Yodsanklai Fairtex vs. Salah Khalifa Middleweight Championship at Lion Fight 18 at The Joint Sept. 5
Scott Kent, CEO of Lion Fight, has announced the two contenders vying for Lion Fight belts in the double championship headliners on tap for LION FIGHT 18 Friday, September 5 live from The Joint in Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Kent confirmed that United Kingdom’s Salah Khalifa will fight reigning champion and Muay Thai legend Yodsanklai Fairtex for the men’s middleweight belt, and that Belgium’s World Champion Anke Van Gestel will challenge the unbeaten Jorina Baars for the women’s welterweight Lion Fight strap.
Inside MMA was the first to report news of the two contenders scheduled to face Fairtex and Baars, as well as the entire line up of live televised fights for LION FIGHT 18.
LION FIGHT 18’s main live card is packed with American Muay Thai talent including Las Vegas local Jason Andrada, fighting out of Fight Capital Gym, vs. Canada’s Stan Mancebo. Rising star Nick Chasteen, fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona makes his return to the Lion Fight ring to take on California’s Jose Palacios. The card also features west coasters Brian Del Rosario, fighting out of Van Nuys, California vs. Victorville, California’s Chris Culley. Kicking off the first fight of the night will be Phoenix, Arizona’s Damien Earley vs. Vallejo, California’s Eddie Abasolo.
LION FIGHT 18 also showcases the best up-and-coming talent in Muay Thai with a stacked amateur undercard:
- 125 lbs Women’s Bout – Christine Ferea (Hard Knocks, Las Vegas) vs. Ashley Burns (Nashville, TN)
- 165 lbs Men’s Bout – Jordan Joseph (Syndicate, Las Vegas) vs. Robert Farabough (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
- 155 lbs Men’s Bout – Zhenya Chuprina (Hard Knocks, Las Vegas) vs. Edgar Frias (Tustin, CA)
- 125 lbs Men’s Bout – Armin Eusabio (Alliance, Las Vegas) vs. Chris Mendoza (Los Angeles, CA)
- 142 lbs Men’s Bout – AJ Smith (Fight Capital – Las Vegas, NV) vs. Mike Shaw (Stockton, CA)
Tickets for LION FIGHT 18 are on sale now through Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office, online at AXS.com or by calling 1-888-9-AXS-TIX. The full rules Muay Thai LION FIGHT 18 event will take place at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday, Sept. 5. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. PT; the first bout starts at 5:00 p.m.
LION FIGHT 18 will be broadcast live on AXS TV, starting at 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT) with play-by-play and commentary by UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich and “The Voice” Michael Schiavello.
Please visit LIONFIGHT.com for news, information and event updates, and follow on Twitter @LIONFIGHT.