With LFA firm in its position as one of MMA’s top feeder leagues, the organization is now set on international recognition.
Ahead of the company’s landmark 100th event, which takes place Friday in Kansas and streams live on UFC Fight Pass, LFA CEO said he’s targeting a series of events in Brazil later this year and eyes further expansion, as well.
“I think one of the biggest things that we’re really focused on this year is expanding internationally,” Soares told MMA Junkie. “I think we’re going to do maybe two to four shows internationally, and we’re looking to expand to Brazil in 2021 – and then even looking further than that, I would love to maybe even eventually expand and do international shows in Europe. Maybe that’s not until 2022, but 2021, we have plans of taking LFA international to Brazil, so I’m really excited about that.
“I understand people and ‘regional promotions,’ but I don’t really look at us as a regional promotion. We’re more of a national promotion now, and when we go to Brazil, we’re going to be an international promotion. That’s what I’m focused on, just keep building the LFA better and better.”
Even in a pandemic-stricken 2020, Soares said LFA sent 48 athletes to the UFC and another 14 to Bellator. The longtime MMA manager – who has guided the careers of legends such as Jose Aldo, Lyoto Machida, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Anderson Silva and others – said his experience at the highest level of the sport is what drove him to his current role, where he enjoys prepping fighters for opportunities in promotions such as the UFC, Bellator, PFL and ONE Championship.
“That really came from being a manager myself and realizing that these guys were going from fighting in a high school gymnasium in front of 500 people and then two weeks later they get the phone call to fight in the UFC, and they’re walking out in the Staples Center with 15,000 people,” Soares said. “So I really felt that they needed to develop, not only inside the octagon as fighters, but also outside the octagon, learning what it’s like to have cameras on you, lights, doing interviews, having media commitments, so when someone puts a mic in your face when you get to that point, you’re not going to be stumped and be frazzled by it.”
At this point, earning an LFA title is all but a guarantee to get an offer from the big show, and at LFA 100, that opportunity falls to longtime LFA flyweight Victor Altamirano (8-1) and Dana White’s Contender Series vet Nate Smith (6-1), who challenge for the promotions’ vacant flyweight belt.
Soares said Altamirano is the perfect example of a homegrown LFA athlete that the organization is set on developing.
“He fought on LFA 1 as an amateur, and here he is fighting as the main event at LFA 100, and that in itself is a cool story,” Soares said. “To be a part of these guys lives and to help them get to the next level, honestly, it gives me so much fulfillment to see their success, and the way I look at it is if I were to look at a fighter, and they were to be a block wall, and the LFA could be a few of those blocks that help them build that wall of success, that’s what we want to be, and not only are we going to be a part of that wall, we’re like a fraternity. Once you fight for us, you’re with us. We’re going to promote you and help you. That’s how we like to do it.”
It hasn’t been all smoother sailing ahead of LFA 100, Soares said. With inclement weather impacting travel across the country, the organization has been forced to scramble a bit to keep its lineup intact, and a few planned bouts were scrapped or filled with late replacements. But Soares said he remains happy with the lineup and is looking forward to continued growth well beyond Friday’s centennial card.
“I feel very confident that the next Anderson Silva, the next Conor McGregor, the next whoever may be the big superstar, there’s a pretty big chance that it’s going to be coming through the LFA,” Soares said. “So to me, I just look at as if you’re a fan of the sport, why not tune in? Why not tune in to watch it, because really, our fights are super exciting.
“These guys understand what the LFA is there for. They understand that there’s a platform for them to be able to show their skills on, and it’s a platform that’s making it available to them 24 times a year. So why wouldn’t I give it my all when I go out there, and that’s the kind of feeling that we get from the fighters. It’s exciting.”
To hear the full interview with Soares, check out the video below.