CFFC 138 preview: Reigning champ Luke Fernandez anxious to renew run, while Gregg Ellis eyes second belt in new division
Undefeated titleholder Fernandez and former middleweight champ Ellis headline CFFC's final MMA event of 2024, live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns home to the historic Atlantic City Boardwalk on Friday night for "CFFC 138: Fernandez vs. Ellis," where the CFFC light heavyweight title will be on the line in the promotion's final MMA main event of 2024.
Undefeated champ Luke Fernandez and former middleweight titleholder Gregg Ellis will square off in the matchup, which is expected to play out in front of a packed house at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
The CFFC 138 main card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS, while prelims stream on OnlyFans. Longtime MMA broadcaster and journalist John Morgan will call the action alongside WWE superstar CM Punk. Veteran sports commentator Geena Lucille will also be featured on the broadcast.
Limited tickets remain at CFFC.tv.
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 9 p.m. ET)
Champ Luke Fernandez vs. Gregg Ellis – for light heavyweight title
Angel Alvarez vs. Dylan Mantello
Elijah Harris vs. Christian McAuley
Riley Palmer vs. Hunter Starner
Filipe Esteves vs. Mark Grey
Trevor Gudde vs. Eric Nolan
PRELIMINARY CARD (ONLYFANS) (7 p.m. ET)
Roman Kurashvili vs. Frank Wells
Gabriel Augusto vs. Busurman Zhumagul
Taylor Samarco vs. Erica Valentin
Ben Coyle vs. Alex De La Cruz
Zayne Havener vs. Jared Rivera
Christian Bobe vs. John Hancock
MAIN EVENT: LUKE FERNANDEZ VS. GREGG ELLIS
CFFC light heavyweight champion Luke Fernandez (3-0 MMA, 3-0 CFFC) has long been considered one of the promotion's top talents, but an injury, not to mention one suffered by an opponent he was set to face, forced him out of action for a full year, slowing his progress toward the UFC invite he's long sought.
At CFFC 138, he'll look to continue that pursuit, as he faces an opponent who also knows what it's like to be a champion for the promotion and is aiming to do it again: former middleweight titleholder Gregg Ellis (8-5 MMA, 1-1 CFFC).
Fernandez, a New Jersey native, has competed exclusively under the CFFC banner, previously holding the organization's NextGen title, as well. He's been a staple on the organization's "Short List," identifying the CFFC talent that looks most ready for an invitation to the sport's highest level. But over the past eight months, Fernandez has had two separate planned title defenses scrapped, leaving his only action of the calendar year a FURY Professional Grappling win over current UFC middleweight Eryk Anders.
Still, Fernandez insists he's remained focus during the time away and is ready to showcase even more skills this time out than he did one year ago, when he captured the title.
Meanwhile, Ellis claimed the CFFC middleweight belt in his promotional debut in 2023, scoring a decision win over then-champ Donovan Beard. However, he then ceded the title to Kyle Daukaus later that year, though he did go the distance with the two-time champion, something three other men could not accomplish in the latest CFFC run for "The D'Arce Knight."
Fernandez has won 10 consecutive fights under the CFFC banner across his combined professional and amateur run, and a title defense would put him in prime position for perhaps a big-show invite or a Dana White's Contender Series berth next year. However, Ellis has other plans and hopes a second CFFC belt in another weight class will let him take a little of that blue-chip shine from Fernandez.
CO-MAIN EVENT: ANGEL ALVAREZ VS. DYLAN MANTELLO
While Angel "Salsa King" Alvarez (8-2 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) and Dylan "The Quiet Man" Mantello (8-4 MMA, 2-0 CFFC) weren't initially expected to be featured in the co-main event of CFFC 138, the two all-action fighters will look to take advantage of the opportunity when they clash in a 160-pound catchweight matchup.
Alvarez debuted for the organization in August, scoring a decision win over a highly respected Justin Montalvo and currently stands at 3-1 in his past four appearances, overall.
