CFFC 154 preview: Two titles up for grabs in the most unique event in promotional history
The Philadelphia Union League plays host to Friday's "The Thrill on the Hill," a special outdoor event and America250 celebration
LAFAYETTE HILL, Pennsylvania – The Philadelphia Union League welcomes the Cage Fury Fighting Championships family outdoors for Friday's "CFFC 154: The Thrill on the Hill," which features two title fights and streams live in its entirety on UFC FIGHT PASS from the club's exclusive Union League Liberty Hill.
The evening serves as a special Union League America250 celebration and benefits Founding Forward and the Travis Manion Foundation and is headlined by CFFC reigning lightweight champion Will "I Am" Starks taking on undefeated former welterweight champ Kevin "Sweetpea" Pease, who moves down to 155 pounds in hopes of capturing a title in a second weight class. Meanwhile, the co-main event sees hard-hitting veteran Ben Coyle take on CFFC newcomer Moshe "Straw Hat" Aladi with an interim flyweight title on the line.
The card takes place outdoors, with fans enjoying a special all-inclusive experience in the background, and concludes with a special fireworks display in what is unquestionably the most unique event in CFFC history.
CFFC 154 streams in its entirety live on UFC FIGHT PASS, with prelims also streaming live on YouTube, Facebook and X. Extremely limited VIP tickets remain at CFFC.tv.
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 8 p.m. ET)
Champ Will Starks vs. Kevin Pease – for lightweight title
Ben Coyle vs. Moshe Aladi – for interim flyweight title
Josh Jackson vs. Nikita Leshukov
AT McCowin vs. Josiah Simpson
Fathy Elsony vs. Xavier Vasquez
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 6:45 p.m. ET)
Jordan Baskerville vs. Johnny Santos
Griffin Parriott vs. Darius Patterson
NextGen: Ryan Barker vs. Moises Cordero
MAIN EVENT: Will Starks vs. Kevin Pease
Reigning lightweight champion Will Starks (12-3 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) claimed the title in February with a spectacular stoppage of a previously undefeated Nikita Leshukov, improving to 8-1 in his past nine appearances overall. He now seeks the first defense of his belt as he takes on another undefeated fighter in former CFFC welterweight champion Kevin Pease (7-0 MMA, 5-0 CFFC).
Pease won a vacant title at 170 pounds this past October, shutting down Ethan Pauley over four dominant rounds. However, immediately after the win, he announced that he'd be moving down to 155 pounds in chase of a lightweight belt. Pease hasn't competed at lightweight since his pro debut in 2021 but believes it's the division that suits him best for success at the highest level of the sport.
No male fighter has ever won CFFC titles in two divisions, so Pease looks to make history with the result, while Starks looks to become the first man to defend the CFFC lightweight belt since Robert Watley did so twice during his reign. It's a high-level matchup that would leave the winner in prime position for a spot on this summer's Dana White's Contenders Series run, or perhaps even a direct invite to the UFC.
CO-MAIN EVENT: Ben Coyle vs. Moshe Aladi
With longtime CFFC flyweight champion Bilal Hasan booked for Dana White's Contender Series in August, promotional stalwart Ben Coyle (7-4 MMA, 4-2 CFFC) takes on promotional newcomer Moshe Aladi (5-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) with an interim belt on the line.
Coyle is currently riding a five-fight win streak, but the lone loss in that stretch came in a highly controversial disqualification call, and he contends he's aatually on a seven-fight win streak. What's inarguable is his power, boasting five of his seven career wins by knockout.
Meanwhile, Israel's Aladi has equally impressive stoppage skills, counting two knockouts and two submissions of his five career victories. After previously competing in Georgia, Italy and Spain, along with his home nation, Aladi now travels to fight in the United States for the first time, and he'll look to secure the biggest win of his career thus far with the opportunity.
