LFA 160: Championship double-header set for Kentucky

The LFA has announced details for its debut event in the state of Kentucky, with a double-header of championship bouts set to headline the card on Friday, June 16.

LFA 160 will take place at the Owensboro Sportscenter in Owensboro, Kentucky, with two interim championship bouts at the top of the bout sheet.

With the promotion awaiting the returns of champions Muin Gafurov and Lucas Fernando, two interim titles will be introduced at the event, with the 135- and 185-pound divisions set to receive new interim champions.

The night’s main event will feature an interim bantamweight title bout between John Sweeney and Allan Begosso, while the co-main will see Dylan Budka and Azamat Bekoev go head to head for the interim middleweight title.

“We are excited to bring a championship double-header to Kentucky,” stated LFA CEO Ed Soares.

“John Sweeney is a Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson protégé and Allan Begosso is one of the most feared knockout artists in the bantamweight division.

“Then in the co-main event, we will have rising prospect Dylan Budka from nearby Ohio face off against Russian standout Azamat Bekoev at middleweight.

“The world will be watching on the third Friday in June, when we bring a pair of interim world title fights to the Bluegrass State at LFA 160.”

Sweeney (12-3) is a Karate black belt and protégé of UFC star Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The South Carolinian is known as “Hollywood” as he possesses the same dynamic striking prowess and star qualities that has carved out a legendary career for his mentor.

Sweeney began his own career by winning his first two professional bouts for the LFA all the way back at LFA 8 and LFA 17 in 2017. However, he really made his mark after returning to the promotion in 2022. After re-signing with the LFA, Sweeney defeated LFA standout Ricardo Dias in the co-main event of LFA 137. He then continued his success in January by upsetting 7x BJJ world champion Ary Farias in the main event of LFA 150. The flashy karateka now looks to add LFA gold to his impressive fight résumé.

Begosso (7-2-1) also has a long and successful history in the LFA after signing with the promotion in 2020. The Brazilian dynamo made an immediate impact by handing the highly touted Sean McPadden the first loss of his career. The win came by knockout in just 48-seconds of their contest at LFA 90 and earned him a nomination for Knockout of the Year in the LFA Fans’ Choice Awards.

Begosso would then showcase his BJJ skills by submitting Kyrgyz prospect Samarbek Sabyrzhan Uulu at LFA 107. That win earned him a title fight against Richie Palencia at LFA 119, but he dropped a narrow decision. “Mini” would bounce back with another LFA Fans’ Choice Awards: Knockout of the Year nominated performance at LFA 135 and now looks to make good on his second shot at an LFA title.

The co-main event of LFA 160 will feature an interim middleweight title fight between two of the division’s top prospects as Budka (5-1) and Bekoev (15-3) vie to become the LFA’s tenth middleweight champion.

The winner of Budka vs. Bekoev will face the sitting champion Fernando in a title unification bout later this year. Budka hails from Findlay, Ohio and will be traveling to the nearby Ohio Valley in Kentucky in search of his first world title. The American has been dominant in that quest with a perfect 3-0 record for the promotion.

He will face a Russian standout who was dominant in his LFA debut, which took place this past February in the main event of LFA 152. Now the surging American and Russian contenders will meet with a title on the line in the co-main event of LFA 160.

LFA 160: Confirmed bouts