Achilles Estremadura is eager to finally return to the cage.
The champion's long absence mirrors what happened to Canada's entire regional scene: when the pandemic shut down shows nationwide in early 2020, titleholders like Estremadura were left defending belts that had no cards to defend them on. His return as a main event on BFL's own comeback card gives the promotion's restart a fitting centerpiece.
Estremadura, like many Canadian MMA fighters, did not get to fight during the pandemic. The Vancouver native last fought in Feb. 2020 and defended his BFL lightweight title with a decision win over Kerry Lattimer at BFL 65.
That defense had already cemented Estremadura as the face of BFL's lightweight division. Three successful title defenses against ranked Canadian opposition is the kind of run that normally accelerates a regional champion toward a bigger stage — which is precisely where he expected to be headed before the calendar emptied out.
After the win, the goal for Estremadura, 28, was to defend his belt again and hopefully get a call to Dana White’s Contender Series, but that did not happen.
Now, after months of waiting for BFL to return, Estremadura will be the main event of BFL 66 in his hometown of Vancouver as he looks to defend his belt for the fourth time.
A fourth defense would put him in rare company on the Canadian regional scene, where lightweight titles have a habit of changing hands quickly as champions get signed or move up. Holding a belt that long against the division's turnover says as much about consistency as it does about talent.
“It is exciting. I’m glad I got the opportunity to get in there and fight and defend my belt,” Estremadura said to MMA Empire.
“It is hard for a lot of us to find fights right now. It is exciting, it really keeps me focused.”
Not only is Estremadura the main event for the return card for BFL, but he will also headline the first BFL show on UFC Fight Pass.
The Fight Pass addition matters beyond the buzz: it puts a regional Canadian card in front of a global streaming audience that otherwise never sees BFL events, and it gives fighters like Estremadura tape that decision-makers at bigger promotions can actually pull up. For a champion publicly chasing a Contender Series call, that visibility is worth as much as the belt itself.
For the Vancouver native, he said that only adds some hype and attention to the card, but he knows he can’t worry about any of that.
“I know there is a lot of buzz around this card and my fight,” Estremadura said.
“There are some good local guys coming up the amateur and pro ranks, but for me, a fight is a fight. Main event or not, I am focused on putting on a fight and performance I will be happy with.”
When Estremadura steps into the cage on March 19, he will face 33-fight veteran, Curtis Demarce. Although the Brandon, Man. native is on a two-fight losing streak and is just 18-15 as a pro, Estremadura knows he can’t overlook him.
The BFL lightweight champion knows Demarce is dangerous due to the number of fights he has. The goal for Estremadura is to get his hand raised and garner the attention from the UFC.
“He was just who I offered. Curtis is obviously a veteran and has a lot of fights. But, I know where I am at in my career and where I belong,” Estremadura said.
“I hope I can get on the Contender Series with a win here and show I belong on the big stage.”
Although winning is the first goal for Estremadura, he is also well aware that if he wants to get on the Contender Series he needs to earn a stoppage win.
His last two fights have gone the distance, and to get a UFC contract or a shot on Contender Series, he knows the promotion is looking for finishes and he’s confident he will get another knockout win here.
That pressure — win, but win spectacularly — is the hidden tax on regional champions with big-league ambitions. Decision victories over veterans keep belts but rarely move evaluators, and Estremadura's candor about it shows he understands how the Contender Series pipeline actually works: they sign fighters who finish, especially against experienced opposition.
“It is something my team and I have talked about. I have to have an entertaining fight and get the finish here. If I win a boring decision, I won’t be getting a call for the Contender Series or signing with a big promotion,” Estremadura said.
“But, I am sharp enough on the feet that the knockout will come. I am a very entertaining guy to watch and I trust my skills to put on a fun fight for the fans and get the stoppage wins. I do know if I land on the button I will shut his lights off.”
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