Legacy Fighting Alliance made the trek out to California for their latest event, LFA 13, airing on AXS TV and The Fight Network (in Canada). Headlined by Bellator MMA veteran welterweight Curtis Millender taking on Kevin Holland, the event was a great way for fans to ease in to another big weekend in MMA action. The card took place at the Marriott Convention Center in Burbank, CA.
Millender (11–3) entered the evening on a three-fight winning streak, the latest coming at Bellator 170 earlier this year. Holland (8-2), on the other hand, had won five straight, all by finishes. Most recently, he’d scored a TKO win over David Gomez at King of the Cage – Supernova in March.
Just prior to the co-main event, it was light heavyweight Dominick “The Devastator” Reyes who provided one of the best highlights of the night, scoring a devastating head kick knockout in under a minute. Opponent Jordan Powell had just shaken off a number of strikes, only to eat a kick that knocked him right into next week.
In the co-main event of the evening, welterweights Karen Darabedyan and Sam Liera faced off. A hard fought first round saw Liera rocked, a number of leg lock attempts from both men, and Darabedyan likely took the frame. In the second, Darabedyan immediately went out and looked for the takedown, while Liera attempted a guillotine in response. Darabedyan then managed to step over into full mount, and rain blows down from the top before taking the back and sinking in the rear-naked choke for the finish!
In the main event, Bellator vet Curtis Millender looked to put a stop to the five fight win streak of Kevin Holland. An even round saw plenty of back and forth action, but Holland likely had the lead after the first. In round two, Holland managed to drop Millender, and followed up with ground and pound. However, the younger fighter was unable to finish his opponent, who managed to make his way back to the feet. Holland would then tie him up along the fence while the two recovered. Millender would attempt to answer with a jump knee a short while later, but couldn’t land it cleanly. Towards the one minute mark, Millender would move in with a spinning attack after landing a knee, but gave up his back in the process.
In the third, the difference would come when Millender was able to take the fight to the ground, and finish the round in top control. Working hard to get the finish, Holland managed survive, but the ground n’ pound made the difference. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Millender.
Main Card
Curtis Millender def. Kevin Holland by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Karen Darabedyan def. Sam Liera by submission, Round 2, 1:46
Dominick Reyes def. Jordan Powell by KO (head kick), Round 1, 0:53
Alonzo Menifield def. Khadzhimurat Bestaev by verbal submission (strikes), Round 1, 4:01
Maikel Pérez def. Trent Meaux by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:00
Herdem Alacabek def. João Antônio Arroyo by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:51
Kyler Phillips def. Jonathan Quiroz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-26, 29-26)
Preliminary Card
Dima Gerasimov def. Fabio Trindade by submission (brabo choke), Round 1
Postliminary Card
Tommy Aaron vs. Austin Wilson
Vincent Cachero vs. Arnold Jimenez
