The fight card HEXAGONE MMA 8 has been finalised for the rescheduled Beziers event. Taking place on 4 August in France’s original bullfighting arena (Arènes De Béziers), HEXAGONE MMA 8 will be broadcast on TNT Sports in the UK and internationally on DAZN.
In the World Lightweight Championship, Alisson Marreira (7-4-1, Spain via Brazil) replaces Nair Melikyan against outstanding finisher, Wilson Varela (9-5, Portugal). Wilson Varela began in martial arts with sambo, then practiced kickboxing to complement his striking for MMA. After a 5 year career in kickboxing and 30 professional fights, he finally returned to MMA in 2021. Alisson Marreira started MMA very young at the age of 13 in Brazil, and took his first professional fight at 15. Passionate about striking, he has built up an ultra-aggressive kick-boxing style, which has already earned him 5 victories by K-O in the cage, including 3 in the first round.
Another change sees a second opponent replacement for Jack Claffey. The Brit performed on WWE between 2016 and 2020 with the NXT and 205 Live brands, following a 10-year career on the independent professional wrestling circuit. His break on WWE came with the tournament Cruiserweight Classic in 2016. In 2022, the 33-year-old took his first bare-knuckle boxing fight with BKFC to score a KO victory, and holds a 2–0 record at amateur level in MMA. In Beziers, the Englishman will be looking to recover from the loss he incurred in his pro-MMA debut last year. Claffey is now set to face Kevin Simon Césari (1 – 0) of France via Corsica. Enrolled in karate at a very young age, Cesari practiced the discipline for 20 years to become a member of the French national team, winning several international medals. After spells in full-contact and jiu-jitsu fighting, he transitioned to MMA about ten years ago. Not a member of any gym, Cesari travels from club to club to acquire new skills. He will be cornered by French legend, Anthony Rea.
Elsewhere on the card, Adel Khaldoune (0-1, France) replaces Nezar Bahaji to fight Georges Ngoma (0-1, France) in the opening match of the night.
Still topping the bill in the headliner are Dean Garnett (10-2-1, UK) and Lucas Corbage (11-1, Argentina) in a World Featherweight Championship clash. Also on the main card is the anticipated women’s strawweight bout between Karla Benitez (19-16-1, Venezuela) and Stephanie Ielo Page (7-4-0, France).
See below for the full, finalised HEXAGONE MMA 8 fight card.
HEXAGONE MMA 8: FINALISED FIGHT CARD
World Featherweight CHAMPIONSHIP – Men’s 65.8kg / 145 lbs:
Dean Garnett (UK, 10-2-1) vs. Lucas Corbage (11-1, Argentina)
Lightweight Bout – Men’s 70.3 kg / 155lbs:
Wilson Varela (9-5, Portugal) vs. Alisson Marreira (7-4-1, Spain via Brazil)
Strawweight Bout – Women’s 52.2 kg / 115lbs:
Karla Benitez (19-16-1, Venezuela) vs. Ielo Page (7-5, France)
Featherweight Bout – Men’s 65.8 kg / 145 lbs:
Jack Claffey (0-1, England) vs. Kevin Simon Césari (1-0, France)
Middleweight Bout – Men’s 83.9 kg / 185 lbs:
Gyorgy Komuves (1-1, Hungary) vs. Lazaro Maza Blanco (0-0, Spain)
Catchweight Bout – Men’s 80 kg:
Frankie Rollandt (4-6, France) vs. Allan Taibi (2-5, France)
Welterweight Bout – Men’s -77.1 kg/ 170 lbs :
Mathieu Rakotondrazanany (2-3, France) vs. Faudel Bentaieb (2-3, France)
Catchweight Bout – Men’s -59kg:
Boualem Sahraoui (2-2, France) vs. Shekibulah Waris (0-0, Afghanistan)
Bantamweight Bout – Men’s -61kg /135 lbs:
Georges Ngoma (0-1, France) vs. Adel Khaldoune (0-1, France)
UPCOMING HEXAGONE MMA DATES:
August 4, 2023: HEXAGONE MMA 8 at the Arena of Béziers
September 7, 2023: HEXAGONE MMA X BRAVE CF at the H – Arena, Nantes
Tickets for HEXAGONE MMA 8 can be purchased here
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