MMA Rundown: July 26th-28th – CES, LFA and Shooto Brazil bring the goods this weekend

Oh, hey. Almost didn’t see you guys there. How’ve you been? Yeah, it’s been a while, but we’re back with the weekend preview feature. And it’s a good one.

Shooto Brazil is back in the rotation with a title fight headliner featuring Valmir Lázaro (18-7) against Ricardo Souza (11-5) for the 154lb title. Valmir had a brief stint in the UFC that wasn’t successful, but continued to have ups and downs on the Brazilian circuit after that. His body attacks are vicious, and he’s capable of turning in calculated and fun performances. Souza is a hungry finisher with more accurate striking and a very forward-moving approach above all else.

Another UFC vet is in the co-main event, as Ronys Torres (37-6) faces Paulistenio Rocha (15-6, 1 draw). No viewing information is available right now, so the internet will be your friend on this one.

Shooto Brasil 93 takes place Friday night starting at 6:00pm EST.

CES returns to action live from the Twin River casino in Rhode Island this week, headlined by a heavyweight title fight between heavy hitter Greg Rebello (24-9) and Kevin Haley (6-5). Rebello participated in 2017’s Contender Series, losing the bout via strikes. he racked up back to back wins (including a demolishing win over veteran Travis Wiuff) and would end up returning to Contender Series last year. Sadly, he came up short again, and after briefly contemplating retirement he returns to action yet again.

Also on the card is CES mainstay Kris Moutinho (7-3) taking on Johnny Campbell (17-12), as well as well-travelled Saul Almeida (20-10) against UFC vet Sean Soriano (11-6). Dinis Paiva (11-7) returns against Antonio Castillo Jr. (10-12).

CES 57 starts this Friday night at 8:00pm EST, streaming live and exclusively via UFC Fight Pass.

LFA returns to Arizona, and it’s another banger of a card. Middleweights Daniel Madrid (16-6) and Chris Harris (11-3) headline. Madrid’s a submission ace with three straight wins, including a guillotine choke over UFC vet Seth Baczynski in his last outing. Harris is more of a gritty striker with smothering top control and a smooth positional transition game with his grappling.

Arizona’s own Anthony Birchak (13-6) is back against Brazilian Rafael Montini de Lima (6-2), and another UFC vet gets some play as Roman Salazar (13-8) meets another Brazilian in Mario Israel (10-4).

LFA 72 starts at 10:00pm EST and airs on their usual home, AXS TV.

The newly reformed Battleground FC sets up shop in Macau this weekend with a bevy of familiar names and faces.

Former Bellator champ and UFC fighter Will Brooks (20-4) faces former UFC staple Gleison Tibau (33-14). Brooks took place in last year’s PFL tournament winning two decisions and scoring a draw, which left him out of contention. Tibau’s been busy in his UFC exile, participating in a grappling match against Gilbert Burns at Titan FC 53 and another grappling bout against the always inventive Richie Martinez at Kasai Super Series Orlando earlier this month. Tibau’s last MMA outing was in the ill-fated Golden Boy MMA organiation, where he defeated Efrain Escudero by decision. This fight was originally between Brooks and former UFC fighter Abel Trujillo, but Trujillo was recently arrested on some ghastly charges.

And from here, it gets weird. And good, but mostly weird.

Shannon “The Cannon“ Ritch (57-87) faces Chinese heavyweight Wenbo Liu (11-7, 1 draw) in a rematch of their 2017 bout, which Liu won by TKO after putting on a fight that had shades of Takayama vs Frye.

Korea’s Doo Hwan Kim (12-5) meets former UFC fighter Wagner Prado (15-4), and Brazil’s Vanessa Melo (9-5) faces former Strikeforce fighter and Cris Cyborg victim Jan Finney (11-13).

Former Bellator and Pancrase fighter Ricardo Tirloni (23-7) deals with fellow Brazilian Bruno Miranda, and DJ Linderman will be in a Muay Thai bout against Patrick Schmid.

Remember Bryan Caraway (21-9)? The former Strikeforce and UFC fighter will be in action as well, as he faces Raja Shippen (18-11). Also, former UFC fighter Ben Wall (9-7, 1 draw) faces Muhsin Corbbrey.

Battlefield FC 2 starts at 1:00am Friday night into Saturday morning, and will be streaming exclusively on FITE.tv for $12.99.

Former Czech national wrestling champion Karlos Vémola (26-5) keeps on winning in his post-UFC career extending his victory streak to ten. This weekend he returns to action against another fellow UFC vet, Luis Henrique “Frankenstein“ da Silva (15-6).

Brazilian vet Wendell Oliveira (31-12) also returns to the Euro circuit as he faces Makhmud Muradov (21-6).

Another veteran showdown is in place as the always unpredictable Mike Kyle (23-17, 1 draw) faces Viktor Pešta (14-5).

Oktagon 13 start stateside at 12:30pm.