David Kenney vs. Leo Xavier for the title at Battlefield Fight League 20 in Vancouver
 
BFL Staff – B.C.’s biggest fight promotion, Battlefield Fight League returns to Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre for BFL 20 on November 24, 2012.

The main event sees newly crowned amateur welterweight champion David Kennedy (5-0 BFL, 5 Subs) face returning former champion Leo Xavier (3-1 BFL, 6-1 3 Subs) in a sublime battle for submissions supremacy.

Kennedy and Xavier both competed recently at BFL 18 and, as is now nearly customary for these fighters, each finished with a slick first-round submission.

Of course, little about David Kennedy’s performance at BFL 18 was truly typical. It was, after all, the first BFL title win for the young West Coast BJJ prospect, and also happened to be the first time in BFL history that any reigning amateur champion was defeated.

Not that the now former champion, Kelowna’s Stuart Deleurme (4-1 BFL), didn’t have shining moments. He gained and held dominant position for the majority of the fight, in fact. But Kennedy ultimately locked in a textbook fight-ending arm bar from guard in the final minute of round one.

It was a finish that jiu jitsu black belt and Universal MMA stalwart Leo Xavier, Kennedy’s upcoming opponent at BFL 20, should appreciate. After all, Xavier used it to finish opponents in each of his three BFL victories, including to briefly claim the welterweight title at BFL 12. Xavier later vacated the title to dominate in smaller regional promotions.

At BFL 20, Xavier looks to reclaim what is now Kennedy’s championship gold, but the talented youngster won’t give it up without a fight and BFL fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

Neither would BFL president Jay Golshani, who had this to say:

“This fight is massive! You’ve got top dogs from two of Vancouver’s biggest MMA schools going head-to-head for a title in B.C.’s biggest promotion. At this point, with pro MMA still not sanctioned in Vancouver, Leo Xavier vs. David Kennedy is absolutely the biggest fight possible in the city.”

By the way, Leo Xavier’s only BFL loss came via split-decision to, you guessed it, Stuart Deleurme. Meaning a BFL 20 win for Xavier would open up many more enticing potential fights, while a win for David Kennedy puts him in a class of his own and could potentially expedite a move to the BFL pro ranks.

Then again, other welterweight challengers are waiting in the wings of the BFL’s deepest amateur division, home to fearsome surging contenders Stuart Deleurme (4-1), Achilles Estremadura (4-0 BFL), Kyle Warman (2-0 BFL) and Bryce Gougeon (2-2 BFL, 4-2).

The stacked BFL 20 will also feature a title fight for the vacant amateur featherweight strap between Dillan Brown (0-1 BFL, 6-2) and Andre Silva (2-2 BFL).

Tickets for BFL 20 in Vancouver will be available soon at BFLTix.com. Also this November, watch for tickets to two great BFL Pro MMA events in Penticton, B.C.