APFC 16

APFC 16: Main Card Preview

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Anthony Pettis Fighting Championship returns this Sunday, March 23, live from the Potawatomi Casino Event Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The APFC 16 main card streams live on UFC Fight Pass at 8 PM ET, headlined by three massive title fights. The event will be hosted by Anthony Pettis and Dustin Poirier.

Lightweight Championship Main Event

Mark Choinski (C) vs. John Ramirez

The loaded event is headlined by reigning, undefeated lightweight champion Mark Choinski (7-0) defending his title against John Ramirez (8-7).

Choinski, 29, comes into this title defense riding a superb 2024 run, going 3-0 with two submissions. The Milwaukee fighter possesses a strong ground game, with five submission victories on his record. A familiar face within the promotion, he now sits at 4-0. His last appearance came in November against Johnny Simon for the lightweight title, where he showcased a well-rounded skill set, sharp kicks, and improved striking. Choinski ultimately outclassed Simon en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Ramirez, 28, looks to extend his two-fight win streak and capture the lightweight crown. Both of his recent victories came via first-round stoppage, and now he makes his promotional debut against the best the organization has to offer. Like Choinski, Ramirez has five submission wins as a professional. He has also faced quality competition throughout his career, including UFC featherweight Sodiq Yusuff back in 2016. This matchup marks Ramirez’s sixth time facing an undefeated opponent.

Flyweight Championship Co-Main Event

Cody Linne vs. Austin Hall

Young and talented flyweight grapplers are set to collide for the championship in the co-main event. Former APFC flyweight champion Cody Linne (9-2) takes on undefeated rising prospect Austin Hall (4-0).

Linne, 24, hopes to reclaim the flyweight title after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Roybert Echeverria in his last appearance. In that bout, he struggled with Echeverria’s power and strength advantage, ultimately falling short on the judges’ scorecards. Before losing his belt, Linne was on an impressive tear inside the cage, going 3-0 in APFC title fights with two successful defenses. He initially claimed the belt in November 2023 by defeating Dillon Cox. Now, he looks to bounce back against the dangerous Austin Hall. A proven finisher, seven of Linne’s nine victories have come via stoppage.

Hall, 22, is one of the hottest prospects in the Midwest. He made his professional debut in the APFC cage in July 2023 and has quickly established himself as a serious threat on the ground, securing three submission victories. His youth, activity, and grappling ability make him a dangerous opponent. Hall went undefeated as an amateur (5-0), meaning he enters this championship co-main event riding a nine-fight win streak. This will be his fourth fight with the promotion, following his dominant performance against Markevian Williams at APFC 15 in December, where he secured an early takedown, took his opponent’s back, and locked in a rear-naked choke. However, Linne represents the toughest test of his career, making this an intriguing matchup between two young contenders.

Middleweight Championship

Jon Kunneman vs. Matt Friesen

The first title fight on the main card features an exciting middleweight showdown between Jon Kunneman (9-0) and Matt Friesen (8-2).

Kunneman, 25, is the standout fighter on this card. Training out of Elevation Fight Team now, the undefeated prospect began his professional career in 2021 with a second-round submission victory. However, he then took a two-year hiatus from competition before returning in October 2023 with a first-round submission win. Since then, Kunneman has dominated the regional scene, quickly rising through the rankings. Undefeated with all finishes, he fought an astonishing seven times in 2024 alone. With six submission wins and three TKO/KO victories, the red-hot prospect is likely on the radar for Dana White’s Contender Series.

Friesen, 40, is in the later stages of his career and has taken a far different path than Kunneman in terms of activity. He began his MMA journey in November 2004, primarily competing on the Minnesota and North Dakota regional circuits. From 2004 to 2007, he amassed an impressive 6-1 record before stepping away from competition for six years. He returned in 2013, going 2-0 against a lower level of competition. In 2021, Friesen took a professional boxing match against Travis McCullough, an opponent he had previously defeated in MMA seven years earlier. He won both bouts via first-round TKO. After another three-year hiatus, he returned to the cage last August, facing skilled contender Collin Huckbody. But, he suffered a first-round loss via arm-triangle choke.

Additional APFC 16 Main Card Bouts

  • Miguel Sanson vs. Chris Johnson (Bantamweight)
  • Brandon Evans vs. Kurt Ellis (Lightweight)
  • Isaiah Benjamin vs. Kevin Mendoza (Bantamweight)
  • Yasir Ramos vs. Eddie Lopez (Featherweight)
  • Donte Johnson vs. Deontre Butts (Heavyweight)
  • Brennon Mellgren vs. Thomas Vivering (Featherweight)
  • Lightweight: Jorge Casiano vs. Allen Holloway (Lightweight)
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