MIXED MARTIAL ARTS VETERAN WATCH: MARCH 2019

Posted September 15, 2019

When boxers are given their launch (or choose to sign elsewhere) out of a significant North American MMA advertising like the UFC or Bellator — unless they’re a significant star — they often fall into obscurity about the regional/overseas circuit unless they stand up a few wins and end up signing with one of the above promotions. In this regular feature for MMAOddsBreaker.com, I take a peek at a few regional/overseas MMA matchups for the month of March and instead of list off the top fights outside these significant organizations, I highlight some familiar names that you may recognize on upcoming fight cards.
Unified MMA 36: Mayhem (Enoch, Alberta) — Mar. 1
Dominique Steele (18-11) vs. Teddy Ash (12-4) — Middleweight Title
UFC veteran Steele looks to close the chapter on his rivalry with Ash since the set face off in a rematch. Steele is coming from a first-round TKO win over Ash at Unified 35 in December. Ash meanwhile appears to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since May 2014.
Jake Lindsay (13-8) vs. Pat Pytlik (7-0) — Welterweight Title
Former UFC lightweight Lindsay looks to create it two-straight wins for the first time since Feb. 2014 when he faces undefeated Canadian Pytlik. Lindsay is coming off a submission win over Dawond Pickney in EFC 10, while Pytlik has won all seven of his fights by stoppage.
Shane Campbell (14-7) vs. Menad Abella (5-1) — Lightweight Title
UFC veteran Campbell seems to get back on the winning track when he struggles prospect Abella for the lightweight title. Campbell is coming from a unanimous decision loss to Magomedsaygid Alibekov at RCC 5 that snapped his four-fight win streak. Abella meanwhile is coming from a unanimous decision loss to UFC veteran Jonathan Meunier in TKO 43.
Cage Warriors 102 — (London, England) — Mar. 2
Craig White (14-9) vs. Jolton Santos (28-7)
Former UFC welterweight White appears to snap a two-fight losing streak when he meets Brazil’s Santos on the main card. White won four-straight struggles before signing with the UFC this past year, then lost back-to-back conflicts against Neil Magny and Diego Sanchez. Santos meanwhile heads into this matchup on a four-fight win series.
John Maguire (26-11) vs. Brad Wheeler (17-13)
UFC veteran Maguire has alternated between wins and losses in his last five fights while Wheeler has dropped three of his past four fights.
Destiny MMA: Throwdown (Waipahu, Hawaii) — Mar 2
Russell Doane (15-8) vs. Diego Silva (11-4)
Doane competes beyond the UFC for the first time since Nov. 2013 when he faces Silva in a bantamweight bout. The 32-year-old has lost five of the last six fights. Silva meanwhile is 2-2 in his past four fights and will be creating his promotional debut.
CFFC 73: (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Mar. 2
Azunna Anyanwu (14-5) vs. Christopher Daukaus (7-2) — Heavyweight Title
Former UFC heavyweight Anyanwu asserts for the first time since Sept. 2017 when he faces Daukaus for its promotions heavyweight title. “Zu” is coming from a saliva decision loss to Justin Ledit at UFC Fight Night 116 which snapped his five-fight win series. Daukaus meanwhile heads into this matchup onto a five-fight win streak.
RCC Intro 3 (Ekaterinburg, Russia) — Mar. 9
Godofredo Pepey (14-6) vs. Pavel Gordeev (13-1)
UFC veteran Pepey seems to make it two-straight wins when he strikes Gordeev who’s riding a six-fight win series.
Cage Warriors 103 (Copenhagen, Denmark) — Mar. 9
Nicolas Dalby (16-3-1) vs. Alex Lohore (17-3)
Former UFC welterweight Dalby looks to drive his winning streak to three-straight when he faces Lohore who has finished his last two competitions.
Mads Burnell (10-3) vs. Ahmed Vila (7-1)
UFC veteran Burnell looks for back-t0-back wins when he faces Vila in a featherweight competition.
Complete Warrior Combat (Lansing, Michigan) — Mar. 9
Jarred Books (14-2) vs. Josh Robinson (12-12) — Flyweight Title
Former UFC flyweight Brooks looks for his second right when when he faces Robinson who has lost three in a row.
