CFFC 152 preview: Former NextGen champ and undefeated contender clash for vacant middleweight title
Nick Galanti and Austin Clayton lead stacked lineup at Friday's return to New Jersey's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns home to the historic Atlantic City Boardwalk this Friday night for "CFFC 152: Galanti vs. Clayton," where the promotion's vacant middleweight title will be on the line in the evening's headliner at the incredible Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
It's the first of six events planned for the property in 2026, and the card is loaded with incredible athletes from top to bottom, including former NextGen champ Nick Galanti and the undefeated Austin Clayton, who meet in the main event with middleweight gold on the line.
Former champion Chris Brown was stripped of the title after failing to make weight for a planned defense this past August, leaving two top-ranked contenders to square off for the vacant belt.
Additionally, the co-main event sees New Jersey's wrestling legend Richie Lewis returning to the CFFC cage to face two-time UFC veteran Nick Fiore.
The CFFC 152 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)
Nick Galanti vs. Austin Clayton – for vacant middleweight title
Nick Fiore vs. Richie Lewis
Christian Bobe vs. Cody McClanahan
Max Metzgar vs. Elvin Romero
Rosalani Ikei vs. Paige Wilcox
Safar Akhmadov vs. Jerry Lleshi
PRELIMINARY CARD (OnlyFans.com/cffcmma, 7 p.m. ET)
Manny Morales vs. Jonathan Ramsay
Alana Cook vs. Rebecca Evans
Justin Rosario vs. Billy Van Dyke
Cole Barnard vs. Chris Conway
Damien Blotzke vs. Chris Hayes
NextGen: Champ Joey Milano vs. Jesse Pastore – for 190-pound title
MAIN EVENT: Nick Galanti vs. Austin Clayton
Two bright prospects will take a major step forward in the CFFC 152 main event, as former NextGen titleholder Nick Galanti (6-1 MMA, 6-1 CFFC) takes on the undefeated Austin "The Ace" Clayton (5-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC).
New Jersey's own Galanti has spent the entirety of his career career under the CFFC banner, including a six-fight amateur run that saw him claim the NextGen title, as well as his six professional contests – and even a pair of CFFC BJJ appearances, as well. Galanti suffered a disappointing loss to recent Dana White's Contender Series athlete Brandon Holmes back in 2024 but has since rebounded with four straight stoppage wins. The Dante Rivera BJJ athlete now looks to join his teammates Luke Fernandez and Eric Nolan as athletes to claim CFFC titles and earn a call to the UFC.
Meanwhile, Clayton is an Xtreme Couture athlete who made his promotional debut in 2024 with a TKO win over Andrew Huckeby at CFFC 136 in a welterweight matchup. Following a perfect amateur career and a professional run that features five stoppage wins, Clayton was struggling to find suitable matchups on the regional scene and now moves up a division for the biggest opportunity of his career.
CO-MAIN EVENT: Nick Fiore vs. Richie Lewis
The evening's co-main event sees popular New Jersey native Richie "Savage" Lewis (7-1 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) return to the CFFC cage for a lightweight matchup with New Hampshire's Nick Fiore (10-2 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Lewis is a grappling standout and former world team member who headlined CFFC 145 this past August, taking home a win over Benny Orozco. "Savage" was expected to compete in December against former CFFC champion Bobby Lee, taking a catchweight matchup of 165 pounds that was ultimately scrapped when his opponent registered 170. The GTGym product now climbs back into the cage and looks to turn in a performance that gets him a call from the UFC.
Meanwhile, promotional newcomer Fiore got his shot at the big show in 2023 and suffered consecutive decision losses to Mateusz Rebecki and Chase Hooper and departing the organization shortly after. Since that time, Fiore has registered four stoppage wins, remaining undefeated in his career outside of the UFC, and he now hopes to work his way back into the spprt's top organization.
Christian Bobe vs. Cody McClanahan
An intriguing featherweight matchup sees CFFC and CFFC BJJ standout Christian Bobe (3-1 MMA, 3-1 CFFC) take a featured role as he meets undefeated promotional newcomer Cody McClanahan (2-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Bobe competed twice under the CFFC banner as an amateur and has put together a perfect 5-0 record on the CFFC BJJ mats. However, the Marquez MMA product recently turned his full attention to his growth in MMA, and after a thrilling decision loss to fellow prospect Shaun Stant, he's bounced back with two impressive submission wins and now looks to make it three in a row. However, McClanahan has proven equally skilled on the ground in his MMA run securing three of his five amateur wins via submission and opening his professional run with back-to-back first-round victories via rear-naked choke.
Max Metzgar vs. Elvin Romero
Lightweight standouts clash next when the undefeated "Mad" Max Metzgar (5-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) takes on the fearless Elvin Romero (4-1 MMA, 0-1 CFFC).
