CFFC 148 preview: Refocused Anthony Guarascio seeks first defense of heavyweight title against hungry newcomer Larry Gonzales

Additionally, undefeated welterweight prospects collide in co-main event of Friday's card, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Tampa's Florida State Fairgrounds

PHILADELPHIA – Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns to Philadelphia's historic 2300 Arena on Friday, where reigning heavyweight champion Anthony Guarascio puts his title on the line for the first time when he takes on hard-hitting promotional newcomer Larry Gonzales in the night's main event.

Guarascio looks to rebound from a September setback at Dana White's Contender Series and continue his chase of a UFC opportunity. Meanwhile, Gonzales is hoping to steal his shine, stepping in on short notice for the biggest opportunity of his career. Additionally, the night's co-main event features a pair of undefeated welterweight prospects looking for a breakout moment, as Itso Babulaidze takes on Kyle Hill.

The CFFC 148 main card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS, while prelims stream at OnlyFans.com/cffcmma. Limited tickets remain at CFFC.tv.

MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 9 p.m. ET)

• Champ Anthony Guarascio vs. Larry Gonzales – for heavyweight title

• Itso Babulaidze vs. Kyle Hill

• Maksim Sergeev vs. Shane Sobnosky

• Yorrick Anderson vs. Shaun Stant

• Dylan Mantello vs. Matheus Pereira

• Bill Lewis vs. Cody Porter

PRELIMINARY CARD (OnlyFans, 7 p.m. ET)

• Eman Hardy vs. Jose Rodriguez

• Nodir Alidodov vs. Israel Gonzalez

• NextGen: James Lledo vs. Trey Frazier – for vacant welterweight title

• NextGen: Giorgi Barliani vs. David Harrison

• NextGen: Christion Anigalaje vs. Kson Young

MAIN EVENT: Anthony Guarascio vs. Larry Gonzales

Heavyweight sluggers collide in the CFFC 148 main event with gold on the line.

Reigning champion Anthony "The Daywalker" Guarascio (3-1 MMA, 2-0 CFFC) made his way to Dana White's Contender Series in September, where he suffered a disappointing stoppage loss, falling short of his dream of making it to the UFC. The heavy-handed knockout artist has changed everything about his preparation in the time since and believes that frustrating experience will be the fuel that gets him into the octagon one day.

Guarascio now puts his CFFC title on the line for the first time when he faces veteran scrapper Larry "OSO" Gonzales (7-4 MMA, 0-0 CFFC), who steps in just two weeks' notice to replace a suspended Darion Abbey and now takes the biggest fight of his career. Entering the matchup on the strength of back-to-back victories and owning five stoppage wins, Gonzales believes he can use the result to get his own invite to the UFC.

It's the first time since 2021 that the heavyweight title has been on the line in the home city of Rocky Balboa, and fireworks are expected.

CO-MAIN EVENT: Itso Babulaidze vs. Kyle Hill

A pair of undefeated welterweights collide with an opportunity to make a real statement in the night's co-main event, as Itso Babulaidze (5-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) returns to CFFC to take on promotional newcomer Kyle Hill (5-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).

Georgia's Babulaidze fought five times under the CFFC banner before making a successful professional debut for the promotion, as well. Babulaidze then went on to compete twice for the Professional Fighters League but didn't receive a long-term deal. He now returns to CFFC hoping to secure a spot in the UFC.

Meanwhile, Hill has been perfect in nine combined contests as an amateur and pro, earning a split-decision result in his amateur debut and then rattling off eight consecutive finishes. He now faces his toughest test to date and looks ready for a breakout performance.

Maksim Sergeev vs. Shane Sobnosky

Experienced middleweights face off when Ukraine's Maksim Sergeev (16-11-1 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) takes on Shane Sobnosky (8-5 MMA, 0-1 CFFC).

Sergeev debuted for the organization in September – returning to the cage for the first time in more than two years and taking home a hard-fought split-decision win over a previously undefeated Hunter Lee – and now currently stands at 3-1 in his last four.

Meanwhile, Sobnosky made his CFFC debut on short notice in May and suffered a submission loss to former NextGen champ and current top contender Nick Galanti. This time, Sobnosky has the benefit of a full training camp and looks to pick up his first win in the promotion.

Yorrick Anderson vs. Shaun Stant

Intriguing featherweight prospects meet when promotional newcomer Yorrick "YoRock" Anderson (1-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) takes on a returning Shaun Stant (2-0 MMA, 2-0 CFFC).

