This year, we’ll be treated to not one, but two huge MMA events during the Arnold Sports Festival. Unfortunately, the Arnold’s popular Expo was cancelled due to coronavirus concerns, but the sporting events are still expected to go on as planned. Both events will be put on by Ohio Combat League in conjunction with the annual massive event.
First up on Friday, March 6, Ohio Combat League 6 will be an all-amateur event at Express Live.
The fight card features a whopping five title fights with some of the best fighters from Ohio and surrounding states competing. Be on the lookout for lightweight Nick Foxhuber (10-3), bantamweight Skyler Bray (6-3), and heavyweight Cameron Kinzig (4-0).
Then on Saturday, March 7, Ohio Combat League 7 will be an all-pro event at Express Live as well (the event was moved from the Convention Center).
The main event is one of the biggest fights to happen in Ohio in sometime, as Columbus native Jake Miller (5-1) will face Canada’s Anthony Romero (6-0) for the promotion’s first-ever professional lightweight title.
Miller is no stranger to competing for OFC, as he topped previously unbeaten Jared Chauvin at OFC 3 in October. He went 2-0 last year after suffering his only career loss against Jeff Pelton late in 2018. He’s shown a penchant for finishing fights, as he has stopped his opponents in all five of his wins, including three via (T)KO and a pair of submissions. He’s ranked as the No. 2 pro lightweight in Ohio according to Tapology.
Romero returns to compete in Ohio for the first time since his amateur days, when he posted a 9-1 record including winning titles for IT Fight Series, Pinnacle FC, and Bizzarro Promotions. He signed a six-fight contract with King of the Cage to start his pro career, and he won all of those fights including wins over Sean Felton (4-0), Juan Roman (2-0), and Troy Whitman (6-2). He’s ranked as the No. 1 pro lightweight in New York according to Tapology.
It’s pretty safe to assume that the winner of this fight could and should get a good look at potentially competing for the UFC in the near future. I could definitely see an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series this summer for the winner.
Former NCAA All-American wrestler Dan Stevenson (1-0) looks to advance his unbeaten record, as he welcomes Pierre Walters (2-1) to Ohio from Illinois. Walters is coming in off of a 40-second knockout in his last outing, while Stevenson picked up a first round TKO in his pro debut.
Other fighters to watch out for on the card including the debuting Josiah Harrell (0-0), who is just 21 years old and posted a 6-0-1 amateur record, and two other pro debuting fighters who will square off in Alex Johnston (0-0) and Easton Johnson (0-0).
In a late change, Michael Arrieta (0-0), who was originally slated to compete for the welterweight title on the amateur card, will instead make his pro debut on Saturday night against a late replacement in Clarence Brown (2-4) out of Texas.
In another interesting bout, one fighter will finally get a pro win as Greg Spearman (0-3) faces off against Yohe Rojas (0-1). Both fighters had long impressive amateur careers but have faced stiff competition early in their pro careers.
