CFFC 140 preview: Yaroslav Amosov, Curtis Millender bring international star power to Philadelphia in special feature
A new lightweight champ will also be crowned when Omar Rzgoev, Jesse Roberts meet on UFC FIGHT PASS.
PHILADELPHIA, P.A. – Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns once again to the historic 2300 Arena on Friday night, for "CFFC 140: Rzgoev vs. Roberts," where a new lightweight champion will be crowned before a pair of big-show veterans close the night in a special attraction garnering international attention.
In the lightweight title fight, undefeated Armenian finisher Omar Rzgoev and two-time Bellator MMA veteran Jesse Roberts each make their promotional debut with a chance to claim the title that was made vacant when former champion Robert Watley got his wish and signed with the Professional Fighters League.
Then the action turns to a special attraction catchweight matchup, when former Bellator MMA welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov and UFC, Bellator MMA and PFL veteran Curtis Millender clash at 183 pounds, with each hoping to earn the attention of UFC matchmakers.
The CFFC 140 main card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS, while prelims stream on OnlyFans. Limited tickets remain at CFFC.tv.
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 9 p.m. ET)
Yaroslav Amosov vs. Curtis Millender
Omar Rzgoev vs. Jesse Roberts – for vacant lightweight title
Jimmy Drago vs. Junior Melo
Chris Brown vs. Egor Kostyuchenko
Ryan Cafaro vs. Ricardo Fuentes
Nodir Alidodov vs. Sebastian Ruiz
PRELIMINARY CARD (OnlyFans, 7 p.m. ET)
CJ LaFragola vs. George Lo
Tom Hinz vs. Shaun Stant
Michael Bruno vs. Justin Meyers
Nezzar Dimes vs. Mardin Velasquez
NextGen: Gavin McQuade vs. Cameron Scalio
NextGen: Ray Bolden vs. Dymere Rappa
NextGen: Mason Lewis vs. Juwan Gonzales
SPECIAL ATTRACTION: YAROSLAV AMOSOV VS. CURTIS MILLENDER
An unexpected late addition to the CFFC 140 lineup, Yaroslav Amosov (27-1) and Curtis Millender (21-10) don't fit the typical profile of athletes in the promotion, battling to prove their worth for a shot at the sport's highest stage. Instead, these two have both been featured in the bright lights of international promotions for years and now hope to showcase their skills on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Amosov went an incredible 27-0 to start his career, a run that saw him claim the Bellator MMA welterweight title with a win over then-champ Douglas Lima in 2021, as well as unify the belt by defeating interim titleholder Logan Storley in 2023.
Amosov ceded the belt to Jason Jackson in a stunning upset in November 2023 and had hoped for an instant rematch with the Jamaican standout. However, following the PFL's acquisition of Bellator MMA, he did not compete again for the organization and instead entered free agency.
Meanwhile, Millender debuted for Bellator MMA in 2015 and then made his way to the UFC in 2018. Along the way, he's continually faced the absolute best in the sport, including the likes of Thiago Alves, Siyar Bahadurzada, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Ryan Ford, Jared Gooden, Max Griffin, Sabah Homasi, Kevin Holland, Rory MacDonald, Magomed Magomedkerimov, Belal Muhammad, Alexander Shlemenko and Brennan Ward, among others. More recently, he's also tried his hand at boxing and bareknuckle MMA.
While the matchup was added to CFFC 140 just last week, Amosov and Millender were already slated to compete against each other on the same night at a regional event in Chicago, so each athlete has enjoyed the benefit of full preparation. Now, with the matchup instead taking place on UFC FIGHT PASS, both will hope a spectacular performance will be enough to earn them a UFC contract.
MAIN EVENT: OMAR RZGOEV VS. JESSE ROBERTS
When CFFC 140 was initially announced, Robert Varricchio and Angel Alvarez were expected to compete for the belt that was vacated by Robert Watley's departure from the promotion. However, injuries on both sides forced each of the athletes to withdraw from the contest.
Enter Omar Rzgoev (4-0) and Jesse Roberts (8-1).