Meanwhile, Mantello returns to the CFFC cage for the third time, notching stoppage victories in each of his first two promotional appearances. Following each of those results, he was rewarded with an invitation to Dana White's Contender Series, though he unfortunately came up short against tough competition both times.
With the added spotlight of the night's co-main event, one of these athletes could take a massive step forward in their careers with an impressive result. Additionally, the contest is expected to serve as a No. 1 contender matchup, as current champion Robert Watley weighs his future career options after openly acknowledging he's contemplating retirement.
ELIJAH HARRIS VS. CHRISTIAN MCAULEY
In a featured featherweight matchup, late-replacement Elijah "The Buffalo Soldier" Harris (6-8 MMA, 0-2 CFFC) proves once again that's he ready to take on any opponent when his name is called, as he steps in on short notice to face blue-chip prospect Christian McAuley (5-0 MMA, 4-0 CFFC).
Pennsylvania's Harris actually made his amateur debut under the CFFC banner in 2014, suffering a unanimous decision loss. He's since returned to the organization twice as a professional, coming up short against current UFC lightweight Nazim Sadykhov, as well as the man he replaces on Friday, Paul Capaldo.
Now he makes a fourth trip to the CFFC cage, hoping to have his hand raised for the first time.
Meanwhile, McAuley has yet to taste defeat in his combined professional and amateur run, including four straight wins under the CFFC banner, three of which came via stoppage. While he was initially expecting a more high-profile matchup in Capaldo, McAuley was willing to stay on the card against any opponent, as the 25-year-old prospect looks to rack up victories and make his way to the sport's highest stage.
RILEY PALMER VS. HUNTER STARNER
Former CFFC NextGen bantamweight champion Riley Palmer (2-0 MMA, 2-0 CFFC) has fought seven times for the promotion in his combined professional and amateur runs, proving victorious each time out and earning a reputation as one of the organization's top prospects. Meanwhile, Hunter "Showtime" Starner (3-2 MMA, 2-2 CFFC) has struggled a bit in earning positive results, but only because he's faced proven competition, including former CFFC flyweight champion Phumi Nkuta, as well as an always gritty Tom Picciano.
The two have twice been scheduled before, though injuries have prevented the matchup from coming to fruition. But given the hard-nosed style of both of these talented prospects, CFFC matchmakers elected to put this contest together for a third time, and it should provide a stern test for each man, with the winner taking a big step forward with a positive result.
FILIPE ESTEVES VS. MARK GREY
In a 140-pound catchweight matchup, Brazil's Filipe Esteves (10-2 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) makes his promotional debut when he takes on former CFFC NextGen featherweight champion Mark Grey (6-1 MMA, 4-1 CFFC), with each man looking to rebound from a recent setback.
Esteves was submitted via rear-naked choke in September, as he fought in the United States for the first time and faced Kyrgyzstan's Aziz Osorbek Uulu. Meanwhile, Gray's loss dates back to April, when he suffered a loss to former CFFC bantamweight champ Vilson Ndregjoni of Albania, who failed to make weight for the contest.
Esteves' loss snapped a three-fight win streak and marked the first time in his career that he's been submitted. Meanwhile, Gray's setback was the first he's faced across his combined professional and amateur run, and he'll get a chance to show his ability to bounce back from adversity in this contest.
TREVOR GUDDE VS. ERIC NOLAN
The CFFC 138 main card opens with Missouri newcomer Trevor "Scarecrow" Gudde (4-4 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) taking on a familiar face in Marine veteran Eric "Night Time" Nolan (6-3 MMA, 6-3 CFFC) in a welterweight matchup.
Gudde is a two-time Bellator MMA veteran who has never seen a judges' decision in eight total trips to the cage, with six of those appearances ending in the opening frame. Meanwhile, Nolan is an all-action fighter who has both devastating knockout power and slick submissions, as well.
This one might not last long.
