North Texas’ Xtreme Knockout Promotions has long-held the title of most active fight promotion in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, but it still seems hard to believe that 2015 will mark the MMA promotion’s fifth year in existence. It is a testament to the promotions commitment to the local fight scene that despite the financial uncertainties professional fight promotion presents XKO has managed to not only stay viable, but grow their promotion in terms of scope and entertainment value.
On January 17, XKO 24 will hold the distinction of being the fifth anniversary show for XKO. As a result, XKO owner Thomas Bussey has been working his ass off to present fight fans a show to remember. You only get one shot to celebrate such a landmark event and as such the XKO brass has put together a fight card that is heavy on action, excitement, and a title fight.
XKO 24 FIGHT CARD
XKO Heavyweight Championship Main Event RASHAD COULTER (OCTAGON MMA) 4-1 VS JOSH FOSTER 10-4 (TEAM 515) – Fresh off his highlight reel knockout performance at XKO 23 Dallas’ Rashad Coulter takes his heavy hands and exciting Muay Thai to the XKO cage when he battles long-time XKO veteran Josh Foster. Foster is no stranger to high-stakes fights and the towering East Texas native is looking to remain undefeated in the XKO cage. Both fighters will be fighting for the XKO heavyweight championship so there is no doubt that bombs will be exchanged in explosive action.
185lbs JJ HOLMES 2-3 VS STEVE HESS 2-3 (GUY MEZGER) – Grappling mastermind JJ Holmes make his highly anticipated return to the XKO cage after a hiatus from MMA. The wrestling standout has no easy assignment in his return to action facing Guy Mezgers Steve Hess. Hess is the epitome of tough, with a more than capable ground game Hess looks to use his jiu-jitsu to compete at the highest level against Holmes. This will be Steves first fight back in XKO in over 3 years.
155lbs CHRIS FEIST 8-1 (TEAM TAKEDOWN) VS DESMOND HILL 4-2 (BRUNO BASTOS) – Team Takedown’s Chris Feist has long been considered one of the region’s top prospects. Blessed with an incredible mix of wrestling acumen and freakish athletic ability Feist will tackle the hard-charging Desmond Hill. Hill hails out of the BJJ hotbed of talent that is Midland’s Bruno Bastos BJJ. However, despite learning the art of BJJ under one of the world’s best, Hill has real knockout power having scored knockout victories in three of his four wins.
170lbs ARMANDO SERVIN 3-2 (GEORGE PREVALSKY) VS BRANDON SMITH 4-1 – Armando Servin returns to the XKO cage for the fifth time in his career when takes on heavy-handed Brandon Smith. Servin’s never-say-die attitude and crippling kickboxing will pair nicely with Smith who packs TNT inside his gloves. Having taken a hiatus from fighting over the past two years, expect Smith to look to make a statement at XKO 24.
195lbs ALLEN NELSON 2-2 (SAN ANTONIO, TX) VS ALFREDO LEIJA 2-0 (GUY MEZGER) – In a fight that screams non-stop action, Alfredo Leija will take on Blue Tiger’s Allen Nelson. Leija has hands of stone and he knows how to use them possessing some of the best pure boxing in the MMA cage you will see. In Nelson, Leija will have these hands full with a fighter who refuses to quit. Nelson has engaged in some absolute wars in his short career and the San Antonio native will look to leave North Texas with a victory on his record.
170lbs TIM ROMAN 2-1(CHOP SHOP) VS BILAL WILLIAMS 2-0 – Fan favorite fighter Tim Roman is coming off a first round submission victory at XKO 23 and is dead set on continuing his rise up the MMA ranks when he faces Bilal Williams. Williams comes ready to fight behind a well-rounded attack that could see him emerge victorious with his strikes or his submissions.
125lbs STEVEN NGO 0-1 VS JOHNATHAN MARTINEZ 1-3 – This fight has fun written all over it. Despite dropping a closely contested battle at XKO 23, Steven Ngo is still a fighter to watch and brings the pain each and every time he fights. In Martinez, Ngo will have to deal with a fighter who is equally as scrappy and perhaps a bit more battle tested. Martinez is a fighter who will not stop until the final bell and will push the pace the entire time.
125lbs ALICE YAUGER 1-2 (TEXAS FIGHTING SYNDICATE) VS JASMINE HARGRAVE DEBUT (OAK CLIFF COMBATIVES) – XKO continues to help grow women’s MMA and this fight continues that tradition. Few fighters in the world have the heart and determination of Alice Yauger. Simply put Yauger will fight anyone standing in her way and will not relent in her attack for even a second. Her opponent Jasmine Hargrave will have her hands full but do not sleep on the Oak Cliff Combatives fighter as she trains with some of the toughest fighters in the game. Hargrave will not be intimidated to say the least.
180lbs LIOR SHPOREN 0-2 (SAEKSON/MOHLER) VS RAMON JACKSON 0-2 – Lior Shporen is hungry to rebound from a loss in his last fight and standing in his way is Ramon Jackson, a fighter equally eager to notch his first victory as well. This is a fight that should push the limits of excitement as Shporen posses some crippling Muay Thai and Jackson is just as wager to swap leather.
145lbs DENNIS THOMAS DEBUT (STREET JIU JITSU/IRONSIDE) VS JAIME ANAYA 1-3 (COBRA BJJ) – Jaime Anaya has some of the slickest BJJ in the cage in these parts. Facing him will be Dennis Thomas a fighter excited to make his pro debut and hailing from the BJJ hotbed of talent that is Ironside. Hailing from such a talented fight team fans can expect Thomas to be ready for the challenges that Anaya will bring in the cage.
155lbs RANDELL KENNEDY 0-2 (SOUL FIGHTERS DALLAS) VS ANDREW SOSA 0-1-1 Randell Kennedy makes his return to the cage after taking some time to focus on BJJ. Randell steps into the cage for the first time in years to face Andrew Sosa. Andrews last fight in XKO ended in a controversial draw, a decision that did not sit well with him. Andrew is looking to put his last fight behind him and get his first victory at XKO 24. This will be a good solid matchup for the fans to enjoy.
170lbs RAZAK ALHASSAN (TEAM TAKEDOWN) 2-0 VS TBA
115-125lbs MONTANA STEWART (TEAM TAKEDOWN) 0-1 VS TBA
155-170lbs ALEX MUNOZ DEBUT (TEAM TAKEDOWN) VS TBA
125lbs JOSE SOTO 2-0 (THE GYM/SILVA BJJ) VS TBA
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