Anderson was a perfect 5-0 as an amateur, picking up a pair of regional titles along the way, before making his professional debut in 2024 with a third-round knockout. A scheduled March appearance failed to materialize, and Anderson now looks to pick up his second professional win.

However, Stant has other ideas. The MMA Masters product was an impressive 6-1 as an amateur and has fought twice as a professional this year under the CFFC banner, taking home decision wins over previously undefeated opponents Christian Bobe and Tom Hinz. He'll now look to repeat the feat against Anderson.

DYLAN MANTELLO vs. Matheus Pereira

In a matchup put together on less than one week's notice, two-time Dana White's Contender Series veteran Dylan "The Quiet Man" Mantello (9-4 MMA, 2-0 CFFC) steps in to replace an injured Tyler Mathison and will now face Brazil's Matheus "Pelezinho" Pereira (11-6 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).

Mantello's two previous CFFC visits both resulted in victories and each earned him DWCS invites immediately after. Unfortunately, he came up short in the two matchups and now returns to the organization hoping to again register a result that gets the attention of UFC matchmakers. With eight finishes – including six knockouts – among his eight pro wins, he's certainly capable of delivering.

Mantello now faces Brazil's Pereira, who is a nine-year pro now making his CFFC debut. An incredible 10 of Pereira's 11 professional wins have come via submission.

Bill Lewis vs. Cody Porter

The night's main card kicks off at middleweight, as "Bobblehead" Bill Lewis (1-0) makes a quick turnaround to face a dangerous Cody Porter (Pro debut).

Lewis made his professional debut in October, taking home a spectacular third-round knockout win over a then-undefeated Lucas Cortes and now gets back to work just four weeks later. He'll face Porter, who makes his first professional appearance after a spectacular 7-1 amateur career that saw him earn all seven wins via stoppage.

Eman Hardy vs. Jose Rodriguez

The final preliminary bout of the evening takes place at a catchweight of 165 pounds, as Eman "The One Who Knocks" Hardy (1-0) meets former CFFC NextGen lightweight champion Jose "Cheeto" Rodriguez (2-0), who steps in on a little more than one week's notice to replace an injured Oleg Mikhov.

Hardy makes his promotional debut after scoring a submission win in his first professional appearance in June following an impressive 6-2 amateur run. Meanwhile, Rodriguez returns to work for the first time since February, though he had scheduled matchups fall through in May and August and jumped at the opportunity to compete after those two missed appearances.

Nodir Alidodov vs. Israel Gonzalez

The first professional bout of the evening takes place at bantamweight, as Tajikistan's Nodir Alidodov (5-6) faces Israel "El Machete" Gonzalez (4-2).

Alidodov made his CFFC debut in March, coming up short on the cards against Sebastian Ruiz. He now returns to work seeking his first promotional victory as he takes on Washington's Gonzalez, who steps in on just two weeks' notice to replace an injured Diara Culpepper and now appears in the CFFC cage for the first time.

NextGen: James Lledo vs. Trey Frazier

Vacant NextGen welterweight gold is on the line when reigning 175-pound champion James "Las Vegas" Lledo (7-1) takes on the undefeated Trey "The Frozen One" Frazier (8-0) in a battle of two top-five prospects in North America according to Tapology.com.

Lledo captured a title in July at 175 pounds, a division dictated by New Jersey State Athletic Control Board regulations, and returned to defend it in October. Now he drops down five pounds looking to add a second title to his trophy case. However, standing in his way is Frazier, who makes the trip in from Arkansas with an impressive seven finishes among his eight career wins.

NextGen: Giorgi Barliani vs. David Harrison

In middleweight action, the undefeated Giorgi Barliani (3-0) faces a more experienced David Harrison (1-0-1).

Barliani makes his promotional debut on the strength of a perfect record this far, racking up three wins in just the past nine months. He keeps his busy run going when he takes on Harrison, who actually opened his career with three straight wins but now finds himself mired in a three-fight skid and looking to get back into the win column.

NextGen: Christion Anigalaje vs. Kson Young

The night's action kicks off with the lone flyweight contest of the evening, as Christion Anigilaje (3-2) takes on Kson Young (1-0-1), each of whom was victorious in their promotional debuts at July's CFFC NextGen 1.

Anigilaje needed just 14 seconds to pick up a highlight-reel win via knockout that night. Meanwhile, Young scored a second-round submission win via rear-naked choke, registering the first victory of his MMA career. Each of them now looks to stay perfect under the CFFC banner.