LFS Buckeye Fight Night Preview: All 15 Matchups and Each Fighter’s Path to Victory

LFS Buckeye Fight Night Preview: All 15 Matchups and Each Fighter’s Path to Victory

Saturday, October 24, 2026 | KEMBA Live! — Columbus, Ohio Doors: 6 p.m. ET | First fight: 7 p.m. ET

Championship ambition meets the urgency of a first victory when Legends Fight Series brings Buckeye Fight Night to Columbus. Perry Stargel and Kegan Gennrich headline the announced 15-bout card, competing for the vacant LFS Professional Welterweight Title. Elsewhere, experienced professionals, developing amateurs and debutants face opportunities to move their careers forward. The matchups below follow the current official card, not a guaranteed running order.

Here is one reason each fighter can win. These are possible paths to victory, not guarantees. Where public histories are limited, the analysis identifies a tactical opportunity rather than claiming an established strength.

1. Perry Stargel vs. Kegan Gennrich Professional welterweight — vacant LFS championship

Stargel’s finishing threat meets Gennrich’s championship experience in a scheduled five-round main event. Both enter as challengers seeking the vacant belt.

• Why Stargel can win — striking finishes: Six of his 11 professional victories have come by knockout or TKO. If he can keep exchanges in space and make Gennrich pay for closing distance, he has a demonstrated route to ending the fight.
• Why Gennrich can win — late-fight submission ability: His fifth-round arm-triangle victory over JaCobi Jones earned the LFA lightweight championship. Repeated grappling exchanges could give him opportunities to apply that finishing ability as the contest develops.

2. Cory Dulaney vs. Jimmy Sandlin Professional lightweight

The professional supporting bout features two veterans familiar with regional MMA. Dulaney is listed at 5–13, while LFS lists Sandlin at 12–14–1.

• Why Dulaney can win — taking the initiative: A purposeful start built around effective combinations could make Sandlin react rather than settle into his preferred approach. Dulaney’s opportunity is to win exchanges without letting forward movement become reckless pursuit.
• Why Sandlin can win — greater competitive experience: His listed record spans 27 professional contests. That experience could help him recognize when to adjust and avoid allowing an early setback to dictate the entire fight.

3. Brody Rutledge vs. Jacob Ross  Amateur light heavyweight

LFS announced Rutledge at 3–1 and Ross at 3–2, giving both an opportunity to collect a fourth victory.

• Why Rutledge can win — building on a successful start: Three wins in four appearances demonstrate that he can turn preparation into results. Reproducing that consistency while avoiding unnecessary risks is his strongest case.
• Why Ross can win — more competitive experience: Five previous outings give him additional opportunities to have learned from changing circumstances inside the cage. Applying those lessons could matter if his initial approach fails.

4. Frank Lasota vs. Colton Elser Amateur flyweight

This is a rematch: Elser defeated Lasota by split decision at Ohio Combat League 37. Their close first result supplies a compelling reason to watch the second meeting.

• Why Lasota can win — submission danger: His recorded victories include first-round triangle chokes against Cory Collins and Shane Magers. A successful submission attack would remove the uncertainty of another close decision.
• Why Elser can win — proven success against this opponent: He has already completed a winning performance against Lasota. Applying what worked while improving the close exchanges gives him a concrete foundation for the rematch.

5. Cameron Lehman vs. Sean Whaler Amateur bantamweight

LFS announced Lehman at 1–1 and Whaler at 2–1. Both have tasted victory, but neither has an extensive amateur résumé.

• Why Lehman can win — cleaner exchanges: Landing short combinations and exiting safely could let him compete effectively without turning every attack into a prolonged scramble.
• Why Whaler can win — more experience winning: Two victories give him an additional successful performance to draw upon. Staying composed and reproducing effective decisions could make that experience useful.

6. Dashawn Haynes vs. Armando Lopez Amateur bantamweight

Haynes was announced at 2–2 and Lopez at 3–4, making this an opportunity for either fighter to improve his career trajectory.

• Why Haynes can win — disciplined pressure: Advancing behind effective offense while maintaining his defense could force Lopez to respond repeatedly and create openings.
• Why Lopez can win — a larger body of experience: Seven announced appearances provide more competitive situations to learn from. Recognizing and exploiting repeated patterns in Haynes’ attacks could be decisive.

7. Christian Ramirez vs. Benedict John Paul Amateur catchweight — 225 pounds

LFS introduced Ramirez as a debutant and John Paul at 1–0. The central question is whether the newcomer can disrupt an opponent who has already won.

