presented by Monster Energy, takes place Friday, January 10th at Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, California, which is located 35 minutes south of Fresno. The main event will feature an international featherweight showcase when seven-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion Ary Farias faces three-time Pankration world champion Sabit Zhusupov. The entire main card will be available worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
“We are excited to kick off our 2025 schedule with an International Showcase at LFA 199,” stated Soares. “Ary Farias is a seven-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion from Brazil and Sabit Zhusupov is a three-time Pankration world champion from Kazakhstan. They are two of the most decorated grapplers to ever compete in MMA and will meet in the main event of LFA 199. Tachi Palace Casino Resort has a long and storied history in MMA dating back to the turn of the century when the sport was still in its infancy. Many of the biggest legends in MMA got their start at this venue and we are excited to add another chapter to its history with a stacked international event to start the new year on January 10th.”
Tickets for LFA 199: Farias vs. Zhusupov are available for purchase through LFATIX.com.
Farias (14-4) is on a short list when it comes to debating who is the most decorated Jiu-Jitsu practitioner to ever compete in MMA. The seven-time Jiu-Jitsu 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 Jiu-Jitsu academies in the world. This is the same academy where UFC great 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 Jiu-Jitsu such as Ricardo Vieria, Rogerio Camões, Yuri Simoes, and Ramon Lemos. Farias has competed four times under the LFA banner and is the owner of one of the flashiest submission wins in the promotion’s history when he submitted Devante Sewell in his LFA debut.
Zhusupov (16-3) has been one of Kazakhstan’s top MMA prospects for years, but will be making his long-awaited LFA and American-soil debut at the perfect time. This is because his country now has the world’s attention as a rapidly emerging hotbed for MMA talent. Shavkat Rakhmonov is the #1 contender for the UFC welterweight world title and is one of the biggest stars in the sport. Nikolay Veretennikov just became the first LFA fighter from Kazakhstan to sign with the UFC this past summer. Even UFC commentator Laura Sanko is enjoying the hype as she was seen wearing a tymak at UFC 310 earlier this month, which is a traditional Kazakh fur hat. Now the man known as “Lucky” is looking to show just how ironic his nickname is when he makes his LFA debut. The three-time Pankration world champion has dominated the MMA scene in his home country and Russia. Now the regional kingpin known for his signature precision striking looks to keep the Kazakh party going with a statement win to start the new year.
Currently Announced Fight Card (Main Card worldwide on UFC Fight Pass® at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
Ary Farias (14-4) vs. Sabit Zhusupov (16-3)
Co-Main Event | Catchweight Bout (140 lb)
Rafael Do Nascimento (9-3) vs. Emran Tara Khail (8-3)
Heavyweight Bout (265 lb)
Josh Hokit (2-0) vs. John Lopez (2-1)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
Azizbek Temirov (5-0) vs. Magomed Shakhbanov (4-0)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
Enkhur Bayartsogt (7-4) vs. Shovkhal Churchaev (5-2)
Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
Theo Haig (5-0) vs. Said-Magomedov Abdulgaziev (7-7)
Heavyweight Bout (265 lb)
Larry Gonzales (5-3) vs. Billy Ray Valdez (3-1)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
Julio Larrave (0-0) vs. Allen Silhanek (0-1)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
Sheldon Struble (1-0) vs. Edmund Kwan (3-0)
Women’s Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
Esmira Mammadova (0-0) vs. Gabrielle McComb (0-0)
Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)
Shealor Ladd (0-0) vs. Tylando Mattress (1-0)
Catchweight Bout (150 lb)
Abraham Del Toro (0-0) vs. Jermaine Edwards (0-0)
About LFA:
LFA is a professional Mixed Martial Arts promotion that was formed by the powerhouse merger between RFA and Legacy FC in 2017. It has launched the careers of over 330 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC. LFA presents live Mixed Martial Arts events on a monthly basis around the world including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. 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 promotion owns and operates LFA FIGHT NETWORK™, a premium YouTube channel that features live combat sports events alongside live LFA Prelims and historical fights.
Please visit LFA.com for updates and information. Visit the official LFA YouTube channel (LFA FIGHT NETWORK™) at @LFAfights. LFA is on Facebook at Facebook.com/LFAfighting. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and X (formerly Twitter) at @LFAfighting.
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 TACHI PALACE CASINO RESORT:
Tachi Palace Casino Resort is owned and operated by Tachi-Yokut Tribe. Tachi Palace is located in Lemoore, CA, on the Santa Rosa Rancheria. Tachi Palace offers the finest gaming action with slots, bingo, and various table games and have a variety of dining options. The on-site Yokut gas station offers gas, diesel, race high-octane pumps and electric charging stations, plus a convenience store, smoke shop, market, and gaming. Next door to the hotel is the Coyote Entertainment Center featuring movie theaters, bowling alley, arcade and food and concessions. The hotel features 255 luxurious rooms and suites. Bookings for weddings, special occasions and business functions are also available. Please visit TachiPalace.com for more information.
