With a UFC card already in the books this week and one of Bellator’s top fighters, Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire set to compete on Friday night as well, it may be easy to overlook the Legacy FC card that will be airing live on AXS TV, but that would be a mistake. Based in Texas, Legacy FC has developed into one of the top regional promotions anywhere in North America, and their 24th card is no exception as it features some excellent prospects. The evening’s main event is the perfect example of the types of fighters Legacy is trying to groom, as BJJ ace Carlos Diego Ferreira (7-0) takes on Team Takedown’s Chris Feist (8-0). Both fighters have already shown some excellent skills in their 15 combined victories, and you have to think that Joe Silva may be keeping an eye on this bout. Ferreira is an extremely high-level BJJ black belt who has already defeated UFC veteran Carlo Prater in his MMA career. His track record in MMA and BJJ pedigree have him opening as a -210 favorite (bet $210 to win $100) at Several Bookmakers. Feist is a former collegiate wrestler who has been rounding out his game with Team Takedown, and has compiled an eight-fight winning streak over his three year career. Feist’s bread-and-butter has been his wrestling and a submission game developed by Marc Laimon, but it may be difficult for him to implement that gameplan against a grappler the level of Ferreira. For those reasons Feist opened as a +160 underdog (bet $100 to win $160). Still, Feist should have a wrestling advantage and will be the bigger fighter heading into this bout. He may be able to parlay those skills into a top position decision, but it wouldn’t be the most exciting way for the fight to play out. The unknown in this fight is the striking, Feist has shown some technically sound defense on the feet but not much offense, while Ferreira does have a developing striking game, especially in the kicking department. Wherever this fight takes place and however it goes down, the winner will certainly be one to watch moving forward. The co-main event features a catchweight bout at 130lbs, as Ryan Benoit (6-2) takes on late replacement Cody Fuller (10-6). Originally, Benoit was slated to take on Damacio Page in the main event of the card but Page was forced out with a partially torn LCL. In steps Fuller, who is coming off a loss in his last bout but was on a nice three-fight winning streak prior to that. Historically, most of Fuller’s fights have been decided on the ground, as 10 of 16 have ended by submission. Unfortunately for him, he has only gone 6-4 in those bouts and is facing a fighter who has excellent scrambling skills in Benoit. Those factors, combined with the short notice have Fuller opening as a large +435 underdog. Benoit — who is also coming off a loss — still has quite a bit of hype surrounding him, and it is warranted. The former wrestler has developed a nasty striking game to go along with that base and has shown heavy hands with his five (T)KO wins. In his last bout, Benoit took another highly touted prospect, Anthony Birchak, to the brink before losing a decision, but did nothing to hurt his stock. Against a lesser opponent in Fuller, he should shine. Oddsmakers agree, as Benoit opened as a sizeable -705 favorite. Perhaps the most intriguing prospect on any MMA roster right now is Henry Cejudo (4-0). Cejudo has fought at 135lbs in MMA thus far, but is most well known for winning a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Olympics at 121lbs. All of Cejudo’s wins have come inside the first round, but keep in mind that the combined record of his opponents is 7-24. The wrestling pedigree and early impressive career for Cejudo have him listed as a massive -1500 favorite at this point, which is dangerous for an essentially unproven fighter. He is facing the toughest test in his young career in the form of Ryan Hollis (4-1). After losing his first pro bout, Hollis has gone unbeaten in his last four, with two (T)KOs and two submissions. Still, Hollis is a +700 underdog despite his current run. Could we see another case here like with Bubba Jenkins a few weeks back, where the highly touted wrestler who has breezed through competition stumbles a bit in his first real test? Finally, it’s difficult to call her a prospect since she has already been to the top of one combat sport, but Holly Holm (4-0) certainly carries a great deal of interest and intrigue with her whenever she fights. Surprisingly, Holm’s kicks have been just as effective as her punches thus far in her MMA career. The other advantage Holm has over nearly every fighter she gets in the cage with is that she is a physical specimen. Holm’s opponent is Nikki Knudsen (2-1), who comes from Alaska, and recently returned after a four-year hiatus from the sport. Little is known about Knudsen, but from the tape that I did get a chance to watch on her this fight shouldn’t be competitive. The line seems a little outrageous, as Holm is currently a -2000 favorite with the comeback on Knudsen at +1000, but it’s a line akin to a big mismatch in a boxing match, and it seems justified in this case. The other two fights that will be televised on AXS TV feature Mike Jasper (7-0) — who made a brief appearance on TUF 17 — and undefeated prospect Damon Jackson (6-0) trying to extend their records. All of the action can be seen live starting at 10pm EST on AXS TV.
