By Jake Donovan

Armed with a new diet and renewed purpose, Teofimo Lopez is ready to 'Takeover' the lightweight division for years to come.

The rising contender from Las Vegas, Nev.—by way of Brooklyn, N.Y.—and Masayoshi Nakatani both made weight for their lightweight title eliminator. Lopez (13-0, 11KOs) checked in at a shredded 134.4 pounds, the same weight as Japan's Nakatani (18-0, 12KOs).

Their bout streams live on ESPN+ from MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md.

Lopez admitted in recent interviews—including an excellent story penned by ESPN.com's (and former BoxingScene.com news editor) Steve Kim to have struggled with lightweight to the point of abandoning his plans to fight for a title at the weight, in fact nearly impacting his decision to go through with his eventual knockout win over former title challenger Edis Tatli this past April. Drastic changes in his training routine have seen the 2018 BoxingScene.com Prospect of the Year come correct, as he's back on original plans to not just win a title at lightweight, but to clean house.

A win on Friday will put him in direct path for a shot at reigning lightweight titlist Richard Commey. In order to get there, he will have to get past Nakatani, who makes his U.S. debut. The 30-year old contender has fought exclusively in his native Japan, including a 4th round knockout of Hurricane Futa in his most recent start last December. 

Another title eliminator graces the main portion of the show, with unbeaten super lightweights Maxim Dadashev and Surbriel Matias colliding in a 12-round clash.

Dadashev (13-0, 11KOs)—a former standout amateur from Russia who now lives and trains in Oxnard, Calif.—weighed in at 139.2 pounds. He enters on the heels of a thrilling knockout of Ricky Sismundo in March, recovering from a 2nd round knockdown to knockout of the Filipino in four rounds.

Puerto Rico's Matias (13-0, 13KOs) checked in at 139.8 pounds in looking to extend his perfect mark of 13 knockouts in as many starts.

FULL WEIGHTS

Teofimo Lopez 134.4 lbs. vs. Masayoshi Nakatani 134.4 lbs.—12 rds. lightweight
Maxim Dadashev 139.2 lbs. Subriel Matias 139.8 lbs.—12 rds, super lightweight
Esquiva Falcao 161.2 lbs. vs. Jesus Antonio Gutierrez 161.2 lbs.—10 rds, middleweight
Tyler McCreary 134.2 lbs. vs. Jessie Cris Rosales 134 lbs.—8 rds, lightweight
Cassius Chaney 252.8 lbs. vs. Joel Caudle 255.6 lbs.—8 rds, heavyweight
Tyler Howard 161.8 lbs. vs. Jamaal Davis 161.4 lbs.—8 rds, middleweight
Dusty Hernandez Harrison 159.8 lbs. vs. Juan De Angel 164.8 lbs.—8 rds, middleweight
Rolando Vargas 134.4 lbs. vs. Nathaniel Lee Davis 134.6 lbs.—4 rds, lightweight
Patrick Harris, 138.6 lbs. vs. Donald Ward 138.4 lbs.—8 rds, super lightweight

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox