LFA 103: A Breakdown of Friday’s Packed Main Card

All the Main Card Action at LFA 103

Main Event: Spike Carlyle vs. Batsumberel Dagvadorj (lightweight bout)

Spike Carlyle (9-3-0 1-2 UFC) is entering his first fight since his UFC release in February 2021 and seeks to bounce back from consecutive unanimous decision losses to Billy Quarantillo and Bill Algeo. This marks a quick turnaround for Carlyle, as he has only been out of the UFC a month. He came into the UFC with a knockout win against Aalon Cruz. His next fight remains one of his toughest, and he needs to keep things on the feet. He possesses one-shot power that can put Dagvadorj away, and he has boxed with some of the best at 145. Carlyle wants to regain the momentum that catapulted him into the UFC, and he just might do it with a win over Dagvadorj at LFA 103.

Batsumberel Dagvadorj (7-1-0) is a Mongolian welterweight coming off his first pro loss against Maycon Mendonca in a title bout. Before this, Dagvadorj won his Bellator debut at Bellator 226 by bulldog choke, and there must have been contract issues as despite Dagvadorj putting on quite the impressive showing, he is out of Bellator. But Dagvadorj looks to prove that Scott Coker and company made a mistake by cutting him. LFA 103 provides the perfect opportunity for Dagvadorj to put his name on the map by beating a UFC veteran like Carlyle.

Prediction: Carlyle by UD

Co-main Event: Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Cynthia Arceo (strawweight bout)

Vanessa Demopoulos (5-3-0) is an American strawweight who is coming off two straight losses against current UFC fighter Cory McKenna and Lupita Gomez in strawweight title fights. The submission specialist was previously on a four-fight win streak with two submissions and two decisions to her name. LFA 103 sees Demopoulos looking to snap her two-fight losing streak and get her career back on track. Her striking and takedowns need to improve if she is to beat Arceo, who is lethal on the feet.

Cynthia Arceo (5-2-1) is a former Invicta FC strawweight looking to rebound from her second pro loss, coming at the hands of now-UFC strawweight Mallory Martin by decision. Arceo has not fought in 16 months, and she is facing another tough opponent in Demopoulos, so ring rust may be a major factor. For her to win this fight, Arceo must stay off the mat at all costs, as Demopoulos is a high-level grappler with three submissions in her five pro wins. This fight should be a tough scrap as both women look to get their careers on the path to stardom at LFA 103.

Prediction: Arceo by 2nd-round KO

Abdul Al-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Jake Sebastian (lightweight)

Palestinian national Abdul Al-Selwady (10-3-0) has hit a skid against some of the top regional competition with two KO losses in a row. His last fight was in November of 2019 and so Al-Selwady has had plenty of time to recover and work on his chin before he returns at LFA 103. Al-Selwady has six TKOs to his name, but he has been fortunate to have a doctor stoppage and an injury pullout pre-fight result in two TKO wins. His striking defense leaves questions to be raised, especially because he has not been submitted. However, he should cause many problems on both the feet and the mat for Jake Sebastian.

American welterweight Jake Sebastian (6-2-0) is stepping to the division below him after two straight submission wins via armbar and arm triangle, respectively. However, Sebastian’s opponent Al-Selwady has six TKOs and Sebastian’s two losses have come via knockout. For him to win, he will either need to take Al-Selwady down or make major improvements in his striking, as he has been finished twice in the first round.

Prediction: Al-Selwady by 1st-round KO

Fernie Garcia vs. Isaiah Batin-Gonzalez (bantamweight)

Fernie Garcia (8-1-0) is a bantamweight out of Dallas, Texas, and the rising gym at Fortis MMA. He is currently the 11th-ranked pro men’s bantamweight in the Southwest. A dominant grappler, Garcia has won three of his eight fights by submission and looks to do the same against Batin Gonzalez. If he can improve his boxing, Garcia has a bright future and a legitimate shot at the UFC.

Isaiah Batin-Gonzalez (4-1-0) is a fighter out of American Top Team seeking to catapult himself into the top ranks of regional pros. He has proven to be a jack-of-all-trades as he has two decisions and a submission and KO win to his name, and even got a win at Bellator by split decision. Recapturing this momentum is key for Batin-Gonzalez as a high-level opponent such as Fernie Garcia will give him a run for his money at LFA 103.

Prediction: Isaiah Batin-Gonzalez by Unanimous Decision

Rodney Kealohl vs. Juancamilo Ronderos (flyweight bout)

Rodney Kealohi (5-1-0) is a flyweight out of the Pacific Northwest who is on a tear, winning his last four fights by knockout. He has torn through the regional circuit, and another win at LFA could put him square into the conversation for new signees of the UFC. However, Juancamilo Ronderos looks to stop this momentum, and Kealohi will need to stay sharp grappling, as Ronderos could jump on his neck early and end it. LFA 103 will show who the real regional contender is, as both of these men are on hot streaks.

Juancamilo Ronderos (4-0-0) is riding a 13-fight win streak dating back to his days as an amateur. The Colombian out of Xtreme Couture has been on fire, with two submission wins in his last two fights. Kealohi will give him a much tougher test, as the combined record of his opponents had a record of 18-10-0. For Ronderos to win the fight, he will need to get grappling quickly, as Kealohi has fight-ending power for a bantamweight. Nevertheless, LFA 103 should be an incredible matchup for these two hot bantamweight prospects.

Prediction: Kealohi by 1st-round KO

Josh Quinlan vs. Dallas Jennings (welterweight bout)

LFA 103 sees Josh Quinlan (4-0-0) return to fight yet again, after eight straight finishes and ten straight wins have thrown him square in the crosshairs of talent scouts all over the country. Quinlan has knocked out most of his opponents, and he will look to do this again against another hot prospect. He will need to get off to another fast start, as most of his finishes have come either in the first or second rounds.

Dallas Jennings (3-1-0) is a middleweight who is making a move to 170 for his first fight in a non-regional promotion at LFA 103. Jennings is coming off a decision and KO win and seeks to extend his winning streak to three fights in a row. To do this, Jennings needs to grapple, as it will take away Quinlan’s fight-ending power and provide openings for Jennings to make the fight a gritty one. It should be a fantastic fight and is high on a list of fights to watch this weekend.

Prediction: Quinlan by 2nd-round KO

LFA 103 should be a stacked card, and if you’re looking for fights to watch during the week, this card is it. How do you see the card playing out? Let us know in the comments!

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