By TXMMA Staff // Emil Fischer // Cover Photo: Sherdog
UFC vet Anthony Njoukuani’s Dallas return highlights Friday night’s event; a score of top up-and-comers also on LFC 38 fight card
Legacy FC 38 will give fans the opportunity to see some amazing fighters showcase their talents. The roster for this card includes Anthony Njokuani fresh off his stint in the UFC as he takes on Arkansas-based Thomas Gifford. Also returning in the co-main event is Jason “Wild Thing” Sampson as he takes on Lubbock’s Joseph Sandoval. Up and coming prospects also highlight this card with a host of them including Steven Peterson, Caio Machado, Eli Tamez and many more all looking to impress and make a name for themselves at LFC 38.
Read on for this TXMMA staff preview of Legacy FC 38.
Legacy Fighting Championship 38 – Preview and Predictions
170 lbs.: Anthony Njokuani (16-9) vs. David Burrow (12-5)
Fighting out of Garland Texas. Welterweight Anthony Njokuani has been fighting for a while with a 16-9 record. 9 of Njokuani’s wins come by way of KO/TKO and the remainder are decisions. Njokuani was recently released by the UFC after a streak of winning one fight and then losing the next ending in a 2 fight loss streak.
Despite coming off of two recent losses He has proven himself very difficult to knock out, only having lost due to KO once, and his submission defense isn’t too shabby either given that he has only lost three times by submission. Njokuani’s opponent hailing from Arkansas is David Burrow. Gifford has an impressive arsenal on the ground but if Njokuani can keep the fight standing expect big blows and an early knockout. Regardless of the outcome both fighters will show up to put on a great show for fans.
- Emil Fischer – Anthony Njokuani by KO, RD2
- Felix Rodriguez – Anthony Njokuani by TKO, RD2
- Dez Moore – Anthony Njokuani by KO, RD1
125 lbs.: Jason Sampson (11-1) vs. Joseph Sandoval (7-4)
Only having lost one fight thus far in his career, the 11-1 submission specialist Jason Sampson from Coppell TX will be facing off against a powerful Lubbock, TX based striker, Joseph Sandoval. Sandoval, a UFC vet holding a record of 7-4 will be coming to this featherweight bout looking to make waves and get back in the running. All things considered Sandoval’s biggest challenge in this fight won’t be the man in front of him, but rather the year and half he has taken off since his last fight. Sandoval is going to come to this fight looking to make a statement, expect a first round technical knockout.
- Emil Fischer – Joseph Sandoval by TKO, RD1
- Felix Rodriguez – Jason Sampson by submission, RD1
- Dez Moore – Jason Sampson by submission, RD3
135 lbs.: Steven Peterson (11-4) vs. Caio Machado (5-1)
An extremely talented and well-rounded fighter, featherweight Steven Peterson fighting out of Plano, TX holds a record of 11-4 with 4 knockouts, 4 submissions and 3 decisions. Peterson will be facing a tremendous challenge in Caio Machado who hails from Olinda, Brazil. Machado currently holds a record of 5-1 and one and will be looking to launch his career with this fight. Expect Peterson to outwork Machado and earn a unanimous decision.
- Emil Fischer – Steven Peterson by unanimous decision
- Felix Rodriguez – Steven Peterson by unanimous decision
- Dez Moore – Caio Machado by split decision (FOTN)
135lbs.: Augusto Mendes (3-0) vs. Evan Martinez (4-0)
Rio De Janeiro Brazil’s Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes is a world famous, world class BJJ competitor who only recently made his way onto the MMA scene, and currently holds a record of 3-0, all wins by submission. Across the cage from the submission wizard is another tough, fresh fighter Dallas based bantamweight Evan Martinez. Martinez holds a record of 4-0, also possessing 3 wins by submission. If fight fans have learned anything from some of the top BJJ competitors who entered the MMA world it’s that competition wins don’t always translate to success in MMA. Expect the slightly more experienced Evan Martinez to secure a split decision.
- Emil Fischer – Evan Martinez by Split Decision
- Felix Rodriguez – Mendes by submission, RD1
- Dez Moore – Mendes by submission, RD1
170 lbs.: Evan Thompson (5-1) vs. Charles Byrd (5-3)
Based out of Dallas, Texas, middleweight Evan Thompson is a striker by nature holding a record of 5-1. On Friday night he will be fighting another Dallas based fighter Charles Byrd who has a record that stands at 5-3. Byrd has a preference for submissions. Expect this to be a straightforward grappler vs striker fight, and expect the slightly more successful Evan Thompson to enjoy a KO victory in the second round.
- Emil Fischer – Evan Thompson by KO, RD2
- Felix Rodriguez – Evan Thompson by TKO, RD3
- Dez Moore – Charles Byrd by TKO, RD2
145 lbs.: Saul Elizondo (6-4) vs. Eli Tamez (8-0)
This fight may be one of the more impressive bantamweight matchups on the card. Rowlett, TX based Eli Tamez hasn’t lost a fight since his only loss when he was an amateur, and currently holds a record of 8-0, 2 subs 1 KO and 5 decisions. His opponent Mission TX based Saul Elizondo has a slightly less impressive record of 6-4 but has finished more opponents (4 submissions and only 2 decisions). Eli Tamez is the obvious favorite, but a possible outcome is that Saul Elizondo’s risk taking may take the fight into dangerous territory and score him a submission victory. Expect this to happen (if at all) early in the fight in the first round.
- Emil Fischer – Saul Elizondo by submission, RD1
- Felix Rodriguez – Tamez by unanimous decision
- Dez Moore – Tamez by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Bilal Williams (3-0) vs. Andrew Parker (5-0)
Both of these relatively new fighters, Texas based welterweights. Dallas, Texas based Andrew Parker holds a record of 5-0, with 3 of his wins by submission and the rest decisions. McKinney, Texas based Bilal Williams has a bit more of a diverse portfolio, with his 3-0 record being a trifecta of KO, Submission and Decision. These fighters will be evenly matched but expect the more experienced Andrew Parker to earn a decision.
- Emil Fischer – Andrew Parker by unanimous decision
- Felix Rodriguez – Andrew Parker by TKO, RD2
- Dez Moore – Andrew Parker by unanimous decision
Legacy Fighting Championship 38 – Undercard Predictions
- Emil Fischer – Gorton, Cole, Grimsley
- Felix Rodriguez – Delarosa, Mowles, Grimsley
- Dez Moore – Delarosa, Mowles, Pacurariu