Rzgoev is an undefeated Armenian prospect currently living and training in Florida with American Top Team, following the path blazed by the UFC's current No. 1 lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and, more recently, CFFC veteran David Mgoyan. In four trips to the cage as a professional thus far, Rzgoev has yet to fight past the first round, earning two wins by knockout and two by submission.
Rzgoev now competes in the U.S. for the first time in his biggest opportunity to date.
Meanwhile, Louisiana's Roberts has twice competed under the Bellator MMA banner, including a split-decision win in his professional debut over vaunted grappler AJ Agazarm, then returning four years later and suffering the only loss of his professional career, tapping out in the third round against a far more experienced Sergio Costa.
However, Roberts has since rebounded from that setback with a pair of 2024 wins and now makes his CFFC debut with a crack at gold.
CO-MAIN EVENT: JIMMY DRAGO VS. JUNIOR MELO
Fireworks are expected when CFFC newcomers Jimmy Drago (7-2) and Junior Melo (14-9-1) meet in a key welterweight clash.
New York's Drago is the reigning Ring of Combat welterweight champion, earning the title in September with a decision win over two-time CFFC veteran Alonzo Turner. He now makes his CFFC debut on the strength of a three-fight winning streak and is 7-1 in his past eight appearances. He also boasts four knockouts in his seven career wins, including three in the opening round.
On the other side of the cage, Brazil's Melo is a 12-year veteran of the sport who has incredibly earned finishes in all 14 of his professional wins – seven by knockout, and seven by submission. In his most recent appearance, "The Fortaleza Kid" challenged for the Anthony Pettis FC welterweight title, though he walked away empty handed after battling to a split draw with reigning champion Peter Petties.
Don't blink in this one.
CHRIS BROWN VS. EGOR KOSTYUCHENKO
Two-time PFL veteran Chris Brown (10-5) will look to lean on his edge in experience when he faces undefeated prospect Egor Kostyuchenko (5-0) in a 170-pound battle between two athletes making their CFFC debuts.
Brown claimed the LFA welterweight title in 2022 and was slated to compete on the PFL Challenger Series in 2023, though the fight was ultimately scrapped. He would be featured on a PFL event in 2024, suffering a decision loss to undefeated prospect Thad Jean, and he now returns to action seven months later looking to return to the win column.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Kostyuchenko is perfect through the first five appearances of his professional career, including three victories by finish. Most recently, he scored a decision win over CFFC veteran Perry Stargel, and now Kostyuchenko will look to stay perfect as he makes his promotional debut.
RYAN CAFARO VS. RICARDO FUENTES
A pair of familiar faces collide in an intriguing featherweight clash, as New Jersey's Ryan Cafaro (11-6) takes on Colombia's Ricardo Fuentes (6-3).
Cafaro made his professional debut in 2013 under the Bellator MMA banner, and he's made eight appearances in the CFFC cage, with the first coming in 2015, and the most recent in 2023. "Korean Thunder" is 6-2 in those contests, and he returns to the promotion once again looking to build on that impressive record.
Standing in his way is Fuentes, who makes his fourth CFFC appearance. He's gone 2-1 for the promotion thus far, including a decision win over Braydon Akeo this past April, as well as a 2022 submission win via kneebar over DeAndre Anderson.
NODIR ALIDODOV VS. SEBASTIAN RUIZ
The night's main card kicks off in the bantamweight division in a matchup with international flair, as Tajikistan's Nodir Alidodov (5-5) takes on Peru's Sebastian Ruiz (5-4).
Alidodov makes his promotional debut following a decision win on the New Jersey regional scene over five-time CFFC veteran Turpal Khamzayev, while "El Gallo" Ruiz fought most recently in September, taking home a split-decision victory over former CFFC bantamweight champion Ricky Bandejas.
Ruiz was initially expected to face undefeated prospect Damien Anderson, who suffered an injury in training, delaying his CFFC debut. Alidodov stepped in as a replacement opponent, and he and Ruiz will each now look to kick off the CFFC 140 card in style.
CJ LAFRAGOLA VS. GEORGE LO
The night's featured prelim includes a pair or welterweights far more talented than their record might suggest, as CJ LaFragola (2-2) takes on George Lo (1-2).
