ALLEN, TX, December 14, 2012 – The Legacy Fighting Championship makes its long-awaited return to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex this Friday night with Legacy Fighting Championship 16 at the Allen Events Center.

This event will crown Legacy’s very first flyweight champion with the main event featuring UFC veteran Will Campuzano against up-and-coming prospect Jimmy Flick in what should be an exciting battle of two of the very best 125 lbs. prospects in the entire country.

We went over the Legacy FC 16 preliminary card analysis and predictions earlier but now it’s time to break down the featured main card of the evening set for national broadcast on AXS TV, including the very first flyweight title fight for Legacy putting UFC vet Will Campuzano against undefeated 22 year old Jimmy Flick.

Take a look at the quick card below then move on to the predictions. Whether you agree or disagree, make sure to stop by our TXMMA Facebook Page afterwards and let us know your own thoughts on these fights!

Legacy Fighting Championship 16 – Main Card (AXS TV)

125 lbs.: Will Campuzano (10-4) vs. Jimmy Flick (6-0)  [TITLE FIGHT]
135 lbs.: Matthew Hobar (5-1) vs. Steven Peterson (8-2)
145 lbs.: Reynaldo Trujillo (12-8) vs. Chas Skelly (9-0)
125 lbs.: Joseph Sandoval (6-3) vs. Ryan Benoit (5-1)
135 lbs.: Klayton Mai (3-0) vs. Alex Russ (4-1)
170 lbs.: Charles Byrd (5-2) vs. Derrick Krantz (13-6)
135 lbs.: Quaint Kempf (5-3) vs. Darrion Caldwell (1-0)

Legacy Fighting Championship 16 – Preliminary Card

135 lbs.: Eli Tamez (4-0) vs. Nathan Torres (1-0)
170 lbs.: Russell Brewer (3-1) vs. Aaron Culpepper (2-3)
205 lbs.: Bobby Moore (1-1) vs. Evan Thompson (7-3)
125 lbs.: Lisa Lamb (debut) vs. Yasmine Reguera-Gonzales (debut)
135 lbs.: Sidney Cawdrey (1-3) vs. Joseph Salas (2-2)
185 lbs.: Alex Madrid (2-0) vs. Alfredo Leija (1-0)

Legacy Fighting Championship 16 – Main Card Preview and Predictions

125 lbs.: Will Campuzano (10-4) vs. Jimmy Flick (6-0) [TITLE FIGHT]

Do I have to pick this one?

This inaugural flyweight title fight no doubt puts the two most worthy prospects at this weight in Texas region against one another to decide once and for all who gets to be the first to wear the belt in this division. With that being said, it’s such a tough fight to call stylistically because they both have such clear strengths that it’s almost impossible to say which ones trump the others without seeing them go at it.

Will Campuzano walks into this one as the established veteran with UFC experience. He’s gone 2-0 since dropping down to the flyweight division, including a vicious knee KO in his last fight over Josh Sampo.  Meanwhile, Jimmy Flick is coming with six straight wins as a pro to start his career and a big chip on his shoulder as he seeks to “finally show the world how good he is.”

It won’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what each fighters’ game plan will be heading into this fight. Jimmy “The Brick” will no doubt look to take Campuzano down and overwhelm on the ground while Campuzano will look to punish him for those attempts and put him away using his vicious striking arsenal.

I usually side with wrestlers in these types of contests (empirical evidence) but strikers like Campuzano has closed the gap in recent years between strikers and their grappling counterparts. Aside from that, he’s worked plenty of wrestling of his own with guys like Johnny Bedford and Jason Sampson so I don’t think he’s going to be gun shy come fight night. With cardio being a strength for him also, Flick is going to have to work to put him away and five rounds is a long time to avoid a knockout blow from a bigger, older, and more seasoned fighter. Flick will have his day in the sun but Friday might be Will’s night.

Prediction: Will Campuzano over Jimmy Flick by TKO, RD4.
135 lbs.: Matthew Hobar (5-1) vs. Steven Peterson (8-2)

These two first fought at Legacy FC 13 earlier this summer (also in Dallas as part of the Europa Expo). Both highly touted prospects at the time they faced off (and still now), that bout was supposed to decide which of the two would move on to a place towards the very top of the division. Unfortunately a freak elbow dislocation to Matt Hobar put a premature stop to that bout giving the TKO to Steven Peterson. As a testament to both of them, they’ll be stepping back in to the cage against each other for the second time this Friday to decide things in a more conclusive manner.

How this fight plays out this time around remains to be seen. Their first bout didn’t say much other than both fighters were fighting their fight – with Hobar looking to control from the top and Peterson looking to attack from the bottom on the ground and both guys trying to establish their style on the feet when they weren’t grappling. I think this one will be another close fight and could very well be a “pick-em” as far as predictions go but I’ll go ahead and lean on Peterson on account of his impressive strength of schedule as a pro to date.

Prediction: Steven Peterson over Matt Hobar by split decision.

145 lbs.: Reynaldo Trujillo (12-8) vs. Chas Skelly (9-0)

Team Takedown’s Chas Skelly makes his Legacy debut in this latest test against the always dangerous Rey Trujillo.

