LFA 221 Full Card Breakdown

Pat Danna 👇

Women’s Flyweight Championship: Shannon Clark (6-1) vs. Beatriz Consuli (6-0)

To put it simply, Consuli is a top 5 WMMA prospect right now. A 17-fight win streak dating back to her second amateur fight would prove that alone, but wins over Eduarda Moura and Carol Foro solidify it. The 2022 IMMAF World Champion broke a long streak of decisions in her last fight and looks to snatch the title here. Her hands are sharp and slick, with better technical boxing than most at the weight class.

I expect Consuli to be the better striker by a lot and better grappler by a bit in this fight. Clark was never too impressive to me, and her controversial title defense didn’t help my opinion of her. Considering the girl who nearly ended her career on DWCS is struggling badly to pick up a UFC win, I really don’t see much of a ceiling on her. Consuli is an easy pick for me here, and I’m fine looking like an idiot here even if she loses. I believe her skill level is higher regardless.

Pick: Consuli by Decision

Welterweight: Reginaldo Junior (10-1) vs. Natan Mota (8-3)

I’ve had my eye on Junior as a really good prospect for almost a year. It seems like visa issues held him back from a potential DWCS shot. The Fighting Nerds’ welterweight is a black belt in BJJ and kickboxing, going 19-1 in the latter. Junior keeps his guard high with a smashing jab and deading straight right. He comes right out the gates looking for a finish and has shown great takedowns when needed. Overaggressive and leaving his chin high are my only concerns.

Mota is another big finisher, but badly lacks grappling. He fought in a very suspect promotion and the only fights I could find os his were losses where his best attributes were athleticism and patience. Not many good things to say about him, especially after watching him lose a decision to a 4-7 fighter.

Junior is just on another level in my opinion. So well-rounded and four of his last five wins come in round one. He should get a title shot after this, but focus on getting a visa so we can see him at the next level. I think he may bust out the BJJ to get the win here cause of Mota’s bad grappling, but he could spark him on the feet too.

Pick: Junior by Round 1 Submission

Featherweight: Luan Pedroso (11-4) vs. Diogo Sotero (16-6)

Pedroso is rough in the pocket and gets walked down too much on the feet. Has a pretty insane spinning back kick when working at range, though. He bullies his way into the clinch and drags opponents down, usually winning scrambles to end up on top. Once on top, his ground and pound stays consistent with some big elbows. His control is heavy, and he rarely gets reversed once on top, and can survive off his back long enough to reverse.

After running through Predador FC (never heard of it) and claiming their 145 strap twice, Sotero gets a shot in a real promotion. I could not find tape on any of those fights, and could only see fights from 6-10 years ago. He has some kickboxing experience and prefers to use it, throwing choppy hooks and high kicks.

Not really impressed with either of these guys, but can’t pretend like I’ve seen much of Sortero. It should be a walk in the park for Pedroso, who’s faced a significantly stiffer level of competition.

Pick: Pedroso by Round 2 TKO

Flyweight: Lucas Gouveia (6-0) vs. Jean Sevalho (7-1)

It seems like LFA hit the well of WGP kickboxers turned MMA fighters on this card, because Gouveia shares the distinction as well. I’m a big fan of Gouveia’s hands, having seen him land 10+ punches in combinations at will, and even on the back foot. Any sign of aggression is heavily punished, and his speed and counter striking make him a lethal threat to aggressive strikers.

Grappling was actually his main weapon in his early career, but after his brutal KO of Luiz Felipe Herculano at LFA 212, we’ve now seen Gouveia evolve into a powerful and dangerous striker.

Selvalho lost his bid to become the Shooto Flyweight champion in August after a controversial eye poke led to a technical decision loss. I was pretty high on Selvalho before the loss, but a bit less impressed after watching the tape. He lands a lot of leg kicks and mixes to the head when it’s not expected, but gets caught too much and doesn’t do much to shake opponents off while they pressure.

Selvalho is pretty opportunistic with his submissions and has some decent chokes to look out for. Other than that and his ability to mask his kicks, I wasn’t a big fan.

Gouveia’s hand speed will be too quick for Selvalho when exchanging. If Gouveia pushes a pace, I don’t think Selvalho has the tools to keep him off.

