Legacy FC 28 – AXS TV Main Card Preview and Predictions

By TXMMA Staff

Bubba Bush defends middleweight title; Cosmo Alexandre to make Legacy FC debut

ARLINGTON, TX, February 18, 2014 – It’s another professional MMA fighting week in the DFW Metroplex as we look forward to Legacy Fighting Championship 28 this Friday. Scheduled for the UT Arlington College Park Center, a short drive from both Dallas and Fort Worth, Legacy FC 28 marks the return of the promotion to the DFW area for the first time in 2014 and it should be a good one with a middleweight title fight in the main event between champion Bubba Bushand challenger Rakim Cleveland. The AXS TV main card also features appearances by top area prospects like Damon Jackson, Eli Tamez, Evan Thompson and Matt Lozanoalong with the Legacy debut of feared striker Cosmo Alexandre.

Here are our thoughts on tonight’s fights!

Legacy Fighting Championship 28 Main Card – Preview and Predictions

185 lbs.: Bubba Bush (6-2) vs. Rakim Cleveland (9-4)

We begin our Legacy FC 28 predictions with this middleweight title fight pitting College Station powerhouse Bubba Bush defending his hard-earned belt against Houstonian turned Iowa resident Rakim Cleveland.

This fight could mark a turning point for the champion as he looks to his third straight win overall and first title defense since beating Larry Crowe for the strap at legacy FC 21 last July. As a matter of fact a win here would mark the first such win streak for Bubba after falling on some hard times in his first two tries at the hat trick. The first time he went for three was against Andrew Craig in April 2011. He’d lose by ref stoppage in the fifth round of that fight, one he was ahead on according to the judges’ scorecards. Craig would go on to fight in the UFC while Bubba went back to the drawing board. He’d win his next two in a row and went for three again  at LFC 11 (May 2012) but lost by disqualification to Artenas Young in a fight he was well on his way to winning. Now after two more straight wins including the title victory over Crowe, Bubba Bush is looking for three yet again while defending his belt for the first time. Needless to say, the this bout is a pivotal one for him.

Opposite Bush will stand middleweight challenger Rakim Cleveland, a one-time Houstonian heavyweight who’s been on a heck of a win streak himself winning six in a row since moving to Iowa from Houston. Since that time the 24 year old has only dropped more weight and picked up more skill to refine his technique. Those improvements led to him getting this title opportunity after original #1 contender Roger Narvaez went down with an injury.

Matchup wise this is kind of intriguing. Bush is known to be a physically dominating force but time will tell how he reacts to being in the cage with someone who’s been accustomed to fighting heavyweights like Derrick Lewis. Will Bubba be the stronger man? Time will tell whether he will be strong enough to apply his wrestling prowess and mat Cleveland, taking his 3-inch height advantage out of the equation in the process. Rakim meanwhile will look to outscore and/or hurt Bubba on his feet or establish top position on the ground. He’s won 5 out of his last 6 by KO/TKO so that’s definitely where he has the biggest advantage on paper. Will it be enough? Time will tell.

Prediction: Bubba Bush over Rakim Cleveland by submission, RD2.

145 lbs.: Hunter Tucker (7-1) vs. Damon Jackson (7-0)

The co-main event pits two high-level prospects against one another with Octagon MMA’s Damon Jackson taking on Jackson MMA’s Hunter Tucker. A wrestling stylist when he entered into MMA, Damon “Leech” has won 7 in row since turning pro and scored an impressive submission of the year candidate against Javier Obregon in his last night. Meanwhile Hunter won his last Legacy bout against Douglas Frey but lost by armbar to Kevin Aguilar in his LFC debut prior to that. Given his recent body of work, Damon should have the advantage on paper heading into this one but we also feel like Hunter hasn’t had an opportunity to show his full capabilities just yet. All in all this should be a close fight and could go to either man but we’ll give the edge to “Leech.”

Prediction: Damon Jackson over Hunter Tucker by decision.

155 lbs.: Cosmo Alexandre Rocha (5-1) vs. Rey Trujillo (15-10)

For those of you that don’t know Cosmo Alexandre Rocha he’s coming into his Legacy FC debut with the reputation of being a fierce kickboxer. The Brazilian is a former WMC Intercontinental and WPMF World Champion and has won the King’s Cup in Thailand as well. As for MMA he’s won 5 in a row in Bellator heading into this one and will be looking to make an impression. As As for Rey Trujillo, he’s taking this fight on short notice after losing two in a row but is also known as a strong striker on the regional level. This fight has all the makings for a ‘knockout of the night’ performance either way but look for “Good Boy” Alexandre to show his level here.

Prediction: Cosmo Alexandre Rocha over Rey Trujillo by TKO.

130 lbs.: Damacio Page (16-8) vs. Matt Lozano (4-1)

The UFC vet faces the hyped prospect in this one with Damacio Page taking on Matthew Lozano. “SMG” (Lozano) turned a lot of heads with his submission of Klayton Mai that earned TXMMA submission of the year honors for 2013. He’ll be facing his greatest test here against a seasoned “Angel of Death” in Damacio. The Jackson’s MMA fighter has long been reputed as a tough opponent for anybody but he’s lost 5 out of his last 6 heading into this one. His only win however was against another well hyped Texas prospect in Patrick Ybarra and he knocked him out so that shows he’s still got some power in his punches. Page is definitely gatekeeper in this one and Lozano has a sht with the team he has behind him but until he proves he can handle the step up in competition the smart play is on the UFC vet.

Prediction: Damacio Page over Matt Lozano by decision.

135 lbs.: Nelson Salas (4-2) vs. Eli Tamez (6-0)

This is our pick for Fight of the Night heading into tonight when Eli Tamez puts his undefeated record on the line against a familiar opponent in Nelson Salas. The two fought a long time ago (2010) as amateurs with Eli winning by submission but a lot has changed since then, and both men have improved. Eli passed his toughest test to date by beating Eliazar Rodriguez in his last bout while Nelson has done nothing but take on top competition over the past few years. It’s a tough call in this one. They’re both great fighters but let’s with Eli by coin toss.

Prediction: Eli Tamez over Nelson Salas by decision.

185 lbs.: Allen Nelson (2-1) vs. Evan Thompson (3-0)

Evan Thompson steps into the cage first before his brother Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson does the same thing at UFC 170 later this weekend. Evan will be taking on Allen Nelson, a 2-1 prospect out of Central Texas with two 1st round TKO’s to his record. Allen certainly has the ability to end a fight in a hurry but Thompson is definitely more seasoned both on the feet and on the ground. He also says he’s got a “hard head” so that should help him as well.

Prediction: Evan Thompson over Allen Nelson by submission.

See our Legacy FC 28 Prelim Preview and Predictions here.