Fight Hard MMA (St Louis, Missouri) — Mar. 9
Charles Bennett (30-40-2) vs. Chuka Willis (9-5)
PRIDE veteran Bennett looks to snap a 10-fight losing streak if he faces Willis that is seeking to bounce back from a two-fight skid himself.
BRAVE CF 22 (Pasay, Philippines) — Mar. 15
Jose Torres (8-1) vs. Amir Albazi (11-0)
Former UFC flyweight Torres appears to bounce straight back from the only loss of his livelihood because he faces Albazi who’s won back fights under the Bellator MMA bannerads. Rolando Dy (10-7) vs. Mehmosh Raza (9-3)
UFC veteran Dy looks for back-to-back wins for the first time since Nov. 2016 while Raza looks for his third consecutive victory.
ACA 93 (St. Petersburg, Russia) — Mar. 16
Rob Emerson (20-13) vs. Mikhail Malyutin (36-15)
Former UFC/Bellator fighter Emerson looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since Sept. 2009 while Malyutin seems to bounce back from his loss in Apr. 2018 which snapped his nine-fight win streak.
Hacran Dias (24-6-1) vs. U. Gadzhidaudov (10-4)
UFC veteran Dias aims to make it 2 wins in a row while Gadzhidadov looks to Prevent backend losses for the second time in his career Chris Camozzi (24-13) vs. Muslim Magomedov (4-0)
UFC veteran Camozzi seems to snap a 3 fight skid and competes for the first time in MMA because May. 2015. Magomedov made his pro-debut in Mar. 2017 and has finished two of his four career opponents.
Dominate FC 3 (Tacoma, Washington) — Mar. 23
Anthony Hamilton (18-9) vs. Kyle Keenay (19-24)
Former UFC heavyweight Hamilton looks for his fourth win in a row when he faces 36-year-old Keeney who has lost three-fights in a row.
Eternal MMA 42 (Southport, Queensland, Australia) — Mar. 23
Ben Wall (9-7-1) vs. Mike Wilkinson (9-4)
A set of UFC veterans clash as Wall seems for back-to-back wins for the first time because Mar. 2013 if he faces Wilkinson who’s lost three-straight.
KSW 47 (Lodz, Poland) — Mar. 23
Phil De Fries (16-6) vs. Tomasz Narkun (16-2) — Heavyweight Title
UFC veteran De Fries aims to make it five-wins in row if he faces Narkun who’s riding a seven-fight win streak.
Caged Aggression 24 (Davenport, Iowa) — Mar 23
Mike Santiago (21-12) vs. Eric Wisely (32-9-1)
Contender Series winner Santiago seems to snap a three-fight skid when he faces Bellator/UFC vet Wisley. Santiago went 0-3 at the UFC losing to Zabit Magomedsharipov, Mads Burnell and most recently Dan Ige at UFC 225. Wisley meanwhile heads into this fight on a eight-fight win series.
Dan Hornbuckle (24-9) vs. Jason Louck (19-13)
Former Bellator title challenger Hornbuckle struggles for the first time since Aug. 2014 when he faces Louck in a welterweight bout. The 38-year-old has dropped four-straight struggles and will be searching for his first win since Apr. 2013.
ACA 94 (Krasnodar, Russia) — Mar. 30
Albert Tumenov (18-5) vs. Murad Abdulaev (18-6) — Welterweight Title
UFC veteran Tumenov looks for his fourth consecutive win when he faces Abdulaev, who heads to this name battle on a three-fight win series.
ONE Championship: A New Era (Tokyo, Japan) — Mar. 31
Demetrious Johnson (27-3-1) vs. Yuya Wakamatsu (10-3)
Former UFC flyweight champion Johnson appears to prevent back-to-back losses for the first time in his career when he faces Wakamatsu, who’s dropped two of his last three fights.
Eddie Alvarez (29-6) vs. Timofey Nastyukhin (12-4)
Former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Alvarez makes his promotional introduction from Nastyukin who is 2-2 in his last four fights.
Is there a notable MMA veteran competing this month that I missed? Or is there a matchup that’s been changed? Hit me up on Twitter @LynchOnSports, and I’ll add it in or fix this up. Thanks.
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