Alaska Fighting Championship returns this week with AFC 129, live on UFC Fight Pass, and featuring two big title clashes as AFC heavyweight champion Pat Lumba defends his title for the first time against Mika Faavale and Charlie Johnson looks to maintain both his AFC welterweight title reign and his undefeated record against challenger Jarel Askew.
AFC 129 takes place on Wednesday, February 15 at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska and also features another six bouts to fill out the main card.
Faavale attempts to dethrone rival Lumba in Heavyweight main event
After returning from a four-year absence, Pat Lumba (9-1) would win the heavyweight title last April as he avenged his only career loss by defeating then-champion Brian Platfoot via first round knockout at AFC 123 causing one of the year’s biggest upsets.
Leaving his home in Alaska and going to Sacramento, California to train with Team Alpha Male this fight camp, the 30-year-old will be in the best shape of his career as he looks to make it ten wins in a row against Faavale.
After three consecutive first-round wins which have all come via spectacular knockouts, including a crushing head kick against Marvin Jones at AFC 127, challenger Mika Faavale (3-0) gets his shot at the heavyweight title in a move that could prove premature for a fighter who only has three professional bouts under his belt.
The Hawaiian powerhouse is certainly a major threat to the champion and with both men known for their heavy-hitting, expect fireworks in this explosive main event encounter.
Can “Chainsaw” Charlie retain his Welterweight title in toughest test yet?
In the co-main event, “Chainsaw” Charlie Johnson (5-0) will look to build on his impressive undefeated record when he defends his welterweight title against former 155lb contender Jarel Askew (9-4), who returns for the first time since losing to lightweight champion Niko Novelli, for a crack at the 170lbs belt.
Since making his professional debut in 2015, Johnson has torn through the promotion’s welterweight division and has finished all five of his opponents without seeing the third round. The Anchorage BJJ prospect has finished for of those in the first and will look for a similar outcome in this defence.
Askew, who trains at Team Alpha Male, fought for Global Knockout but returned to AFC in 2015. After two straight losses, the Fairbanks native will look to get his career back on track by winning the 170lb belt and take a big scalp by handing Johnson his first defeat.
Also on the card, hometown fighter Carlton Minus (4-0) looks to continue his unbeaten run against fellow Welterweight Vedad Pezer (0-1) who also hails from Anchorage.
AFC 129 Fight Card
AFC Heavyweight Title bout: Pat Lumba (c) vs. Mika Faavale
AFC Welterweight Title bout: Charlie Johnson (c) vs. Jarel Askew
Heavyweight bout: Joey Faletogaoi vs. Chris Johnson
Welterweight bout: Vedad Pezer vs. Carlton Minus
Light-Heavyweight bout: Tim Jones vs. David Vansant
Middleweight bout: John Stern vs. Jordan Rood
Welterweight bout: Nathan Drurey vs. Derek Chalifour
Heavyweight bout: Ivan King vs. Onosai Moana
