Hines entered the UFC‘s annual summer extravaganza, capping off International Fight Week, a perfect 7-0. Diniz had found himself in similar territory in his last outing, dropping to 8-1 after suffering his first career defeat against Marcin Tybura.

Hines came out aggressive to start the fight, landing a solid right hand and pressing forward while Diniz looked for openings. He landed another right and briefly scored a takedown, but Diniz popped right back up. Both fighters landed jabs, but Hines was the one pushing the pace early, despite wearing visible damage. Diniz began finding his counters and chopping the lead leg, with the damage quickly adding up. A sharp one-two from Diniz wobbled Hines late in the round, swinging momentum his way after a strong start from Hines.

In round two, Hines shot for an early takedown but was easily stuffed. He threw more volume with his hands, but Diniz used a more diverse kickboxing attack and superior movement to frustrate the plodding Hines. A clean left hand hurt Hines and forced a desperate, failed shot. Fatigue and leg damage started to show, but Hines gutted through a tough round. Hines got a little creative, even firing off a spinning back fist.

Both men were visibly tired entering round three, with Hines needing a finish. A brief eye poke gave Diniz a chance to recover, but he returned to punishing the leg. Hines kept pressing forward and throwing, but his output lacked impact. Diniz continued to land the cleaner, harder shots, closing the fight with a head kick that Hines absorbed to the final bell.

All three judges scored in the same after 15 minutes, siding with Jhonata Diniz, 29-28. A fun debut for Hines however.

Official Result: Jhonata Diniz def. Alvin Hines by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Alvin “Goozie” Hines
Standing at six-foot-two
Fighting at 265 lbs (heavyweight)
33-years-old
Fighting out of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, US
Training out of Jungle Gym Mixed Martial Arts
A pro record of 7-0
3 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions

Skill Assessment:

Distance Striking: D
Clinch Work: C
Movement/Footwork: D
Power Striking: C–
Striking Defense: D
Wrestling in Space: D
Cage Wrestling: C–
Takedown Defense: D+
Defensive Grappling: C
Top Control: C+
Ground and Pound: C+
Submissions: C+
Endurance: C–

Scouting Report:

Hines is a solid short-notice signing. At 33 years old, undefeated, and with experience in LFA, the time is now. He’s a gritty regional-level competitor whose ceiling is probably similar to someone like Shelton Graves: a fighter capable of beating lower-tier opponents but likely to fall short against higher-level competition. Despite the excitement his fights bring, there’s no denying he’s been in razor-close battles with fairly low-level opposition.

Technically, Hines is a bit of a mess, but he does show flashes of some good attributes. He has heavy leg kicks, a solid jab to the body, and decent wrestling instincts. Lately, he’s shown a willingness to strike more, though his hands still lack polish, and he struggles to find his range. His kicking game is more effective, though he often throws them naked without proper setup. He tends to charge forward recklessly, leading to him walking into shots. While he’s shown impressive durability, he’s far too hittable, even against below-average competition.

Wrestling is a core part of his game, though his finishing ability on takedown attempts is inconsistent. He’ll often get in deep on a single leg but fail to complete it. Hines is most effective once he gets fights to the ground. He uses his weight well to smother opponents, maintaining top control while mixing in ground-and-pound and hunting for submissions. However, his takedown defense is a concern. He’s flat-footed and heavy on his base, making it easy to disrupt his balance once you get in on his legs. He hasn’t spent much time on his back, but against higher-level fighters, that could become a major liability.

Overall, Hines brings toughness, physicality, and a strong work ethic. Enough to create some fun scraps, but likely not enough to crack the top 15.

Matchup Outlook vs. Diniz:

Hines does have a path to victory if he can consistently wrestle and control Diniz on the mat. Diniz, a former GLORY kickboxer, has shown vulnerabilities off his back. However, trusting Hines to execute that game plan effectively is a gamble. He’s not a reliable wrestler, and his entries are often telegraphed or incomplete. On the feet, Diniz has a significant advantage. He’s a polished striker with a high output and strong finishing instincts, while Hines is far too hittable and takes a lot of damage trying to close distance.

Prediction: Diniz lands clean as Hines rushes in, leading to a standing TKO or late stoppage after sustained damage.

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With an LFA title shot or possibly a Dana White Contender Series fight in the back of his mind, he got the call for the real deal. Not just a call to the UFC, but the chance to make his debut on a pay-per-view card in Las Vegas. As craazy as the change was, he was ready.

