Fight For It 27 is officially set for March 21st at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and despite a few changes to the lineup, the event remains one of the most ambitious and action-packed cards the promotion has assembled.
Originally built with multiple title bouts and a stacked heavyweight presence, the card has experienced some adjustments in the final weeks of preparation. The most notable change comes on the professional side where the heavyweight matchup between Greg Smith and Cary Miller has been removed from the lineup. However, the heavyweight division still brings excitement to the night with undefeated amateur heavyweights Stephen Meadows and Fred Nixon stepping into the spotlight. Both fighters come from grappling backgrounds, yet each has demonstrated a willingness to engage on the feet and finish fights with powerful strikes—making their clash a compelling addition to the evening.
Two championship contests were also removed from the event. Kickboxing champion DeAndre Williamson will no longer defend his title, and middleweight MMA champion Noah Starowicz will also sit out this event rather than defending his belt. While those bouts will be postponed for now, the promotion expects both champions to return later in 2026.
Even with those adjustments, Fight For It 27 still features an impressive 36 fights across youth kickboxing, amateur kickboxing, amateur MMA, and professional MMA divisions. Considering that matchmaking for the event began in mid-January, keeping this many fights intact speaks volumes about the depth of the regional talent pool and the coordination between gyms, fighters, and matchmakers. In regional combat sports, simply keeping a card this large together through training camps is a victory in itself.
For fans in Charlotte and the surrounding combat sports community, Fight For It 27 promises a full night of action—from developing young athletes in the early bouts to high-level professional competition in the main event. The event reflects what Fight For It has become known for: building opportunities for regional fighters while delivering an electric fight-night atmosphere for the crowd at the Grady Cole Center.
