Two dangerous finishers. Two contrasting styles. One professional lightweight championship. At LFS Fightsgiving, Ilyaz “The Turkish Machine” Mamadaliyev and Travis “Smoke” Hudson will collide in a matchup that could deliver one of the biggest moments in Legends Fight Series history.

By The Grueling Truth | MMA Championship Fight Preview

On Saturday, November 28, 2026, Legends Fight Series returns to MegaCorp Pavilion in Newport, Kentucky, for Fightsgiving, headlined by a five-round professional lightweight championship showdown between Ilyaz Mamadaliyev (8–4) and Travis Hudson (4–4).

This is a fascinating matchup between two fighters with completely different finishing résumés.

Mamadaliyev has earned seven of his eight professional victories by knockout or technical knockout. Hudson, meanwhile, has secured three of his four professional wins by submission.

Both fighters have finished every opponent they’ve defeated professionally. Neither has recorded a professional decision victory.

That creates an intriguing question heading into Fightsgiving: Will Mamadaliyev’s striking power overwhelm Hudson, or will Hudson’s submission game neutralize one of the most dangerous finishers on the card?

Championship fight information

LFS FIGHTSGIVING • PROFESSIONAL LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Ilyaz Mamadaliyev 8–4 • 5’9″ • Age 28

Travis Hudson 4–4 • 5’10” • Age 31

Date November 28, 2026

Venue MegaCorp Pavilion, Newport, KY

Division Professional Lightweight, 155 lbs

Rounds 5 × 5 minutes

Broadcast Combat Sports Now, $39.99 PPVRecords and physical measurements from Sherdog; title and event details from Combat Sports Now. Sherdog+2

Ilyaz “The Turkish Machine” Mamadaliyev: Fighter history

Mamadaliyev enters Fightsgiving as the more experienced professional competitor, with 12 professional appearances and an 8–4 record.

The Dayton, Ohio-based fighter has been involved in mixed martial arts for more than a decade. In a 2018 interview with Premier MMA Championship, Mamadaliyev explained that he began training in 2011 and made his MMA debut shortly after turning 18.

At the time, he represented Vision MMA Dayton and was already preparing for an amateur lightweight championship opportunity.

His professional career began in January 2021 with a unanimous-decision loss to Ryan Santana. However, Mamadaliyev quickly demonstrated his finishing ability.

He knocked out Michael Douglas in December 2021, submitted Juston Welch with an arm-triangle choke in March 2022, and stopped Nicholas Maupin with strikes in June 2022.

After a submission loss to Edward Massey in May 2023, Mamadaliyev returned with consecutive stoppage victories against William Worley and Daniel Boehle.

His career hit another difficult stretch in 2024 when he suffered back-to-back losses to Jeremy Henry and T.J. Rigel.

Rather than allowing those setbacks to define his career, Mamadaliyev responded by winning three consecutive fights.

Mamadaliyev’s last five fights

Date Opponent Result

May 23, 2026 Nathaniel Mitchell Win — R1 TKO, 4:34

Feb. 22, 2025 Matt Denning Win — R1 TKO, 2:05

Dec. 7, 2024 Cody Schieve Win — R1 TKO, 1:59

Nov. 16, 2024 T.J. Rigel Loss — Unanimous decision

Aug. 24, 2024 Jeremy Henry Loss — R1 KO, 4:58

The three-fight winning streak is significant, but context matters: these victories came against opponents with relatively modest records. Fightsgiving gives Mamadaliyev an opportunity to demonstrate how his finishing ability translates against an opponent with proven submission skills.

Mamadaliyev’s strengths

1. Dangerous knockout power. Seven of Mamadaliyev’s eight professional victories have come by KO or TKO. That is the defining statistic of his career. He has demonstrated the ability to finish opponents early and punish defensive mistakes.

2. Aggressive finishing instinct. When Mamadaliyev creates an opening, his results suggest he knows how to capitalize. His three most recent wins all ended in the opening round, allowing him to avoid prolonged battles.

3. Professional experience. With 12 professional contests compared with Hudson’s eight, Mamadaliyev has the advantage in recorded professional appearances. He has also competed for several regional organizations, including Ohio Combat League, B2 Fighting Series, and 247 Fighting Championships.

4. An underrated submission threat. Although primarily known for striking finishes, Mamadaliyev submitted Juston Welch with an arm-triangle choke. Hudson cannot assume that every grappling exchange will automatically favor him.

5. Momentum. Three consecutive stoppage victories suggest Mamadaliyev is entering this championship opportunity with considerable confidence.

Mamadaliyev’s weaknesses

1. Defensive grappling questions. Mamadaliyev was submitted by Edward Massey in the second round of their May 2023 contest. One defeat does not establish a persistent weakness, but Hudson’s documented submission ability makes this an area worth examining.

2. Vulnerability to powerful counters. Jeremy Henry knocked Mamadaliyev out in August 2024. That result demonstrates that he can be hurt and finished during striking exchanges.

