A victorious Jorina Baars (photo via Lion Fight / AXS TV)

By Lion Fight (via press release)

LAS VEGAS, NV – Scott Kent, CEO of Lion Fight, today announced that two reigning Lion Fight champions and two of the biggest stars in the sport, Yodsanklai Fairtex and Jorina Baars, will top the card for LION FIGHT 18 live from the Joint in Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Friday, September 5.

Inside MMA was the first to reveal that LION FIGHT 18 will feature two championship title fights, with Fairtex headlining and Baars competing in the co-main event. Both champions will attempt to defend their titles for the first time.

Tickets for LION FIGHT 18 are on sale Saturday, July 19 starting at 12:00 p.m. PT through Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office, online at AXS.com or by calling 1-888-9-AXS-TIX. The full rules Muay Thai LION FIGHT 18 event will take place at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday, Sept. 5. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. PT; the first bout starts at 5:00 p.m.

LION FIGHT 18 will be broadcast live on AXS TV,starting at 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT) with play-by-play and commentary by UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich and Michael “The Voice” Schiavello.

“Lion Fight is bringing two of the best Muay Thai fighters, Yodsanklai Fairtex and Jorina Baars, back to the U.S. for LION FIGHT 18 at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas,” said Kent. “In the world of Muay Thai, no name is bigger than Yodsanklai Fairtex and to have him fight on the same night as Jorina Baars, who just defeated the ‘baddest woman on the planet,’ Cris ‘Cyborg,’ makes LION FIGHT 18 a mega-fight for fans everywhere.”

Fairtex won the men’s middleweight title at LION FIGHT 10, scoring a unanimous decision over his opponent, Chike Lindsay, while putting on display his world class Muay Thai techniques and style. Fairtex has fought twice for Lion Fight and remains undefeated with wins over Lindsay and French Muay Thai Champion Gregory Choplin.“I am looking forward to returning to Las Vegas for my first title defense at LION FIGHT 18,” said Fairtex. “I give my thanks to my fans for their support and to Scott Kent and Christine Toledo for giving me another chance to show millions of Americans what my country’s sport is all about.”

Lion Fight’s women’s welterweight champion Jorina Baars is on tap for LION FIGHT 18’s co-main event title fight. She last fought at LION FIGHT 14 against one of the biggest stars in combat sports, Cris “Cyborg” Justino, and shocked and impressed fight fans with a dominant performance and unanimous victory over the Brazilian Muay Thai and MMA standout.

“This is my sport,” said Baars upon defeating Cyborg and claiming the first ever Lion Fight welterweight title in the women’s division. “Whoever Lion Fight puts in front of me on September 5th, I will do the same. I’ve been fighting my whole life. No one is going to take this title from me.”

More bouts for LION FIGHT 18 will be announced soon.