Southern California’s newest entrant in the combat sports arena will be staging its second show in a span of three months when UpNext Fighting returns Saturday, August 20 at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.
The card will be stacked from top to bottom featuring fighters who’ve previously competed in the UFC, Bellator, and LFA, along with athletes who’ve won medals in the Olympic Games and other international tournaments, as well as undefeated fighters and fast-rising upstarts making their pro debuts.
UNF 2 will crown the promotion’s first-ever champion when the featherweight tournament reaches its conclusion with a headlining bout between four-fight UFC veteran Terrion “Flash” Ware (18-11) and six-fight UFC and three-fight Bellator veteran Albert “The Belizean Warrior” Morales (11-8).
Ware and Morales were each victorious in their respective bouts during UNF 1, which took place May 21 at the sold-out Burbank Marriott Convention Center. Whoever takes home the UNF strap will surely do so in a scintillating fashion, as Ware and Morales both love to stand and bang with flying fisticuffs.
UNF 2 will stream on FITE TV and will be available for purchase via pay-per-view.
Who will be the first UNF Champion?
Interview with Terrion Ware & Albert Morales
In the co-main event, 11-fight UFC veteran Francisco Rivera (14-9) takes on Japanese juggernaut and 8-fight UFC alum Teruto Ishihara (12-9-3) in a 145-pound clash.
Ishihara is cornered by four-time UFC title challenger and former WEC champion Urijah Faber. Rivera and Faber have history together — “The California Kid” Faber beat “Cisco” in 2014 via submission choke. Rivera will look to return the favor against Ishihara.
The winner of the match could also put themselves in pole position to challenge the winner of Ware vs. Morales for the UNF title.
Ware, Morales, Rivera, and Ishihara all competed as bantamweights in the UFC over the last decade, and now, they’ll look to make new history in their respective careers as featherweights.
In other action, 2016 Armenian Olympian silver medalist Migran Arutyunyan (5-1) will take on David Douglas (8-9) in a 155-pound tilt.
UNF 2 will also be stacked with several other can’t-miss matchups, including:
Heinrich Wassmer (7-5) versus Trevor Wells (6-3) — 125 pounds
Keenen Lewis (3-5) versus Jason Edwards (3-2) — 135 pounds
Dion Young (1-0) versus Raheem Gilliam (Pro Debut) — 170 pounds
Johnny Robles (2-2) versus Carlos Elizarraraz (0-1) — 135 pounds
Bryant Shell (0-2) versus Adam Garcia (Pro Debut) — 155 pounds
The most up-to-date fight card can be seen here.
UNF 2 will also feature California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts action with the following matchups:
Shane Collins (7-0) versus Hamzeh Trad (4-1) — 145 pounds
Fedya Chobanyan (1-0) versus Alexander Mashhadi (1-1) — 170 pounds
Jonathan ONeill (2-0) verus Eduardo Zarate (2-0) — 150 pounds
Sukshith Satish (8-11) versus Hamlet Grigoryan (0-2) — 135 pounds
Getting to know the Buckner Brothers
The faces behind UpNext Fighting
Tickets for UNF 2 can be purchased starting at $75 online at www.UpNextFighting.com or at the Commerce Casino box office during fight night, if available. VIP Dinner and Bottle Service packages are also available.
Doors open at 5 p.m. PST, and the first bout will take place at 6 p.m. PST. All bouts are subject to change.
For general inquiries, or to apply for press credentials, email info@UpNextFighting.com.
For more information, news and developments, visit www.UpNextFighting.com, and follow along online on the following UNF platforms — Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.