Who wants MMA after dark on Saturday night? If your answer was “Yes,” then you’re in luck. Late night competitive violence closes out a marathon day of action from around the world, with the last stop on the itinerary for July 20 being the Golden State’s capital city.
After taking the entirety of June off, Urijah Faber‘s A1 Combat returns for two shows in as many weeks in the month of July. It starts this Saturday with A1 Combat 22.
Coverage begins from Hard Rock Live Saturday night at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT with the undercard before transitioning to the main card at midnight ET/ 9 pm PT (early Sunday), with blow-by-blow commentary being delivered by MMA Sucka’s very own Michael Hernandez. UFC women’s flyweight Cory McKenna will serve as the analyst.
One programming note: A1 Combat 22 will only be seen gavel-to-gavel on the promotion’s official YouTube channel. UFC Fight Pass will carry the main card of next Friday’s A1 Combat 23.
Super-Middleweight Championship at Stake Saturday Night in A1 Combat 22 Main Event
All told, barring any late adjustments to the bout order on Saturday night, the final version of A1 Combat 22 features 11 bouts, all in the professional ranks. Highlighting the night’s activities is a battle for supremacy at 195 lbs. in the A1 Combat 22 main event.
The Vacant A1 Combat Super-Middleweight Championship is up for grabs when Kevem Felipe (9-7 MMA, 1-1 A1 Combat) takes on 20-fight veteran Jason Butcher (15-5 MMA, A1 Combat promotional debut), an alumnus of both the PFL and Bellator MMA. In accordance with California State Athletic Commission policy on fights in regionally-based promotions, the A1 Combat 22 main event is an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
As of Jan. 1, 2024, all bouts taking place during regional events in California are to be three rounds in length. No exceptions were made for championship fights.
A1 Combat 22 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the A1 Combat 22 main event on Saturday evening, Jason Butcher stands as the taller man at 6-foot-3, compared to Kevem Felipe’s 6-foot-1 frame. Butcher owns a three-inch reach advantage (74 inches to 71 inches over Felipe.
Currently, the oddsmakers have this one listed as a pick-’em on the money line. Felipe is installed at -120 odds, while Butcher counters at -110. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening in MMA this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Kevem Felipe Faces Quick Turnaround Ahead of A1 Combat 22 Main Event
Kevem Felipe enters Saturday night’s headliner having posted a record of 3-2 in his last five fights. Most recently, he returned to the win column thanks to a first-round knockout victory over Aireon Tavarres (6-2 MMA) on June 8 during Zhong Luo CFS 10 for that promotion’s middleweight title.
By the time the A1 Combat 22 main event begins this weekend, he’ll have only had 42 days, exactly six weeks, between fights. While staying active is good for any fighter on the regional circuit, only taking six weeks between contests might be an issue for Felipe ahead of this super-middleweight title fight as he seeks to win his second belt in as many months.
With time being tight for Felipe and his team, what kind of a training camp has he had? More importantly, how will he fare?
Will the Third Booking Be the Charm for Jason Butcher?
In the other corner, Jason Butcher has gone 3-2 himself over the last five contests. Currently, Butcher’s on a two-fight winning streak, but he’s had a long interregnum between fights. Last time out, he bested Doug Usher (14-6 MMA) by way of first-round knockout in B2 Fighting Series 183 on May 27 of last year for their middleweight championship.
Since then, Butcher has been scheduled to fight Kevem Felipe twice this year. Both fights were scrubbed without a punch being thrown.
Initially, Butcher and Felipe were to have squared off on March 29 and again on May 17. Both postponed fights were to have taken place at middleweight, with the March 29 fight scheduled for the Vacant A1 Combat Middleweight Championship. Butcher was ill ahead of the first booking in March.
Jason Butcher has had more than a year between fights, so how much in the way of ring rust will he have had ahead of the A1 Combat 22 main event?
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
It looks like we’ve got another one of those classic strength-versus-strength matchups in the A1 Combat 22 main event. Who will win the day?
Felipe Can Get The Job Done in a Hurry
With the A1 Combat 22 main event taking place in the wee hours of Sunday morning on the East Coast of the United States, don’t go to sleep when Kevem Felipe enters the cage. You might wake up after sunrise not knowing the outcome of the fight.
If he performs the way he did last month vs. Tavarres, you’ll be sorry you dozed off. During the first round of the fight, Felipe absorbed a kick to the leg before attempting one to the head which failed to connect.
Later on in the round, he landed some kicks of his own and slowed the tempo of the fight down a little bit to stalk Tavarres, continuing to pepper him with further leg kicks. Upon attempting a flying knee, he returned to the leg kicks before finally ending the fight with a nasty head kick for the knockout.
Just like in football, look for the kicking game to play a role in determining the champion at super-middleweight on Saturday night. If Felipe connects with one clean kick right on the button, this one could be over in a hurry.
Butcher Can Cut a Fight Short
In the other corner, Jason Butcher can make his night at the office a quick one. Just look at the video of his fight against Doug Usher. Right after the opening bell, Butcher slipped before landing a series of punches to put Usher down and out in under 30 seconds.
If Jason Butcher beats Kevem Felipe to the first strike, the momentum can swing his way.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the Eastern or Central Time Zones, put on a pot of coffee before A1 Combat 22 starts. You may need it to stay awake for the main event.
Prediction: Kevem Felipe by First-Round KO.
