Troop-Vasylenko Square Off For Light Heavyweight Supremacy at LXF 3
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LXF’s light heavyweight title can be won with with one shot
Big boys Blake Troop and Andrii Vasylenko battle it out for the LXF light heavyweight crown.
Blake Troop (8-5, fighting out of Los Angeles, California) will go head-to-head against Andrii Vasylenko (3-1, fighting out of Kiev, Ukraine) for the light heavyweight championship at LXF 3 on Sept. 21 at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.
Troop’s confidence is at an all-time high as he rides a four-fight winning streak. Each win has come via first-round finish, and he has mostly left each fight unscathed. Troop attributes his resurgence to joining a new gym in Los Angeles and a new weight class at 205 pounds.
"Coming to Blackhouse in 2016 has had a huge impact on my development and success," said Troop. "They’re all about serious, high-level training, and that’s something that cannot be replicated. My striking has been developed. I went from a ‘puncher-kicker" to a ‘boxer-kickboxer.’ I already knew how the pieces on the chess board moved, but now, I understand how to use these pieces to attack in a strategic manner."
Troop said he doesn’t see any glaring weaknesses in Vasylenko. He admitted that Vasylenko is a big, strong guy that trains out of a world-class gym.
Vasylenko, who trains out of Gokor Chivichyan-owned and operated Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood, Calif., has been depending on his stablemates of elite grapplers to improve his ground game. He’s separately trained with the likes of all-time great Daniel Cormier in recent months.
"Becoming the LXF heavyweight champion would mean I’m headed toward the right path. It will be a meaningful reward for all of the sweat and hard work that I have put in the gym," said Vasylenko. "I just want to beat him and prove that I’m a better fighter. I think Blake’s striking technique is his weakest point."
"He knows how to use his length when he strikes and his grappling is legit," added Troop. "I keep saying this is going to be the fight of the night for a reason. It’s not just hype. There’s nothing to prove. Only a prophecy to fulfill and a destiny to be manifested."
LXF 3 will air tape-delayed on regional Fox Sports channels in the Los Angeles, San Diego, Texas, Florida, Arizona and Ohio markets.
Tickets for LXF 3 can be purchased starting at $65 online from this site or at the Commerce Casino box office on Saturday, September 21. VIP Dinner and Bottle Service Tables are also available.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and the action begins at 7 p.m. All bouts are subject to change.
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