When fighters are given their release 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 April 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.
DEEP Hachioji Chojin Matsuri 2018 – Apr. 1 (Hachioji, Japan)
Masanori Kanehara (26-13-5) vs. Jomhod Chuwattana (0-0)
Former UFC bantamweight Kanehara competes in MMA for the first time since Dec. 2016 when he faces Chuwattana who will be making his pro-debut. Kanehara went 1-2 in the UFC, earning a wn over Alex Cacares and lsoing back-to-back fights against Rani Yahya and Michael McDonald. The 35-year-old hasn’t won back-to-back fights since Sept. 2013.
Phoenix FC 6 – Apr. 5 (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
Hayder Hassan (6-4) vs. Pavel Kusch (22-4)
TUF 25 and UFC veteran Hassan looks for his first win since Oct. 2014 when he faces Ukrainian fighter Kusch. Hassan is coming off a DQ loss to Roger Huerta at Phoenix FC 4, which was his third loss in a row. Kusch meanwhile has won nine-fights in a row, with all of those wins coming by stoppage.
Sirwan Kakai (12-5) vs. Shuya Kamikubo (7-1-1)
One-time UFC bantamweight and former Bellator fighter Kakai looks to snap a three-fight skid when he faces Japanese fighter Kamikubo. Kakai will be looking for his first win since June 2015 and he’s suffered losses against Frankie Sanez, Joe Taimanglo and Joe Warren. The 28-year-old hasn’t fought since Sept. 2016. Kamikuob meanwhile has won three-fights in a row and will be making his Phoenix FC debut.
ACB 84 – Apr. 7 (Bratislava, Slovakia)
Attila Vegh (31-8-2) vs. J. Toledo Canellas (6-5)
Former Bellator light heavyweight champion Vegh looks for his third straight win when he battles ACB veteran Canellas. Since losing four in a row, Veigh is coming off back-to-back vicotories over Paul Byrne and Travis Fulton. The 32-year-old will be making his ACB debut. Canellas meanwhile is coming off a loss to UFC veteran Thiago Silva at ACB 74 but has won two of his last three fights.
Luis Palomino (26-14) vs. Lom-Ali Eskijew (14-3)
WSOF standout Palomino looks to avoid back-to-back losses when he faces German fighter Eskijew. The 37-year-old had his two fight win streak snapped in his last bout, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Yusup Raisov at ACB 67. Meanwhile Eskijew is unbeaten in his last nine fights and hasn’t lost a bout since Feb. 2014.
KSW 43 – Apr. 14 (Wroclaw, Poland)
Phil De Fries (14-6) vs. Michał Andryszak (20-6)
Former UFC heavyweight De Fries looks for his first three-fight win streak since Nov. 2011 when he battles Andryszak for the vacant heavyweight title. The 31-year-old is coming off a submission win over Bellator veteran James Thompson and has won three of his last four fights. Andryszak meanwhile has won six fights in a row all by stoppage.
Norman Parke (23-6-1) vs. Łukasz Chlewicki (14-7-1)
UFC veteran Parke looks to get back on the winning track as he battles Chiewicky in a lightweight affair. Parke has had a string of bad luck that’s included a controversal decision against Mateusz Gamrot and then an injury in their rematch which resulted in a no contest. Chlewicki meanwhile has lost three straight fights and he’ll be looking for his first win since May 2016.
Gladiator Challenge “Champions” – Apr. 21 (Rancho Mirage California)
Louis Smolka (11-5) vs. Ralph Acosta (18-12)
Smolka comptes outside the UFC for the first time since Nov. 13 as he faces Acosta. Smolka lost four straight fights in the UFC to Brandon Moreno, Ray Borg, Tim Elliott and most recently Matheus Nicolau at UFC 219. The 26-year-old will be looking for his first win since June 2016. Acotsa meanwhile has won five of his last six fights with his lone blemish coming against UFC bantamweight Alex Perez in 2016. The 36-year-old Bellator veteran has only gone the distance twice in his last nine 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.
