By Jake Smith
Two former IMMAF competitors are set to face off at Titan FC 69, 14th May. American, Devon Dixon (2-0-0) will look to extend his undefeated record when he clashes against his most experienced opponent to date, Oscar Diaz (2-2-0).
Dixon only featured once on the IMMAF platform, the 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA World Championships. After a successful first day, defeating Colin Meagher via a 2nd round Rear Naked Choke, he was slated to have fought Zagid Gaidarov but the bout was cancelled.
Since turning professional and signing with Titan, Dixon has impressed under the promotional banner. Despite spending less than 5 minutes in the cage, he has already shown his extreme forward pressure and high level striking. In his debut, against Jose Vasquez, Dixon opened up with a barrage of leg kicks and used the forward pressure to push Vasquez up against the cage. After securing a takedown and landing ground and pound, Dixon took the back and secured a slick submission.
Second time out, against Mike Oyala, and the vicious kicks to his opponent’s lead legs came to fruition once again, ending the fight via leg kicks 1:18 into the first round.
Meanwhile, Diaz competed at two IMMAF tournaments, although he never made it past the first day of competition. Having amassed an impressive 7-0-0 amateur record competing at several La Asociación Colombiana de Artes Marciales Mixtas (OCAMM) events, he entered the 2017 IMMAF World Championships with many believing a podium position was well within Diaz’s reach. It came as somewhat of a surprise when he was dumped out of the competition on Day 1, losing to Team New Zealand’s Taylor Garrett via first round KO/TKO.
He was back 12 months later at the 2018 IMMAF-WMMAA Unified World Championships. In the first round, “El Guerro De Dios” was drawn against Swede Robin Roos. Roos came out the victor, defeating Diaz in the second round of their bout.
Since joining the professional leagues, Diaz has struggled to find regular form. Never one to say no to a challenge, Diaz faced 8-2-0 Gabriel Bula. Bula’s experience was apparent, securing a kimura less than a minute into the bout. Diaz made his first appearance in the professional win column in his second professional bout, taking a split decision against Henry Carmona. Diaz lost his third bout following a doctor’s stoppage but brought his record back level in the most impressive win of his professional career so far, with a first round left cross finish.
Dixon and Diaz will meet in the main card section of the Titan FC 69 fight night, streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.
