Other title fights feature Eddy Faison (5-4) vs. Chris Araujo (4-2) for the super heavyweight crown, and Evolve MMA’s Devonte Smith (6-2-1) will take on Jeremiah Leviege (3-2) for the interim lighweight title.
Festa competes for the first time since earning a decision victory over Mike Seibert at Caged Madness 34 in February. The Pennsylvania native has won four bouts in a row after dropping his debut fight in 2012. Kelleher started his career on a tear, knocking out two of his first three opponents in the first round and finishing the third via submission in the second round. But he comes in looking to rebound from the first loss of his career as he dropped a decision to Darion Peterson in his last outing.
Faison has won his last two bouts via TKO under the Caged Madness banner, and he’ll compete for the organization’s super heavyweight title for a second time after his bout against Nick Brashear ended via no contest just over a year ago. The 350-pound fighter has earned four of his five victories via TKO and looks to stay unbeaten in the EFP cage. Araujo is a former heavyweight who will come into the bout looking to build off of a 62-second knockout in his last outing. Three of his four wins are via knockout.
With EFP lightweight champion Coy Bisset currently injured, Smith and Leviege will square off for the interim title. Smith is 4-0-1 in his last five fights after starting his career of just 2-2, and the 21-year-old has been a more composed fighter since joining Evolve MMA just over a year ago. Leviege has earned all three of his victories in under a minute, with his wins coming in 31, 20, and 40 seconds. Most recently, he submitted Ryan Depugh at RFO: Big Guns 14 with a guillotine choke.
Other notable fights on the card include former Caged Madness title challenger Mike Seibert (3-3) vs. Sean Felton (3-2) at a catchweight of 160 pounds, and heavyweight veterans Mesmaran Sunseray (3-3) vs. Chris Wood (3-3). Former Cleveland State wrestler AJ Wilkins (0-0) will also make his MMA debut, as he is set to take on Brandon Spring (0-0) in a flyweight contest. Wilkins is the younger brother of noted professional fighter Mike Wilkins (5-1).
Offical Caged Madness 36 Fight Card
185 lbs – Devon Kelleher (3-1) vs. Frankie Festa (4-1) – for middleweight title
265+ lbs – Eddy Faison (5-4) vs. Chris Araujo (4-2) – for super heavyweight title
155 lbs – Devonte Smith (6-2-1) vs. Jeremiah Leviege (3-2) – for interim lightweight title
160 lbs – Mike Seibert (3-3) vs. Sean Felton (3-2)
185 lbs – Marlon Baker (2-0) vs. Paul Ostlund (0-0)
265 lbs – Mesmaran Sunseray (3-3) vs. Chris Wood (3-3)
130 lbs – Joe Myers (0-4) vs. George Murphy (1-5)
155 lbs – Josh Faison (2-6) vs. Luke Burdette (3-4)
185 lbs – Cory Ferris (1-0) vs. Josh Paulus (1-0)
135 lbs – Shawn Rall (1-3) vs. Tyler Ball (1-1)
155 lbs – Dustin Bates (1-0) vs. Karch Marhofer (0-0)
185 lbs – Justan Grandison (0-0) vs. Robert Johnston (0-0)
170 lbs – Ben Meese (1-1) vs. Daniel Kimble (0-1)
155 lbs – Frankie Sano (0-1) vs. Cameron Caldwell (0-3)
135 lbs – Joe Riley (1-1) vs. Victor Christian (1-0)
125 lbs – Brandon Spring (0-0) vs. AJ Wilkins (0-0)