ROMAN KURASHVILI VS. FRANK WELLS
The night's featured prelim sees Georgia's Roman Kurashvili (7-4 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) make his promotional debut against a man who consistently takes on the toughest challenges available in New Jersey's own Frank "Chopper" Wells (5-4 MMA, 5-4 CFFC).
Featherweight Kurashvili comes to the promotion on the strength of recent title win on New Jersey's regional stage, while Wells looks to rebound from a setback against top prospect David Mgoyan, who missed weight by a full five pounds for their August clash.
Kurashvili's recent result came following a two-year layoff from competition, and he looks to build a win streak in this career fresh start. Meanwhile, Wells' career setbacks include names who have gone on to compete for the UFC and PFL, among others, and he never shies away from a tough challenge.
GABRIEL AUGUSTO VS. BUSURMAN ZHUMAGUL
Dangerous prospects collide in an intriguing welterweight showdown, as Brazil's Gabriel Augusto (Pro debut) makes his promotional debut against a returning Busurman Zhumagul (1-0).
Augusto recently scored a first-round knockout in a muay Thai contest in New York and now makes his professional MMA debut following an undefeated amateur run. Meanwhile, Zhumagul looks to follow up on an incredible result in his first pro appearance, a 49-second armbar victory this past June at CFFC 132. The 20-year-old prospect now looks to build on that success in his second outing.
TAYLOR SAMARCO VS. ERICA VALENTIN
In the night's lone women's bout of the evening, former CFFC NextGen strawweight champ Taylor "The Warrior of God" Samarco (Pro debut) makes her professional debut when she takes on CFFC newcomer Erica Valentin (Pro debut).
Samarco fought five times under the CFFC banner in her amateur run, going 3-1 in her final four appearances, including a NextGen title win in 2023 before ceding the belt in her next outing. Meanwhile, Valentin now maker her CFFC debut and brings nearly twice the amateur MMA experience of her opponent to the cage, as well as work in submission grappling and muay Thai contests.
Each woman will look start their professional runs out on the right foot in this matchup.
BEN COYLE VS. ALEX DE LA CRUZ
In a flyweight matchup, three-time CFFC veteran Ben Coyle (4-4 MMA, 1-2 CFFC) returns to the organization for the first time since 2021 to take on promotional newcomer Alex "The Boss" De La Cruz (3-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Coyle struggled in his early CFFC appearances, going 1-2 for the organization and starting out just 1-3 overall. However, he's since turned things around, going 3-1 in his past four appearances, including three stoppage wins and a loss that only came as a result of a disqualification for illegal strikes.
Meanwhile, De La Cruz fought most recently in February, picking up a split-decision win on the Texas regional scene and now makes his CFFC debut.
ZAYNE HAVENER VS. JARED RIVERA
At middleweight, Indiana's Zayne Havener (1-1) and New Jersey's Jared "Spookymittenz" Rivera (Pro debut) each step into the CFFC cage for the first time.
Havener made his professional debut in May, suffering an unfortunate TKO loss following an undefeated amateur run. However, he's since bounced back with a knockout win of his own, and now looks to make it two in a row.
Meanwhile, Rivera – in addition to having an incredibly unique nickname – also owns a pair of amateur titles he earned during an undefeated run to start his career. He now makes the move to the professional ranks and seeks similar success.
CHRISTIAN BOBE VS. JOHN HANCOCK
The CFFC 138 action starts out at featherweight, as three-time FURY Professional Grappling winner Christian Bobe (Pro debut) seeks his first win in a CFFC MMA contest, as he takes on fellow first-time pro John Hancock (Pro debut).
New Jersey's Bobe most recently scored a submission over UFC lightweight Dennis Buzukja at November's FURY Professional Grappling 11 event but also boasts decision wins over Charalampos Grigoriou and Sid Tavolaro for the organization. He also appeared twice in his amateur MMA run for CFFFC but went 0-2 in those appearances.
Bobe will look to have his hand raised this time, as he takes on Hancock, who claimed an amateur title in his native New York in his most recent outing and now makes the moves to the professional ranks.
