Justified Defiance Fight Series 5 set with 14 fights during Arnold Sports Festival

The annual Arnold Sports Festival takes place in Columbus, Ohio this weekend, and in keeping with a long running tradition, Troy Speakman is set to promote an event at Express Live on Friday night in conjunction with the event. This will be the eighth annual “Amateur MMA Festival” to take place during the massive sports weekend.

Justified Defiance Fight Series 5 features a total of 14 bouts, including a pro headliner pitting Travis Davis (4-0) vs. Tennessee native Sid Wheeler (5-2).

Davis reeled off four straight first round submission wins after turning pro last year, and he headlined the first three JDFS events. Davis made his pro debut last year during the ASF, and immediately reeled off four wins, all via submission in the first round. His last outing was in October, when he submitted Steven Bell via rear naked choke at JDFS 3.

After starting his career 5-0, Wheeler has suffered back-to-back losses in his last two outings. The 20-year-old was submitted by Gerald Meerschaert in August at Valor Fights 36, and then submitted by Brendan Allen at Valor Fights 39 in December. He dropped his Valor middleweight title in the loss to Allen.

The amateur main event features a featherweight title bout, as Keith Speed (5-3) takes on Andre Small (5-1).

Speed has four wins via (T)KO, including a first round stoppage over Aaron Kim at JDFS 3 last year. Small has won four straight, and his last win came over Kim as well – at JDFS 2 last August.

Also in the amateur ranks, Brad Orsbone (5-3) and Mitch Dotto (4-3) square off at light heavyweight, while Sensei Robertson (6-10) will face Nick Spinks.

Orsbone returns to action for the first time since 2015, when he submitted Rick White at IT Fight Series. Dotto has won three straight via first round submission after beginning his career 1-3.

Robertson comes in on a two-fight winning streak, and he’s also won three of his last four. Spinks looks to turn things around and snap out of a three-fight losing streak.

Check out the full card for JDFS 5 below.

Justified Defiance Fight Series 5 card

Pro Bout:
Travis Davis vs. Sid Wheeler

Amateur Bouts:
Keith Speed vs. Andre Small – Featherweight Title
Brad Orsbone vs. Mitch Dotto
Sensei Robertson vs. Nick Spinks
Sam Humphries vs. Jason Mullen
Joe Strickland vs. Jonatahn Gee
Jake Keener vs. Eric Wolfe
Matthew Adams vs. Harry Simpson
Sardis Gunther vs. Dalton Rosta
Brad Schnider vs. Justin Ward
Kenny Vaughn vs. Darnell Alwine
Robert Fleck vs. Steve Williams
Cody Ayres vs. Robert Durst
Tyler Ellis vs. P.J. Barker