Special to Argus Leader

Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) is set to return for the first time in 2024 with LFA 174, which will emanate from the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

The Minnesota market has been a kind one to LFA, and the promotion will return the favor in kind with a main event pitting LFA lightweight champion JaCobi Jones against Wisconsin’s Kegan Gennrich with the title on the line.

Fight fans can catch LFA 174 streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

LFA Lightweight Championship — Jones vs. Gennrich

Jones, a FactoryX Muay Thai product, is one of a small handful of champions in MMA who will defend their title coming off a loss. That’s because Jones recently participated on Dana White’s Contender Series, coming up short against Daniel James Allen on the judges’ scorecards. He is now set to return to the promotion he became a champion in, and was originally scheduled to meet the interim champion, Jefferson Nascimento, for the undisputed title. However, with Nascimento out, Jones will instead fight Gennrich, a hungry prospect in his own right looking to prove he belongs on MMA’s biggest stage.

At 6-foot-2, Gennrich is a massive lightweight who thrives off of creating stylistic problems for his opponents. After losing his LFA debut to future UFC veteran Evan Elder, Gennrich later put himself on the prospect map with a hard-fought win over previously unbeaten Richie Miranda. He will take a five-inch height advantage into the Jones fight, but Jones is absolutely no slouch, having proven himself against other legitimate LFA prospects such as Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani.

Rest of the Card

The rest of LFA 2024 debut card is stacked with fights featuring names that should be familiar to fans of the promotion. Quang Le, the 6-0 bantamweight prospect out of Vietnam, will attempt to pad his resume with a challenging fight against 6-1 Cody Peterson. The fight will be contested at a 140-pound catchweight, and feature a fun stylistic matchup between Le’s kickboxing and Peterson’s boxing, with the latter being competing in boxing on the side.

Wes Schultz is also scheduled to take on Maurice Morris in the featured fight at 185 pounds. Schultz, a former collegiate wrestler at the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse, will look to hold down a fighter in Morris who has a bare-knuckle boxing background and has finishes in each of his six career wins. Nigeria’s Adamu Isah is also scheduled to take on Devante Sewell, a man with four times the amount of experience than him. Unbeaten women’s MMA prospect is also scheduled for action against fellow upstart Jayde Sheeley, and Steven Asplund will open the show in an exciting heavyweight tilt with Billy Ray Valdez. Valdez knocked out fellow prospect Ian Allston in his pro debut last year in one of the wildest heavyweight fights of the year.

For up-to-the-minute results and updates from LFA 174, be sure to stay locked in to MMA Sucka!

LFA 174: Jones vs. Gennrich Results

Main Card

JaCobi Jones vs. Kegan Genrich — For the LFA Lightweight Championship

Quang Le vs. Cody Peterson

Wes Schultz vs. Maurice Morris

Adamu Isah vs. Devante Sewell

Kendra McIntyre vs. Jayde Sheeley

Steven Asplund vs. Billy Ray Valdez

Preliminary Card

Alvin Hines vs. Will Johnson

Kelton Sneve def. Coty Milhausen via  TKO (Ground and Pound) at 4:54 of Round 1

Cheyanne Bowers def. Whittany Pyles via Submission (Armbar) at 3:52 of Round 1

Zeb Vincent def. Herbert Rogers-Williams via Disqualification (Knee to Groin) at 3:17 of Round 1

Taner Trembley def. Dylan Smerillo via Submission (RNC) at 2:11 of Round 1

Mervin Miller def. Kory Moegenburg via Submission (Arm Triangle) at 3:49 of Round 1

Ezayah Gomez Oropeza def. Jesse Midas via TKO (Ground and Pound) at 1:58 of Round 1*

Xavier Rosenbloom def. Dalan Jones via Unanimous Decision*

*- Denotes amateur bout

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