Lineup set for IT Fight Series 73, including bantamweight title bout

IT Fight Series 73 goes down at Express Live in Coumbus, Ohio this weekend, and the fight card is set. In the headliner, Alfred Leisure (5-0) will defend his professional bantamweight title against Jerrell Hodge (4-1).

Leisure has yet to taste defeat in his career, as he is 11-0 overall dating to his amateur days. The Columbus native looks to move his record under the IT banner to 4-0. After winning the bantamweight title with a verbal submission over Manuel Correa in 2015, he defended it in 2016 with a unanimous decision over Michael Ricketts at IT Fight Series 42.

Evolve MMA’s Hodge will be looking to extend his winning streak to five, as he’s unbeaten since suffering an upset loss in his pro debut. This will be his second appearance for IT, as he topped Tray Taylor via decision at IT Fight Series 39 in 2015. In 2016, he picked up decision wins over Isaiah Chapman and Brandon Seyler.

In the co-main event, Isaac Steele (5-1) will take on Canadian Oliver Vadnais (2-1) in a welterweight bout.

Steele looks to rebound from the first loss of his pro career, as he was submitted by UFC veteran Jonavin Webb in his last outing at CFFC 60 last August. Prior to that, he started his career 5-0, including two wins via submission and two via TKO.

Vadnais looks for his second straight win in  his first bout since 2015.

Also in pro action, heavyweights Matt Comer (1-2) and Bradley Schott (1-2) will square off, as will welterweights Lucas Ransbottom (1-2) and Travis Hussey (1-2).

On the amateur side of the card, lightweight champion Anthony Romero (8-1) will return from Canada to defend his title against Ethan Hayes (5-0). The 20-year-old Romero has been impressive in his career, winning titles in multiple different organizations. His bout against Sean Foster at IT Fight Series in December earned 2016 BluegrassMMA Amateur Fight of the Year honors. Hayes has yet to taste defeat and his picked up three of his wins via submission.

Also, heavyweight champion Paul Shough (5-1) will face Wisconsin’s Lucas Kailing (4-1) in a non-title bout, while Ty Mees (6-1) and Eric Wolfe (4-2) will battle for a featherweight title shot.

The event will stream live via the promotion’s website with a price tag of $24.99. Check out the full card below.

IT Fight Series 73 card

Pro Bouts:
Alfred Leisure (c) vs. Jerrell Hodge – Bantamweight Title
Isaac Steele vs. Oliver Vadnais
Matt Comer vs. Bradley Schott
Lucas Ransbottom vs. Travis Hussey

Amateur Bouts:
Anthony Romero (c) vs. Ethan Hayes – Lightweight Title
Paul Shough vs. Lucas Kailing
Eric Wolfe vs. Ty Meese
Brigid Chase vs. Elizabeth Lewis
Sean Foster vs. Marcus Crawford
Justin Richwine vs. Cody Kelley
Deion Clark vs. Tim Eley
Nick Foxhuber vs. Mike Walters
Payton Rose vs. William Conner Jr.
Cory Duke vs. Thomas Thornton
Anthony Paulino vs. Khazrat Begmurodov

*subject to change