“I was down with at Javy’s gym in Arizona there, Ultimate Kombat, finishing up Waldo [Cortes Acosta]’s fight camp before his last fight. We were training hard and getting it in down there, and then I drove back and got the call right when I was coming back,” Hines explained. “I got a lot of good training in and just narrowing in on the game plan on what we’re gonna push at this guy. So it’s going good.”

While “Goozie” was physically ready thanks to the intensity of the training camp – that doesn’t mean the magnitude of the moment isn’t still settling in. He’s always been supported by those around him. That circle is just a bit bigger right now.

“I’m from a small town of Northern Minnesota, bro. The whole town and the neighborhood, everyone’s gonna watch it,” he said. “You know how in Texas they shut the town down for football games and stuff? Dude, they’re doing that for little old me for throwing down, man, and that, it’s still all setting in little by little.”

And, of course, while he’s trying to take in what this means for him, his family and his team, there is also the opponent standing across from him. He’ll fight kickboxer Jhonata Diniz on the prelims of UFC 317. Although everything else has not quite hit him at full force, he’s ready for the in the cage stuff.

“I wrestled through high school and after that, I didn’t like go off to college. I wasn’t a three-time state champ in high school, nothing like that,” Hines said. “But like I told other people, I’m above average on wrestling. I’m above average on striking. I’m above average in jiu jitsu. This is mixed martial arts. This ain’t just kickboxing, man. I’m an all-around kind of guy, so he’s gonna have a bad night.”

He’ll get that chance to introduce the world to his all-around style as part of the UFC 317 prelims. Those fights take place on ESPN+ this Saturday starting at 6:30pm EST.

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Kicking off this UFC 317 edition of TTP is our interview with UFC middlweight, Jack Hermansson. Hermansson discusses the long layoff following his big win over Joe Pyfer and how he used it to get his body ready. We also talk about the state of MMA in Norway and how that’s effecting the next generation of fighters. Then we chat about his matchup with the always tough Gregory Rodrigues. It’s a fight he likes both stylistically and to get him back into the rankings at middleweight.

Fights, Dogs and Parlays: UFC 317 (13:42)

Last weekend’s UFC Baku is in the rear view, and we’re back at it with UFC 317. There’s a pair of title fights at the top. First, we’ll get Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight crown against Kai Kara-France. Then, in the main event, the vacant lightweight belt is on the line. Former champions Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira do battle to determine who gets that second belt on their mantle. We’ll break down those fights as well as some of our other favorite fights on the main card. Plus, as always, we’re hitting you with an underdog and a plus-money parlay that we think will make your wallet fat this weekend. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Alvin Hines Interview (20:17)

Closing out this UFC 317 edition of TTP is our interview with UFC heavyweight, Alvin Hines. Hines got the call to fight at UFC 317 on very short notice. He talks about how he was ready for the call to come. Plus, he talks about some of his time getting Waldo Cortez-Acosta ready for his last fight and how that should help him in this one. Then, as always, we’ll be breaking down the fight itself with the man himself, and getting a prediction for how it’ll all go down.

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That welterweight showdown saw former LFA champion “Machine Gun” Kegan Gennrich (9-3) and ex-Legacy Fighting Alliance title challenger Jean-Paul “Mufasa” Lebosnoyani (7-2) face off in an attempt to work their way back to the top of the 170lb division. The hefty (quite literally) six-fight main card also featured a pair of heavyweight scraps, with Alvin Hines vs. Billy Ray Valdez serving as the night’s co-main event.

Hines entered the night a perfect 6-0, with four of those wins coming under the LFA banner.

LFA 206 also featured Steven Asplund looking for his fourth victory inside the LFA cage as he took on Raiden Kovacs in the main card’s other heavyweight fight.

Where to Watch LFA 206

Legacy Fighting Alliance is in action on Friday, April 11, 2025 at the Mystic Showroom at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The main card gets underway on UFC Fight Pass at 6:00PM PT, 9:00PM ET, following online and dark prelims. Full results from the event can be found below.