• Why Ramirez can win — making John Paul defend immediately: Controlled combinations or a well-prepared takedown entry could allow Ramirez to establish effective offense before his opponent settles.
• Why John Paul can win — experience completing a successful debut: He has already navigated the transition from preparation to an actual victory. That familiarity could help him manage the opening exchanges.

8. Josh Hoschar vs. Caleb Garner Amateur welterweight

This matchup offers both men an opportunity to establish momentum. Inconsistent public listings make tactical execution a better focus than a firm record comparison.

• Why Hoschar can win — using his listed reach: LFS lists Hoschar with a 73-inch reach. That does not establish an advantage over Garner, but a disciplined jab and straight punches could help him manage distance and create cleaner attacks.
• Why Garner can win — attacking during transitions: If Hoschar overextends or becomes preoccupied with striking, well-timed entries could create opportunities for effective offense on the ground.

9. Marc Izzi vs. Brandon Pietroytys Amateur featherweight

Izzi returns after stopping Landen Fulton in the first round at September’s Night of Champions. Pietroytys is listed by LFS at 0–0.

• Why Izzi can win — recent finishing success: His September TKO demonstrates that he can capitalize on an opening under LFS event conditions. Similar composure could produce another decisive sequence.
• Why Pietroytys can win — denying the early finish: Defending responsibly and making Izzi work through successive exchanges could give the newcomer time to find his own opportunities.

10. Peyton Woosley vs. Austin GrundyAmateur heavyweight

Heavyweight exchanges can change a fight quickly, making composure especially important. LFS lists Grundy at 1–0.

• Why Woosley can win — patient counterattacking: Making Grundy miss and answering while he resets offers a route to impactful offense without requiring constant forward pressure.
• Why Grundy can win — building on a winning debut: He has already recorded a victory. Staying organized and choosing his attacks carefully could help him carry that foundation into a second appearance.

11. Nathan Johnson vs. Jonathan PiattAmateur bantamweight

Johnson was announced at 1–0, with Piatt making his amateur debut.

• Why Johnson can win — familiarity with competition: Having already won, he has experience managing the cage environment. A composed start could help him establish effective offense.
• Why Piatt can win — disrupting Johnson’s rhythm: Varying his entries and avoiding predictable attacks could prevent Johnson from settling into comfortable exchanges.

12. Matthew Devoll vs. Anthony John PaulAmateur featherweight

LFS announced Devoll at 0–0 and John Paul at 0–1. A first victory is the shared objective.

• Why Devoll can win — keeping his debut simple: Clear, repeatable attacks and responsible defense could help him avoid the mistakes that come with trying to do too much at once.
• Why John Paul can win — lessons from his first appearance: He has already encountered the realities of competition. Applying those lessons could give him a composure advantage against a debutant.

13. Jayden Harrison vs. Athan ArmsAmateur lightweight

Both fighters were announced at 0–1. The winner gets an early opportunity to change the direction of his amateur record.

• Why Harrison can win — sustained effective output: Landing consistently rather than relying on a single dramatic exchange could give him the stronger body of work across rounds.
• Why Arms can win — converting position into offense: Securing advantageous grappling positions and producing meaningful attacks could limit Harrison’s opportunities while creating his own.

14. Nathan Deeds vs. Elias RivieraAmateur bantamweight

LFS lists both athletes at 0–0. With no established amateur results to compare, execution will tell the story.

• Why Deeds can win — setting a manageable pace: A measured opening could help him remain technically sound rather than exhaust himself chasing an immediate finish.
• Why Riviera can win — adapting first: Identifying a repeated opening and acting on it could be more valuable than following a plan that is not working.

15. Ashton Bray vs. Damount AnthonyCatchweight — 140 pounds

The current official card lists Anthony against Bray, replacing the earlier Bray–Gequah Davis pairing.

• Why Bray can win — controlling distance: Making Anthony restart his attacks while landing on the way in or out could allow Bray to produce the cleaner exchanges.
• Why Anthony can win — closing distance behind offense: Entering safely and turning close-range exchanges into effective attacks could prevent Bray from dictating the fight at range.

Conclusion

Buckeye Fight Night offers several kinds of stakes: a vacant professional championship, a flyweight rematch and opportunities for developing fighters to secure meaningful early victories.

Stargel–Gennrich supplies the headline question: which veteran will leave Columbus as LFS professional welterweight champion? Lasota–Elser adds unfinished business, while the supporting bouts could introduce fans to athletes who become familiar names on future cards.

Every fighter has an opportunity, but the reasons differ. Some can lean on demonstrated finishing ability or successful experience. Others must establish their strengths for the first time. On October 24, preparation becomes performance—and 15 scheduled matchups will show who can turn a plausible path to victory into a result.