When fighters are given their release (or choose to sign elsewhere) from a major North American MMA promotion like the UFC or Bellator – unless they’re a major star – they often fall into obscurity on the regional/overseas circuit unless they rack up a few wins and end up signing with one of the aforementioned promotions. In this regular feature for MMAOddsBreaker.com, I take a look at some regional/overseas MMA matchups for the month of March and rather than listing off the top fights outside these major organizations, I highlight some familiar names that you might recognize on upcoming fight cards.
Unified MMA 36: Mayhem (Enoch, Alberta) – Mar. 1
Dominique Steele (18-11) vs. Teddy Ash (12-4) – Middleweight Title
UFC veteran Steele looks to close the chapter on his rivalry with Ash as the pair face off in a rematch. Steele is coming off a first-round TKO win over Ash at Unified 35 in December. Ash meanwhile looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since May 2014.
Jake Lindsay (13-8) vs. Pat Pytlik (7-0) – Welterweight Title
Former UFC lightweight Lindsay looks to make it two-straight wins for the first time since Feb. 2014 when he faces undefeated Canadian Pytlik. Lindsay is coming off a submission win over Dawond Pickney at EFC 10, while Pytlik has won all seven of his fights by stoppage.
Shane Campbell (14-7) vs. Menad Abella (5-1) – Lightweight Title
UFC veteran Campbell looks to get back on the winning track when he battles prospect Abella for the lightweight title. Campbell is coming off a a unanimous decision loss to Magomedsaygid Alibekov at RCC 5 which snapped his four-fight win streak. Abella meanwhile is coming off a unanimous decision loss to UFC veteran Jonathan Meunier at TKO 43.
Cage Warriors 102 – (London, England) – Mar. 2
Craig White (14-9) vs. Jolton Santos (28-7)
Former UFC welterweight White looks to snap a two-fight losing streak when he meets Brazil’s Santos on the main card. White won four-straight fights before signing with the UFC last year, then lost back-to-back fights against Neil Magny and Diego Sanchez. Santos meanwhile heads into this matchup on a four-fight win streak.
John Maguire (26-11) vs. Brad Wheeler (17-13)
UFC veteran Maguire has alternated between wins and losses in his last five fights while Wheeler has lost three of his last four fights.
Destiny MMA: Throwdown (Waipahu, Hawaii) – Mar 2
Russell Doane (15-8) vs. Diego Silva (11-4)
Doane competes outside the UFC for the first time since Nov. 2013 when he faces Silva in a bantamweight bout. The 32-year-old has lost five of his last six fights. Silva meanwhile is 2-2 in his last four fights and will be making his promotional debut.
CFFC 73: (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) – Mar. 2
Azunna Anyanwu (14-5) vs. Christopher Daukaus (7-2) – Heavyweight Title
Former UFC heavyweight Anyanwu competes for the first time since Sept. 2017 when he faces Daukaus for the promotions heavyweight title. “Zu” is coming off a spit decision loss to Justin Ledit at UFC Fight Night 116 which snapped his five-fight win streak. Daukaus meanwhile heads into this matchup on a five-fight win streak.
RCC Intro 3 (Ekaterinburg, Russia) – Mar. 9
Godofredo Pepey (14-6) vs. Pavel Gordeev (13-1)
UFC veteran Pepey looks to make it two-straight wins when he faces Gordeev who is riding a six-fight win streak.
Cage Warriors 103 (Copenhagen, Denmark) – Mar. 9
Nicolas Dalby (16-3-1) vs. Alex Lohore (17-3)
Former UFC welterweight Dalby looks to push his winning streak to three-straight when he faces Lohore who has finished his last two opponents.
Mads Burnell (10-3) vs. Ahmed Vila (7-1)
UFC veteran Burnell looks for back-t0-back wins when he faces Vila in a featherweight contest.
Total Warrior Combat (Lansing, Michigan) – Mar. 9
Jarred Books (14-2) vs. Josh Robinson (12-12) – Flyweight Title
Former UFC flyweight Brooks looks for his second straight when when he faces Robinson who has lost three in a row.
