MMA Rundown – October 5th-6th: Boxing title fight headlines ONE Championship

Congested traffic expected this weekend, coming off the heels of Bellator’s biggest show and one of the most anticipated UFC cards in forever. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the rest of the MMA world is going to just sit on their hands.

Friday night not only brings us elite grappling competition QUINTET’s first U.S. excursion, but also MMA Mega Mayhem happening live in Newark, DE. It’s odd to have a card in Delaware like this, but the headliner is a man that is no stranger to the unconventional, the controversial Shannon Ritch (57-87). He faces Michael Hayward (1-0) for the organization’s heavyweight title. Read those numbers again. That’s not a typo.

Former Bellator fighter Mike Bronzoulis (18-10, 1 draw) fights Marcus Gaines (15-28, 1 draw) for the middleweight title. Again, not a typo. Make of that whatever you will.

MMA Mega Mayhem 2018 begins at 7:00pm EST and will be streaming exclusively on FITE.tvfor $19.99.

Just an hour later, Freestyle Cage Fighting brings an all-women’s event. Former Bellator fighter Jessica Middleton (4-4) takes on regional vet Calie Cutler (6-5) for the flyweight belt. Former Invicta talent Tamikka “Boom Boom“ Brents (2-3) challenges Brenda Gonzalez-Means (significant other of one Tim Means) for the 135lb title.

It’s worth noting that both title fight will be only 3-round affairs.

Freestyle Cage Fighting will also be streaming live on FITE.tv for $14.99, starting at 8:00pm EST.

Saturday morning brings the international heat with ONE Championship setting up a wild supercard featuring boxing sensation and WBC super-flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai facing Mexico’s Iran Diaz in a boxing match. But the MMA side of things? It’s pretty great. MMA grappling phenom Shinya Aoki (41-8) faces Ev Ting (16-4). Ting’s had a quietly respectable career with wins over Eric Kelly, Rob Lisita, and Kamal Shalorus, before dropping a decision to Eduard Folayang. He’s bounced back with three straight wins since then.

Fellow Team Evolve alum and Brazilian submission threat Leandro Issa (16-6) takes on 16-2 Muin Gafarov. Gafarov’s put time in at Xtreme Couture, and is an absolute finishing machine thatends things from anywhere.

One Championship: Kingdom of Heroes starts at 7:00am EST. It’s available for streaming via their proprietary app, as well as on YouTube.

EFC returns live from Johannesburg, South Africa, and they’re got another action-heavy set of matchups that should make for quality viewing. Igeu Kabesa (10-1) defends his featherweight title against Scotland’s Calum Murrie (4-1). Kabesa won the belt from Pierre Botha in a fun and scrambly fight, then followed up with a sensational win at lightweight against Paulo Bananada this past march. Murrie’s also coming off a win against Botha.

Also on the card is American Cheyenne Vlismas (1-1) against Portugal’s Diana Felipe (2-1) in a showdown between two very aggressive fighters.

EFC Worldwide 74 kicks off at 9:00am EST. No streaming information is available at the moment.