Baysgur Makaev waited at this kind of stage. On September 27 in Tenerife, the 25-year-old lightweight prospect will meet undefeated Brazilian Jefferson Nascimento for an interim title on LFA 218-the first European event of the promotion and an opportunity to push the momentum of the Spanish MMA to a new era.
LFA 218 is the moment of Spain – and that of Makaev
Spain is from its biggest breakthrough to date with the UFC title of Ilia Topuria, and LFA 218 indicates the next phase in the MMA increase of the country.
For Makaev, however, the focus remains narrow.
“Europe has been waiting for tournaments like these come here,” he said MMA sighs. “Tenerife is a great place, but for me it’s not about the location, it’s about the opponent and doing my work in the cage.”
LFA 218: The Other Corner: Jefferson “Tynho” Nascimento
Nascimento arrives LFA 218 11–0 and Vecht from Renovação Fight Team (RFT) in Rio de Janeiro. His style is built on controlled pressure, fast entries for clicking and terminating instincts on the mat. According to Tapology, 11 professional victories are equally divided over knockouts, submissions and decisions.
Nascimento has kept a low profile on the way to the biggest fight of his career, which speaks his record for himself. Starting in Judo as a child, he has grown into one of the most promising prospects of Brazil among the RFT banner.
Recently, while he was already in Spain for Vechtweek, Nascimento posted a photo of himself on Instagram with a title belt with the caption “And yet.” It was a clear nod of trust while he prepares to defend his undefeated record at the European stage of LFA.
LFA has brought Nascimento to the attention as one of the “hot unbeaten prospects”, where Fight week promo materials how close he can be with a UFC look if he keeps winning.
Styles and bets on the way to LFA 218
Makaev believes that pace and laminated struggle will be the difference:
“I will put the pace in the stand-up, and as soon as I take the fight to the ground, I will control and wear it.”
The answers from Nascimento come from a more compact rhythm shortage, accurate punches in body locks and mattress-laid-out with calm decision-making leaves in the rounds. On paper is the pressure versus calmness, pace versus handles.
The LFA pipeline arrives in Europe for LFA 218
Since 2017, Legacy Fighting Alliance has been one of MMA’s most important springboards of the UFC and produced alumni such as Alex Pereira and Brandon Moreno.
“Spain marks our entrance gate to Europe … An exciting milestone for our portfolio, and only the first of many international opportunities for us,” said LFA CEO Ed Soares.
Carley Connor, LFA’s director Public Relations, emphasized the global momentum behind the Tenerife card:
“September marks a huge milestone for us, because our card in Spain will complete a month of international success for the brand. As soon as LFA 218 concludes that we have organized 3 events on 3 different continents in the last 30 days!”
The promotion also comes in Tenerife with Momentum on the Awards circuit, nominated for Best promotion by the World MMA Awards. Soares herself was on the shortlisted Leading manIn addition to figures such as UFC President Dana White.
LFA 218’s depth beyond the main event
Walter “The Snatch” Cogliandro (a veteran of one championship and SBG Ireland) meets Lucas Almeida in the Co-Main-one experience versus athletics that ends the storyline: prospects while proven grabs chases another run.
“LFA gives me a big chance and I will give them a real fight, just like I always do,” said Cogliandro. (The competition was updated after a change of the originally targeted Kevin Cordero -Matchup.)
Why Tenerife for LFA 218
The Pabellón Insular Santiago Martín (basketball capacity ~ 5,100) has already organized brave CF and local operator fight 2. The Arena-Steam tree and all year round of the island make it a logical test site for a European LFA footprint throughout the year.
The Canary Islands have also leaned heavily for sports tourism. According to the Canary Islands Tourism Board, the Regional Government invested € 2.8 million in 24 major events in 2024, which attracted 120,000 visitors and generated approximately € 160 million in economic returns.
The growing sports calendar of Tenerife
Brave CF: Organized maps in 2023 and 2025 in Santiago Martín
Vecht 2 one: Eight local MMA shows on the island performed
Tenerife BluetRail: Annual ultramarathon through the mountains
Basketball: CB Canarias (ACB League) calls the Arena at home
2024 Impact: Canary Islands Tourism invested € 2.8 million → 120,000 visitors, return of € 160 million
How to watch LFA 218
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Location: Insular Pavilion Santiago Martín, Tenerife, Spain
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass (worldwide)
Start time: [3 pm ET / 12 pm PT]
More than a belt on the line on LFA 218
Tenerife is about expansion for LFA. For Spain, it is about proving that the country can host and produce World-class MMA on scale.
For Makaev, the fight is to prove that Spain can deliver more than one star. For Nascimento it is about staying perfect and to inspire the children of his community in Rio. Two prospects of opposite sides of the world, which carry very different dreams, will clash with the lights in Tenerife.
Whatever vision is, LFA 218 marks a new chapter in the worldwide story of the sport.
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