Pick: Gouveia by Round 2/3 TKO

Middleweight: Gustavo Sousa (4-0) vs. Gustavo Guilherme (3-2)

A former WGP kickboxer and sparring partner of Alex Pereira, Sousa is a tank. The tape in MMA is limited, but he has a great frame at 6’2 and hits like a truck. His takedown defense still seems amateurish, but he was able to get a ground-and-pound TKO after having his back taken in his December fight. Sousa also knocked former UFC fighter Sasha Palatnikov out in Karate Combat with a slam last year.

Guilherme has run through his last three opponents after an 0-2 start, making big improvements. He has some solid trips in the clinch and a good RNC, but mostly just blitzes through opponents. This is the first time Guilherme has fought twice in a year since 2018, and despite liking what I did see, he’s not a full-time fighter.

This fight is a setup for Sousa to get his name out there in a big regional promotion. Despite his kickboxing background, he does have two wins by submission and could find another here if the fight hits the floor. Guilherme does have decent grappling and may not be a pushover, but Sousa is a much more committed fighter with better experience and competition.

Pick: Sousa by TKO 1

Welterweight: Richard Martins (9-1) vs. Argemiro Delmandes (18-9)

Martins was someone I expected to see in the UFC by the end of the year. His impressive win streak and only loss coming to Manoel Sousa made him a prime DWCS candidate. Instead, he appeared on TUF and was beaten up in the quarterfinals by the eventual winner, Daniil Donchenko. While that wasn’t a loss I hold against him, it did show some issues with his chin and ability to take damage.

When you think of kill or be killed, Delmandes is the perfect example. 24 of his 26 fights have ended by KO, with his last 13 ending in Round 1. His level of competition is awful, but he is 9-1 in his last 10 fights.

I expect Delmandes’ hot start to throw Martins off a bit, as he likes a slower pace early. Even if caught off guard, Martins should weather the early storm while finding his range with his long jab and leg kicks. He excels with his accuracy and will likely find the sweet spot on Delmandes once he gasses. In his last three wins, he’s broken opponents down with body shots and leg kicks and taken his time. Delmandes’ wide stance and winging hooks will give Martins the opportunity he needs to clip his chin and take him out early.

TUF alumni have been on the short list in recent years, so I expect an impressive win here would only push him further up. His upside is limited, but he could beat a couple of welterweights on the roster right now.

Pick: Martins by Round 1 TKO

Shawn Bitter 👇 

Welterweight: Gabriel Vinicius (5-0) vs. Yuri Anselmo (5-1)

I wasn’t familiar with Anselmo before this matchup, but he looks like a solid fighter. He’s coming off a loss to Fergus Jenkins — which is far from a bad one — and he’s a decorated striker, holding both state and national boxing titles in Brazil. Vinicius also comes from a striking background, having previously competed in WGP Kickboxing.

Given that pedigree, it’s surprising how much of Vinicius’ recent success has come on the mat. While he’s plenty comfortable on the feet, his approach is aggressive and pressure-heavy — he looks to force exchanges early and often. Once he gets the takedown, his ground-and-pound is vicious and usually opens up opportunities for submissions, especially chokes.

Anselmo is a pure striker. He uses a Muay Thai style built around patience and timing, working low calf kicks and heavy knees in the clinch. His elbow work is particularly sharp. I couldn’t find tape on his most recent fight, but what’s available shows solid takedown defense and good balance against pressure.

I didn’t expect to lean this way, but I’m picking the upset. If Anselmo can survive the opening storm, I think the fight swings his way. Vinicius fights with a ton of early energy, and his cardio doesn’t seem built for a long war. If Anselmo drags him into deeper waters, he could find a finish.

Pick: Anselmo by Round 2 TKO

Bantamweight: Luiz Henrique Pacífico (6-0) vs. Mateus Soares (9-2)

Last year, Soares was one of my favorite Brazilian prospects on the rise. His momentum was halted by a tough loss to Mackson Lee — though I don’t hold that against him much, given Lee’s quality and Soares’ clear size disadvantage in that fight.

Pacífico enters as a sizable underdog. He trains out of the respected Pitbull Brothers camp, but he hasn’t faced anyone near Soares’ level yet. Soares is a compact, explosive powerhouse — every strike comes with intent, and he’s capable of launching into sudden bursts of violence at any moment. His power and speed make him most dangerous on the feet, though he’s proven capable of finishing fights on the mat as well.

Pacífico is well-rounded and technically sound. If he can control the tempo, he can make this competitive. However, he tends to overextend on his punches, which leaves him open — a dangerous flaw against someone with Soares’ counter power.

I think Pacífico has upside long-term, but this isn’t the fight where it shows.

