SFT MMA & Xtreme’s American Debut August 13th in Miami – MMA News

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The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered plans in combat sports, particularly for Brazil-based SFT MMA & Xtreme (Standout Fighting Tournament), which planned to make its American debut last June at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. Its long-awaited American debut will finally take place on Thursday, August 13, with “SFT 23 VR: Jeffrey vs. Assis”, in a closed show at Wynwood Studios in Miami, Florida.

“SFT 23 VR: Jeffrey vs. Assis” will be streamed live and exclusively worldwide on pay per view via the FITE app and website (www.FITE.tv), starting at 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT, for $14.95. It’ll also be taped live and air at future dates on regional television throughout the U.S. on United Fight Alliance (UFA), as well as on Brazilian television.

Only fighters and one corner person each, a skeleton staff including television production crew, officials, and commission members will be allowed onsite. No fans, media, or ring-card girls. SFT will provide masks and be responsible for cleaning, disinfecting, and encouraging everyone to follow all COVID-19 recommendations. Everybody will be tested for COVID-19 the day prior to the weigh in, at the weight in, and during the day of the event.

“Our plan was for SFT MMA & Xtreme to have a circuit, starting in Brazil, and then promoting shows in the United States and Mexico,” SFT president David Hudson said. “The Coronavirus changed everything. Our show last Saturday night in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was canceled after we had the weigh in, but we wanted to do the right thing and paid everybody involved.

“We can’t wait for U.S. fans to watch our product to understand what they’ve been missing. SFT gives fans what they want: competitive, action-packed fights in a completely different form of entertainment. We’re having our August 13th show in Miami because we want to increase awareness, particularly in the United States, of our unique product of combat sports entertainment. Our shows are regularly broadcast on one of the five national television networks in Brazil. We have five of the top seven pound-4-pound MMA fighters in Brazil and we want to bring some U.S. talent to fight in Brazil. Two fighters from this show will be given a chance to fight in Brazil and then, hopefully, at the Seminole Hard Rock later this year.”

The main event pits Canadian middleweight Aaron Jeffrey (7-2-0, (SFT: 0-0-0) against Brazilian Bruno “Brunao” Assis (9-4-0, SFT: 0-0-0) in their SFT MMA debuts. Styles make fights and Jeffrey, the No. 1 rated middleweight in the Province of Ontario, will be looking for his sixth knockout, while Assis, the No. 1-rated fighter in the State of Minas, has his sights set on his seventh submission finish.

American lightweight Frank “The Praying Mantis” Buenafuente (10-4-0, SFT: 0-0-0), fighting out of Garfield, New Jersey, takes on Mexico’s No. 4-rated Daniel “Danger” Vega (12-3-0, SFT: 1-0-0) in the co-featured event. Buenafuente, who has a strong wrestling background, will be making his SFT MMA debut. Vega defeated Fabio Gasolina at “SFT 12” held in Mexico.

An SFT Xtreme (striking & kicking with 4-ounce gloves, no ground fighting) match will showcase Brazilian-native kickboxing legend Maycon Oller, who now fights out of Tustin, California, against World kickboxing champion Jadar Alves, of Brazil, in what promises to be a sensational showdown.

A grappling match will be on tap as well, pitting two of Brazil’s leading middleweights, Markus “Maluco” Perez against Luis “Buscape” Firmino.

The opening bout on the main card finds American lightweights Jornel “A1” Lugo (3-0-0, SFT: 0-0-0) and Contavious Romious (4-0-0, SFT: 0-0-0) in a well-matched battle of two undefeated prospects.

The preliminary card offers strong support. Brazilian Regivaldo “Handstone” Carvahlo (5-2-0, SFT: 0-0-0) faces American Raymond “Godson” Ramos (5-4-0, SFT: 0-0-0) fighting at a 140-pound catchweight in SFT debuts for both fighters, and two other SFT debut fighters, Brazilian Lucas Alexandre (0-2-0, SFT: 0-0-0) and his American opponent, Shawn Brown (2-2-0, SFT: 0-0-0), square-off in a featherweight fight.

Also fighting on the preliminary card are Puerto Rican lightweights Orlando Santana (2-1-0, SFT: 0-0-0) and James Hay (2-1-0, SFT: 0-0-0), American light heavyweights Joshua DaSiveira (1-0-0, SFT 0-0-0) and pro-debuting Cody Rolling, and American bantamweights Sal Guerriero (1-1-0, SFT: 0-0-0) versus John “The Baptist” Birdson (0-1-0, SFT: 0-0-0).

Card subject to change.