CFFC 159 preview: Loaded lineup of octagon hopefuls get their shot in front of UFC brass
Incredible nine-fight main card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Philadelphia's 2300 Arena on the eve of UFC 330
PHILADELPHIA – Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns to a familiar venue on Friday, but expect the energy level to reach an all-time peak as the legendary 2300 Arena once again plays host to "CFFC 159: Bobe vs. Isah."
With the Ultimate Fighting Championship in town for the week, Friday's card offers a unique opportunity for the night's athletes to fight in front of UFC executives and matchmakers, who will be on hand following the conclusion of the UFC 330 ceremonial weigh-ins. Their attendance made a slot on CFFC 159 a premium booking, and the lineup is stacked with some of the absolute top prospects in the country.
Atop them all if a familiar face in Christian Bobe, who was expected to compete for the CFFC featherweight title in July but lost that matchup when his opponent was an astounding 10 pounds overweight. However, Bobe's disappointment quickly faded when he was presented with this new booking, where he'll face the Nigerian-born Adamu Isah, who returns to the CFFC cage for the first time since 2024.
The stacked nine-bout CFFC 158 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, 8 p.m. ET)
Christian Bobe vs. Adamu Isah
Jarrett Betancourt vs. Jake Scott
Tyler Grimsley vs. Christian Turner
Jordan Morgan vs. Von Simons
Jeremiah Delgado vs. Vincenzo Iannuzzo
Alius Delarosa vs. Jarrod St. Jean
Itso Babulaidze vs. Raheam Forest
Richie Lewis vs. Roland Pruden
Erik Calvert vs. Riley Palmer
PRELIMINARY CARD (OnlyFans.com/cffcmma, 7 p.m. ET)
NextGen: Champ James Lledo vs. Liam Kirkpatrick
NextGen: Shelby LaBonty vs. Katelyn Ramos – for welterweight title
MAIN EVENT: Christian Bobe vs. Adamu Isah
Christian Bobe (4-1 MMA, 4-1 CFFC) was set to have the biggest opportunity of his career just one month ago, when he was set to challenge for the vacant CFFC featherweight title. Through no fault of his own, the opportunity was taken away from him, and Bobe's disappointment was palpable. However, things worked out pretty well for the CFFC and CFFC BJJ fixture, and the 27-year old Marquez MMA and Webb MMA product now headlines one of the most important events in promotional history.
Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Adamu Isah (5-2 MMA, 0-1 CFFC) was born in Nigeria but now lives in Florida and trains with MMA Science Academy. He debuted for the promotion in 2024, suffering a third-round loss to Kaushik Saikumar, who would parlay that win into a Dana White's Contender Series appearance. Isah has since rebounded with a first-round victory on the regional stage and returns to CFFC seeking his first win for the promotion and to capture the attention of UFC matchmakers.
CFFC titles often bring UFC opportunities, and while gold won't be on the line, the chance to have UFC officials in the building might prove a reward even more valuable for one of these two promising featherweights.
CO-MAIN EVENT: Jarrett Betancourt vs. Jake Scott
The night's co-main event features a pair of impressive flyweight prospects, as "The Real Drilla" Jarret Betancourt (8-0 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) takes on Jake "Showtime" Scott (9-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
The 28-year-old Betancourt is a Florida native and another MMA Science Academy athlete. With seven finishes in his eight career professional wins, Betancourt appears to be exactly the kind of fighter the UFC is looking to sign, and he's rated as the No. 39-ranked flyweight in all North America according to Tapology.com. The 25-year-old Scott has a few less finishes with six in his nine professional wins, but the Murcielago MMA fighter has built a stronger strength of schedule and sits at No. 19 in Tapology's North American rankings. Each man makes their CFFC debuts and will hope to join the 44 athletes filling the UFC's 125-pound roster.
Tyler Grimsley vs. Christian Turner
An intriguing lightweight matchup sees Michigan's Tyler Grimsley (11-0) take on Florida's Christian "The Titan" Turner (10-3).
Grimsley is a Macomb Martial Arts athlete who is perfect through the first 11 contests of his career, including a spectacular 10 finishes. However, he's now facing what is likely the toughest test of his career in the 24-year-old Turner, an American Top Team fighter who is returning to 155 pounds after a 3-1 stretch at welterweight. Turner is dangerous early, and while he's looking to rebound from a recent loss, he had earned seven straight wins prior to the setback, including five Round 1 finishes.
Jordan Morgan vs. Von Simons
The lone heavyweight bout of the night could provide real fireworks, as Philadelphia's own "Smoov" Jordan Morgan (2-0) takes on California's Von Simons (4-0).
Morgan was a former defensive lineman who spent several years in the NFL before injury shortened his career. Playing at more than 340 pounds, Morgan had to trim down to make the heavyweight limit, and he's found success early working under UFC veteran David Branch. He now takes on Simons, a United States Navy veteran who trains with 10th Planet San Diego and owns nine straight victories dating back to his amateur run. With heavyweights always in short supply, a big win for either man could mean a huge step forward in their career.
