LFA 181: Chapolin vs. Hernandez is set for April 5

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will kick off the second quarter of its 2024 schedule in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” in April with a flyweight title fight at LFA 181. This will be the twenty-first LFA event to take place in the state of Minnesota. Twenty of these events have taken place at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, which is located just 25 minutes southwest of the Twin Cities.

LFA 181, Presented by RESILITE,  takes place Friday, April 5th at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. 

The main event will feature a flyweight title fight when undisputed champion Eduardo Chapolin defends his title against undefeated contender Eimar Hernadez. 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 the Flyweight Championship to Minnesota at LFA 181,” stated Soares. “The main event will feature the first title defense of the LFA flyweight champion Eduardo Chapolin. He will face top undefeated prospect Eimar Hernandez in a battle between the top two 125-pound prospects in the world. The Mystic Lake Casino Hotel is an incredible venue and we look forward to bringing another world title fight to our great fight fans in the Upper Midwest.”

Chapolin (12-2) grew up in Buritama, São Paulo, Brazil. This is just across the Tietê River from Birigui in the northwest area of the state of São Paulo. Birigui is the hometown of UFC star and LFA great Tabatha “Baby Shark” Ricci, who is Chapolin’s longtime friend and training partner. After making his LFA debut in Brazil in the summer of 2022, Chapolin moved to the United States to rejoin Ricci stateside, where they now train together in Ventura, California. This led to his American-soil debut, where he defeated fellow Brazilian fighter Leandro Soares at LFA 165. The 28-year-old is a veteran of nearly 70 kickboxing fights and won kickboxing titles in Brazil and Japan. This world-class striking pedigree was on full display when he knocked out LFA flyweight champion Cody Davis to capture the title at LFA 172. He now looks to solidify his throne with his first title defense.

Hernandez (7-0) is a man that is seeing his path to the LFA title come full circle. Four years ago, Hernandez concluded his amateur MMA career at LFA 82 at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. This happened just a couple weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 changed the landscape of MMA by forcing the cancellation of most events. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native decided to turn pro the following year and made the move west to train with UFC Hall of Fame member Urijah Faber at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California. Hernandez, like Chapolin, also has the benefit of training alongside a female UFC star and LFA great in Maycee Barber. The two have trained together at Roufusport in Milwaukee and Team Alpha Male. The 27-year-old has won all of his bouts and a regional title since turning pro and now looks for his first world title when he returns to the LFA. 

Currently Announced Fight Card (Main Card will be available worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS®):

Main Event | Flyweight Title Bout (125 lb)

Eduardo Chapolin (12-2) vs. Eimar Hernandez (7-0)

Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

Quang Le (7-0) vs. Tial Thang (6-3)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

Noah Lindsey (4-1) vs. Mark Choinski (4-0)

Heavyweight Bout (265 lb)

Steven Asplund (2-0) vs. Jimmy Barnes (0-1)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

Kelton Sneve (2-0) vs. Davion Trotter (1-0)