CFFC 141 preview: Heavyweight finishers collide as champ Bailey Schoenfelder faces undefeated challenger Anthony Guarascio
Tampa's own Guarascio looks to take out Dana White's Contender Series vet Schoenfelder at Florida State Fairgrounds and live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
TAMPA, Florida – Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns to the Florida Sate Fairgrounds for the organization's first 2025 event in "The Sunshine State" for Saturday's "CFFC 141: Schoenfelder vs. Guarascio," where the promotion's heavyweight title will be on the line in the night's main event.
Reigning champion Bailey Schoenfelder returns to the organization following a September appearance on Dana White's Contender Series, where he suffered the first loss of his professional career against Danylo Voievodkin, who outweighed him by 32 pounds and has since been suspended for an anti-doping infraction. He'll now seek the first defense of his title that he won this past April when he takes on Anthony Guarascio, an undefeated challenger who believes his destiny lies in the UFC.
The CFFC 141 main card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS, while prelims stream on OnlyFans. Limited tickets remain at CFFC.tv.
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Champ Bailey Schoenfelder vs. Anthony Guarascio – for heavyweight title
Shane Mistretta vs. Will Rentz
Enkhtur Bayartsogt vs. Blake Smith
Nikola Kacperska vs. Emily Martins
Jimmy Hinel vs. Tyree Sutton
Jahsua Marsh vs. Vitor Resende
PRELIMINARY CARD (OnlyFans, 6 p.m. ET)
Lucas Cortes vs. Phillip Jackson
Mihai Culai vs. Corey Samuels
Alessio Ksouri vs. Avry Mutschler
NextGen: Blake Menard vs. Brayton Young
NextGen: Tyler Conant vs. Jesse DeJong
NextGen: Emilio Barco vs. Jose Norat
NextGen: Ray Bolden vs. Evan Spencer
MAIN EVENT: BAILEY SCHOENFELDER VS. ANTHONY GUARASCIO
This past September, Bailey Schoenfelder (5-1 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) was on the cusp of a UFC invitation, competing on Dana White's Contender Series as a massive favorite against a relatively unknown striker who hadn't faced much respected competition. Unfortunately for Schoenfelder, disaster struck, and he was clipped early and ultimately submitted in the opening round, costing him a shot at his dream.
It was a devastating setback, and one that took Schoenfelder some time to move past, but he's now ready to return to the CFFC cage, where he won the promotion's heavyweight title one year ago, as he tries to earn his way back to the sport's highest stage.
Anthony “The Daywalker” Guarascio (3-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) has different plans.
The heavily tattooed and incredibly outspoken Guarascio has stormed on the scene despite basing his training out of his home garage, racking up three first-round stoppages in three professional appearances, with none lasting longer than 72 seconds. The Florida native openly admits he has no Plan B for his life other than success in combat sports, and he believes he could quickly become a marketable commodity to the UFC, if only given a shot.
With UFC matchmakers currently booking out the upcoming season of DWCS, the UFC's heavyweight roster currently only boasts 32 names, meaning talented big men are in demand. Should one of these two heavyweights close the show in spectacular fashion, it could be quickly followed by a call from Mick Maynard.
CO-MAIN EVENT: SHANE MISTRETTA VS. WILL RENTZ
The night's co-main event should be exciting for as long as it lasts, but make sure you're in your seat at the opening bell for this all-Florida affair.
Port St. Lucie's Shane Mistretta (3-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) enters the CFFC cage for the first time, and he's proven himself an all-action fighter in his first four professional outings, with each one of the contests ending in Round 1. Meanwhile, Tampa's own "Iron" Will Rentz (4-2 MMA, 4-2 CFFC) has spent his entire pro career under the CFFC banner and has proven himself as must-watch TV, earning all four of his wins by knockout.
Fireworks are all but a given, and it shouldn't take long to ignite the fuse.
ENKHTUR BAYARTSOGT VS. BLAKE SMITH
In featured lightweight action, Mongolia's Enkhtur Bayartsogt (7-5 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) is sure to find himself in hostile territory when he takes on former CFFC lightweight champion and Tampa's own Blake Smith (9-4 MMA, 4-1 CFFC).
Bayartsogt began his career in his native country before relocating to California, where he now lives and trains. His finishing instincts are strong, earning five knockouts and two submissions among his seven career victories, and he now makes his CFFC debut.
Meanwhile, Smith formerly held the CFFC title, ceding it only for an opportunity to sign with Bellator MMA. However, after a single setback, he was released from the promotion and has returned to CFFC to claim two decision wins. As he hopes for another shot at the international stage, a finish of his own would help his case, and he's certainly going to find himself with a willing dance partner.
NIKOLA KACPERSKA VS. EMILY MARTINS
The night's lone women's bout of the evening features a pair of international athletes seeking a rebound performance, as Poland's Nikola Kacperska (1-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) takes on Brazil's Emily “Galega” Martins (2-1 MMA, 2-1 CFFC).
Following an extensive amateur career that also included kickboxing and muay Thai appearances, Kacperska made her debut in 2024 with a victory on the Texas regional scene. However, in November, she traveled to Canada and suffered a decision loss, from which she insists has simply pushed her to be better.
Martins, at just 20 years old, made an immediate impact in CFFC, with the four-time IBJJF world champion scoring back-to-back submission victories and earning a shot at the organization's then vacant women's bantamweight title this past June. There, she was shockingly knocked out in just 10 seconds by Auttumn Norton, who walked away with the belt. Now, 10 months later, Martins seeks redemption and looks to regain the momentum she lost.
