AFP 5 is set to take place on February 21st in Newark, Ohio. The Cherry Valley Hotel will be rocking as this card includes multiple professional bouts and amateur title fights. Carnage Media fans will recognize a few familiar faces on this stacked card. Let’s take a look at those matchups.
Jimmy Sandlin vs CJay Hunter
Jimmy ‘The Sandstorm’ Sandlin squares off with CJay “Groundshark’ Hunter in a professional lightweight bout. Sandlin won his last fight via first-round knockout against Jay Haas at Carnage Fight Series 5.
The Sandstorm is riding a 3-fight winning streak and looking to carry that momentum into the new year. He went 4-3 in 2025 with wins over Quinton Parks Jr., Kevin Barberena, and Avon Williams. Sandlin also looked impressive in tough, hard-fought losses to UFC Veteran Dylan Budka and the currently undefeated Quintin Richards. It was after those two losses to top talents that he began his winning streak, and Sandlin looks to keep it rolling in February.
CJay Hunter will fly in from St. Louis, Missouri, aiming to put an end to Sandlin’s winning streak and start one of his own. Speed, out of St Charles MMA, is no easy matchup. He’s looking to build on the momentum from a win in his last fight against Chris Petty at Cage of Honor 95. Hunter secured that win via Von Flue Choke submission in the first round. Groundshark will likely look to win this one via submission as well, with 8 of his 11 wins coming via that method. Both fighters have a lot of experience, so this should be a fantastic fight.
sydnee leeth vs nahiyha porter
‘Insydious’ Sydnee Leeth takes on Nahiyha Porter in an amateur flyweight bout. This is an intriguing matchup between two top-10 amateurs in their respective states. Leeth, the ninth-ranked pound-for-pound woman in Ohio, won the 2023 Amateur Rising Star award from Ohio MMA News. She returns to the cage after a decision win at Ruthless Made Promotions 9 against ‘Fearless’ Lauren Flynn, the top-ranked amateur boxer in the nation for her weight class.
Nahiyha Porter is the fifth-ranked woman in the pound-for-pound rankings in Indiana and the top-ranked woman in Illinois. Her last bout was a second-round knockout vs Laina Hocshstetler at MFL 56: Big Bang. Porter fights out of Team Colón MMA and looks to bring a win streak home with her to Indiana. These two women have a great opportunity ahead of them, as a win for either would propel them up the amateur ranks in the Midwest.
connor smith vs joshuwa caban
Connor ‘Showtime’ Smith is set to battle with Joshuwa ‘Make It Nasty’ Caban in an amateur flyweight war. Smith is the ninth-ranked amateur flyweight in Ohio, with a dangerous submission game, having won 80% of his fights by submission. Representing Fightopia MMA, Smith has put on a lot of size and muscle since his last fight and has been working heavily on his wrestling defense. Showtime has faced many wrestlers in his career and will be looking to end this fight with a finish.
Smith is an intelligent fighter who often corners his teammates during their fights. He also shares his knowledge of the sport at the Carnage Media commentary desk. I had a chance to speak to Connor about this bout, and he is confident going in.
“Buy a ticket and don’t miss the show, and by that I mean me. Showtime. The Whole f’n show.”
Joshuwa Caban fights out of 3 Elements Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Erie, Pennsylvania. Caban is the fourth-ranked amateur flyweight in Pennsylvania and ranks 13th in Ohio as well. His last victory came via first-round TKO via punches from back mount against Malcolm Jackson. He’ll look to avenge a loss in his last fight to Robi Cvitic at Bayfront Brawl 18, a bout he lost by rear-naked choke, a submission that Smith has won two bouts with.
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