Featherweight Champ Pat Sabatini Gets New Opponent for CFFC 81 Main Event

Limited tickets remain for Saturday’s card at Parx Casino

BENSALEM, Penn. – Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) returns to action this Saturday, Feb. 1, and reigning featherweight champion Pat Sabatini (11-2) has a new challenge in the night’s headlining contest.

With previously scheduled opponent Mauro Chaulet forced to withdraw from the card, top bantamweight contender James Gonzalez (5-3) has agreed to move up a weight class and challenge for CFFC’s 145-pound title.

“We are blessed to have James step in last minute to face Pat,” CFFC President Rob Haydak stated. “James has fought some very high-level opponents. We have been discussing the idea of James fighting for our No. 1 contender slot at 135 pounds for a while now. He’s earned our entire organization’s respect. Should he win this Saturday night, we’ll immediately give him the choice to defend or go after the 135-pound title, as well.”

The new headlining bout tops a card that features three titles fights on the UFC FIGHT PASS-streamed bill from Parx Casino in Bensalem, Penn. A limited amount of tickets, which start at just $59.25, remain available and are currently on sale at CFFC.tv/tickets.

Considered one of the top featherweight prospects in the world, Sabatini is hoping a third successful defense of his title will be enough to earn him an invitation to the sport’s biggest promotion. He’s struggled to reach the mark, with his past two scheduled appearances both scrapped on fight week, and Haydak admits finding opponents willing to face Sabatini hasn’t been easy.

“Pat has dealt with a tremendous amount of adversity and frustrations over the past year, as have we at CFFC," Haydak said. "In all my years, I have never seen an athlete so difficult to match up. Pat and his team always request to fight the best talent available. Problem is, they all say no.

“I can’t tell you how many top prospects, current UFC fighters and guys that claim to be in the infamous ‘short list’ have declined to fight Pat. His striking has improved tremendously in the past two years to go along with his ground game. I’d love to see him get the call with a win this weekend. I have no doubt he will quickly climb the UFC ranks in short order.”

CFFC 81 kicks off the promotion’s 2020 schedule with a stacked night of fights from just outside of Philadelphia that also features defending middleweight champ Kyle Daukaus (8-0) and bantamweight titleholder Alexander Keshtov (9-0).