The upstart United Fight League returned to action with UFL 3 on Saturday, August 12, 2023 in Mesa, AZ, with a card featuring grand prix action and a number of standout names.
The promotion, with ambassadors like Rampage Jackson and Frank Mir, had signed Jackson’s son Raja, with the lightweight set to make his promotional debut at the event.
Raja Jackson had gone 4-0 as an amateur, and was looking to continue that success among the pro ranks.
Also in action, Bellator and LFA veteran Ty Gwerder anchored the main event, in a rematch with Shane Sobnosky that doubled as a middleweight grand prix semifinal. Welterweight, Featherweight, Bantmaweight, and Women’s Bantamweight grand prix action was also in store, with TUF vet Claire Gutherie among those competing on the ladies’ side.
Full results from UFL 3 can be found below; the event streams live on video sharing service Rumble.
UFL 3: Championship Grand Prix Semifinals Results
Main card
Middleweight Grand Prix: Ty Gwerder def. Shane Sobnosky Jr. by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Bantamweight Grand Prix: Amun Cosme def. Valodia Aivazian by TKO (strikes), Round 2, 4:52
Women’s Bantamweight Grand Prix: Zurina Turrey def. Claire Guthrie by TKO, Round 1, 3:00
Middleweight Grand Prix: Ryan Loder def. Lajuan Davis by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantamweight Grand Prix: Jackson Santa Cruz Filho def. Steven Chang by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight Grand Prix: Canaan Kawaihae def. Chris Mecate by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 0:30
Preliminary card
Featherweight Grand Prix: Sitik Muduev def. Josh Marsh by TKO (strikes), Round 2, 2:09
Bantamweight Grand Prix: Justin Wetzell def. Brandon Lewis by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:26
Lightweight: Steven Collins def. Raja Jackson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Welterweight Grand Prix: Nikolay Veretennikov def. Luis Iniguez by TKO, Round 2
Welterweight Grand Prix: Ashley Reece vs. Jokhar Duraev ends in a No Contest (accidental foul), Round 1
Women’s Bantamweight Grand Prix: Brittney Cloudy def. Veronika Smolkova by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
