7 former UFC fighters, other notables added to XMMA 6 in South Carolina
XMMA is back for its first event of 2023 and putting on another card filled with notable names.
This time, seven UFC alumni and two former Bellator standouts are on tap for the event Wednesday. XMMA 6 will take place at John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and streams free on YouTube.
The promotion launched in January 2021 with XMMA 1 in West Palm Beach, Fla., and was headlined by Andre Fialho vs. James Vick. XMMA 2 took place in July 2021 with a Ben Saunders vs. Ramsey Nijem main event. XMMA 3 followed shortly thereafter in October, headlined by Cody Gibson vs. John Dodson. XMMA 4 took place on April 2, headlined by John Dodson vs. Francisco Rivera. The most recent show the promotion put on was XMMA 5 in July, headlined by Will Brooks vs. Luis Pena.
Keeping with notable names as top-billing, XMMA 6 features nine major promotional notables from years past. Scroll below to see which UFC alums and other fighters are currently scheduled to compete.
Ricky Bandejas (15-7)
Bellator record: 3-4
XMMA 6 matchup: Bantamweight vs. Francisco Rivera (15-10)
Since his Bellator departure… Ricky Bandejas has split his four appearances with two wins and two losses. He most recently competed at Eagle FC 46 in March 2022 and lost a unanimous decision to former UFC flyweight title challenger Ray Borg.
Nah-shon Burrell (19-12)
Nah-Shon Burrell
UFC record: 1-1
XMMA 6 matchup: Welterweight vs. Glaico Franca (22-8)
Since his UFC departure… Nah-shon Burrell has competed across the globe for various promotions including Bellator, ACA, CFFC, CES MMA, and Eagle FC. Burrell most recently competed in March when he lost a unanimous decision to Ikram Aliskerov at Eagle FC 46. The defeat snapped a four-fight winning streak.
Glaico Franca (22-8)
Glaico Franca
UFC record: 1-2
PFL record: 2-1
XMMA 6 matchup: Welterweight vs. Nah-shon Burrell (19-12)
Since his UFC departure… Glaico Franca has remained active with 13 fights since the start of 2017. After his first six post-UFC were wins, Franca joined PFL for its 2019 season. After a 2-0 regular season, Franca defeated Andre Fialho in the quarterfinals before a loss to David Michaud in the semifinals the same night. Franca later tested positive for stanozolol and his win over Fialho was turned into a no contest. Since then, he is 1-2. He enters XMMA 6 on a two-fight skid.
Teruto Ishihara (13-10-3)
Feb 9, 2019; Melbourne, Australia; Teruto Ishihara (red gloves) before his fight against Kyung Ho Kang (blue gloves) during UFC 234 at Rod Laver Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
UFC record: 3-5-1
XMMA 6 matchup: Bantamweight vs. Vince Morales (11-7)
Since his UFC departure… Teruto Ishihara has competed eight times, with a 4-3-1 record during that stretch. He has won three of his most recent four outings however, including a recent victory over fellow UFC alum Willie Gates at Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 9.
Saidyokub Kakhramonov (10-3)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 09: (R-L) Saidyokub Kakhramonov of Uzbekistan kicks Ronnie Lawrence in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on July 09, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
UFC record: 2-1
XMMA 6 matchup: Bantamweight vs. Rafael Costa (14-3)
Since his UFC departure… fans have expressed surprise at the promotion’s decision to release Saidyokub Kakhramonov, a 27-year-old with much promise, after just one loss with the company. Kakhramonov has yet to compete since he parted ways with the UFC.
Vince Morales (11-7)
July 13, 2019; Sacramento, CA, USA; Benito Lopez (red gloves) fights Vince Morales (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night-Sacramento at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
UFC record: 3-5
XMMA 6 matchup: Bantamweight vs. Teruto Ishihara (13-10-3)
Since his UFC departure… Vince Morales has not returned to action. He exited the UFC on a two-fight skid consisting of losses to Miles John and Jonathan Martinez. Wins in the UFC included Aiemann Zahabi, Drako Rodriguez, and Louis Smolka.
Mandel Nallo (9-3)
Bellator record: 4-3
XMMA 6 matchup: Lightweight vs. Jorge Daniel La Terra (10-8-1)
Since his Bellator departure… Mandel Nallo has yet to compete. He quietly exited the promotion after two losses in his three most recent fights.
Francisco Rivera (15-10)
UFC record: 4-6
XMMA 6 matchup: Bantamweight vs. Ricky Bandejas (15-7)
Since his UFC departure… Francisco Rivera returned in January 2021 from a four-year USADA suspension. He won three bouts in a row before he lost back-to-back outings against David Martinez in John Dodson. A win over Teruto Ishihara followed before a loss to Cody Gibson in November.
Justin Scoggins
Kelvin Tiller
UFC record: 4-5
XMMA 6 matchup: Bantamweight vs. Josh Smith (11-8)
Since his UFC departure… Justin Scoggins has only competed in MMA three times over the past five years, though a handful of additional bouts were booked and canceled. Two of the post-UFC fights were under the RIZIN banner, where Scoggins went 1-1.
The full XMMA 6 lineup includes:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CrqteToJNeL/
Ricky Bandejas vs. Francisco Rivera
Nah-shon Burrell vs. Glaico Franca
Rafael Costa vs. Saidyokub Kakhramonov
Teruto Ishihara vs. Vince Morales
Jorge Daniel La Terra vs. Mandel Nallo
Jeremie Holloway vs. Mitch Ramirez
Justin Scoggins vs. Josh Smith
Brendan Hyde vs. Jesus Diaz
Jesse Roberts vs. Ronald Girones Sago
Josh Baker vs. Francesco Lepore
Brian Mitchell vs. Charleston Pou
