Reports and articles by Dylan Nostman
United Fight League 6 will host its first event of 2025 in City vs. City Showdown in Sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. At the event, Lampage Jackson’s Team Orange County clashes with Henry Sejude’s Team Scottsdale. This was the second UFL event to showcase the team-to-team concept, and the debut of this structure occurred in UFL 5, when Team Las Vegas defeated Team Phoenix 5-4. The Fighters scored points based on the outcome of the fight, earning four points on the first round finish, three points on two round finishes, two points on three round finishes and one point on a decisive victory. With UFL unveiling the owners and locations of several new potential franchises, we expect the event to be a major step forward for Arizona-based promotions.
The UFL has proven to be a hotbed for top-level talent in the future, with multiple former fighters calling the UFC (Ryan Lauder, Vince Morales, Jose Delgado, Nicole Verettnikov), and other fighters also signing major promotions (Veronica Smolková & Brittney Cloud – Octagon, Jadzin Wetagon – Puff). The UFL is set to build on this success in UFL 6, with many top prospects and respected veterans in the cage. In the main event, Bellator Veteran Buddy Wallace has won UFC veteran and Arizona’s local Kyle “Gunz Up” Stewart. The card also features former Pennsylvania wrestler Geno Morelli with Austin Warms and UFC veteran and former UFL bantamweight hunter Azure returning after winning the title in another promotion in a short time. Below is a list of cards, with details of each matchup. UFL 6 will be live for free on Rumble, with tickets still available on the UFL website. The fight begins at 6:30pm PST, with live results updated on this page.
Fight 1: Jared Brown (2-1) vs Carlos Varades (2-3) – 130 pound catchweight match
In the first battle in the evening, Arizona’s Jared Brown makes his UFL debut against Colorado’s Carlos Varades. Both of these fighters are in the early stages of their careers, and both have high-level training partners. Both of these fighters are powerful grapplers and expect a high level of match between two prospects in Curtain Jersey.
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Fight 2: Kyle Estrada (13-8) vs Joaoka Milo (9-7) – 125 lb flyweight match*
*Camilo misses 2 pounds, weight, and the fight becomes cone as Camilo confiscates a part of his wallet.
Kyle Estrada is a name that many local MMA fans know well. Estrada, a veteran of LFA, Combate and Bellator, is battling some of the toughest competition in the fight against Adrian Yanez, Kevin Natividad and Louis Smolka on his resume. Standing across from Estrada is Joao Camilo from Brazil. He is currently training from the MMA Lab in Phoenix, Arizona. Camilo is also a Combate and LFA veteran, and most recently fought locally for the RUF MMA. Camilo has also fought many high-level fighter jets, including UFC veterinarians Daniel Barres, Charles Johnson and Victor Altamirano. This is one of the highest level regional flyweight matchups you see and there’s no doubt this fight will bring. Estrada is a smooth striker with a variety of weapons and a great spin-back kick to your body. He is also skilled in the ground, but makes money at his feet. Camilo is a little more rounded and if he could fight on the ground he might find a way to victory, but that’s easier than doing it against a striker like Estrada.
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Fight 3: Paul Marguitas (0-0) vs Stephen Almeida (1-5) – 145 pound featherweight match
Marguitas is one of Arizona’s hottest amateur outlooks, and he is now making his long-awaited professional debut. Marguitas is a wild crowd of fans seen and heard in any of his fights, known for his wild crowd. MMA Lab prospects are 5-1 amateur and are considering issuing a statement against veteran Stephen Almeida. Almeida had rough progress as an expert, but as an amateur he was 6-0 and is undoubtedly a dangerous opponent for Marguitas.
