LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The LBC lays host to Shawne Merriman’s Mixed Martial Arts promotion, Lights Out Xtreme Fighting, with LXF 27. The card featured 11 MMA bouts in total, with a heavyweight main event to close out the night. The former NFL Linebacker, Shawne Merriman, would deliver an unbelievable night of fights with a lively crowd to back it up. 

Francisco Sanchez vs. Antquan Milledge

The first fight to be featured on the card was the first of four amateur bouts to be contested between Francisco Sanchez and Antquan Milledge, with both lightweights making their amateur debuts in three, two minute rounds. 

The crowd electric for Sanchez as the Tustin native implemented his kicks and footwork to keep Milledge on the backfoot. As the clock winded down on the first round, Sanchez seemed to be getting better of the exchanges. 

With round two commencing, Sanchez kept the pressure up as Milledge was starting to get fatigued. Despite a few leg kicks and blitzs by Sanchez, the second round appeared to be in his favor. 

As round three began, Sanchez wasted little time attacking the body of Milledge as the pressure was starting to build. With a flurry of body kicks to his opponent, Francisco Sanchez would overwhelm Milledge and drop him halfway through the third, leading to a TKO victory. 

Khadar Hassan vs. Eladio Watters

The second amateur bout of the night took place between Hassan, fighting out of MMA Master’s Gym, and Watters from UFC Gym Costa Mesa. 

The first round began with Watters landing several punches and kicks that staggered Hassan, leading the Los Angeles native to retreat. Before Hassan could recover, Watters would pour on the pressure as his opponent was against the cage that would lead to a first-round TKO victory. 

This is the first official win of Watters’ amateur career. 

Josh Valdez vs. Edward Rodriguez

The third amateur fight of LXF 27 would be between Josh Valdez and Edward Rodriguez. 

Rodriguez and Valdez would get at it as both fighters landed their own takedowns and punches. Despite getting swarmed early on, Valdez would recover and get his own takedown before the first was over. 

Round two would be taken over by Valdez as the undefeated fighter took Rodriguez down before implementing his ground and pound. Valdez would keep control over the Indio native and gain momentum leading into the third. 

With the third and final round starting, Valdez would overwhelm Rodriguez with his grappling as he controlled the majority of the round with his wrestling. Despite a last ditch effort by Rodriguez at the end of the round, it was too late as Valdez would win the fight via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27). 

Mustafaa Bell vs. Colin Lauterbach

With the fourth and final amateur bout, the vacant LXF amateur lightweight championship was on the line between Bell and Lauterbach. 

The first round began with Bell and Lauterbach clinching against the cage that would result in a takedown for Bell. Despite controlling the fight against the cage, an accidental foul would come from Bell that paused the action. Lauterbach would work gain control of the fight as a slip would lead to him getting on top of Bell and control him at the end of the first. 

With round two beginning on the feet, Lauterbach would impose his will against Bell as his clinch work and grappling would be used. Despite controlling the first round, Bell would be visibly fatigued as he wasn’t able to gain control of the fight. 

In round three, Bell would push the pace as haymakers were thrown a plenty that would push Lauterbach against the cage. While he started off strong, Bell would be the victim of an unintentional groin strike that halted the bout temporarily. As the fight resumed, Lauterbach would gain control of Bell on the ground and look for a rear-naked choke. Bell would inevitably survive the submission efforts and survive the round. 

Lauterbach would get his hand raised via unanimous decision to become the new LXF amateur lightweight champion. 

Kevin Gonzales vs. Muslim Gabartuev

The first fight on the main card would be a catchweight bout of 150 pounds between Kevin Gonzales and Muslim Gabartuev. 

With the beginning of round one, Gabartuev would show off his dynamic striking as he would land flying knees and switch kicks throughout. Gabartuev would land a devastating shot to floor Gonzales that led to a walkoff KO victory. 

Shane Stipancic vs. Jacob Sandlin

In a battle between Los Angeles and San Diego, Stipancic and Sandlin would throw wild punches to begin the fight before Sandlin would sink in a guillotine choke in the first round. 

Despite his best efforts to escape, Sandlin would submit Stipancic with the choke as the Angelino would lose consciousness 40 seconds into round one. 

Joao Soeiro vs. Jesse Velasquez

With the third bout on the main card beginning, the crowd brought the electricity to LXF 27 as Velasquez would have an army of supporters waiting for him by the entrance. 

Round one would begin with Soeiro using his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to take down Velasquez and control his back. Despite the support of the fans, Velasquez would be submitted with a rear-naked choke. 

This marks Soeiro’s first win of his professional career as he moves to 1-0.

Israel Salazar vs. Miguel Ceja

Salazar and Ceja would open up round one with patience as both fighters looked to use the first five minutes to try and feel each other out. Towards the end of round one, Ceja would get dropped with a punch that would swing the momentum in Salazar’s favor. Despite this, Ceja would end round one pressuring Salazar against the cage. 

In round two, Salazar would put on the pressure and circle Ceja against the fence with leg kicks landing consistently. Salazar’s forward movement began to wear on Ceja as a flurry of strikes landed sent the Anaheim native to the ground. Despite a submission attempt by Ceja halfway through the second, Salazar would rain down elbows from full mount causing a cut to open on his opponents face. With the damage too severe, the fight would be stopped by the doctor resulting in a TKO victory for Israel Salazar. 

Devon Simons vs. LJ Torres

In a battle of the big men, the first of two heavyweight fights featured LJ Torres and Devon Simons. 

The first round began with Simons and Torres looking to use their strength to their advantage by clinching against the cage. While both fighters looked to be even throughout, the fans were split between the two heavyweights. 

Round two started with Simons getting a takedown on Torres to get him to the ground. Simons would use his grappling to his benefit as he would smother Torres on the ground. Simons would finish the fight with a head-and-arm choke. 

Jake Babian vs. Saad Ul-Hasan

In the co-main event, one of LXF’s most exciting fighters, Jake Babian, would square off against Saad Ul-Hasan for the 170 pound title. 

Babian would come out swinging with punches, but would get taken down early in the first by Ul-Hasan. The rest of the first round would get played out on the ground as Ul-Hasan would open up a cut on Babian, with the fighter nicknamed “The Barbarian” raining down elbows from guard. 

Round two started differently, with Babian landing a double-leg takedown but would eventually get reversed. Despite the reversal, Babian regained control of the ground, landing elbows from full mount to his opponents face. Babian would finish the fight by ground-and-pound in round two to get his sixth professional MMA victory. 

Tyrell Fortune vs. Demoreo Dennis

In the main event, the final fight of the night pits together two heavyweights juggernauts in Tyrell Fortune and Demoreo Dennis. A former collegiate wrestler at Grand Canyon University, the Bellator alumni, Fortune, entered the cage for his 20th professional bout while Dennis came in for his 16th pro appearance. 

Fortune and Dennis would open the fight landing shots back and forth, but an unexpected clash of heads resulted in a cut opening up on the eyebrow of Dennis. With the blood beginning to flow early in the fight, Fortune seemed to be up one round heading into the second. 

Round two began the same as the first, only this time Fortune was able to land his first takedown of the fight. A barrage of ground strikes would be felt by Dennis as the blood continued to flow from his head, with Fortune now up two rounds to zero. 

In round three, Dennis would put the pressure on Fortune as the fight was starting to pull away from him, but an accidental low blow would put a stop to the action momentarily. As the fight continued, the toughness of Dennis was on full display as he would get punched repeatedly by Fortune. With the blood being too much for referee Mike Beltran, the fight would be end via doctor stoppage with Tyrell Fortune being awarded the winner.