If you need to get your Mixed Martial Arts fix before UFC 169, then look no further than Legacy Fighting Championship 27. Legacy returns to AXS TV tonight, and the card features one of the premier prospects in the world, a match-up between battle-tested welterweights, and much more.
For those that plan on checking out the card, here are some of the names to know on tonight’s Legacy Fighting Championship card.
Henry Cejudo (5-0)
Simply put, Henry Cejudo is one of the top prospects in the flyweight division. After a wrestling career that saw him win the 2008 Olympics, Cejudo transitioned to MMA in 2013.
He kept himself busy in the year with five bouts and five victories. In those fights, Cejudo showcased the tremendous potential that he possesses, and he’ll have an opportunity to do so again when he takes on Elias Garcia in the night’s co-main event.
To the surprise of no one, Cejudo’s takedowns are already among the best in the division. What has shocked me is how violent and accurate his ground and pound is. Already, his ground strikes have proven to be too much for three of his opponents. Cejudo has serious power in his punches and is not someone you want on top of you.
Cejudo’s stand-up leaves more to be desired from a pure technique standpoint, but he isn’t a complete albatross on the feet. Cejudo has a striking base from his short tenure as a boxer on the Arizona amateur scene.
For those that enjoy seeing the future stars of the sport, Legacy Fighting Championship 27 is mandatory viewing. Not every prospect pans out, but the amount of upside Henry Cejudo has is unique. If he dedicates himself to Mixed Martial Arts, it’s not an outrageous thought that he will one day have UFC gold wrapped around his waist.
Tim Means (19-5-1)
Following a 2-2 UFC stint that saw him drop a decision losses to Jorge Masvidal and Danny Castillo and pick up wins over Justin Salas and Bernardo Magalhaes, Tim Means made an impressive first impression at Legacy Fighting Championship 23. In the event’s main event, Means flexed his striking prowess by knocking out UFC veteran Pete Spratt with a pair of elbows in the first round.
Means, who enjoyed a size advantage at lightweight in the UFC, moved back up to welterweight when he made the move to Legacy, and he will continue to fight in that weight class when he takes on Artenas Young in the main event. Against Young, Means might actually put his wrestling game to work, but if his past is any indicator of what he will do, that’s unlikely.
Thus far in his career, Means has displayed an exciting stand-up style that has contributed to 15 victories that have come by way of KO/TKO. Means is at a striking level that tops the average one of a UFC welterweight, so he should have little trouble building a resume outside the promotion and getting a call back.
Artenas Young (10-6)
Artenas Young will look to protect his hometown of Houston, Texas when he takes on Means in the night’s welterweight main event. Young, who lost to Bryan Travers on Fight Master, is 4-3 in Legacy Fighting Championship, although he should be on a three fight win streak. Unfortunately for Young, his wins over Brandon Mitchell and Jonathan Harris are split by a controversial decision loss to Eric Davila.
Give credit to Legacy matchmaker (and ring announcer) Collin Cantrell, the match-up between Young and Means has potential to be a riveting contest. Like Means, Young is a talented, speedy striker that has a track record of finishes and exciting bouts. A real case can be made that Tim Means is the best fighter Young will have faced. Tonight, Artenas Young will have an opportunity to make a statement and show the MMA world that he is ready for the next step in his career.
Elias Garcia (4-0)
Henry Cejudo isn’t being catered too in Legacy Fighting Championship. After debuting against Ryan Hollis – one of the promotion’s best flyweights, Cejudo will now face another tough, under the radar flyweight in Elias Garcia. Garcia is coming off of a close, decision win over Matt Schnell, who was on MTV’s ‘Caged’.
In the fight against Schnell, Garcia exhibited a more than competent defensive grappling game. If he’s taken down, Garcia will keep Cejudo off balance and make him work for his ground and pound. EGarcia did win the majority of the stand-up battles in the fight against Schnell, and the way his striking look stacks up favorably against that aspect of Cejudo’s game.
When both, Cejudo and Garcia, enter the cage tonight, the fighter that the attention will be on will be Cejudo, but Garcia could very well pull off the upset and jet up the flyweight rankings.