Vargas Fights Cerquera in Lux 047 Co-Main Event Friday

Even though Halloween and the spooky season will be in the history file for 2024 by the time Friday rolls around, the first night of November still features a few extra treats in the proverbial candy bag. Friday night, the stretch run in the MMA calendar for the year begins when Lux Fight League holds the first of two cards this month.

Live coverage of Lux 047 can be seen in English and Spanish at 11 pm ET/ 8 pm PT on UFC Fight Pass with the main card. After Friday’s card, the promotion will return to Fight Pass during the Thanksgiving weekend inside the United States.

Lux 048 will take place on Black Friday, Nov. 29 from Monterrey’s Showcenter Complex and will (barring any postponements between now and then) feature two title fights at the top of the show. More on that card when the time comes.

Vacant Lightweight Championship at Stake in Lux 047 Co-Main Event Friday

As far as this week’s Lux Fight League event goes, there are two title fights at the top of the bill here, including a shot at vacant gold at 155 lbs. in the Lux 047 co-main event of the evening. Fronton Mexico in Mexico City is the site for a contest between Kazula Vargas (15-6 MMA, 1-0 Lux Fight League), an alumnus of both the UFC and Combate Global, and Alejandro Cerquera (5-1 MMA, 4-1 Lux Fight League).

The son of Mexico city mdfks 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PafpV6eysh

— Kazula Vargas 👹 (@kazulavargasufc) August 7, 2024

Like all MMA championship fights in most promotions, the Lux 047 co-main event is an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round. The winner of the co-main event will succeed Hugo Flores (13-5 MMA, 5-3 Lux) as the new champion.

Flores won the title on Aug. 2 during Lux 044 (unanimous decision) over Luis Marquez (5-4 MMA, 3-3 Lux) during that night’s main event.

Lux 047 Co-Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds

Heading into the Lux 047 co-main event on Friday night, Alejandro Cerquera is the taller man at 5-foot-9, compared to the 5-foot-8 frame of Rodrigo Vargas. The latter owns a 77 1/2-inch reach, with no such information accessible for the former at press time.

Currently, the oddsmakers have Rodrigo Vargas installed as a -250 betting favorite on the money line, while Alejandro Cerquera counters as a +160 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend in MMA and/or combat sports, please wager responsibly.

Can Vargas Win Lightweight Title in Second Lux Appearance?

Kazula Vargas has posted a mark of 3-2 in his last five fights. At present, he’s on a three-fight winning streak.

Back on Aug. 2, he scored a first-round submission via arm-triangle choke against Roman Cordova (13-18 MMA, 1-2 Lux) during Lux 044 on UFC Fight Pass. This is only Rodrigo Vargas’ second promotional appearance in Lux Fight League since joining the promotion earlier on this year.

He’s already been in the UFC, having gone 1-3 over a four-fight stretch between 2019-2022. Since getting released from Dana White’s promotion, Vargas has posted a 3-1 record and is going for a vacant championship this coming Friday night.

Will he be able to get back in the sport’s top promotion with a win in the Lux 047 co-main event? Stay up late Friday night and find out.

Cerquera Seeks Third Win in a Row

In the other corner, Alejandro Cerquera enters the Lux 047 co-main event having gone 4-1 in his last five contests. Currently, he’s won two fights in succession.

Much like his opponent, Cerquera also fought on Aug. 2 during Lux 044. That night, Cerquera scored a second-round knockout due to punches versus Fredy Villegas (2-5 MMA, 1-3 Lux). He’s a seasoned veteran when it comes to Lux Fight League, with five fights under the banner to his credit since joining the promotion in September of 2022.

A victory here would give him three on his current streak, but if Alejandro Cerquera scores the title in the Lux 047 co-main event on Friday, he, too, could be on the shortlist for a UFC call-up. Only time will tell, however, if that comes to fruition.

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

The Lux 047 co-main event looks to be another one of those strength vs. strength affairs. Who will be the new champion?

Vargas Works in a Hurry

When Kazula Vargas enters the cage for the Lux 047 co-main event on Friday evening, don’t look away from the screen once the command to fight is given. You might end up missing the whole contest.

During his 2018 fight vs. Mike De La Torre in what was then known as Combate Americas, Vargas uncorked a well-placed, vicious kick to his opponent’s head, knocking De La Torre out on contact. Time of the knockout: A blistering 18 seconds.

Look for Kazula Vargas to come out of the gates with reckless abandon on Friday night. All it’ll take for him to become the new champion is land one kick square and true.

Cerquera Can Punch His Way to a Win

In the other corner, Alejandro Cerquera has fists of fury, as illustrated in his February fight vs. Luis Meraz. During the second round of the fight, after Cerquera withstood a submission attempt in round one, he put Meraz in the clinch, only for his opponent to escape.

While Meraz attempted a takedown, Cerquera was too tough, eventually taking back mount and scoring with heavy ground and pound shots until the referee intervened and ended the fight. If Cerquera is able to drop Vargas, he’ll try to take his back in the Lux 047 co-main event.