LFA 194 Fight Card: Magomedov vs. Leyva and Exciting Debuts

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — LFA 194 will feature a total of fourteen fights, which includes a pair of can’t miss prospects that will be making their promotional debut. Both will be in action prior to the previously announced championship headliner between Shamidkhan Magomedov (8-1) and Alfonso Leyva (7-1).

Austin Vanderford (11-2) will return to action two years after ascending the ranks of the Bellator middleweight division. “The Gentleman” signed with Bellator after winning a bout at welterweight on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018. He then proceeded to win his first five bouts at middleweight for the promotion to improve his record to 11-0. This earned Vanderford a Bellator middleweight world title shot against all-time great Gegard Mousasi in 2022. Prior to MMA, Vanderford was an NAIA national champion and two-time NAIA All-American, while wrestling at Southern Oregon University. The decorated athlete now looks to reinvent himself back at welterweight as he comes from an uber-competitive household as he is married to former UFC star and reality television personality Paige VanZant.

Bia Mesquita (1-0) will be making one of the most anticipated American soil debuts in MMA this year. The Brazilian super-prospect began training Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 5. By the time she was 10, she had won the Brazilian National Junior Championships, three State Championships, and several other major tournaments. After receiving her black belt from Jiu-Jitsu legend Leticia Ribeiro thirteen years ago, Mesquita would embark on a black belt career that would earn her the nickname “BJJ Lady G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time)” as she is now a member of the Guinness World Records and International Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Hall of Fame. She accomplished this by becoming the only person to win 10 gold medals, which is the record for the most IBJJF World Championship titles at the black belt level. The Jiu-Jitsu phenom made the switch to MMA earlier this year and is now eager to build her name in the sport by competing internationally for the LFA.

LFA 194, presented by Monster Energy, takes place Friday, October 18th at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York. The main event will feature an interim welterweight title fight when interim champion Shamidkhan Magomedov defends his title against two-time Olympic wrestler Alfonso “Sniper” Leyva. 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 another explosive title fight to New York at LFA 194,” stated Soares. “Our incredible American and Canadian fan base give us an incredible international atmosphere at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, which is a world-class venue and worldwide destination. The venue will now host two of our biggest international stars in the championship headliner. Shamidkhan Magomedov won the LFA interim welterweight title at this venue in February. He was then invited to compete on the thirty-second season of The Ultimate Fighter. He will now defend his title against Alfonso Leyva, who is a two-time Olympian in Greco-Roman Wrestling from Mexico. The winner will get a chance to unify the title against current champion Vanilto Antunes depending on the outcome of his fight on Dana White’s Contender Series this summer.”

Tickets for LFA 194: Magomedov vs. Leyva are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com.

Main Card (Worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)

Preliminary Card (Featured Bouts available on the Official LFA YouTube channel the LFA FIGHT NETWORK™):

Main Event | Interim Welterweight Title Bout (170 lb)

Shamidkhan Magomedov (8-1) vs. Alfonso Leyva (7-1)

Co-Main Event | Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

Cedric Gunnison (7-3) vs. Mirafzal Akhtamov (7-0-1)

Featherweight Bout (145 lb)

Erick Viscondi (13-3) vs. Busurmankul Abdibait (15-4-1)

Women’s Strawweight Bout (115 lb)

Giovanna Canuto (4-1) vs. Ershirley Kessy (3-0)

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)

Josiah Harrell (7-0) vs. Uelliton Silva (6-2)

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)

Austin Vanderford (11-2) vs. Victor Romero (13-7)

Featherweight Bout (145 lb)

Jacob Bohn (14-12) vs. Lance Lawrence (8-4)

Women’s Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

Bia Mesquita (1-0) vs. Shannel Butler (0-0)

Heavyweight Bout (265 lb)

Matt Adams (3-1) vs. Saulo Cavalari (3-1)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

Jake Hixenbaugh (3-2) vs. Adam Livingston (4-0)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

Kevin Carrier (2-0) vs. Carlo Ricci (3-4)

Featherweight Bout (145 lb)

Vincenzo Iannuzzo (2-0) vs. Derrick Patterson (1-2)

Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)

Freddy Vidal (0-0) vs. Mike Kennedy (1-1)

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)

Melvin Jovel (4-0) vs. Brian Torres (2-0)