Titan FC caps of an action packed year, on Friday night, with a stacked 11-fight card at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami, FL.
In the main event, Titan FC welterweight champion, Dilano Taylor (6-1), defends his strap for the first time against tenured MMA veteran, Marcus Edwards (13-5). Co-headlining the card is a scrap between Alberto Montes (5-0) and Ira Lukowsky (2-0) for the vacant Titan FC bantamweight title.
Also on the card, rising star, Roy Echeverria (6-0), takes on former Titan FC flyweight champ, Wascar Cruz (12-8) and Sanford MMA’s, Devon Dixon (4-0), squares off with American Top Team’s, Charlie Decca (3-1). Some other notable names on the card are Asa Ten Pow (1-0), Dean Barry (3-1), Sal Guerriero (4-1) and Evelyn Martins (2-0).
The three prelim bouts are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 pm ET live on Titan FC’s Facebook page. The main card broadcasts live on UFC Fight Pass at 8pm ET.
Dilano Taylor (6-1) vs. Marcus Edwards (13-5)
It’s no secret Dilano Taylor is one of the brightest prospects at Sanford MMA and he continues to prove that every time he’s in the cage. The 24-year-old is considerably well-rounded and has won five straight since mid 2019. Taylor is a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu and has a quality kickboxing game. In his pro career he has three wins by finish, all of which have come inside the two-and-a-half-minute mark. Edwards makes his return to the Titan FC cage after over four years off from MMA competition. In his promotional debut, at Titan FC 38, he took on Pat Healy for the Titan FC light heavyweight strap. The Genesis Training Academy product is known for finishing fights as 11 of his 13 victories have come by stoppage. Edwards has shared the cage with many high level fighters including Justin Gaethje, Efrain Escudero and Dakota Cochrane. Overall, this is an awesome matchup between two of the regional scenes better welterweights.
Alberto Montes (5-0) vs. Ira Lukowsky (2-0)
When Alberto Montes steps in the cage, don’t blink. The Venezuela born MMA Masters product, makes his return to the Titan FC cage after making quick work of DWCS veteran, Richie Santiago at Titan FC 67. Montes has a nasty Jiu-Jitsu skillset including three wins by way of submission. With that being said, he’s also an expert in Muay Thai and Taekwondo. The 27-year-old was supposed to appear on DWCS this past season, but visa issues forced him out. Ira Lukowsky makes his promotional debut this weekend with Titan FC gold on the line. The undefeated 35-year-old is a product of St. Charles MMA in Missouri. Lukowsky is a force to be reckoned with in a stand up bout. The boxer has clean combinations and a nasty uppercut. This will, without a doubt, be one of the best scraps on the card.
Roy Echeverria (6-0) vs. Wascar Cruz (12-8)
Roy Echeverria is one of the highest level prospects outside of a major promotion. The 26-year-old is a native of Venezuela and is a puzzle that has yet to be solved. It’s clear Echeverria doesn’t need a feeling out process, as he’s earned five of his six wins by first-round finish. He’s also crafty in the grappling department and does damage with ground and pound. Echeverria will have his toughest test yet in the former Titan FC flyweight champ, Wascar Cruz. Dominican Republic bred, Cruz, is a tenured veteran and has accomplished a ton as a pro martial artist. The 38-year-old is known for his standup however; he can finish the fight wherever it goes. The MMA Masters product has nine wins by way of finish and has only been to decision four times in his 20-fight career. It’s safe to same we most likely won’t need the judges to decide the winner in this bout.
Asa Ten Pow (1-0) vs. Chris Roman (3-3)
Asa Ten Pow is a world class striker. The 31-year-old is riding high after a dominant win in his pro MMA debut at Titan FC 72 in September. Ten Pow does his training at Florida Kickboxing Academy, a gym in which he owns, and has a 9-1 record in pro Muay Thai and Kickboxing. He is one of the cooler and calmer fighters in the cage, but his versatility and flashy striking game brings fans to their feet. Chris Roman is an interesting test for the star kickboxer. The Syndicate MMA member gets regular looks with UFC talent however, he’s only fought once since 2013. The 42-year-old is super durable and is well-rounded, yet his Jiu-Jitsu game stands out and could be a path to getting his hand raised this weekend. This might be one in which the judges won’t be involved.
Evelyn Martins (2-0) vs. Fernanda Araujo (0-1)
American Top Team’s, Martins, is a very exciting prospect. At 19-years-old, she will be a problem for many years to come in the women’s MMA world. She is a crafty Jiu-Jitsu specialist, who has a consistently improving stand up game. Martins also rarely is in a boring fight. It wouldn’t be surprising if this was a high level combat Jiu-Jitsu bout. Araujo, 11 years the elder to Martins, is also quite the Jiu-Jitsu specialist having three of her six amateur wins in that fashion. The Defensive Edge MMA product will step in the cage for the first time since 2018. Araujo is a warrior on the feet as well considering her willingness to stand and bang. Overall, this will defenitly be a fun scrap.
Dean Barry (3-1) vs. Drew Lipton (6-30)
Ireland’s, Dean Barry, makes his long awaited return to the cage Friday night. The 29-year-old is on the verge of a UFC contract and with a win at Titan FC 73 he’ll be one step closer to the call-up. Barry is an unreal striker and is a multiple time Kickboxing champion. He did his training at American Combat Gym and Sanford MMA for this camp with the likes of Charles Rosa. Although Barry went through a ton of adversity finding an opponent, he has Drew Lipton this weekend. The four-time BKFC veteran, Lipton, will step in an MMA cage for the third time in 2021. The boxer and Jiu-Jitsu specialist is always in action packed bouts. Lipton has been to a singular decision in his 36 pro MMA bouts. For as long as it lasts, this will be a quality fight.
Devon Dixon (4-0) vs. Charlie Decca (3-1)
In a bout in which Titan FC COO, Lex McMahon, says is one of his favorites on the card, Sanford MMA’s, Devon Dixon, and American Top Team’s, Charlie Decca, go to war. Dixon is a solid prospect winning three of his four pro bouts by first-round finish. Coming off a victory in the fight-of-the-night at Titan FC 71, the 24-year-old has become a fan favorite and household name in the promotion. Dixon is a solid striker that has a very underappreciated grappling game. His low kicks are vicious and his Jiu-Jitsu is underrated. This will probably be, both, Dixon and Decca’s toughest test yet. Decca is a solid grappler who excels with ground and pound. The 27-year-old is always down to stand and bang considering his high level boxing. Two of Decca’s three wins have come by TKO. This is, without a doubt, going to be an absolute banger of a fight to kick off the main card.
Prelims:
Sal Guerriero (4-1) vs. Calvin Glover (0-8)
Luis Hernandez (0-0) vs. Rich Carsten (0-0)
Yoanse Mejias (0-0) vs. Paul Teague (1-3)
Lazaro Dayron (1-0) vs. John Birdsong (0-2)
By: Coby Weinsier