When boxers are given their discharge from a significant North American MMA promotion like the UFC or even Bellator — unless they’re a major star — they often fall to obscurity about the regional/overseas circuit unless they rack up a couple of wins and end up registering with one of those above promotions. In this regular feature for MMAOddsBreaker.com, I take a peek at some regional/overseas MMA matchups for the month of February and rather than listing off the top fights outside these significant associations, I highlight some familiar names which you may recognize on upcoming struggle cards.
LFA 59 — Feb. 1 (Phoenix, Arizona)
David Michaud (14-4) vs. Christian Aguilera (11-5)
Former UFC lightweight Michaud looks to make it four straight wins when he faces Aguilera. Since he was released from the UFC at 2015, Michaud has gone 6-2 such as a TKO win over Fernando Gonzalez Trevino in October. Aguilera meanwhile had his own three-fight win streak snapped in his final bout as he lost a decision to Matthew Frincu in LFA 44. Aguilera will look to prevent back-to-back losses for the first time since Mar. 2016. Editor’s note: Michaud defeated Aguilera via TKO at 4:14 of the first round.
TKO 46 — Feb. 8 (Quebec City, QC) — Matchup Moved To April
Jesse Ronson (20-8) vs. Charles Jourdain (8-1)
UFC veteran Ronson defends his lightweight title against present featherweight champion Jourdain. Ronson almost needed a second stint at the UFC back in December as he took a short notice struggle against Diego Ferreira. No matter how the comission stated he’d be cutting too much weight along with his UFC contract had been recinded. The 33-year-old has won five-straight fights. Jourdain meanwhile won the featherweight title beating Alex Morgan by first-round submission at TKO 45 in December. He has won three-straight struggles.
Cagesport 55 — Feb. 9 (Tacoma, Washington)
Anthony Hamilton (17-9) vs. Jared Torgeson (18-19) — Heavyweight name Former UFC heavyweight Hamilton aims to make it three-straight wins when he faces Torgeson. The 38-year-old is coming from a unanimous decision win over Dylan Potter at Dominate FC two in September. Torgeson meanwhile has lost five of the last six fights. Editor’s note: Hamilton defeated Torgeson through three-round unanimous decision.
ACA 92: Poland — Feb. 15 (Warsaw, Poland)
Marcin Held (25-7) vs. Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov (15-2)
UFC veteran Held faces Abdulvakhabov at a lightweight bout. Held abandoned the UFC after defeating Nasrat Haqparast in UFC Fight Night 118 and has won back fights. Abdulvakhabov meanwhile is coming off a vast majority decision loss to Ali Bagov in ACB 89 in Aug, which snapped his 14-fight win series.
Daniel Omiela??czuk (20-9-1) vs. Zelimkhan Umiev (11-2)
Former UFC light heavyweight Omielanczuk seems to prevent back-to-back losses when he faces Umiev. Omielanczuk lost three straight fights in the UFC to Stefan Struve, Tim Johnson and Curtis Blaydes before he was released in late 2017. Umiev meanwhile had his six-fight win streak snapped as he had been completed in the first round by Evgeny Goncharov in WFCA 50 in August.
Luke Barnatt (14-6) vs. Jorge Gonzales (14-3)
UFC veteran Barnatt maintains in his third straight fight in the light heavyweight division when he faces Gonzalez. The 30-year-old is coming off a majority decision loss to Karol Celi??ski at ACB 88 which dropped him to 2-2 in his past four fights. Gonzalez meanwhile heads into this fight on a five-fight win streak.
Efrain Escudero (30-14) vs. Amirkhan Adaev (14-4)
TUF 8 champion Escudero looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time because Apr. 2016 when he faces Adev. Escudaro last competed to the Golden Boy MMA card at which he lost a decision to fellow UFC veteran Gleison Tibau. Adaev meanwhile has won three-straight and five of the past six full heading into this battle.
Invicta FC 34 — Feb. 15 (Kansas City, Kansas)
Pearl Gonzalez (9-3) vs. Vanessa Porto (20-8) — Flyweight Title
Former UFC strawweight Gonzalez confronts Porto for its flyweight title in the primary event of Invicta FC 34. The 32-year-old has remained undefeated since she had been released from the UFC in late 2017, going 3-0 with Invicta. Porto has won back fights however hasn’t fought since Jan. 2018.
Milana Dudieva (12-7) vs. Karina Rodriguez (6-3)
UFC veteran Dudieva seems to make it two-straight wins for the first time since Aug. 2014 when she confronts short-notice replacement Rodriguez. Dudieva is coming from a TKO win over TUF 26’s Christina Marks at Invicta FC 28 which snapped her four-fight losing streak. Rodriguez meanwhile replaces Brogan Walker-Sanchez and looks to rebound from her split decision loss to DeAnna Bennett at Invicta FC 28
DeAnna Bennett (9-4-1) vs. Miranda Maverick (4-1)
TUF 26’s Bennett seems to get back on the winning track against Maverick in a flyweight bout. The 34-year-old is coming off a loss to Women’s MMA leader Kelly Kobold at Tuff-N-Uff in September. Maverick meanwhile has won four of her last five fights with her lone setback coming against Brogan Walker-Sanchez at Invicta FC 30 where she suffered a split decision loss.
War at the Rock — Feb 16 (Hollywood, Florida)
Michel Quinones (8-3) vs. Yosdenis Cedeno (11-6-1)
A pair of UFC veterans clash in a featherweight bout as Quinones confronts Cedeno. Quinones went 0-2 at the UFC with reductions to Jared Gordon and Sage Northcutt. The 34-year-old fights for the very first since Nov. 2017. Cedeno meanwhile appears for two-straight wins for the first time since Oct. 2013 and is coming off a unanimous decision win over Pedro Gomes at Underground Cage Fighting Championship 1 in July.
Can there be a noteworthy MMA veteran competing this month that I missed? Or is there a matchup that’s been altered? Hit me up on Twitter @LynchOnSports, and I will add it in or fix this up. Thanks.
Disclaimer: This page includes affiliate links and MMA Odds Breaker is going to be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the links.

Read more: ultimatefans.net