Joseph Kropschot Wins Middleweight Title in LFA 226 Main Event

The Legacy Fighting Alliance has a new middleweight champion after Joseph Kropschot suffered a defeat to David Allakhverdiev.The LFA 226 main event saw Allakhverdiev’s previously undefeated title on the line against Kropschot, who was riding a three-fight winning streak heading into the championship fight. Allakhverdiev’s goal (7-1) caused damage early on, but it was Kropschot’s struggle (8-3) that ultimately made the difference. In the second round, Kropschot took his opponent’s back and dropped into a rear naked choke to win the title. The tap officially came at 3:24 of round 2.

The co-main event featured the evening’s two most experienced fighters as lightweights, Dedrek Sanders and Nikolay Kiosse, who had a combined 29 fights on their resumes. It was a wild back-and-forth affair with Kiosse coming close to a rear-naked choke in the second round. However, Sanders (11-5) had the better cardio and was able to rock Kiosse (10-4-1) and then followed with a series of brutal knees to get the stoppage 28 seconds into the final frame.In the only women’s mixed martial arts bout on the main card, Mackenzie Stiller faced Kendrar McIntyre. Stiller (6-1) made surprisingly quick work of McIntyre (3-3) as she outclassed her opponent on the ground. After just 1:48, Stiller locked in a spectacular scarf armlock to earn the submission victory.

Heavyweights Benjamin Wunder and Charlie Cleveland provided the hard-hitting action fans expected. Cleveland (5-1) made quick work of Wunder (3-2), who couldn’t handle the power of “The Reaper.” After scoring a knockdown, Cleveland pummeled his opponent until the referee intervened at 1:03 of the first round.

Middleweight prospect Travon Eller failed in his final test against the more experienced Zayne Havener. While “Notorious GGG” appeared to be in control, Havener (4-2) threatened with a kimura before switching to a triangle choke. Havener officially closed out the choke, forcing Eller (3-1) to tap at 3:33 of the first round.

The main card opener saw flyweights Bryce Woerner and Randy Rivera-Santiago clash. The goal by the undefeated Woerner (3-0) proved to be too much for Rivera-Santiago (1-2), which collapsed under the power. The “Ragin Cajun” powered his way to a TKO victory at 3:36 of round 3.

LFA 226 preliminary results:

Johnathan Waid submitted Lane Roe at 1:02 of Round 1 with a slick armbar; Alexander Schenk used his superior wrestling to give Carter Beekman a rear-naked choke at 4:50 of round 2; Blake Mitchell ended quickly with his debut as heavyweight Nathan George with a knee to the body and follow-up punches at 2:15 of the first round; Briven Sullivan chokeslammed Cody Noel with a triangle choke at 4:51 of round 3; Shamar Perez defeated Trevor Grice over three rounds to take a split-decision victory; Drake Patterson battered Josh Ward picks up a TKO win after 2:41 of action; and Garret Gean used a triangle choke to submit Randy Shores Jr. in just 1:15.