CFFC 153 took a major blow late last week when flyweight champion Bilal Hasan, 24, was forced to withdraw from the fight with a minor injury. Now, with Lucas Seibert vs. Sebastian Ruiz stepping into the main event and a number of fighters making their debut under a new promotion, the spotlight will shift away from Hasan and onto Friday night in Philadelphia. Here’s who to watch:
Lucas Seibert, 26, 6-0-0, Bantamweight
Enter Lucas Seibert to the main event of CFFC 153. The undefeated 26-year-old has exploded onto the scene as a dominant presence at 135 pounds. Now debuting for CFFC, he’ll immediately challenge for the interim bantamweight title.
A former walk-on wrestler at West Virginia University, Seibert has emerged as one of the top prospects to watch. Nicknamed “Steel City,” the Pittsburgh native trains alongside fighters like James Lledo at Stout PGH, a gym that has grown into one of the most intriguing in Southwest Pennsylvania. Most recently, Seibert captured the 247 Fighting Championships title in November 2025. However, his standout performance came at LFA 211, where he finished Gustavo Kruger in the first round.
The easiest path to victory for Lucas Seibert has been his high-pressure grappling and ground strikes. Once he secures a takedown, he is notoriously difficult to shake off. He stays heavy in his top control, consistently looking to advance positions. Over his professional career, Seibert has a 50% finish rate, though he is searching for his first submission. Surprisingly considering the level of grappler Seibert is, though it should be coming soon. Last May, he flashed a beautiful triangle choke at Fury Pro Grappling 13 – potential signs for more finishes to come.
Seibert will be in for a tough matchup as he battles Sebastian Ruiz for the title. A 7-4 striker currently on a five-fight win streak. With professional boxing and kickboxing bouts, it’s obvious that Ruiz would like to keep this fight on the feet as much as possible. Luckily for Seibert, he should be able to find a way to the ground regardless. He has the perfect smothering style that can completely shut down the heavy hands of his opposition. Violent elbows will prove the difference in this one. Seibert should finish Ruiz by ground and pound before the night is over.
Jordan Morgan, 31, 1-0-0, Heavyweight
We’re back with another ex-NFLer, and this time it’s heavyweight Jordan Morgan. Selected in the 5th round of the 2017 Draft by the Chicago Bears, Morgan dealt with injuries that derailed his young NFL career. After bouncing around the league with the Titans and Jets, Morgan kept his football dreams alive in the Canadian Football League until 2020. Three years later, away from the game, Morgan decided to start pursuing a new dream, entering the cage for his first MMA fight in 2023.
Morgan weighed 311 pounds, clearing the way at guard, standing a whopping 6-foot-4 with a massive wingspan during his NFL career. Now down to 263 pounds at his last weigh-in, he’s slimmed down into a freakish heavyweight prospect. On the amateur scene, Morgan secured a record of 3-0-1, finishing the first two fights of his career via KO/TKO.
It wasn’t easy to find much tape on Morgan’s career, but through limited action, it was clear that the heavyweight has a natural feel for striking. He mixes up his targets well, ripping low kicks to beat up the front leg of his opponent. Morgan combines his imposing frame and offensive skill set with the capability to manage longer fights with a solid gas tank and distance management. He doesn’t fear physicality, and while he hasn’t suffered a loss yet, he knows what it’s like to be hit in the trenches and come back from adversity.
Morgan debuted in his professional career at MMA Pro League 7 against a short-notice opponent back in October. However, this time he’ll up the competition after signing with CFFC. He’ll take on fellow 1-0-0 heavyweight Andre Monroe, a 34-year-old amateur champion who’ll also be making his debut with the promotion. If Morgan is legit, he’s going to have to crush every big boy in his way, and Monroe should be no different. The rise to stardom could be a quick one for Jordan Morgan; the UFC is always desperate for new blood at heavyweight. Expect the former NFL offensive lineman to crush the opposition, catapulting his name into serious conversations.
Anthony Montalvo, 27, 1-0-0, Light Heavyweight
Long before stepping into the cage, Anthony Montalvo had already made a name for himself as a wrestler. He competed against Josh Hokit on the California high school wrestling circuit before committing to Oklahoma State. There, he earned second-team NWCA All-American honors while compiling a 45–10 record. After four successful years with the Cowboys, he transferred to Arizona State, returning to the West Coast to finish his collegiate career.
In January 2024, Montalvo launched his MMA career under the 559 Fights banner, opening with five straight finishes, including a 25-second stoppage in his pro debut. His biggest win came in his final amateur fight against Francisco Hurtado, finishing the fight in the third round and handing Hurtado the first loss of his career.
Montalvo has been working alongside top prospect Jacobe Smith and #9 women’s bantamweight Macy Chiasson. Training out of Ranger MMA in Dallas, Texas, is a positive sign for the rise of the young California native. On the feet, Montalvo is still developing. He primarily uses his striking to set up level changes, but he does a great job of keeping his head off the center line and feinting his way into the pocket. With a wrestling background, it’s clear where the light heavyweight’s strengths lie. He possesses a strong double-leg entry and is capable of lifting and slamming opponents to the mat. His aggressive style is difficult for regional heavyweights to survive early, as he often forces a pace that many simply cannot keep up with.
He’ll move on to CFFC next, going coast to coast from his previous promotion in California, facing off against Shane Marshall, where he’ll be returning to 205 pounds after a single fight at middleweight. On the other side, Marshall makes his professional debut coming off a 14-second TKO victory after reaching a 6-1-0 record as an amateur. Don’t blink, folks, it’s unlikely the judges will be necessary for the two rising light heavyweights.
