Those looking for their Mixed Martial Arts fix before UFC 170 should look no further than Legacy Fighting Championship 28.
The event, which will be broadcasted on AXSTV, takes this place tonight, and it features several intriguing prospects looking to improve their stock.
Here’s a look at some of the names to know for Legacy Fighting Championship 28.
Bubba Bush (6-2)
A fighter with a 6-2 record on the regional scene isn’t one that comes to mind when discussing prospects, but Bubba Bush is the exception to the rule.
The Legacy Middleweight Champion has used his wrestling, strength, and ground and pound to dominate his opponents in his six victories, and event at times, in his two losses.
His most recent loss, to Artenas Young at LFC 11, ended in controversy as Bush was disqualified for landing punches to the back of Young’s head. Prior to the finish, Bush was getting the better of Young. In his other defeat, Bush was finished in the fifth round of a 2011 bout by eventual UFC fighter Andrew Craig. Using his usual repertoire of takedowns and ground and pound, Bush controlled the bout in the first three periods, but a disadvantage in the conditioning department cost him the fight.
The last time Bush competed was last July when he won the promotion’s 185 pound strap by finishing Larry Crowe with ground and pound in the second frame. If there’s one reason to watch the Legacy card, it’s Bush. It’ll be intriguing to see how many tools Bush has added to his game when he steps into the cage to defend his championship against Rakim Cleveland in the night’s main event.
Cosmo Alexandre (5-1)
When Cosmo Alexandre entered the Bellator cage for his professional debut against Josh Quayhagen at Bellator 52, he was a highly-touted prospect with a successful kickboxing record that saw him amass a 74.5 winning percentage over 55 bouts. When Alexandre left the Bellator cage after his professional debut, he was a highly-touted prospect that looked like a potential bust.
Alexandre ended up losing the decision to Quayhagen, who was also making pro debut after a so-so amateur career. The loss was a disappointment to say the least. Since then, Alexandre has pieced together five consecutive wins under the Bellator banner, made the transition to Legacy Fighting, and established himself as a name to be a taken seriously in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.
In his most recent fights, Alexandre has found a comfortable groove when it comes to implementing his stand-up arsenal and imposing size. Although Alexandre has still shown some deficiencies when it comes to takedown defense, he has displayed flashes of solid submission game, especially in his most recent victory that saw him avenge his loss to Quayhagen.
For an athlete that is already 31, Alexandre has done a great job of forgetting the rough start to his MMA career and progress as an fighter at the Blackzilian camp. It’s been over a year since the last time Alexandre fought, but the wait for his next time in the cage will end this Friday when he takes on Rey Trujillo in a lightweight affair.
Hunter Tucker (6-1) and Damon Jackson (7-0)
The co-main event for Legacy 28 pits two up-and-coming featherweights in Hunter Tucker and Damon Jackson against one another.
Training out of the Jackson’s MMA extensively since the mid-2000s, Tucker has slowly but surely developed into a 145 pounder to keep an eye on. Following an undefeated run on the amateur scene, Tucker started his career off with five straight finishes.
The lone blemish on Tucker’s record came in his Legacy debut when he was submitted by Kevin Aguilar, but Tucker was able to rebound in his next fight inside the Legacy cage with a TKO win over Douglas Frey.
Jackson started off his career with seven finishes in his seven pro bouts since making his debut in 2012. The record of the opponents Jackson has beaten stands at 25-23. What the Texas-based fighter does well is use his relentless pace to capitalize on the wrestling advantage he is accustomed to having on his opponents. Jackson has competed since October of 2013, so it would not be surprising if we see a few new aspects of his game when he takes on Tucker at Legacy Fighting 28.