LFA BRINGS DISTRITO #1 TO BRAZIL’S CAPITAL CITY

LFA 238: DISTRITO #1

Presented By MONSTER ENERGY

MAIN EVENT:

BRAZILIAN BANTAMWEIGHT STAR

HERBETH SOUSA

vs.

URUGUAYAN FINISHER

PAULO PORTILLO

BANTAMWEIGHT SHOWDOWN

ARENA NILSON NELSON

BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL

LIVE on VICE TV at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

Also airing across Latin America on ESPN Deportes and ESPN KnockOut

Tickets are available now at Sympla.com.br

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will return to Brazil’s capital city on Friday, July 31st, for LFA 238: Distrito #1. The event will take place inside the iconic Arena Nilson Nelson in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.

The event will be headlined by a Bantamweight showdown between Brazilian standout Herbeth Sousa (19-2) and Uruguayan finisher Paulo Portillo (17-4).

Sousa enters the bout as one of Brazil’s most accomplished active Bantamweights. The veteran contender has built an impressive résumé throughout his professional career and now looks to defend his home turf in front of one of the most passionate MMA fanbases in the world. A victory in Brasília would move him one step closer to a future LFA Bantamweight Championship opportunity.

Standing across from him will be Paulo Portillo (17-4), a dangerous finisher from Uruguay who has ended 16 of his 17 professional victories inside the distance. With 11 submission victories and 5 knockout wins, Portillo has established himself as one of South America’s most effective finishers. Known for his aggressive style and ability to capitalize on mistakes, Portillo enters the biggest main event opportunity of his career looking to spoil the homecoming for Sousa in Brazil’s capital city.

“We’re excited to bring the LFA back to Brasília and launch Distrito #1,” stated Soares. “Brazil has always been one of the most important markets in the history of the LFA, and this main event showcases two of South America’s top Bantamweights. Herbeth Sousa is one of Brazil’s most experienced contenders, while Paulo Portillo has built a reputation as one of the region’s most dangerous finishers. This is the type of matchup that can quickly move a fighter into title contention.”

Brasília has become one of the premier destinations for mixed martial arts in Brazil, producing world-class athletes and hosting some of the country’s biggest combat sports events. Because of this, LFA officials have decided to name their events held within the Federal District after the host city.

LFA 238: Distrito #1 continues the promotion’s commitment to showcasing the best talent from Brazil and across Latin America on the road to the UFC.

LFA 238: Distrito #1, presented by Monster Energy, takes place Friday, July 31st at the Arena Nilson Nelson in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil. The main card will air live in the United States on VICE TV at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with a Spanish-language simulcast on ESPN Deportes. Internationally, the event will be available via ESPN across Latin America, including Mexico, Brazil, and the Caribbean. In addition, the main card will air live on Fight Club throughout Russia and the CIS countries—as well as worldwide on the LFA Fight Network™ on YouTube.

Tickets to LFA 238: Distrito #1 are available now at Sympla.com.br

Current Fight Card:

Main Event | Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

Herbeth Sousa (19-2) vs. Paulo Portillo (17-4)

Featherweight Bout (145 lb)

Luan Pedroso (12-4) vs. Wily Pereira (12-5)

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)

Claudio Nardo (9-4) vs. Gabriel Vinicius (7-0)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

Juan Pablo Vieira (9-0) vs. Eduardo Terêncio (9-4)

Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

Daniel Araújo (8-1) vs. Victor Gabriel (8-6)

Middleweight Bout (185 lb)

Rayan Kadosoe (4-0) vs. Felipe Rosa (3-0)

Featherweight Bout (145 lb)

Aristides Vinícius (11-3-1) vs. Alexsandro Cangaty (12-4-2)

Middleweight Bout (185 lb)

Marcio Cabral (12-4) vs. Romulo Oliveira (7-4)

Flyweight Bout (125 lb)

Thiago Taveira (11-3) vs. Wendrio Chaves (5-0)

Flyweight Bout (125 lb)

Ramana Toscanelli (5-1) vs. Carol Araujo (4-3)

Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

Neto Lopes (5-0) vs. Almir Augusto (3-0)

Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

Pedro Souza (4-0) vs. Pedro Ribeiro (2-0)

Flyweight Bout (125 lb)

Diego Costa (4-1) vs. Ricardo Lemos (4-0)

Strawweight Bout (115 lb)

Julia Barros (2-0) vs. Amanda Rafaela (0-0)

All inquiries please click here

About LFA:

LFA is a professional Mixed Martial Arts promotion that was formed by the powerhouse merger between RFA and Legacy FC in 2017. It has launched the careers of over 350 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC. LFA presents live Mixed Martial Arts events on a monthly basis around the world including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. Based in Las Vegas, NV, LFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. The promotion owns and operates LFA FIGHT NETWORK™ , a premium YouTube channel that features live combat sports events alongside live LFA Prelims and historical fights.

Please visit LFA.com for updates and information. Visit the official LFA YouTube channel (LFA FIGHT NETWORK™) at @LFAfights. Follow LFA on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X)

About VICE TV:

VICE TV delivers a powerful mix of culture-defining originals, bold entertainment and live alternative sports across television and digital. The Emmy®-winning international television network from VICE Media Group, in partnership with A+E, is available in 40 million U.S. cable, telco, and satellite homes and to multiple licensees worldwide. To cater to the growing global demand for sports content, in 2025 the network launched a slate of live event programming (Arena Football One, BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, LFA, Major League Volleyball, Professional Fighters League) and sports-focused docuseries and specials. Current and previous programming includes Out of Bounds, an investigative documentary franchise from VICE Studios; Chasing Speed from the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA); Don’t Call it a Comeback

with host Noah Eagle, from Front Office Sports Studios, Skydance Sports, and NFL Films; NFL Classics: After Further Review, with host Kyle Brandt, from Omaha Productions in association with NFL Films; Brady vs Belichick: The Verdict, with host Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo; Pitino: Red Storm Rising and Calipari: Razor’s Edge; VICE Studios’ Dark Side of the Cage, Dark Side of the Ring Hell’s Angels and United Gangs of America; The Grudge; and Sports Gone Wrong.

For more information, visit VICETV.com; follow VICE TV on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X); find viewing and streaming

About ESPN KNOCKOUT:

ESPN KNOCKOUT, the best combat sports series in Latin America, shares the passion for boxing and MMA with fans. Throughout Latin America, ESPN KNOCKOUT airs the best live boxing and the most outstanding MMA events in the universe, along with features, interviews, analysis, exclusives, previews and much more from its renowned commentator team. Follow @ESPNKnockOut for features exclusive content and the latest news on combat athletes.

About ESPN DEPORTES:

ESPN Deportes launched as ESPN’s 24/7 Spanish-language linear platform serving U.S. Hispanic sports fans January 7, 2004. Before the network’s launch, ESPN Deportes began as a Sunday night programming block in July 2000 when ESPN and Major League Baseball offered Spanish-language telecasts of the Home Run Derby and select Sunday Night Baseball games. In 2001, ESPN Deportes started offering full Sunday Night Baseball and Sunday Night Football schedules, as well as boxing. ESPN Deportes is programming devoted to serving the Latino sports fans by offering high-quality, culturally relevant and the most diverse sports programming available on Spanish-language television.Find out more at espndeportes.espn.com.

About ARENA NILSON NELSON:

Located in the heart of Brasília, the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium – also known as Arena BRB Nilson Nelson – is one of Brazil’s most iconic multi-purpose venues, with capacity for over 11,000 guests. Since opening its doors in 1973, it has hosted world-class sporting events, legendary concerts, and even the FIFA Futsal World Cup. The arena has also been home to major combat sports, including UFC events and international MMA shows, making it a landmark for fight fans in Brazil. Its versatile structure has welcomed everything from basketball to music superstars and, more recently, innovative experiences such as a full beach tennis court built inside the arena. With its unique history and central location next to the Mané Garrincha National Stadium, Nilson Nelson Gymnasium offers endless possibilities to create unforgettable moments in the capital of Brazil.

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