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Battle 4: Richard “The Grappler” Mahan (2-1) vs Patrick Cornett (2-2)
In one of the more attractive evening matches, UFL veteran and team Scottsdale fighter Richard Mahan welcomes Orange County’s Patrick Cornet to the United Fight League. This is the first team-to-team matchup in the evening, with UFL scores valid. Mahan has been defeated by the top of Yevgeni Shinkarevsky, but has proven his skills in winning his UFL debut. In the other corner, Patrick Cornett is one of the most interesting individuals in MMA. The perfect entertainer, Cornett is an actor and tour DJ for the large artist Soty, and the day after this fight he returns to California to perform in concerts. Despite his wildlife, Cornett brings athleticism and skill to the cage, and is undoubtedly looking for a knockout on Friday evening. Mahan will probably try to get a battle to the ground in search of submission, and in his final battle he showed otherworldly toughness. This is a very interesting battle between two prospects, and the winner sets himself well for the next opportunity.
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Fight 5: Reyes Cortez Jr. (8-3) vs. Ricardo Diaz (10-7) – 135 pound bantamweight team matchup
This is a second team vs team card battle and one of the best fights of the night on paper. Reyes Cortez, the younger brother of UFC fighter Tracy Cortez, will make Mutiple Stints’ UFL debut after stints in the Dana White competitor series. He faced extremely harsh opposition against Christian Rodriguez and Payton Talbot, but has proven to be the top prospect in the local scene. Fight Ready Gym has the strength of his hands with five of his eight wins in knockouts, and like his sister he is a powerful wrestler. His toughness is also impressive as he has never finished. His opponent, Ricardo Diaz, has also had high level experience with four matches to the LFA. Diaz has struggled recently, losing his final three matches, but remains a competitive fighter at 135 pounds. He has never been knocked out and is an aging artist, so Reyes has to crush to win. Once he wins the UFC, he can make a call next and it appears Diaz will return to his winning ways.
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Fight 6: Austin “Starkiller” Wourms (7-5) vs Geno Morelli (4-0) – 170 lb welterweight team matchup
Classic outlook vs veteran Jiu-Jitsu vs Wrestling Matchup, Arizona BJJ Black Belt, and Team Scottsdale member Austin “Star Killer” Warms welcomes former Pennsylvania wrestler and Team Orange County fighter Geno Morelli to the home state. Wourms never turned down a tough competition in a submission victory against some of the best fighters in the Southwest, including former LFA champion Jacobi Jones. Wourms is extremely dangerous from his back, his legs are very unorthodox, making it a tough matchup for everyone. Something to note for Wourms, he is now a lightweight carrier that is rising to Welterweight, so it will be interesting to see how size and strength can be a factor. Size and strength are not the only factors as Morelli embellishes the college wrestler you find and boasts a 4-0 unbeaten record in MMA. The plan is to wrestling, to get on top, and Austin Warms on the ground and pound, but Morelli was able to do that with his feet. This is a truly engaging matchup between talented fighters and you can go either way.
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Co-op main event: Hunter Azure (12-4) vs Alvaro Kiroga (6-2) – 140 lb catchweight team matchup
With just two days of notification, former UFC fighter and former UFL bantamweight champion Hunter Azure returns to the UFL cage and faces Bolivian fuss Alvaro Kiroga. Azure won the title in a massive knockout victory over Amun Cosme in UFL 5, but lost the belt to UFC fighter Vince Morales in UFF 6. Azure has won another promotional title, but wants to prove that Arizona is the grass against visiting kiroga. Azure is a powerful wrestler with great power in his hands and has fought against the best of his entire career. Quiroga is highly unproven. Most of his fights occur in Bolivia against enemies with very poor records. He is trying to prove he is at the top level in the UFL 6 and has a great opportunity to showcase his skills against former champion Azure.
Main Event: Buddy “Braveheart” Wallace (22-10) vs Kyle “Guns Up” Stewart (15-6) – 185 pound middleweight team matchup
In the evening’s main event, UFC veteran and local Arizona favourite Kyle Stewart has long made his return to the cage after multiple setbacks. Despite this, he returned to MMA and faced Bellator’s veteran buddy “Braveheart” Wallace. Both of these fighters are primarily strikers and are hoping for an absolute war in Stewart’s retirement battle. It would appear that both men would bring it, and this is set to be an unforgettable matchup between the two veterans, as the points and team cash bonuses are on the line.
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