By Press Release

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will return to Minnesota next month with the LFA Heavyweight Tournament Final. The event will feature the culmination of the tournament and the crowning of a new LFA heavyweight champion.

The main event of LFA 77 will feature a heavyweight title fight when knockout artist Daniel “The American Predator” James faces top prospect Brett “Big Dog” James for the vacant championship. LFA 77 – James vs. Martin takes place Friday, September 27th at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

“I am excited to to bring the LFA Heavyweight Tournament Final to Minnesota on September 27th,” stated Soares. “Daniel James and Brett Martin advanced to the final of our four-man heavyweight tournament and will now face each other with the title on the line. They will get to fight for the title at Mystic Lake, which is a world-class venue and regular destination for LFA. Minnesota fight fans will be getting one of our most highly-anticipated title fights of the year at LFA 77.”

Tickets for LFA 77 – James vs. Martin are available for purchase NOW at MysticLake.com.

James (9-3-1) wasted little time putting the LFA heavyweight division on notice in his promotional debut last fall at LFA 50. “The American Predator” faced NCAA Division I wrestler turned undefeated MMA prospect Calyn Hull that night and stopped the former Wisconsin Badger with an onslaught of punches just 32-seconds into the second stanza. The win surprised many MMA scouts that were high on Hull, but it also resulted in James and Hull teaming up to train together. Moreover, it confirmed what many hardcore MMA fans have known for years. That is the fact that the former celebrity bodyguard is a stylistic nightmare for anyone. Knockout power in both hands with a strong Judo base makes the 6’5″, 265-pound powerhouse a tough match-up for anyone. That includes Patrick Martin, the man he faced in the first round of the LFA Heavyweight Tournament at LFA 67. James dispatched the former collegiate basketball player with his signature, vicious ground-and-pound.

Martin (7-1) is widely-regarded as the top, young American heavyweight prospect in MMA. The up-and-comer known as “Big Dog” proved to be just that long before he crossed over to MMA. The 25-year-old was an alpha dog on the wrestling mats in his native Michigan as well. Martin went undefeated his senior year at powerhouse Hesperia High School en route to becoming the 2012 heavyweight state champion. He then earned All-American honors at Muskegon Community College. More recently, Martin has won multiple heavyweight MMA titles, which includes a 68-second submission win over previously top-ranked AXS TV Fights heavyweight, LFA star, Contender Series standout, and TUF 28 alum Josh Parisian. That win earned him a spot in the LFA Heavyweight Tournament. In the first round of the tournament at LFA 70, Martin defeated the 6’10” behemoth Renan “Problema” Ferreira, when the Brazilian was disqualified for multiple illegal blows to the back of the head.

Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):

Main Event | Heavyweight Title Bout (265 lb)
– Daniel James (9-3-1) vs. Brett Martin (7-1)

Co-Main Event | Heavyweight Bout (265 lb)
– Calyn Hull (6-1) vs. Chad Johnson (5-1)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Jonas Flok (12-3) vs. Bryce Logan (10-4)

Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Nate Richardson (6-1) vs. Matt Jones (8-3)

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– J.P. Saint Louis (5-3) vs. Scott Writz (2-1)