From Luis Pena To Antonina Shevchenko, The Future Of MMA Lives On FloCombat
From Luis Pena To Antonina Shevchenko, The Future Of MMA Lives On FloCombat
From Luis Pena to Antonina Shevchenko to Greg Hardy and beyond, the importance of regional MMA is revealing itself more and more every day.
The value of regional mixed martial arts is coming to the forefront of the MMA world.
Inspired by the success of prominent major promotions, fans’ interest in regional MMA increases daily.
At the beginning of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, the buzz surrounding the show was almost nonexistent. Not many people seemed to care, nor did they understand why they should give it a watch.
It wasn't the UFC. It wasn't Bellator. So why did it matter?
That attitude changed quickly.
Two seasons into the Contender Series, and MMA fans near-unanimously view the UFC original as must-watch programming.
There’s something inexplicably special about watching the next generation compete. Fans tend to look toward the future, and regional MMA takes the future and makes it the present—a place where hungry young fighters grind to make their dreams come true.
It’s no coincidence with the rise of Contender Series that the MMA community’s interest in regional MMA has grown as well. Promotions such as LFA, Cage Warriors, TKO, and countless others have captivated audiences.
Unbeknownst to many, though, those names only scrape the surface of what's available.
Hundreds upon hundreds of promotions exist globally, grooming the talent of tomorrow and getting them ready for the next level.
Right here on FloCombat, we've hosted hundreds of regional events in just over two years—and that number is always growing.
Let's take a look at some notable names who have graced FloCombat.com's live events.
Manny Bermudez
Now 2-0 in the UFC and 13-0 overall in his pro career, Manny Bermudez is primed for a breakout 2019 campaign.
The bantamweight fighter has been to a decision just twice in his professional career, notching 11 stoppages—10 in the first round.
His submission game is relentless and crafty, something UFC fans have seen in full. In his UFC debut, he tapped out Albert Morales with a triangle choke, then in his follow-up appearance he put Davey Grant to sleep with the same submission.
WHAT. A. SEQUENCE.@_MannyBermudez drops Grant with a right hand, then shows off his SLICK submission skills to put him away. WOW! #UFCHamburg pic.twitter.com/XK8ebRvIPK
— UFC (@ufc) July 22, 2018
Bermudez, a longtime competitor and champion for New England standout promotion Cage Titans, is a multiple-time feature on FloCombat, and his quick start inside the Octagon comes as no surprise to those who watched him tap fools out regionally.
Now, the lights are brighter and the stakes are higher, but the results are the same: Bermudez just wins.
Luis Pena
A standout lightweight on The Ultimate Fighter 27, “Violent Bob Ross” has already become a fan favorite. Just one fight into his UFC career, Pena is must-watch television. Actually, the 25-year-old has always been a must-see attraction.
Competing for the Valor Fights and Shamrock FC promotions, Pena was a staple for FloCombat subscribers earlier in his career. The Missourian’s bout against Kobe Wall at Valor Fights: Worlds Collide was one of the best regional fights of 2017, and we also saw him wipe out another hyped prospect in Damir Ferhatbegovic at Valor Fights 41.
Before the world knew following TUF 27, FloCombat subscribers knew it well: Pena is special.
Logan Storley
Wrestling fans have long known the name "Logan Storley," but MMA fans were more recently introduced to the four-time All-American wrestler when he made his Bellator MMA debut at Bellator 181 last summer.
Now 4-0 with two finishes inside the Bellator cage, Storley (9-0 overall) looks to be a legitimate contender inside their 170-pound division—and he's rapidly improving every day.
Training alongside the likes of Michael Johnson, Gilbert Burns, Michael Chandler, Steve Mowry, and countless others at Henri Hooft's esteemed Hark Knocks 365, Storley is primed for big things in 2019.
FloCombat subscribers got an earlier taste of "The Storm," however, as Storley competed at Sioux Falls Fight Night 1 back in April of 2017.
