Undefeated Junny Will Face Top-Ranked Kennedy Maciel At F2W 156
Undefeated Junny Will Face Top-Ranked Kennedy Maciel At F2W 156
In the co-main event, Samuel Nagai will take on Marcio Andre.
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Fight to Win returns to Philadelphia on Friday, November 6, for another superfight showcase. In the main event, Junny Ocasio will make his fifth Fight to Win appearance since July, and this time he'll step up in weight to take on the no. 1-ranked Kennedy Maciel. In the co-main event, Samuel Nagai will try to knock off another featherweight mainstay, Marcio Andre.
Watch Fight To Win 156 LIVE on FloGrappling on Friday, November 6 or anytime ON DEMAND
Main Event: Junny Ocasio vs Kennedy Maciel
Junny Ocasio will look to remain undefeated in 2020 against Kennedy Maciel. Junny has been on a tear all year. He’s 5-0 in superfights this year with three wins by submission. He’s been climbing in the 62 kg rankings, where he’s currently ranked no. 4. And he holds the Fight to Win no-gi bantamweight belt. He’s found less challenging matchups of late, and Kennedy will be the first highly-ranked opponent Junny has faced since earning his title in August.
Kennedy is an ADCC silver medalist and a 2018 no-gi World champion. He’s got a dynamic passing game and a sharp guard that could give Junny trouble. Kennedy’s energetic style may be a relief for Junny, who has had recent trouble with opponents who have been unwilling to engage with him. Kennedy is likely to bring a high pace to Junny, and they’ll test each other.
Watch: Junny Ocasio vs Jose Carlos Lima At Fight To Win 154
Junny will step up a weight class for this match, so no title will be on the line. Still, this matchup could have title implications.
Junny recently asked for a match with Samir Chantre, the Fight to Win Featherweight Champ. Kennedy, meanwhile, is the no. 1-ranked 66 kg no-gi competitor, and holds the Fight to Win featherweight gi belt. So the winner of this match could be next in line for a shot against the reigning no-gi featherweight champ, Chantre.
Co-Main: Samuel Nagai vs Marcio Andre
Samuel Nagai is hunting down the veterans of the featherweight division. Since earning his black belt in August he’s already beaten two established featherweights. He beat Gianni Grippo at Fight to Win 152, and he earned a major victory over the division’s top seed at Pans, Isaac Doederlein.
Watch: Samuel Nagai vs Isaac Doederlein at 2020 Pans
Nagai’s next opponent, Marcio Andre, is in a league all his own. He’s been on the podium at Worlds for each of the last four years, and he’s a Fight to Win veteran with a 4-3 record. He split his last two matches 1-1; he was outweighed in each of those matches. He’s stepped up in weight recently, taking on Ronaldo Junior and Gabriel Arges, both middleweights, at Fight to Win, and entering Pans as a lightweight. Size and experience could both play in Andre’s favor. But Nagai has a knack for pulling off upsets.