Following an undefeated amateur career, collegiate wrestling standout LaFragola hasn't hesitated to face the absolute best opponents available, scoring a pair of wins but also suffering setbacks against top prospects Alonzo Turner and Kevin Pease, who are a combined 13-1 in their careers thus far.
Meanwhile, Lo was also perfect in his ammy run and then victorious in his professional debut. However, he was submitted in his CFFC debut against another stellar prospect in Busurman Zhumagul and then suffered a split-decision loss on the North Carolina regional scene.
Both men have shown incredible potential but need to get the results they expect to start moving toward the next level.
TOM HINZ VS. SHAUN STANT
In featherweight action, New Jersey's Tom Hinz (2-0) will look to extend a strong start to his professional career as he takes on promotional newcomer Shaun Stant (Pro debut).
Hinz has already scored a pair of CFFC wins, taking home decisions over Chris Porter and Adam Amado, both in 2024 appearances inside 2300 Arena. Meanwhile, Stant makes his professional debut following an impressive 6-1 amateur MMA career, as well as a handful of kickboxing appearances along the way.
MICHAEL BRUNO VS. JUSTIN MEYERS
Amateur standouts collide in their professional debuts, as Illinois' Michael Bruno takes on New Jersey's Justin Meyers in a lightweight contest.
Bruno went 4-1 during his ammy run, with the only loss in that stretch coming in a failed bid for a title on the New York regional scene. Meyers was equally impressive during his time as an amateur, going 5-1, including a victory in CFFC's NextGen series in February 2024 over Cameron Scalio, who also competes earlier in the night at CFFC 140.
NEZZAR DIMES VS. MARDIN VELASQUEZ
The night's first professional bout of the evening takes place at bantamweight, as New Jersey's Nezzar Dimes (Pro debut) takes on the Philippines' Mardin Velasquez (1-2).
Dimes makes his professional debut following a perfect 6-0 mark as an amateur that included a CFFC NextGen victory over Eduardo Castillo in 2022.
Meanwhile, Velasquez opened his professional career with split results against a pair of former NextGen champs in Nick Gebhard and Jerry Lleshi. After stepping away to take one fight under the Anthony Pettis FC banner, he now returns to the CFFC cage to face another intriguing talent.
NEXTGEN: GAVIN MCQUADE VS. CAMERON SCALIO
The night's final NextGen bout of the evening takes place at lightweight and features a pair of highly experienced amateurs, as New Jersey's Gavin McQuade (5-1) takes on Pennsylvania's own Cameron Scalio (6-3).
McQuade has already picked up a pair of titles on the regional scene while opening his amateur career with a perfect 5-0 mark. However he suffered his first loss – albeit by split decision – in his most recent outing, and now looks to rebound in his CFFC debut.
Scalio is a familiar face to CFFC fans, posting a 2-1 mark in the promotion thus far. He's also gone an impressive 4-0-1 in appearances for FURY Professional Grappling, as well, and will look to build on that success against the promotional newcomer.
NEXTGEN: RAY BOLDEN VS. DYMERE RAPPA
Heavyweights collide in an all-New Jersey affair, as Ray Bolden (2-1) makes his CFFC debut against a returning Dymere Rappa (2-2).
Bolden has earned both of his victories thus far via knockout but has struggled to gain consistency in his career, debuting in 2019 and then appearing twice in 2022 and now returning from nearly three years on the sidelines.
Rappa actually finds himself in a similar position, making his amateur debut in 2014 and then not competing again until 2021, when he made a quick run to a NextGen title shot, coming up short against current undefeated pro champ Luke Fernandez in 2022. Rappa now also fights again for the first time in just under three years' time.
NEXTGEN: MASON LEWIS VS. JUWAN GONZALES
The evening starts out in the bantamweight division between a pair of Pennsylvanians, as Mason Lewis (5-2) faces Juwan Gonzales (2-1).
Lewis makes his CFFC debut seeking to rebound from an August decision loss in a failed bid for a regional title in New York. Prior to the setback, he had been 5-1 in his previous six appearances.
Meanwhile, Gonzales also steps into the CFFC cage for the first time. He saw action most recently in November, scoring a submission win via rear-naked choke. Both of his amateur wins thus far have featured a stoppage.
