MMA
CFFC NextGen 3: Berardelli vs. Oltmanns headlines Atlantic City amateur title fightCFFC NextGen 3: Berardelli vs. Oltmanns headlines Atlantic City amateur doubleheader
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – After two unique events in 2025, Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns with its first The next generation card of the year 2026.
CFFC NextGen 3: Berardelli vs. the Oltmanns takes place Saturday, May 2 at the stunning Sound Waves at Demanding Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, along Atlantic City’s historic boardwalk. The card will feature some of the top emerging amateur fighters in the country two championship fights at the top of the ranking.
The NextGen promotional series has quickly become known for showcasing elite prospects in an intimate setting that provides non-stop action and a tense atmosphere.
Main Event: Cade Berardelli vs. Max Oltmanns for the inaugural 182-pound title
In the main fight of the evening, rising Cade Berardelli (7-1) will face Max Oltmanns (4-2) for the championship title. inaugural CFFC 182-pound championships.
22-year-old Berardelli, representing Webb MMA & Fitness, has become one of the organization’s most invigorating juvenile athletes. Known as “Ace of spades”, comes into the fight with momentum and a reputation for striking aggressively.
The person standing in front of him will be menacing and threatening “Stretched” by Oltmannwho brings a versatile skill set and hopes to win a historic belt in what could prove to be a defining moment in his career.
Co-main event: Undefeated fighters fight for the interim 175-pound belt
The co-main event will be an intriguing fight between two undefeated fighters.
Giorgi Barliani (4-0) faced Jack McCaffrey (5-0). interim 175-pound championship.
With the reigning title holder James Lledo this fight, now sidelined, represents a huge opportunity for both rising fighters to become top contenders in the division.
CFFC CEO Rob Haydak excited about the return of the next generation
According to Rob Haydak, the promotion is expecting another unforgettable night of fights.
“Our first two NextGen events were absolutely amazing and truly some of the most fun fights we have ever hosted,” Haydak said.
“When we combine our commitment to creating the best events in sports with the incredible talent of emerging athletes and place it in a spectacular setting like Sound Waves, we get fast-paced, incredible action from start to finish in an evening of action that simply cannot be missed.”
Tickets for both previous NextGen events have sold out, and officials expect the same result for the Atlantic City show.
Additional fights confirmed for CFFC NextGen 3
Several invigorating amateur fights have already been announced, including:
- Devon Coates (8-2) vs. James “Florida Boy” Gavra (5-2)
- David Crow (3-1) vs. Mike O’Brien (3-1)
- Rafael Argenas (4-1) vs. Kson Newborn (2-0-1)
- Gavin McQuade (6-2) vs. T’Khi Wood-Smith (5-1)
- Cody Harrison (2-0) vs. Jerome Nelson (2-0)
- Molly McCormack (2-0) vs. Katelyn Ramos (2-0)
- Dilovar Balaev (4-2) vs. Mitch White (5-2)
The NextGen Series continues to focus on identifying and developing the next wave of MMA talent across the United States.
Unique CFFC support for amateur players
Unlike most amateur promotions, the CFFC provides players with extensive support. Competitors competing at Next Generation 3 get facilitate with costs of pre-fight treatment, travel, accommodation and other expenseswhile coaches are also reimbursed for classic running costs.
The initiative reflects the CFFC’s commitment to supporting the next generation of sport in its transition from amateur competition to the professional stage.
After 15 years, Darren Elkins is set for his final UFC bout. |
📷: Getty/UFC
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship has finalized the lineup for its
next Fight Night at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, including Octagon
veteran Darren
Elkins' final appearance in the promotion.
The card, headlined by Mateusz
Gamrot and Quillan
Salkilld, is scheduled for Aug. 8.
UFC Fight Night lineup features Darren Elkins vs. Yadier Del
Valle and Gamrot vs. Salkilld
Elkins (29-12) will square off against
Dana White's Contender Series alum Yadier Del
Valle.
The 42-year-old has been on the UFC roster since 2010, earning
memorable victories over the likes of Mirsad
Bektic, Michael
Johnson, Dennis
Bermudez and Luiz
Eduardo Garagorri. Furthermore, Elkins has shared the cage with
several former champions and fan favorites, albeit in losing
efforts, against Alexander
Volkanovski, Charles
Oliveira, Chad Mendes
and UFC Hall of Famer Cub
Swanson.
New matchups added to the card include Ty Cole
Miller vs. Billy Goff,
Juliana
Miller vs. Ravena
Oliveira, Diego
Ferreira vs. Billy
Quarantillo and Diyar
Nurgozhay vs. Bruno
Lopes, among others. Gamrot and Salkilld lock horns in the main
event, with former strawweight title challenger Amanda
Lemos facing Alexia
Thainara in the co-headliner.
The updated card as of June 23 is as follows:
Mateusz
Gamrot vs. Quillan
Salkilld (lightweight main event)
Amanda
Lemos vs. Alexia
Thainara (women's strawweight)
Diego
Ferreira vs. Billy
Quarantillo (lightweight)
Steven
Asplund vs. Guilherme
Pat (heavyweight)
Diyar
Nurgozhay vs. Bruno Lopes
(light heavyweight)
Louie
Sutherland vs. Jose Luiz
(heavyweight)
Juliana
Miller vs. Ravena
Oliveira (women’s flyweight)
Darren
Elkins vs. Yadier Del
Valle (featherweight)
Ty
Cole Miller vs. Billy Goff
(welterweight)
Mateusz Gamrot (right) has reupped with the UFC. | 📷:
Getty/UFC
Mateusz
Gamrot has extended his stay in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Gamrot recently announced on X that he has signed a new multi-fight
deal with the promotion, ensuring that his tenure will continue
beyond his upcoming main event assignment.
Mateusz Gamrot signs a new UFC contract before facing Quillan
Salkilld in the UFC Fight Night 284 main event.
While he didn't divulge the exact number of bouts on his new deal,
Gamrot is ecstatic to continue fighting in the promotion. The
Polish lightweight claims he's “grateful†for the new contract and
is excited for what lies ahead.
“I've signed a multi-fight deal with UFC! Another step begins in
just two weeks, let's gooo,†Gamrot wrote on X. “I'm grateful to
the UFC for the trust and for recognizing my hard work. Thank you
for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to keep proving
myself on the biggest stage in the world.â€
The new contract comes ahead of Gamrot's Aug. 8 showdown against
rising Australian contender Quillan
Salkilld in the main event of
UFC Fight Night 284 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
Gamrot has established himself as one of the division’s top
contenders during his four-year UFC tenure, compiling notable
victories over Arman
Tsarukyan, Rafael dos
Anjos and Jalin
Turner. His UFC record stands at 9-4.
I've signed a multi deal with UFC! Another
step begins in just two weeks, let's gooo 🚀🚀I'm grateful to the UFC for the trust and for recognizing my hard
work. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity
to keep proving myself on the biggest stage in the world… pic.twitter.com/MTf4CBByT4— Mateusz
Gamrot (@gamer_mma)
July 23, 2026
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