Kaelan Harbin Claims Amateur Featherweight Title with First-Round Submission at XFA Fight Night 4

HARRIMAN, TN -- The Amateur Featherweight Championship bout co-headlined a thrilling night of action at XFA Fight Night 4, held this past Saturday at Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tennessee. In a fast-paced and technical battle, Knoxville Martial Arts Academy’s undefeated prospect Kaelan Harbin emerged victorious, submitting Wolfpack Karate’s Antonio Walker in the first round to claim the vacant XFA Amateur Featherweight Championship.

Harbin, entering the cage with a perfect 2-0 record—both wins by first-round submission—was making his much-anticipated XFA debut. Across from him stood Antonio Walker, a seasoned yet battle-tested fighter with a 2-9 record, who had earned his title shot with an emphatic first-round submission victory at XFA Live 02 in February.

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From the opening bell, Walker showed no signs of hesitation, launching forward with aggression and initiating a takedown attempt. However, Harbin expertly stuffed the shot, catching Walker in a standing guillotine. Walker managed to stay composed, escaping the choke and countering by quickly taking Harbin’s back and executing a takedown. But in the scramble, Harbin reversed the position and found himself in dominant top control with an opportunity to attack the legs.

The fight transitioned into a chaotic exchange of positional shifts, with both fighters scrambling and eventually returning to their feet. Walker briefly secured back control with a waist lock, hinting at another takedown attempt. However, an attempted back take by Walker resulted in a separation, returning the action to striking range.

As Harbin threw a kick that caused him to slip, Walker capitalized and landed on top. Yet Harbin remained calm, utilizing his slick jiu-jitsu to trap Walker in a triangle choke. Demonstrating high-level grappling awareness, Harbin transitioned to a straight arm lock while still holding the triangle, forcing the tap from Walker late in the opening round.

With the win, Kaelan Harbin moves to 3-0, continuing his streak of first-round submissions and capturing the XFA Amateur Featherweight Championship in his promotional debut. Though Walker came up short, his willingness to engage and create scrambles made for a competitive and memorable title fight.

The bout capped off an exciting night of amateur MMA action under the Xtreme Fighting Alliance (XFA) banner, sanctioned by GAMMA, showcasing the region’s top rising talent.


About Xtreme Fighting Alliance (XFA):
Founded in 2024, XFA is a Tennessee-based mixed martial arts promotion dedicated to elevating the sport through dynamic, high-quality events that combine professional and amateur MMA action. Sanctioned by GAMMA, XFA continues to provide a platform for fighters to showcase their skills in front of passionate combat sports fans across the Southeast.