United Fight League burst onto the scene earlier this year and have received plaudits for being the only promotion around to offer all fighters under multi-fight contracts healthcare, life insurance and shares in the company. With MMA legends Frank Mir and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in ambassadorial roles, the athletes are always at the forefront of all decisions made by the organization and are truly seen as partners in a mutually beneficial, working relationship. This weekend, our fighters will be showcased on our biggest event yet.
UFL 3 goes down in Mesa, Arizona, on Saturday night and features all of the championship grand prix semifinals across five weight classes. The winners will progress to the tournament finals in their quest for gold later this year when five UFL world champions will be crowned. Tickets are still available for UFL 3 at TIXR.com and the whole event will be broadcast live and free on Rumble.
In the main event, power puncher Shane Sobnosky (8-2) rematches Bellator veteran Ty Gwerder (6-4), as part of the championship grand prix middleweight semifinals. When the pair first met in July of last year, Gwerder dropped his adversary and appeared only seconds away from victory until Sobnosky sprung back to his feet and delivered a huge knockout blow. Gwerder was considering stepping away from the sport, but when the opportunity to even the score with Sobnosky presented itself, he couldn’t turn it down, especially considering the potential championship stakes now in play. Will it be repeat or revenge? Watch their crazy, 12-second first fight below.
Talented all-rounder Amun Cosme (5-1) will compete in the co-headliner opposite dangerous striker Valodia Aivazian (11-3) as part of the championship grand prix bantamweight semifinals. Cosme became an NFC amateur title holder, and his fighting career has gone from strength to strength ever since, picking up three first-round victories. The man known as “Predator,” Aivazian has looked nothing short of devastating every time he enters the cage having finished nine of his 11 wins by knockout. Both men know they are only two wins away from raising the belt.
In other championship grand prix semifinal bouts, exciting brawler Zurina Turrey (2-0), squares off with Invicta veteran Claire Guthrie (5-2) at women’s bantamweight, and Dana White’s Contender Series alum Brandon Lewis (6-2) meets Elevation Fight Team product Justin Wetzell (8-2), in a featherweight contest. Furthermore, tough Englishman Ashley Reece (9-2) takes on Dzhokhar Duraev (5-0), who returns to competition after five years away, at welterweight.
Elsewhere on the card, son of “Rampage” Jackson, Raja Jackson (Pro debut), will make his professional debut against fellow newcomer Steve Collins (Pro debut) in a lightweight bout. Jackson went 4-0 as an amateur, including a recent first-round knockout win at UFL 2 in May. The “Rampage” lineage continues on Saturday night!
All of the UFL 3 action begins at 9 p.m. ET and will broadcast for free on Rumble worldwide.
The complete UFL 3 fight card includes:
- Shane Sobnosky vs. Ty Gwerder – middleweight grand prix semifinal
- Amun Cosme vs. Valodia Aivazian – bantamweight grand prix semifinal
- Zurina Turrey vs. Claire Guthrie – women’s bantamweight grand prix semifinal
- Jose Delgado vs. Arthur Dufloo
- Ryan Loder vs. Lajuan Davis – middleweight grand prix semifinal
- Steven Chang vs. Jackson Santa Cruz Filho
- Canaan Kawaihae vs. Chris Mecate – featherweight grand prix semifinal
- Sitik Muduev vs. Josh Marsh – featherweight grand prix semifinal
- Brandon Lewis vs. Justin Wetzell – bantamweight grand prix semifinal
- Raja Jackson vs. Steve Collins
- Luis Iniguez vs. Nikolay Veretennikov – welterweight grand prix semifinal
- Ashley Reece vs. Dzhokhar Duraev – welterweight grand prix semifinal
- Brittney Cloudy vs. Veronika Smolkova – women’s bantamweight grand prix semifinal
