By press release

LION FIGHT completes the first stage of its 2021 schedule with a return trip into the Heartland of America.

Lion Fight 66 will take place on Friday, May 21st at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka, Kansas, USA, with the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT airing exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. 

Tickets for Lion Fight 66 are available at www.lionfight.com.

Though already a World and North American champion, Steve “Put Em To Sleep” Walker became a viral phenomenon with his spectacular knockout win at Lion Fight 64, and he returns to action at Lion Fight 66 for a second consecutive defense of his North American crown. The undisputed and undefeated double title-holder from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, puts his title on the line against Devorius Tubbs.

“Steve became a viral sensation and there is no better way to capitalize on that instant fame than to get right back to work and try to replicate that amazing performance,” said LION FIGHT CEO Scott Kent. “He is an amazing athlete and Lion Fight is very proud to showcase him. But this is the fight business, and as they say, you aren’t a true champion until you defend your title. Steve has done that admirably as North American champion, and now it’s time to defend his World title.”

Walker (9-0) claimed the inaugural Lion Fight World Super Cruiserweight championship with a dominant five-round decision over Australia’s Chris Bradford at Lion Fight 58. In addition to his highlight-reel win over Brian Collette in March, Walker has amassed notable wins over Kristaps Zile (fourth-round head-kick KO) and Bader Ferdaous (fifth-round TKO via punches).

A combat sports veteran from Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Tubbs (5-2) comes to Lion Fight under the tutelage of renowned trainer Roan “Jucao” Carneiro and with over 16 years of Muay Thai experience. Tubbs has won four of his last five – three of those victories coming by knockout – with his only defeat coming via decision to current Lion Fight North American Heavyweight Title Tournament finalist Warren Thompson.

Lion Fight 66 will also include a featured women’s flyweight matchup with fan favorite Regan “Coconuts” Gowing (5-2; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) facing Yasmeen Salhani (3-1; San Diego, California, USA), who is making her organizational debut.

Two other bouts have been set for the Lion Fight 66 card. In one a super middleweight matchup between accomplished combat sports veterans, Cody Carrillo (6-3; Wichita, Kansas, USA) will clash with popular and every-ready Lorawnt-T “Smash” Nelson (12-3; Denver, Colorado, USA). Carrillo appeared to win his all-Kansas showdown against Chance Thackston by first-round TKO at Lion Fight 64, but an officiating error during a 10-count turned a victory into a no contest. Nelson showed his grit at Lion Fight 63 giving everything he had but ultimately coming up short in a hard-fought decision loss against Washington Dos Santos. 

A middleweight tilt set for May 21st will pit a pair of pro debuters against each other as Zack Fox (Beattyville, Kentucky, USA) faces off against Jose Rivera (Lorton, Virginia, USA).

An additional main-card bout will be announced shortly.

Lion Fight 66 is promoted in partnership with Never Surrender Combat Sports.

Please visit LIONFIGHT.com for news, information and event updates, and follow on Twitter @LIONFIGHT and on Instagram @LionFightofficial.