Most Violent LFA Fight Ever | RFA 28: Andrew Sanchez vs John Poppie (Road to LFA 221–223)
The Most Violent LFA-Lineage Fight? Start with Poppie vs Sanchez
If you want to explain LFA to a casual fan, you don’t start with a polite decision — you start with a storm. Before the LFA banner existed, the roots were laid at RFA 28, where John Poppie and future TUF winner Andrew Sanchez fought for the RFA middleweight title. It was violent in the way that sticks to your memory: scrambling pressure, mean clinch sequences, and a finish that felt inevitable the second momentum tilted.
Why This One Endures
It isn’t just the damage; it’s the sequencing. Poppie wanted to grind, Sanchez wanted to break posture and spike offense between transitions. Once control layered in, everything snowballed — mat returns led to elbows, elbows forced desperate get-ups, and those get-ups walked into bigger shots. Rewatch the official bout hub here: Poppie vs Sanchez. It’s a perfect case study for what the LFA pipeline rewards: cardio, composure, and the ability to weaponize position.
From RFA to LFA — Same DNA, New Chapters
RFA’s spirit didn’t vanish; it evolved into the modern LFA — the proving ground that keeps feeding contenders to the highest levels. That’s why we’re using this throwback highlight to point all eyes at what’s coming next. If you like your regional MMA with real stakes and future champions, the next three events are for you:
What’s Next — Three Cards You Shouldn’t Miss
- LFA 221 — A tone-setter. Expect a fast main-card tempo and plenty of “prove-it” matchmaking where prospects either level up or get leveled. It’s the classic LFA pressure-cooker that forges the next wave.
- LFA 222 — Bantamweight gold night. The focal point is the title fight Pires vs Belakh, a clean striker-versus-pressure dynamic where footwork and takedown denial decide the story. Bantamweight is LFA’s factory line — this is where upward trajectories accelerate.
- LFA 223 — Welterweight title showcase. Keep the bout page for Piersma vs Francischinelli open; the division’s next problem could be born here. Expect top control, scrambles off the fence, and late-fight momentum swings.
Why This Throwback Still Sells Fights
Promos can tell you a prospect is legit; fights like Poppie vs Sanchez show you. The violence isn’t mindless — it’s system-driven. Watch how small positional wins compound, how an underhook becomes a ride, and how that ride creates the safe pocket for elbows. That’s LFA’s identity: teach fighters to thrive where most people panic.
Make It a Double-Feature
Queue this classic, then line up the modern run: jump from RFA 28 to LFA 221, pencil in the bantamweight headliner at LFA 222 with Pires vs Belakh, and finish with the welterweight belt at LFA 223 for Piersma vs Francischinelli. That arc — from a violent RFA title fight to a three-card LFA heater — is the best way to understand why this promotion keeps mattering.
Fast Links
Org hub: Legacy Fighting Alliance
The throwback: RFA 28: Sanchez vs Poppie • John Poppie • Andrew Sanchez
Next up: LFA 221 • LFA 222 • LFA 223
