By TXMMA Staff
Legacy Fighting Championship aims for breakout year in 2014
HOUSTON, TX, January 27, 2014 – As one of the longest-standing professional venues and certainly the most visible promotion here in Texas, the Legacy Fighting Championship has for established itself as one of the premier fight organizations in the world. Perhaps more impressively so, the Mick Maynard led organization has done so while hosting all their events inside the lone star state – a “best-kept secret” of the MMA world if you will but that secret is slowly getting out.
By signing notable prospects such as WMMA riser Holly Holm along with US Olympian Henry Cejudo in 2013 along with others such as Robert Drysdale in the past, the Legacy FC promotion has already developed some consistency. They’ve graduated homegrown stars also – including Andrew Craig and Daniel Pineda – both Legacy FC champions who’ve moved on to fight in the UFC. This is in addition to Ryan Benoit (FOTN winners in his own UFC debut) and Sean Spencer who’ve also fought in the octagon plus Frank Trevino and Derrick Lewis who soon will.
With the pipeline getting increasingly more full by the minute Mick Maynard and crew set a goal that 2014 would be the year the promotion followed suite along with some of its talent and expanded its own reach out of state. At the time of this writing the Legacy promotion already has its sights set on two out of state cards as part of five pro events they plan on putting on before the year hits the midway point. This includes Tulsa, OK and Albuquerque, NM for starters. Certainly an ambitious schedule but nothing the promotion can’t handle after doing 10 events in the last year alone.
Legacy FC 21 to feature Legacy debuts of TUF winner Jonathan Brookins, BJJ world champion Gilbert ‘Durinho’ Burns
As part of their surge forward in 2014 Legacy FC today announced their fight card for Legacy Fighting Championship 21, set for March 21st at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This will be their landmark first event outside of Texas and another milestone moment for a promotion that first appeared on nationwide TV as part of the AXS TV (HDNet) suite of MMA events in 2008 and has established itself as a mainstay since then.
The card is a notable one as well: featuring UFC vet Paul Buentello along with other established talent like UFC vet and former TUF winner Jonathan Brookins making his Legacy debut against OK local Cody Fuller in his first appearance ever in the flyweight division where he looks to reinvent his career. The LFC 29 card also includes BJJ phenom and Vitor Belfort training partner Gilbert Durinho Burns who takes on 13-4 vet Mike Budnik in his own Legacy FC debut. Others set for the card include undefeated Thomas Longacre and former Oklahoma State wrestler Johnny Koepp who makes his pro MMA debut versus Zac Church on the undercard as part of the planned 12-fight LFC 29 card.
Tickets go on sale February 7th at www.LegacyFights.net and HardRockCasinoTulsa.com.
Legacy Fighting Championship 29 – Main Card (AXS TV)
- 145 lbs.: Leonard Garcia (18-11) vs. Shane Howell (13-7) * TITLE
- 205 lbs.: Paul Buentello (33-15) vs. Myron Dennis (31-15)
- 125 lbs.: Jonathon Brookins (15-4) vs. Cody Fuller (9-8)
- 155 lbs.: Chris Pecero (11-5) vs. Thomas Longacre (7-0)
- 155 lbs.: Gilbert Burns (6-0) vs. Mike Budnik (13-4)
- 170 lbs.: Art Parker (4-2) vs. Andrew Todhunter (5-0)
- 145 lbs.: Daniel Haunstein (5-4) vs. Jerod Spoon (6-4)
Legacy Fighting Championship 29 – Preliminary Card (Local)
- 155 lbs.: Zac Church (2-2-1) vs. Johnny Koepp (0-0)
- 145 lbs.: Jake Sayler (0-1) vs. Jarrett Rouse (1-0)
- 155 lbs.: Josh Anderson (4-1) vs . Daryl Wilson (6-0) * AMATEUR
- 145 lbs.: Mat Thomas (3-1) vs. Jose Martinez (3-0) * AMATEUR
- 135 lbs.: Josh Parrish (2-2) vs. Blake Nichols (3-1) * AMATEUR
- 155 lbs.: CJ Harris (6-6) vs. Aaron McKenzie (5-1) * AMATEUR