3. Questions about extended fights. Mamadaliyev has lost both professional fights that reached the judges’ scorecards. That does not prove inadequate conditioning, but it leaves questions about his ability to consistently win rounds when an opponent survives his early offense.

4. Five-round uncertainty. His professional record contains no documented five-round title fight. A potential 25-minute contest presents a different challenge from his recent first-round finishes.

Why Mamadaliyev can win

The clearest path to victory involves keeping the fight standing and forcing Hudson into exchanges.

Mamadaliyev should establish his jab, attack with combinations, and use forward pressure to prevent Hudson from comfortably setting up takedowns.

Body strikes could be particularly important. If Mamadaliyev can make Hudson work defensively while slowing his movement, the opportunities for damaging head strikes may increase.

He must also maintain balance when attacking. Overcommitting to powerful combinations could create the takedown openings Hudson needs.

Mamadaliyev does not necessarily need an immediate knockout. If he can consistently deny takedowns, force Hudson backward, and land the cleaner strikes, he can put himself in position to win rounds or secure a stoppage.

Mamadaliyev’s ideal scenario: Defend the early grappling attempts, keep the fight standing, gradually increase pressure, and finish Hudson with strikes.

Travis “Smoke” Hudson: Fighter history

Travis Hudson enters Fightsgiving with a 4–4 professional record, but those numbers don’t tell the entire story.

Representing Triumph Combat, Hudson has shown significant improvement since beginning his professional MMA career in September 2024.

His career started with consecutive decision losses to Nicholas Mondelli and Sergio Martinez.

After those setbacks, Hudson earned his first professional victory in August 2025, submitting Musa Alsulaimani with a second-round rear-naked choke.

That victory demonstrated his ability to capitalize on grappling opportunities, something that has become a recurring theme throughout his career.

Hudson’s next appearance ended in defeat when Lucas Valente submitted him by rear-naked choke in November 2025.

He rebounded in February 2026 by submitting William Davis in the opening round, then suffered a third-round TKO loss to Chris Velarde at Fury FC 118 in April.

Since then, however, Hudson has produced two consecutive victories under the Legends Fight Series banner.

On June 5, he submitted Darnell Truett with a guillotine choke in just 37 seconds.

On August 1, he defeated Nick Walls by second-round TKO at LFS Mid Summer Clash.

Those victories are especially meaningful heading into Fightsgiving because Hudson has already established a winning relationship with the promotion.

Hudson’s last five fights

Date Opponent Result

Aug. 1, 2026 Nick Walls Win — R2 TKO, 4:35

June 5, 2026 Darnell Truett Win — R1 guillotine, 0:37

April 12, 2026 Chris Velarde Loss — R3 TKO, 3:41

Feb. 7, 2026 William Davis Win — R1 rear-naked choke, 1:24

Nov. 9, 2025 Lucas Valente Loss — R1 rear-naked choke, 2:58

Perhaps Hudson’s most interesting accomplishment is that all four of his professional victories have come by stoppage, with three submissions and one TKO.

He enters this championship matchup having won three of his last four professional fights, including two consecutive LFS contests.

Hudson’s strengths

1. Proven submission finishing ability. Three submission victories in eight professional appearances establish Hudson as a legitimate finishing threat on the ground. He has won using both rear-naked chokes and a guillotine choke.

2. Multiple ways to finish. His August TKO victory over Nick Walls demonstrated that Hudson isn’t exclusively dependent on submissions. Although his strongest statistical advantage is in grappling finishes, he has also shown that he can stop opponents with strikes.

3. Ability to capitalize on mistakes. Hudson’s 37-second guillotine victory over Darnell Truett highlights how quickly a fight can end when an opponent exposes the neck. This makes careless entries particularly dangerous against him.

4. Recent momentum in LFS. Hudson has won both of his previous professional appearances for Legends Fight Series. That gives him familiarity with the promotion’s competitive environment and confidence from recent success.

5. Slight physical advantages. At 5-foot-10, Hudson is listed one inch taller than Mamadaliyev. LFS measurements have also listed a small reach advantage for Hudson. These differences are modest but may matter when establishing striking and grappling distance.

Hudson’s weaknesses

1. Susceptibility to submissions. Despite being a successful submission finisher, Hudson was submitted by Lucas Valente in November 2025. He must protect his own neck and maintain positional awareness when pursuing takedowns.

2. Striking-defense concerns. Chris Velarde stopped Hudson with elbows and punches in April 2026. Against Mamadaliyev, whose seven KO/TKO wins demonstrate his finishing ability, Hudson cannot afford prolonged periods of ineffective striking defense.

3. Difficulty winning on the scorecards. Both of Hudson’s professional decisions ended in defeat. His record doesn’t establish that he can consistently win rounds over a long contest.

4. Experience disadvantage. Hudson has eight professional fights compared with Mamadaliyev’s 12. Although Hudson has faced meaningful competition, this is a measurable difference entering a championship matchup.