Pick: Soares by Round 1 KO

Bantamweight: Antunez Leandro (5-1) vs. Anderson Xavier (5-2)

Neither fighter stands out much as a prospect. After reviewing tape, both have major holes and limited long-term potential. Leandro is primarily a kickboxer, while Xavier comes from a Jiu-Jitsu base. Between the two, I’m more impressed with Xavier’s grappling.

Both fighters have poor cardio, but Xavier at least fights aggressively and hunts for the finish. Leandro’s striking lacks sharpness, and even in his comfort zone he doesn’t inspire confidence.

Pick: Xavier by Round 1 Submission (low confidence)

Bantamweight: Ramana Toscanelli (5-0) vs. Milena Galvão (3-0)

Toscanelli comes in as the A-side, thanks to her ties to the Bonfim brothers and prior experience competing in LFA. Galvão is the clear underdog — she’s never faced an opponent with a winning record.

Both women are grappling-oriented. Toscanelli is stiff on the feet and doesn’t throw much volume, while Galvão is the opposite — wild, but active and forward-pressing. With both relying heavily on their ground games, I think Toscanelli’s jiu-jitsu is simply on another level.

Pick: Toscanelli by Round 1 Submission

Bantamweight: Thiago Horacio (5-1) vs. Breno Yuri Santos (4-1)

On paper, this isn’t close. Horacio has fought low-level competition — often in small venues — while Santos has competed for larger Brazilian promotions against more legitimate opposition. Santos also trains out of the renowned Nova União gym, whereas Horacio represents a small, lesser-known team.

Both fighters are fairly well-rounded. Horacio is a fast starter who likes to pressure early and mix in wrestling. His control could improve, but his jiu-jitsu is serviceable. Santos, meanwhile, is more polished on the feet. He’s patient, uses smart in-and-out movement, and mixes his targets well.

This is a competitive fight, but I’ll lean toward the more proven and better-trained fighter.

Pick: Santos by Decision

Lightweight: Pedro Victor Souza (2-0) vs. Kauan Leopoldina (2-0)

While their pro records are identical, their amateur experience isn’t — Souza went 6-1 as an amateur, while Leopoldina was 2-4. Leopoldina also competed professionally in WGP Kickboxing, which helps explain his early success in MMA.

Both are primarily strikers and still very raw overall. Souza mixes in takedowns and scrambles well when needed, showing more initiative on the ground. His boxing fundamentals are decent, with clean counters and solid hand-fighting. Leopoldina brings more tools — particularly knees and elbows in the clinch — but his gas tank is a concern.

Leopoldina has faced extremely soft opposition, even going to decisions with debuting fighters in their 30s. Souza hasn’t fought elite competition either, but his pace and grappling edge should be enough to capitalize once Leopoldina slows down.

Pick: Souza by Decision

Middleweight: Helisson Cardoso (4-1) vs. Wender Batista (4-0)

Both men make their LFA debuts here against modest opposition. The main difference between them is activity — Batista has stayed busy, while Cardoso has fought sparingly since debuting four years ago. Neither résumé is strong, though Cardoso’s lone loss came against a legitimate opponent, which at least offers some context.

Cardoso comes from a jiu-jitsu base and transitioned through Muay Thai before MMA. There’s limited footage, but what’s available shows decent grappling ability. Batista, by contrast, is a flashy striker — unpredictable, aggressive, and heavily reliant on power over precision.

I may be on an island here, but I like Cardoso as a live underdog. Batista’s striking is chaotic and leaves him open for takedowns. If Cardoso’s grappling holds up, he can wear him down and finish on the mat.

Pick: Cardoso by Ground-and-Pound TKO

Flyweight: Claudio Meireles (3-0) vs. Matheus Silva (4-1)

This matchup pits two young prospects against each other — Meireles is 21, Silva just 19. The key differences lie in experience and environment. Meireles trains with the reputable KO Squad, while Silva comes from a small, unproven team. Meireles has already competed in legitimate regional promotions, while Silva’s résumé is built on local shows against limited opposition.

After tape, neither looks like a high-ceiling prospect right now. Silva lacks many of the athletic and technical traits typical of promising flyweights. Meireles, meanwhile, is raw but explosive — awkward striking mechanics, yet real power and speed. He’s still figuring things out but clearly the better athlete.

This looks like a favorable matchup for Meireles, who’s taking a step down in competition.

Pick: Meireles by Round 1 TKO