Rabat – Morocco’s Ilias Bulaid has become the Levels Fight League (LFL) new featherweight interim champion on Saturday, after defeating Brazil’s Wellyton Junior da Silva via a first-round knockout.
The bout served as the LFL 22 main event in Antwerp, Belgium, with both fighters headlining the card to claim the vacant featherweight title.
Bulaid used his kickboxing skills to stay in control from the start, keeping Da Silva at a distance. When Da Silva tried to move in, Bulaid held his ground with strong wrestling and clinch work.
The fight ended in the first round, after Bulaid trapped Da Silva against the fence and landed a series of knees and punches, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
Nicknamed “The Blade,” Bulaid has improved his professional MMA record to nine wins with no losses, competing as a 178 cm featherweight.
On the other side, Brazil’s Silva entered the fight as a veteran featherweight, standing at 170cm, and holding a professional record of 12 wins and six losses.
Following this victory and his impressive undefeated record, the 30-year-old is now setting his sights on securing a UFC contract, with the goal of taking the next step in his career on the sport’s biggest stage.
“I need to get into the UFC, man, it’s done, it’s time. We’ve been talking about this for years, every time we talk, every time I get another win, why is it still not there? Bro, as you know, I was supposed to make my debut in 2023,” Bulaid said in his post-fight interview.
The Moroccan fighter also revealed that he turned down a significant offer from PFL, as he remains fully focused on securing a place in the UFC.
“I even turned down PFL with a huge contract, life-changing money. Bro, I don’t want anything else but the UFC, that’s my ultimate goal and what I’m working for,” the Moroccan fighter explained .
Bulaid has already made his ambitions clear in an exclusive interview with Morocco World News (MWN) in July, last year. “I want to fight anyone, anywhere, as long as it is in the UFC. I’ve been rejecting all big offers from major organisations because I want to be in the UFC,” he said.
This win confirms Bulaid’s growing momentum in MMA, as he adds the LFL title to his record and continues building toward bigger opportunities.