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Despite the controversy surround Nick Newell, the XFC is returning to action this Friday Night with a headliner that will crown a new XFC Lightweight Champion. Unfortunately for us MMA fans, the six fight preliminary card will not be streamed or broadcasted for us to check out. Either way though, this is a preliminary card that is worth keeping an eye on as a UFC veteran is competing.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division fight as Theo Idleburg (0-2-0) competes against Billy Quarantillo (1-0-0). Idleburg returns to action after a near two year break, but he has yet to achieve a victory as a professional MMA fighter. Quarantillo made his professional MMA debut earlier this year, defeating Jonathan De Jesus at Fight Time MMA 13. Idleburg has too much going against him in this fight and it will be Quarantillo remaining undefeated in this one.
Bantamweight fighters will enter the cage next as Gilbert “Bam Bam†Burgos (5-1-0) does battle with Jason Gladey (4-1-0). Burgos is returning to action after a three year layoff and he will also be looking to rebound from his first professional MMA defeat. Gladey will be making his XFC debut in this fight, but he has competed in the upstart Pure MMA promotion. The long layoff is going to hurt Burgos is this one as Gladey will pick up the victory in his promotional debut.
Another bantamweight division fight is up next as Kenneth “Pit†Crowder (1-1-0) is in action against Jason Ignacek (1-0-0). Crowder will be looking to rebound from his first professional MMA defeat, which came to Brandon Inskeep. Ignacek made his professional MMA debut almost a year ago, defeating Gary Michaels by unanimous decision. Neither fighter really has an experience edge over the other in this fight, but it will be Crowder returning to the win column.
We move to the featherweight division for the next contest as Matthew Ferraiolo (0-0-0) battles Gabe Maldonado (1-0-0). Ferraiolo will be making his professional MMA debut in this fight, but he did compete as an amateur. Maldonado is returning to the cage after a five year layoff, but his lone MMA fight was a victory over Matt McCook at World Fighting Championships VI. This is a pick ‘em fight if there ever was one on this card, but it will be Ferraiolo making a successful pro debut.
Up next is a welterweight division fight as Ladarious Jackson (0-0-0) stands across the cage from Nick Smith (2-0-0). Jackson will be making his professional MMA debut in this fight, but he did compete many times as an amateur. Smith is currently undefeated as a professional MMA fighter, with his two previous fights coming in the Fight Labs promotion. Jackson is making his pro debut against the wrong fighter as it will be Smith spoiling his professional MMA debut.
Headlining this portion of the card is a featherweight division fight as John “The Potter†Cofer (7-3-0) faces Chad Livingston (1-0-0). Cofer will be competing for the first time since his UFC release, which came after a loss to Mike Rio at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale. Livingston made his professional MMA debut in late-2012, defeating Carlos Solano Salazar at a Panama Fight League event. Barring one of the biggest MMA upsets to take place in a while, Cofer should easily pick up the win in this contest.
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