Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) is preparing to bring the curtain down on its 2026 Next Generation schedule in style, offering a high-stakes evening featuring two championship bouts and a venue packed with promising prospects looking to prove they have what it takes to break into the professional ranks of mixed martial arts.
CFFC NextGen 5 is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, taking place at Sound Waves, the intimate and high-energy entertainment venue located inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The main event features a clash between Mike “The Ironman” O’Brien and “Tenacious” Trig Tennant as they battle for the vacant 147-pound championship. Meanwhile, the co-main event showcases an undefeated showdown between Katie “Cat Woman” Ramos and Berea Clark, who will face off to claim the inaugural 118-pound title.
For fight fans planning to attend or tune into the action, the event will utilize the standard weight classes designated and regulated by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board. Doors for the event are scheduled to open to the public at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with the opening bout of the evening set to get underway promptly at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The headlining matchup brings together two talented amateurs with contrasting backgrounds and resumes. Mike O’Brien steps into the cage representing Dante Rivera BJJ, carrying a solid 4-1 record into the championship bout. Across the canvas, Trig Tennant enters representing The Foundry, bringing a more extensive amateur resume with a 7-1 record. Both competitors understand that leaving Atlantic City with a championship belt draped over their shoulders will do far more than just pad their respective records; it will serve as a massive statement to scouts, promoters, and fans alike.
Beyond the immediate prestige of the title, this main event perfectly encapsulates the core mission of the CFFC NextGen series. While O’Brien and Tennant are still in the developmental phase of their athletic journeys, placing them in a high-pressure championship environment provides an invaluable testing ground. The bout will thoroughly test their conditioning, mental composure, and in-fight tactical adjustments—critical attributes they will desperately need to master before they eventually cross the threshold into the professional ranks.
The co-main event guarantees that at least one fighter’s unblemished record will come to an end, adding an extra layer of tension to the 118-pound championship clash. Ramos, fighting out of Carnicella MMA, enters the cage with a stellar 4-0 record. Standing across from her will be Clark, who brings an undefeated 3-0 mark representing the Daniel Gracie Team Michigan. The winner of this bout will etch their name into the history books as the first-ever CFFC NextGen champion in the 118-pound division.
Despite having only seven combined bouts between them, Ramos and Clark will face the ultimate developmental test under championship lights. The high stakes are expected to reveal a great deal about their preparedness for the next phase of their combat sports careers. Should the matchup extend deep into the later rounds, both athletes will find themselves in unfamiliar territory, where raw speed and early adrenaline begin to fade, leaving technical proficiency and sheer grit as the deciding factors.
The supporting fight card is similarly stacked with undefeated talent and compelling matchups designed to challenge rising stars. In another featured bout, Carnicella MMA’s Joe Lepore puts his pristine 4-0 record on the line against Ahmed “The Wolverine” Carmino, who enters the arena holding a 5-2 mark. Carmino’s veteran amateur experience makes this matchup a vital measuring stick for Lepore as he looks to maintain his winning ways.
In other notable action, Liam “The Ginga Ninja” O’Toole is set to lock horns with another formidable, undefeated prospect in Diego Espinoza. O’Toole enters the bout with a 4-1 record, while Espinoza puts his unblemished 3-0 mark on the line. Additionally, David Fardzinov will attempt to keep his zero in the loss column intact when the 2-0 K Dojo Warrior Tribe representative squares off against Rob Scopelliti.
The undercard continues to round out with a diverse mix of developmental bouts and debutants. Nikoloz Tsintsadze and David Crow will look to separate themselves from one another in a meeting of fighters with matching 3-3 records. Isaac Pantano welcomes promotional newcomer Kelvin “El Sicario” Cruz to the cage, while Sean “Sweet Dreams” Casey faces Maximillian “Maverick” Jarrell. In other action, Maxudali Lutfaliev meets Luis “Sito” Pena, who is also preparing to make his promotional debut, and Nika Bareladze squares off against Shawn Young in a matchup featuring two athletes making their initial walks to the cage.
The overarching philosophy behind CFFC’s NextGen platform is to bridge the gap between regional amateur competition and the polished experience of a major professional event. The promotion actively supports participants by helping alleviate the financial burdens associated with competing, covering expenses such as pre-fight medical examinations, travel, and lodging accommodations, while also providing structural support for the athletes’ coaching teams. This substantial investment not only grants CFFC an early, firsthand look at the sport’s emerging talent pool but also affords young fighters the rare opportunity to perform under bright lights and high-pressure conditions well before they turn professional.
The choice of venue has also become a defining characteristic of the NextGen series’ unique appeal. Sound Waves provides a more compact, intimate atmosphere compared to traditional, cavernous sports arenas. This layout places developing fighters right in front of a passionate crowd, ensuring that every significant strike, grappling exchange, and momentum shift can be heard clearly throughout the venue.
For competitors like Mike O’Brien, Trig Tennant, Katie Ramos, and Berea Clark, the final NextGen card of the 2026 calendar year offers a very tangible reward for months of grueling training camps and weight cuts. When the dust settles in Atlantic City, two championship belts will find new homes, and four ambitious prospects will discover how they rise to the occasion when a lifelong opportunity transforms into a true test of character.
CFFC NextGen 5 Fight Card
Mike O’Brien vs. Trig Tennant – vacant 147-pound championship
Katie Ramos vs. Berea Clark – inaugural 118-pound championship
Joe Lepore vs. Ahmed Carmino
Liam O’Toole vs. Diego Espinoza
Rob Scopelliti vs. David Fardzinov
Nikoloz Tsintsadze vs. David Crow
Isaac Pantano vs. Kelvin Cruz
Sean Casey vs. Maximillian Jarrell
Maxudali Lutfaliev vs. Luis Pena
Nika Bareladze vs. Shawn Young
