NFA 24 Brings Live MMA Back to Arnold on Oct. 10

For someone who has never attended a live mixed martial arts event, Nemesis Fighting Alliance owner Marlene Cary says there is much more happening inside the cage than just two people trying to land a punch.

On Saturday, Oct. 10, Nemesis Fighting Alliance will bring NFA 24 to the Arnold Eagles, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m.

Cary said the card will feature both amateur and professional mixed martial artists, including athletes who have already spent years developing their skills before ever stepping into the cage.

“Anyone watching can expect great mixed martial arts, amateur and professional,” Cary said. “These athletes today have so much more experience prior to getting into the cage than ever before.”

For Cary, MMA is not simply about fighting. She described it as both a sport and an art form, bringing together disciplines such as wrestling, kickboxing and jiu-jitsu.

“You’re mixing those martial arts to see who the best man or woman is in the cage on any given night,” Cary said. “So, yes, it’s a sport but it is also an art form.”

A Local Fighter in the Main Event

One of the fights Cary is most excited about is the night’s main event between Nathan Stearns and Luke Winston.

Winston is a local fighter from Barnhart who trains at Hans MMA, while Stearns comes from the Cape Girardeau area. Cary said both fighters have become familiar faces to NFA fans.

“Both have been staples in NFA,” Cary said. “Both great people, great athletes. And they will both put it all on the line.”

The card also includes a 185-pound title fight featuring Kenny Hiley in the co-main event, along with several newer fighters still early in their careers.

That mixture of experienced competitors and newcomers is part of what can make a regional MMA event unpredictable.

“Any given night, anybody can win,” Cary said. “Anybody has a puncher’s chance at any time.”

Months of Work for Just Minutes in the Cage

For fans, a fight may last only a few minutes. For the athletes, those minutes can represent months of preparation.

Cary said the NFA 24 main event fighters have been preparing for approximately 12 to 14 weeks, often training five or six days each week while also managing jobs, families, and everyday life.

“You’re seeing nine to 15 minutes of months and months of work,” Cary said.

That work can include technical training, conditioning, dieting, and cutting weight before fight night.

“They put a lot of work into performing for those fans and for their families,” Cary said. “And we really only get to see it packed into nine to fifteen minutes.”

What Should a First-Time Fan Watch For?

For newcomers, the most obvious moments may be the knockouts and submissions. But Cary said there are layers to the sport that become easier to appreciate the more someone watches.

The stand up portion of a fight may involve striking and kickboxing, while action on the ground can include wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and submission attempts.

“The ground game is very intricate,” Cary said.

For fans who are still learning the sport, NFA also gives them a chance to better understand what is happening before and after the action inside the cage.

“We have some great staff that are great at interviewing, great at bringing out the personalities of our fighters, and great at telling their stories,” Cary said.

Those interviews can also help newer fans begin to understand some of the strategy and technique they just watched. Hearing fighters talk about their preparation, their approach and what happened during the bout can give spectators another way to learn the different elements of mixed martial arts over time.

For someone seeing MMA for the first time, it can be a useful way to start connecting the excitement in the cage with the skill, training, and decision-making behind it.

But even as fans begin to understand more of the technique and strategy behind the sport, the excitement of a live fight remains electric.

“A lot of people are just looking for the excitement and the knockouts and the submissions,” she said, “which you will see.”

A Family-Friendly Fight Night

Despite the intensity inside the cage, Cary said NFA events attract a broad range of spectators.

“We really get all ages,” she said. “We are an all-ages show, so it’s a family night out.”

Fans can include children, parents and grandparents, as well as longtime MMA followers and people connected to the fighters.

Cary said spectators may even find themselves sitting near experienced fighters or well-known names from the sport.

“You see UFC Hall of Famers. You see up-and-comers. You see 18-year-olds that are having their first fight,” she said.

Cary said her favorite moment of every event is when the first fight starts because after weeks of planning, matchmaking and preparation, the focus finally shifts to the athletes.

“All of the preparation leading up to it, and the setting up and all of that stress is done,” Cary said. “The show is going to go how it’s going to go, and the fighters get to perform in front of their family and friends and all of these fans that come out to see them.”

Tickets and Event Information

NFA 24 offers several seating options. General admission is $45, while reserved seating is $55. Cageside table seating is $75, putting spectators as close to the action as possible and providing a table for drinks and other items.

The event will also have concessions and a cash bar.

When: Saturday, Oct. 10

Doors: 6 p.m.

Fights begin: 7 p.m.

Where: Arnold Eagles

Buy Tickets: NFA Ticket Sales

Watch on Pay-Per-View: NFA Pay-Per-View

About Nemesis Fighting Alliance

Nemesis Fighting Alliance was originally formed in 2012 to give regional amateur fighters an opportunity to compete and develop their skills before potentially advancing into professional competition.

Cary said she became involved with events around 2012 or 2013 and began as a fan of MMA herself. She has owned NFA since 2018.

For her, the purpose of the promotion has remained centered on the athletes.

“It’s really always been about the fighters for us,” Cary said. “Just trying to get those fighters where they want to go in their sport.”

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