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With all the hoopla surrounding the Bellator and UFC events this weekend, an event like XFC 26 can easily get lost in the shuffle. To overlook this event would be a huge mistake though because there is a lot of top notch MMA fighters on the card. The same goes for the preliminary card, which features twelve fighters looking to make an impact on the MMA scene.
Kicking of the action is a featherweight division fight as Cromwell “Midget Dynamite†Stewart (0-0-0) competes against Willie Taylor Jr. (0-0-0). Stewart will be making his professional MMA debut in this fight, but he did go undefeated as an amateur. Taylor Jr. will also be making his professional MMA debut in this fight and he also has experience as an amateur. This is as much as a pick ‘em as you can get with two fighters making their debuts, but it will be Stewart making a successful pro debut.
A pair of welterweights are competing next as Jason Gifford (1-1-0) is in action against Mario Scott (2-1-0). Gifford will be looking to rebound from his first professional MMA defeat, which came to Dustin Long at a 3FC MMA event. Scott is in the same position as his opponent, as he will also be looking to recover from his first professional MMA loss. These are fighters who in a big need of a win and it will be Scott returning to the win column in this one.
Bantamweight division action is taking place next as Kenny Degenhardt (1-0-0) does battle against Brian “The Law†Hall (5-1-0). Degenhardt is returning to action after a two year absence from competition, last fighting Andrew Osborne at Gameness Fighting Championships 9. Hall will enter the fight riding a five fight winning streak, which includes a win over Jay Black at Bellator 73. Degenhardt is making his return against the wrong competitor, as Hall will dominate to win his sixth straight bout.
More welterweight action is up next as Ben Brewer (0-0-0) stands across the cage from Anthony Lemon (2-2-0). Brewer will be making his professional MMA debut in this fight, but he did go undefeated as an amateur fighter. Lemon will enter the fight riding a two fight losing streak, which includes a loss to UFC veteran Brock Larson. Lemon is kind of on a downswing right now, which is good for Brewer as he will have a successful pro MMA debut.
Up next is a welterweight division fight as Gerric “The Silent Assassin†Hayes (8-8-0) takes on Nate “Ladies Love†Jolly (12-5-0). Hayes is currently undefeated in XFC competition, having defeated Jason Blackford by second round TKO at XFC 21. Jolly has won two of his last three fights, but this fight will be the first time he has competed in well over a year. Jolly is a highly touted MMA prospect and he will steamroll Hayes to have a successful return to the cage.
Headlining this portion of the card is a featherweight division affair as Nate “The Train†Landwehr (2-1-0) faces Keith “The Rockstar†Richardson (7-4-0). Lamdwehr is looking to rebound from his first professional MMA defeat, which came to D’Juan Owens at XFC 22. Richardson has split both of his previous XFC bouts, defeating Lawson McClure and suffering a defeat to Jarrod Card. This is a pretty important fight in the featherweight division for the XFC, but it will be Richardson notching the victory.
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