Ohio's Metzgar has yet to taste defeat in 12 combined contests as an amateur and pro. Even more impressively, he's earned stoppage wins in nine of those 12 results. He now makes his CFFC debut against Romero, who went toe-to-toe with a dangerous Levan Khabalaev in October and now faces his second undefeated opponent in a row. Romero's four pro wins have all come via stoppage, as well, and this should make for an entertaining contest.
Rosalani Ikei vs. Paige Wilcox
Talented strawweight athletes face off when Rosalani Ikei (Pro debut) takes on a returning Paige Wilcox (1-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC).
Ikei makes the trip from Arizona's famed MMA Lab to make her professional debut following an impressive 5-0 amateur run that two submissions and a knockout. The 26-year-old now takes on Wilcox, who scored a brilliant submission win in her own pro debut this past December, taking out the red-hot Karli Jo Thomas in just 79 seconds.
Safar Akhmadov vs. Jerry Lleshi
The night's main card kicks off in the flyweight division, as New York's Safar "Mazandaren Tiger" Akhmadov takes (5-2-2 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) on former CFFC NextGen champ and New Jersey native Jerry Lleshi (4-1 MMA, 4-1 CFFC) in a rescheduled matchup that was originally expected at this past December's CFFC 149.
The 32-year-old Akhmadov is a seasoned striking specialist, earning all five of his wins via knockout. He returns to MMA for the first time since 2023 after competing four times under the Karate Combat banner in the interim. Four of Akhmadov's victories have come in the opening frame. Meanwhile, Lleshi ended his amateur run as the CFFC NextGen champ and then suffered a loss in his professional debut against current champ Bilal Hasan. Since that time, Lleshi has racked up four straight wins, including two stoppages, and continues to call for the rematch with Hasan.
Manny Morales vs. Jonathan Ramsay
The final preliminary bout of the evening features an intriguing welterweight clash as Philadelphia's Manny Morales (6-2) returns to the CFFC cage to take on Canadian Jonathan "Finish Him" Ramsay (7-2).
Morales fought four times under the CFFC banner to open his career, going 2-2 in those appearances. He stepped away from the organization in 2025 and went 3-0 with two first-round finishes and now returns to the organization to face an impressive promotional newcomer in Ramsay, who has lived up to his nickname in five of his professional wins, including four by knockout.
Alana Cook vs. Rebecca Evans
In a women's matchup, Canada's Alana "The Alanamal" Cook (5-2) takes on Delaware's Rebecca "The Giraffe" Evans (3-1).
Cook is currently 3-1 in her past four appearances, but the lone loss in that stretch came in the CFFC cage this past summer. She now returns seeking her first win for the organization when she takes on Evans, who opened her career at 3-0, including a win at CFFC 121. However, she was submitted at CFFC 139 and now looks to get back to winning ways 13 months later.
Justin Rosario vs. Billy Van Dyke
Undefeated featherweights meet next when New Jersey natives Justin "Scar Face" Rosario (2-0) and Billy "The Butcher" Van Dyke (1-0) each look to stay perfect in their CFFC debuts.
Toms River's Rosario turned pro this past May, and the Dante Rivera BJJ product has earned back-to-back decision wins thus far. Meanwhile, Vernon's Van Dyke, who recently relocated to Austin, made his professional debut in October and delivered with a second-round knockout.
Cole Barnard vs. Chris Conway
Welterweight strikers looking to impress in their CFFC debuts collide when Marquez MMA's Cole "The Crow" Bernard (2-1) takes on Syndicate MMA's Chris Conway (1-1).
Bernard, who boasts some kickboxing experience, as well, has proven dangerous on the feet with his two pro wins each coming by way of first-round knockout. Meanwhile, Conway has dabble in muay Thai during his amateur and professional run, and his lone MMA win as a pro thus far also came via knockout.
Damien Blotzke vs. Chris Hayes
Two promising middleweights make their professional debuts when Damien "The Kid" Blotzke faces former CFFC NextGen middleweight champion Chris Hayes.
Blotzke stepped up on one week's notice to challenge Joey Milano for his 190-pound title this past December, coming up short on the cards despite a valiant effort. The towering 6-foot-4 middleweight now returns three months later to enter the pro ranks against Hayes, who was a perfect 5-0 in his amateur run, including four wins by finish. Hayes earned the title with a decision win at CFFC 137 and now returns from a 17-month layoff to begin his professional run.
NEXTGEN: Joey Milano vs. Jesse Pastore
The evening kicks off with the lone NextGen bout of the evening, as reigning 190-pound champion Joey Milano (7-1) seeks the second defense of his title when he takes on New York standout Jesse Pastore (6-2) in a battle of two of the top middleweight prospects in the country.
Tapology's No. 2-ranked middleweight in all of North America, Milano claimed the title in October and then defended two months later against Damien Blotzke. In the time since, the 23-year-old prospect has picked up a submission grappling victory at CFFC BJJ, as well as a kickboxing win on the regional stage. He now returns to the CFFC cage to face the No. 13-ranked Pastore, who makes his promotional debut and owns four knockouts among his six career MMA victories thus far.