Needless to say, his Bellator run comes as no surprise to those who saw that scrap.
Antonina Shevchenko
A former Lion Fight competitor, Antonina Shevchenko has followed her sister Valentina’s footsteps to the UFC.
Fight fans were thoroughly impressed by the Kyrgyzstani fighter’s Contender Series debut this past summer. The 33-year-old Muay Thai specialist dominated her opponent Jaymee Nievara from the opening bell, finishing the Californian in the second round and earning a UFC contract.
Shevchenko now looks to bring her razor sharp technical striking and speed to the Octagon Nov. 30 against Ashlee Evans-Smith at the Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale (h/t ESPN).
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Devonte Smith
Former RFO, V3Fights, and Pinnacle FC lightweight Devonte Smith made a statement on the final episode of this summer’s Contender Series.
Flying grossly under the radar for quite some time, the eccentric 25-year-old fighter was matched up with one of the most highly touted fighters on the entirety of the UFC original series’ sophomore season, Joe Lowry.
Related: Watch Lowry compete at V3Fights 69, where UFC President Dana White was in attendance.
In a matter of minutes, Smith knocked out Lowry in vicious fashion with a series Travis Browne-esque elbows against the cage.
The exciting finish didn’t come as a surprise to FloCombat subscribers. Smith has thrilled crowds for years, most notably including his all-out war against UFC veteran John Gunther at Big Guns 22.
Greg Hardy
Despite the controversy surrounding Greg Hardy, no one can dispute the talent and the excitement he brings to the cage.
Five fights into his professional career, Hardy still doesn’t have a full round of experience under his belt. After winning three amateur fights, including one on FloCombat, Hardy took his abilities to Contender Series this past summer.
The only fighter to make two appearances on Season 2, Hardy knocked out both of his undefeated opponents in swift fashion. As a result, the UFC signed the American Top Team member to a UFC developmental deal.
Fun fact: Hardy's second Contender Series opponent, Tebaris Gordon, also appeared on FloCombat as part of the Warfare 17 fight card.
Bobby Moffett
It hasn’t been an easy road for the MMA Lab’s Bobby Moffett. Suffering his fair share of losses on the come-up, Moffett has always persevered and improved.
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This past summer, Moffett was signed to Contender Series by Dana White after his V3Fights 69 victory over Jonathan Jackson. The event was featured on the latest episode of Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight and originally aired here on FloCombat.
Facing off against Jacob Kilburn with the world watching, Moffett ran through his Contender Series foe, tapping him out in the second round.
Now scheduled to take on Chas Skelly at UFC Denver, Moffett is ready to make a statement in the UFC’s 145-pound division.
Maurice Greene
Another interesting character, Mo “The Pirate” Greene isn’t in the UFC quite yet. However, after just one aired episode of The Ultimate Fighter 28: Heavy Hitters, Greene has displayed all of the makings of a star.
A savage knockout artist inside the cage and an avid crocheter outside of it, Greene is slowly becoming a fan favorite to national audiences.
On the season premier, the Driller Promotions veteran devastated opponent Przemysław Mysiala with a brutal uppercut knockout. The finish put the rest of the TUF house on notice, asserting Greene as one of the favorites to win the entire competition.
These fighters represent just a small sample of the talent that has graced FloCombat, and that lineup is constantly expanding.
Other FloCombat veterans who have enjoyed the national spotlight include:
Joe Lowry
Gerald Meerschaert
Gilbert Burns
Mike Rodriguez
Allen Crowder
Sean Lally
Montel Jackson
Austen Lane
Joe Giannetti
Deron Winn
Erin Blanchfield
Angela Lee
Sean Brady
David Michaud
Bobby Voelker
Jake Lindsey
Sid Bice
Garry Tonon
So if you liked Contender Series and if you want to keep tabs on the hottest MMA prospects before they make it to the big stage, we know a place.
Get your PRO subscription today and unlock a world of regional MMA goodness right at your fingertips.