5. Risk during takedown entries. Mamadaliyev’s striking makes poorly timed takedown attempts especially dangerous. Hudson will need to disguise his entries and avoid giving his opponent opportunities to land clean counters.

Why Hudson can win

Hudson’s best opportunity is to turn this from a striking battle into a grappling contest.

Mamadaliyev’s seven KO/TKO victories make prolonged exchanges on the feet a potentially dangerous proposition.

Hudson should use his striking to create openings for takedowns rather than attempt to outpunch Mamadaliyev.

Feints, level changes, clinch entries, and cage pressure could all help him move the fight into positions where he can pursue submissions.

Once the fight reaches the ground, Hudson needs to prioritize control over reckless submission attempts.

If he can maintain top position, force Mamadaliyev to defend, and create opportunities for back takes or chokes, he has demonstrated that he possesses the finishing ability to end the contest.

Hudson could also benefit if the championship fight extends into later rounds. Repeated takedown attempts and positional battles may force Mamadaliyev to expend significant energy.

That possibility is particularly important because Mamadaliyev’s recent fights have ended quickly.

Hudson’s ideal scenario: Survive the early striking exchanges, close the distance, secure takedowns, and finish Mamadaliyev with a rear-naked choke or guillotine.

Five keys that could decide the championship

1. Who controls the distance?

Mamadaliyev needs space to land his combinations and generate power. Hudson needs opportunities to close that distance and initiate grappling exchanges. The fighter who consistently dictates the distance will gain a major strategic advantage.

2. Can Hudson survive the early striking danger?

Mamadaliyev’s last three victories have all come by first-round stoppage. Hudson cannot afford to stand directly in front of him and absorb clean strikes while searching for a takedown.

3. Can Mamadaliyev defend submissions?

Hudson has won three professional fights by submission. If Mamadaliyev finds himself underneath Hudson or defending a choke, his ability to escape could determine the outcome.

4. What happens if the fight reaches the fourth round?

Neither competitor has proven himself over five professional rounds. Conditioning, defensive discipline, and the ability to make adjustments may become decisive if the contest moves beyond the usual three-round distance.

5. Who handles adversity better?

Both fighters have suffered knockout or submission losses and have subsequently returned to winning form. The ability to recover after losing an exchange could be especially important in a championship fight featuring two proven finishers.

Fight prediction: Ilyaz Mamadaliyev vs. Travis Hudson

The matchup presents a classic MMA question: can the fighter with the stronger knockout résumé keep the fight standing long enough to defeat an opponent with proven submission-finishing ability?

Hudson has a credible path to victory because his submissions are not theoretical. He has repeatedly demonstrated that he can finish opponents on the ground, and Mamadaliyev has suffered a professional submission defeat.

However, Mamadaliyev has the stronger professional record, more experience, and considerably more knockout victories.

His three-fight winning streak also provides momentum entering Fightsgiving.

The critical question is how effectively he manages Hudson’s takedown and submission threats.

If Mamadaliyev becomes overly aggressive, Hudson could capitalize with a takedown or guillotine. But if Mamadaliyev maintains distance, controls his combinations, and forces Hudson into repeated striking exchanges, the matchup begins to favor him.

THE GRUELING TRUTH — CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

Ilyaz Mamadaliyev wins by TKO — Round 3

Prediction confidence: Moderate

Mamadaliyev’s stronger striking-finishing résumé gives him the edge. Hudson is dangerous enough on the ground to threaten an upset, but Mamadaliyev is the selection to defend enough grappling attempts, establish his striking, and eventually secure a stoppage.

The Verdict: A championship fight that could end at any moment

Fightsgiving’s professional lightweight main event has the ingredients for an exciting championship battle.

Ilyaz Mamadaliyev enters with a reputation built on devastating finishes. His eight professional victories, including seven knockouts or technical knockouts, demonstrate that he knows how to end fights.

Travis Hudson brings a different challenge. His three submission victories, recent success under the LFS banner, and ability to capitalize on grappling opportunities make him a dangerous opponent.

The contrast between the two competitors is what makes the matchup so compelling.

Mamadaliyev will want to prove that his striking and professional experience are enough to claim the lightweight championship.

Hudson will want to demonstrate that his submission skills and recent improvement can overcome the record and experience advantage of his opponent.

For Mamadaliyev, victory would extend his winning streak to four and add an LFS professional championship to his résumé.

For Hudson, victory would represent his third consecutive LFS win, his third straight professional victory overall, and the biggest achievement of his professional career to date.

Both fighters have already experienced adversity. Both have fought their way back from losses. And both have demonstrated that they are capable of ending a fight before the final bell.

On November 28, only one can leave MegaCorp Pavilion with the professional lightweight championship.

Final Prediction: Ilyaz “The Turkish Machine” Mamadaliyev defeats Travis “Smoke” Hudson by third-round TKO to capture the LFS professional lightweight championship.