LFA 177: Smyth vs. Magomedov is set for February 23

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will return to New York in February with a Championship Doubleheader at LFA 177. The two title fights will include the interim welterweight and women’s flyweight titles being on the line. LFA 177 will be the fifth LFA event to take place in the Empire State.

LFA 177: Smyth vs. Magomedov, presented by Tequila Mandala, takes place Friday, February 23rd at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York. The main event will feature an interim welterweight title fight between Dana White’s Contender Series alum Devin “The Prodigy” Smyth and top Russian prospect Shamidkhan Magomedov. Then in the co-main event, top Canadian prospect Shannon “MMA Barbie” Clark faces top Brazilian prospect Thaiany Lopes for the women’s flyweight title. 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 bring two title fights to New York at LFA 177,” stated Soares. “We have an incredible American and Canadian fan base that attend our events at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, which is a world-class venue and worldwide destination. The venue will now host four of the top prospects from around the globe competing for two world titles. Devin Smyth is the godson of UFC Hall of Famer and Niagara Falls legend Rashad Evans. He will face top Russian prospect Shamidkhan Magomedov for the interim welterweight title. The winner will get a chance to unify the title against current champion Geraldo Neto later this year. Then in the co-main event, Shannon Clark of Canada and Thaiany Lopes of Brazil will meet for the vacant LFA women’s flyweight title.”

Tickets for LFA 177: Smyth vs. Magomedov are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com.

Smyth (10-3) is a man following in the footsteps of his legendary godfather “Suga” Rashad Evans and he is doing it right in the town where Evans still holds most of his high school’s wrestling records. Evans grew up in Niagara Falls before becoming the UFC light-heavyweight champion and a UFC Hall of Famer. Evans also helped guide Smyth’s transition to MMA, but has had a more direct impact and lead role on Smyth’s career over the past two years. The 28-year-old is now living and training with Evans in south Florida and the difference has been remarkable and clear for the world to see. That led to Smyth earning the 2023 LFA Fans’ Choice Awards: Knockout of the Year in the main event of LFA 167.

Magomedov (7-1) is a world-class wrestler from the famed Dagestan region of Russia and boasts some of the most impressive grappling credentials in the division. The 29-year-old is a Master of Sport in Wrestling, he is a two-time Russian National Champion in Wrestling, and he is a World MMA Association amateur champion. He also owns a pair of wins inside the LFA Octagon, which both took place in Niagara Falls. The first came against LFA veteran Kohlman Scribner via Rear Naked Choke in the first round after moving up to middleweight for their bout at LFA 155. Six months later, Magaomedov defeated top Uzbekistani prospect Bakhromjon Mashrapov via Unanimous Decision at LFA 167.

The co-main event of LFA 177 will feature the women’s flyweight championship, which recently became available after reigning champion Sabina Mazo vacated the title as she prepares to move up a weight class and make a run at the women’s bantamweight title. That sets the stage for a clash between top undefeated prospects Shannon Clark (4-0) and Thaiany Lopes (5-0). Clark is the top women’s prospect from Canada and wasted little time showing the world why in her LFA debut in October at LFA 170. The 31-year-old bullied the highly-touted Bosnian prospect Nejra Repp en route to a Unanimous Decision victory. She will now face Lopes, who is a 22-year-old native of Goiás in the Central-West Region of Brazil. Lopes, like Clark, is a regional champion in her home country and is excited to show the world what she can do in her international debut at LFA 177.

Currently Announced Fight Card:

Main card available worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Main Event | Interim Welterweight Title Bout (170 lb)

Devin Smyth (10-3) vs. Shamidkhan Magomedov (7-1)

Co-Main Event | Women’s Flyweight Title Bout (125 lb)

Shannon Clark (4-0) vs. Thaiany Lopes (5-0)

Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)

Joe Taylor (5-0) vs. Gabriel Thimoteo (6-5)

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)

Mirafzal Akhtamov (6-0-1) vs Diego Bianchini (8-1)

Heavyweight Bout (265 lbs)

Cameron Kinzig (4-0) vs Denzel Freeman (4-1)

Women’s Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

Sierra Dinwoodie (2-0) vs. Hope Chase (3-1)

Middleweight Bout (185 lb)

Mus’Aib Baiyina (2-3) vs Luis Francischinelli (1-0)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

Levan Khabalaev (2-0) vs Nikolay Plazinskiy (2-0)