We’ve been talking about Chas as one of, if not the most highly touted prospect out of Texas still not in the UFC for couple of years now. Outside on an injury timeout in 2011, he’s never failed to impress and holds wins over some impressive opponents, including 2 against recent training partner Daniel Pineda. Starting off as a wrestler, Chas has continued to refine his game and has added even more dangerous submissions to his “funky” style of fighting.

Looking to spoil Skelly’s ascent is Trujillo, one thought of as one of Houston’s top prospects before a brutal 5 fight losing streak in 2011. He rebounded to win 4 out of 6 in 2012, including a KO of the year candidate with his superman punch knockout of Munil Adriano at Legacy FC 10 this past February.  Win or lose, Rey is the type of fighter to never blink on as he can hurt his opponents at any opportunity.

This is a big fight for both guys with Chas looking for his tenth win in a row and Rey looking to prove he’s still a fighter to be reckoned with on the national level. Trujillo won’t be going down without a fight but Chas is the big favorite here as he looks to get on the UFC radar once and for all.

Prediction: Chas Skelly over Rey Trujillo by submission, RD2.

125 lbs.: Joseph Sandoval (6-3) vs. Ryan Benoit (5-1)

West Texas native Joseph Sandoval is made it into the UFC after six wins in a row fighting in the Panhandle but has struggled mightily since then, losing his last three fights while getting finished early in the first round in each and every fight. Does that mean he’s done with his natural run? That remains to be seen but this fight probably holds the answer to that question.

As for Sandoval’s opponent, Ryan “Babyface” Benoit seems to be going the other direction as a bonafide UFC prospect after 3 straight wins in a row and 5 out of 6 wins overall as a pro. He’s got a great wrestling background to go along with years of muay thai and boxing training so the background is definitely there. For him, this fight with Sandoval answers a few questions as well regarding his ability to take on fighters that have been on that UFC level.

As far as how this fight goes one thing is for sure and that is it won’t go to the judges. In fact it’ll probably end early as soon as somebody makes the tiniest error allowing the other person to capitalize. I like Benoit’s chances in this one as he seeks to make a case for the top of the division.

Prediction: Ryan Benoit over Joseph Sandoval by TKO, RD1.

135 lbs.: Klayton Mai (3-0) vs. Alex Russ (4-1)

In the third main card bout of the evening we have one of the bouts I’m actually looking forward to most with 4-1 Alex “Warpath” Russ taking on 3-0 Klayton Mai. In short, this should be quite the explosive bout it with both fighters looking to establish themselves as viable contenders in Legacy’s increasingly crowded bantamweight division.

Heading into the fight, Klayton’s never tasted defeat as a pro (3-fight win streak) with what I believe to be his biggest win coming over Casey Hudson at XKO 14. Meanwhile, Alex is looking to build off his own last victory over Ross Grimsley and start a winning streak of his own once again. Prior to that his only losses have come to impressive fighters (Steven Peterson as a pro and Kevin Aguilar as an amateur) so Russ is still a prospect to watch in his own right as he continues to develop in MMA.

As far as how we can expect this fight to… the apt description should be “fast-paced.” On the feet and on the ground, these guys will be doing all they can to get ahead of each other. I like Russ in that kind of fight although I don’t discount Mai’s serpentine ways in terms of sneaking in a submission if it presents itself.

Prediction: Alex Russ over Klayton Mai by majority decision.

170 lbs.: Charles Byrd (5-2) vs. Derrick Krantz (13-6)

This should be an exciting fight between two hard-hitting fighters as DFW resident Charles Byrd takes on Marshall, TX MMA star Derrick Krantz.

They say sometimes that styles make fights and this one should be an interesting matchup in that respect. Trained by legendary trainer Saekson Janjira, Byrd employs plenty of effective Muay Thai including some punishing leg kicks but has also developed a well-rounded MMA game over the past couple of years – as evident by his last win, a submission over Ira Boyd.

Meanwhile, Krantz is as hard-hitting as ever but has faced some tough times with 3 losses in his last 5 to some tough opposition while trying to make a run nationally.

Hard for me to say who should be the favorite in this one. If it stays on the feet, Byrd probably takes it. If it goes to the floor, then Krantz should be favored to win.

Prediction: Derrick Krantz over Charles Byrd by submission, RD2.

135 lbs.: Quaint Kempf (5-3) vs. Darrion Caldwell (1-0)

In the first fight of the evening, hometown favorite Quaint Kempf of Octagon MMA will be facing former NC State wrestling star Darrion Caldwell who’ll be making his second trip into the Legacy cage after outpointing David Armas at Legacy FC 14 this past September.

Both these guys are wrestlers first when it comes to their MMA base but Caldwell has the much higher pedigree, including his NCAA championship win over then-undefeated Brent Metcalf. With that being said, this isn’t the wrestling mat, it’s MMA and Quaint has much more experience in this sport with eight fights under his belt.

Looking at his debut, Darrion certainly has the wrestling skill but let a lot of opportunities go as far as submissions on the ground. And while Armas is tough as nails (and hard to finish), Quaint is also a much bigger opponent than David was. This fight might come down to which fighter outlasts the other as far as weathering the early storm and imposing their will. Kempf’s cage experience might give him some seasoned advantage as far as that goes (upset special alert) but Caldwell should still be the favorite in this fight.

Prediction: Darrion Caldwell over Quaint Kempf by unanimous decision.