The last time Kevin peraza and Michael Hall met they were amateurs working their way up the ranks in MMA. In the time since that initial matchup, Peraza has attempted to win an amateur title and came up short. Hall was able to secure an amateur championship before turning pro. When Hall and Peraza meet again at Fight For It XVIII, Hall (1-0 as a professional) will welcome Peraza to the pro division, looking to avenge the unanimous decision victory Peraza scored in their ammy days.
But make no mistake: This contest will not be about rankings, strength of schedule, submissions, knockout finishes, or even bragging rights. This fight will be about two rising pros looking to establish themselves as the next dominant force in the featherweight pro division in North Carolina.
Both men come from camps that have produced local champions, regional champions, and talents who have fought for the UFC. Collectively, Hall and Peraza have fought 42 rounds which implies plenty of cage experience and technical refinement. Hall has shown more finishing ability but Peraza has shown the ability to command the pace of a fight.
This fight is too close to call one man the favorite. However, expect Peraza to set the tone with distance management and volume. Hall will play the role of spoiler and engage as the aggressor, seeking to end it early. If Hall cannot get the job done early he may suffer another defeat to Peraza — this time by split decision.
Fight For It XVIII kicks off 2024 with a powerful card of kickboxing and MMA action at Charlotte’s Grady Cole Center on Saturday, Jan. 27. Catch every moment live or streaming via pay-per-view. Kickboxing prelims start at 3 p.m., and the MMA card ignites at 7 p.m. Tickets for the live event and pay-per-view stream are available now via fightforitcompany.com.
And be sure to download the Fight For It app on on The App Store or Google Play to pick your fantasy winners at Fight For It XIV. The pool is free to play and will award the top three scorers with their share of a $500 cash prize.