Fight Hard MMA (St Louis, Missouri) – Mar. 9
Charles Bennett (30-40-2) vs. Chuka Willis (9-5)
PRIDE veteran Bennett looks to snap a 10-fight losing streak when he faces Willis who is looking to bounce back from a two-fight skid himself.
BRAVE CF 22 (Pasay, Philippines) – Mar. 15
Jose Torres (8-1) vs. Amir Albazi (11-0)
Former UFC flyweight Torres looks to bounce back from the only loss of his career as he faces Albazi who has won back-to-back fights under the Bellator MMA banner.
Rolando Dy (10-7) vs. Mehmosh Raza (9-3)
UFC veteran Dy looks for back-to-back wins for the first time since Nov. 2016 while Raza looks for his third straight victory.
ACA 93 (St. Petersburg, Russia) – Mar. 16
Rob Emerson (20-13) vs. Mikhail Malyutin (36-15)
Former UFC/Bellator fighter Emerson looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since Sept. 2009 while Malyutin looks to bounce back from his loss in Apr. 2018 which snapped his nine-fight win streak.
Hacran Dias (24-6-1) vs. U. Gadzhidaudov (10-4)
UFC veteran Dias aims to make it two wins in a row while Gadzhidadov looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the second time in his career
Chris Camozzi (24-13) vs. Muslim Magomedov (4-0)
UFC veteran Camozzi looks to snap a three fight skid and competes for the first time in MMA since May. 2015. Magomedov made his pro-debut in Mar. 2017 and has finished two of his four career opponents.
Dominate FC 3 (Tacoma, Washington) – Mar. 23
Anthony Hamilton (18-9) vs. Kyle Keenay (19-24)
Former UFC heavyweight Hamilton looks for his fourth win in a row when he faces 36-year-old Keeney who has lost three-fights in a row.
Eternal MMA 42 (Southport, Queensland, Australia) – Mar. 23
Ben Wall (9-7-1) vs. Mike Wilkinson (9-4)
A pair of UFC veterans clash as Wall looks for back-to-back wins for the first time since Mar. 2013 when he faces Wilkinson who has lost three-straight.
KSW 47 (Lodz, Poland) – Mar. 23
Phil De Fries (16-6) vs. Tomasz Narkun (16-2) – Heavyweight Title
UFC veteran De Fries aims to make it five-wins in row when he faces Narkun who is riding a seven-fight win streak.
Caged Aggression 24 (Davenport, Iowa) – Mar 23
Mike Santiago (21-12) vs. Eric Wisely (32-9-1)
Contender Series winner Santiago looks to snap a three-fight skid when he faces Bellator/UFC vet Wisley. Santiago went 0-3 in the UFC losing to Zabit Magomedsharipov, Mads Burnell and most recently Dan Ige at UFC 225. Wisley meanwhile heads into this fight on a eight-fight win streak.
Dan Hornbuckle (24-9) vs. Jason Louck (19-13)
Former Bellator title challenger Hornbuckle fights for the first time since Aug. 2014 when he faces Louck in a welterweight bout. The 38-year-old has lost four-straight fights and will be looking for his first win since Apr. 2013.
ACA 94 (Krasnodar, Russia) – Mar. 30
Albert Tumenov (18-5) vs. Murad Abdulaev (18-6) – Welterweight Title
UFC veteran Tumenov looks for his fourth straight win when he faces Abdulaev, who heads into this title fight on a three-fight win streak.
ONE Championship: A New Era (Tokyo, Japan) – Mar. 31
Demetrious Johnson (27-3-1) vs. Yuya Wakamatsu (10-3)
Former UFC flyweight champion Johnson looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time in his career when he faces Wakamatsu, who has lost two of his last three fights.
Eddie Alvarez (29-6) vs. Timofey Nastyukhin (12-4)
Former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Alvarez makes his promotional debut against Nastyukin who is 2-2 in his last four fights.
Is there a notable MMA veteran competing this month that I missed? Or is there a matchup that has been changed? Hit me up on Twitter @LynchOnSports, and I’ll add it in or fix it up. Thanks.