Josh Jackson vs. Nikita Leshukov
Groundswell MMA's Josh Jackson (13-4 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) was schedule to make his CFFC debut in 2020 before a planned matchup with current UFC athlete Nazim Sadykhov failed to materialize. Five-and-a-half years later, Jackson is riding a five-fight win streak and is 8-1 in his past nine overall appearances and will finally compete for the organization for the first time.
Meanwhile, Nikita Leshukov (8-1 MMA, 0-1 CFFC) was unsuccessful in challenging for the CFFC lightweight title in February. He had an incredibly difficult weight cut ahead of the matchup and made the decision afterward to move up to 170 pounds for the first time since 2023. With six finishes in eight career wins as a pro, Leshukov entered his CFFC debut as a highly touted prospect, and he aims to reclaim that hype by rebounding in style.
AT McCowin vs. Josiah Simpson
AT McCowin (9-6 MMA, 0-1 CFFC) prides himself as an anybody, anywhere, anytime kind of fighter, as proved by his willingness to take on a dangerous Guram Mestvirishvili in his promotional debut this past fall. While McCowin came up short that night, he since picked up a stoppage win on the regional scene in his home state of Maryland, and he now returns to the CFFC cage looking for his first promotional victory.
Meanwhile, "G.I." Josiah Simpson (5-2 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) is a Marine Corps veteran who has never fought to a decision – and in fact has never even seen a third round – in seven professional appearances, and he makes his CFFC debut on the strength of a three-fight win streak.
Fathy Elsony vs. Xavier Vasquez
Prospect matchups don't get much better than the contest that kicks off the night's main card, with Fathy Elsony (2-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) taking on Xavier Vasquez (3-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
American Top Team's Elsony originally hails from Egypt and wrestled for his nation before relocating to the United States. The 27-year-old made his promotional debut in March and scored a hard-fought split decision win ver Cody Porter and now returns two month later looking to stay undefeated.
Meanwhile, ONX Sports product Vasquez wrestled collegiately at Northern Colorado before turning his attention to MMA. The 26-year-old also scored a split-decision in March after earning his first two professional victories via stoppage and enters the CFFC cage for the first time while looking to remain undefeated.
Jordan Baskerville vs. Johnny Santos
The night's featured preliminary bout takes place at 195 pounds, as the David Branch-trained Jordan Baskerville (1-1) takes on fellow middleweight prospect and Teixeira MMA rep Johnny Santos (Pro Debut).
Baskerville went undefeated as an amateur and the needed just 34 second to score a victory in his professional debut, a CFFC 139 win over Elijah Simpson. In his sophomore outing, Baskerville suffered the first loss of his MMA career and now looks to get back into the win column.
Meanwhile, Santos went an impressive 9-1 as an amateur, with his lone loss coming in 2021 under the CFFC banner. Santos rebounded with four straight wins to close his amateur run and now makes his professional debut.
Griffin Parriott vs. Darius Patterson
The professional portion of the evening kicks off with a 150-pound catchweight matchup between Minnesota's Griffin Parriott (3-2) and Mississippi's Darius "Sniper" Patterson (3-0).
Parriott wrestled at Purdue before shifting his focus to MMA, where he's demonstrated his grappling prowess by earning all three of his professional wins via submission. Meanwhile, Patterson made his professional debut just six months ago but has already rattled off three wins and now looks to keep his record unblemished as each man makes their CFFC debut.
NextGen: Ryan Barker vs. Moises Cordero
The lone NextGen bout of the night features two of the top light heavyweight prospects in the U.S. Northast, as the No. 3-ranked Ryan Barker (4-1) takes on No. 6 Moises "Latino Heat" Cordero (4-0) in a 215-pound catchweight matchup.
The 6-foot-4 Barker, an Ascension Athletics product, has earned three of his four amateur wins via knockout, including his most recent outing in March. He now takes on the 6-foot-3 Cordero, who trains under David Branch and fought most recently in October, taking home a split-decision win to remain undefeated this far in his amateur run.