LFA to debut in Minas Gerais with bantamweight title fight

The LFA organization will make its debut in Minas Gerais, Brazil, on September 11 with the LFA 241 event at the Ginásio Mineirinho in Belo Horizonte. The event features a vacant bantamweight (up to 61 kg) world title fight between Vinicius Pires and Rafael Pereira.

The title became vacant after former champion Artem Belakh relinquished it to participate in the 2026 season of The Ultimate Fighter. Vinicius Pires, who previously lost a title bout to Belakh, seeks to reclaim his position at the top of the division. He faces Rafael Pereira, a native of Sete Lagoas, who enters the bout with a five-fight winning streak in the LFA.

LFA CEO Ed Soares stated that Belo Horizonte has been a long-term target for the organization and that a world title fight was chosen to mark the debut in the state.