LFA 206: Gennrich vs. Lebosnoyani Results

Main Card

Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani def. Kegan Gennrich by submission (triangle choke), Round 1, 4:00
Alvin Hines def. Billy Ray Valdez by KO (Head Kick), Round 3, 2:09
Adam Vigil def. Starling Simmons by KO (right hook to ground n’ pound), Round 1, 1:09
Martin Camilo vs. Perry Stargel by KO (elbow) Round 1, 0:35
Steven Asplund def. Raiden Kovacs by TKO (punches and elbows), Round 2, 1:53
Joey Hart def. Omoyele Gonzalez by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 2, 5:00

Preliminary Card

Taner Trembley def. Kyle Zimick by KO (left hook), Round 1, 3:13
Santos Verdinez def. Tim Bender by TKO (right hook to ground n’ pound), Round 2, 1:22
Lizzy Gevers def. Natalya Speece by submission (arm-bar from Kesa-Gatame), Round 2, 1:25

Early Preliminary Card

Noah Gasho def. Todd Box by KO (knee), Round 1, 0:51
Ezayah Gomez def. Hector Porter by TKO (punches), Round 2, 1:39
Mac Kukowski def. Blair Phillips by TKO (left hook to ground n’ pound), Round 1, 1:45

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Of those names you’ll know soon enough (if you don’t already) is Alvin Hines and Steven Asplund – both of which ply their trade in LFA and will at LFA 200 this weekend. The two point to the methods of training that Peterson has helped lead the way with as to why they’re getting ready to take that next step.

“I know people are like ‘oh, I train hard’, but we do, man. And we’re all heavyweights. We’re not throwing around those little bodies,” Hines said. “We train like a real fight every day – every damn day. Obviously we’re not flatlining each other, but we’re training like we’re going in there and it’s the real deal.”

Asplund adds that Peterson brought about a change to make it even tougher after a tough UFC debut.

“When Tommy [Peterson] fought [Jamal] Pogues in February of last year, that’s kind of when we started doing that,” Asplund explained. “Tommy came back with a different mindset and he was like, look, man, we got to kick up the intensity and we got to treat this shit like a fight every day.”

That change really sparked things. After that loss, the three of them combined to go 4-1 to close out the year. Asplund credits his improvements made under the suggestions of Peterson for all the success.

“I agree, you know, the only way to get better in the fire is if you’re in that f*cking fire. I feel like Tommy’s leading the charge. He’s an exemplar,” Asplund said. “I mean the guy’s about to break top 15 in the next f*cking two weeks and just being able to share the room with him, let alone be friends with him. You know, he’s really facilitated a pace for us and an expectation.”

Those expectations don’t go without their costs. Hines recalls more than one occasion when the drive home has him reflecting on the hell he’s been through. However, it’s all for the best because it’ll pay off in the cage – as it should at LFA 200.

“There’s days when I drive home in silence and think ‘holy shit,” Hines said. “But you know what? That’s why we are cleaning people.”

And that hard work is something that Asplund values. He knows that it’s hard to find a good heavyweight room, it’s hard to find a good team and it’s hard to find something close to home – and somehow he has all three.

“I’m so honored and grateful to be in this room with these guys,” Asplund said. “I mean, holy shit. I could not ask for a better team, let alone not have to travel.”

We’ll get to see the fruits of both Hines and Asplund’s labors this Saturday at LFA 200. Asplund caps off the preliminary card against Hammer Morton on YouTube starting at 8pm EST. Hines, meanwhile, kicks off the main card against Mark Currier starting at 9pm EST.

You can also catch Thomas Peterson’s next fight soon. He takes on Shamil Gaziev at UFC Saudi Arabia the following weekend.

You can hear the entire audio with Steven Asplund below at 20:05.

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Kicking off this edition of TTP is our interview with UFC lightweight, Diego Ferreira. Ferreira talks about turning 40 on the day of his upcoming fight at UFC 311 and why he’s still getting better at this stage in his career. Plus, he talks about all the work that went into preparing for a young gun like Grant Dawson and gives us a little breakdown of the fight itself.

Fights, Dogs, and Parlays: UFC 311 (15:44)

After an action packed UFC Vegas 101, we head into the first pay-per-view of the year. UFC 311 is here from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. A pair of title fights dot the top of the card. First, Georgian champion Merab Dvalishvili defends his bantamweight strap against Umar Nurmagomedov. Then we’ll get the rematch between champion Islam Makhachev and challenger Arman Tsarukyan. Both fights are sure to be a grapplers delight. We’ll break down the finer points of the fight and give you some picks for them. Plus, we dig into some other fights on the card and give you our picks. And, as always, we have an underdog and a parlay that we think will make your wallet fat this weekend. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Alvin Hines Interview (27:10)

Closing out this UFC 311 edition of TTP is our interview with LFA heavyweight, Alvin Hines. Hines discusses the origins of his nickname “Goozie” and talks about just how many people call him that. Plus, he talks about his unique training camp filled with tons of high level heavyweights. Whether it be wrestling with the UFC’s Thomas Peterson or striking with LFA butcher Steven Asplund, Hines is seeing real high level stuff. Plus, he talks about how he and his team have evolved to increase their intensity and how he believes that will help him at LFA 200.

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