Jeremiah Delgado vs. Vincenzo Iannuzzo
While perhaps not quite ready to make the jump to the UFC, there's a reason 21-year-old Philadelphia native Jeremiah "Golden Flash" Delgado (2-0) is on this card. The Marquez MMA athlete is highly regarded as a potential future star in a gym full of top talents, and he has yet to lose as an amateur or pro. However, he'll have to be at his best when he takes on New York's Vincenzo "Il Prescelto" Iannuzzo (3-2), a hard-hitting New Yorker who scored a 20-second knockout in his previous CFFC appearance against former NextGen champ Darwin Pena.
Victory here can plant seeds for the future for these two early in their careers.
Alius Delarosa vs. Jarrod St. Jean
It's a clash of styles with big implications when undefeated lightweights Alius Delarosa (4-0) and Jarrod "Wolverine" St. Jean (4-0) collide.
Delarosa is an aggressive grappler with a lifetime of wrestling – and four Idaho state championships – to his name. But the Warrior Camp fighter is anything but a lay-and-pray artist, with three of his four professional wins coming by stoppage. Meanwhile, St. Jean hails from New Hampshire and trains with Nostos MMA, where striking has become his preferred method of attack. Three of St. Jean's four professional wins have come by knockout, so this matchup will certainly boil down to who is able to implement their gameplan most effectively.
Itso Babulaidze vs. Raheam Forest
Expect a supportive roar from the crowd when Philadelphia resident and Marquez MMA fighter Itso Babulaidze (7-0) steps in against former CFFC welterweight champ Raheam "Rambo" Forest (9-4).
Originally from the talent-rich nation of Georgia, Babulaidze now calls Philadelphia home, and his countryman show up large each and every time he steps into the cage. Praised for an incredible work ethic in and out of the gym, Babulaidze earned a pair of PFL appearances early in his career and knows that at 33 years old, now is the time if he's going to realize his UFC dream. He'll face a touch challenge in Forest, who previously appeared on Dana White's Contender Series but was turned back by fellow CFFC veteran Danny Barlow and now looks for another opportunity by bouncing Babulaidze from the ranks of the undefeated.
Richie Lewis vs. Roland Pruden
New Jersey wrestling standout Richie "Savage" Lewis (8-2) has made his UFC intentions clear, but he knows decision wins aren't enough to capture the attention of the matchmakers, which is why he'll be hunting for a finish at all costs. Fortunately, he's got an opponent that will be willing to engage him from the start in 21-year-old Arkansas native Roland "The Armadillo" Pruden (7-2).
Lewis stumbled in March with a shocking submission loss to UFC veteran Nick Fiore but has since bounced back with a decision win over a gritty Nikolay Kiosse. Meanwhile, Pruden was expected to face Will Starks in June, but the bout was scrapped when the former CFFC champion was not medically cleared. He'll now take on another more established athlete in the biggest moment of his career thus far.
Erik Calvert vs. Riley Palmer
The night's supersized main card kicks off at bantamweight, as promotional newcomer Erik "Lyle" Calvert (6-3) takes on former CFFC NextGen champ Riley Palmer (3-0-1).
Calvert is a submission threat, earning tapouts in all six of his professional wins. Even more impressively, with Without Limits MMA fighter has earned all six of those results in Round 1. Meanwhile, Palmer is ready to get back to work for the first time since a May 2025 draw that serves as the lone blemish of his combined professional and amateur careers. With two other matchups falling apart in the interim, Palmer hopes to get back to winning ways as he chases his UFC dream.
NextGen: James Lledo vs. Liam Kirkpatrick
The night's final preliminary bout sees CFFC NextGen multi-division champ James "Las Vegas" Lledo (8-3) put his welterweight title on the line against undefeated challenger Liam Kirkpatrick (5-0).
Lledo is a 24-year-old Philadelphia native whose wrestling is top notch, and he's fought nothing but the absolute best in the sport, with his opponents holding an astounding 35-3 combined record at the time of their matchups. The reigning champion now puts his title on the line against an undefeated athlete in Kirkpatrick, a 27-year-old North Carolina native. The Hayastan MMA fighter has earned four straight stoppage wins and has picked up a pair of regional titles in that stretch, and he'll look to add a third to the trophy case.
NextGen: Shelby LaBonty vs. Katie Ramos
The night kicks off with the lone women's bout of the evening, as Michigan's Shelby "The Show Stopper" LaBonty (4-2) takes on New Jersey's Katie "Cat Woman" Ramos (3-0) in a NextGen strawweight bout.
The 25-year-old LaBonty is a Macomb Martial Arts athlete who makes her promotional debut on the strength of a three-fight win streak. She now takes on Carnicella MMA's Ramos, a 27-year-old who is perfect through the first three appearances of her career, including a decision win at May's CFFC NextGen 3.