JIMMY HINEL VS. TYREE SUTTON
Light heavyweights collide next, with two men seeking to bounce back from their first professional losses, as Florida's Jimmy Hinel (3-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) takes on New Jersey's Tyree Sutton (1-1 MMA, 1-1 CFFC).
Hinel opened his pro run with three straight wins, all by stoppage, before traveling to Canada this past October and being handed a decision loss against a fellow undefeated prospect. Now Hinel makes his CFFC debut as he hopes to get back in the win column.
Meanwhile, Sutton opened his pro career in the CFFC stage and needed less than two minutes to score a win by knockout. However, he returned to the cage two months later and ran into a gritty Jose Soto, also coming up short on the scorecards. Each man now looks to get back to winning ways at 205 pounds.
JAHSUA MARSH VS. VITOR RESENDE
The heavyweight division will bookend the main card, as New Jersey's Jahsua “Shruggmaster” Marsh (7-7) and Brazil's Vitor “Vitao” Resende kick off the action on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Marsh is the more experienced of the two, fighting professionally for nine years, including a CFFC 66 appearance way back in 2017. That night, he came up short against former CFFC heavyweight champ and onetime Bellator fighter Shawn Teed, so Marsh returns to the organization now seeking his first win for the promotion.
Resende competed most recently in 2023, coming up short at PFL Challenger Series event. Prior to the setback, the massive 6-foot-9 Brazilian was undefeated, including three first-round knockouts. He'll look to kick off the featured action in style.
LUCAS CORTES VS. PHILLIP JACKSON
The night's featured prelim takes place at middleweight, with Florida's Lucas Cortes (1-0) facing California's Phillip Jackson (1-1), as each man makes their CFFC debut.
Cortes made his pro debut in 2022 with a first-round submission via arm-triangle choke but now returns to action after nearly three years on the sidelines. He'll now face Jackson, who recently returned from an even longer layoff, debuting professionally in 2021 with a first-round knockout and then returning in February and suffering a first-round submission loss. Jackson hopes his second fight back after four years away from competition goes a little more smoothly.
MIHAI CULAI VS. COREY SAMUELS
Next up, it's an all-Florida affair at lightweight as the undefeated Mihai Culai (2-0) takes on the more experienced Corey "Lightning Wolf" Samuels (4-3).
Culai debuted for CFFC at this past September's CFFC 135, scoring an impressive second-round knockout. He'll look to follow up on that result in his sophomore appearance for the promotion when he faces Samuels, who was also victorious in his CFFC debut at 2022's CFFC 114. Samuels now returns from a two-and-a-half year hiatus and stands at 3-1 in his past four total appearances.
ALESSIO KSOURI VS. AVRY MUTSCHLER
The night's first professional fight takes place at bantamweight, as Italy's Alessio Ksouri and Michigan's Avry Mutschler each make their pro debuts.
Kousri makes the move to the professional ranks following an extensive 15-fight amateur run that included three entries into the IMMAF World Championships and a victory in 2023's FederKombat Italian MMA Championships. Meanwhile, Mutschler competed six times as an amateur, fighting to a draw in his 2023 debut and then going 4-1 in his final five appearances before making the decision to turn pro.
NEXTGEN: BLAKE MENARD VS. BRAYTON YOUNG
The night's final amateur bout of the evening features a pair of experienced lightweights making their CFFC debuts, as Blake "Mojo" Menard (7-3) takes on Brayton Young (6-2).
Menard made his amateur debut and started his run at 6-1. He's endured a few setbacks as of late, going 1-2 in his past three appearances, but with five finishes in his seven victories, not to mention a couple of regional titles along the way, he's certainly proven his skills. Meanwhile, Young debuted with a loss in 2018 and then took more than three years away from competition. Since returning to action, he's won six of seven, including his last three straight, scoring finishes in five of those results.
NEXTGEN: TYLER CONANT VS. JESSE DEJONG
An all-Florida affair at bantamweight sees North Fort Myers' Tyler Conant (2-3) face off with Tampa's own Jesse "DeJames" DeJong (3-1).
The 24-year-old Conant may have an upside down record at the moment, but two of his setbacks have come via split decision, so the career mark could easily have a very different look. Meanwhile, DeJong enters the contest of the strength of a two-fight win streak that includes a split result, while he's also worked in a boxing victory between those results, as well.
NEXTGEN: EMILIO BARCO VS. JOSE NORAT
The lone flyweight matchup of the night features a pair of prospects with impressive early records, as Florida's Emilio Barco (4-1) takes on Cuba's Jose Norat (4-1).
Barco opened his career with four straight stoppage wins, including three knockouts, but was handed a decision loss in a January outing and now looks to rebound in his CFFC debut. Meanwhile, fellow promotional newcomer Norat finds himself in a similar position, rattling off four straight finishes to kick off his amateur run but losing via decision in February and now also hoping to get back to winning ways.
NEXTGEN: RAY BOLDEN VS. EVAN SPENCER
The night's first fight will set the tone for what's to come in the night’s main event, with a heavyweight contest between New Jersey's Ray Bolden (2-1) and Tampa's own Evan Spencer (1-0), who each make their CFFC debut.
Bolden returns from nearly three years away from competition, but having earned his first two victories by knockout. Meanwhile, Spencer will look to stay perfect early in his amateur run in just his second career appearance.
