CFFC 137 preview: Featherweight gold, UFC invitation the focus for Anthony Dilemme and Beau Samaniego
Top prospects collide with vacant belt on the line in Friday's event in Philadelphia and on UFC FIGHT PASS
PHILADELPHIA, P.A. – Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns to Philadelphia on Friday night for "CFFC 137: Dilemme vs. Samaniego," where two of the top featherweights in the promotion will look to claim the title vacated when former champ Jose Perez was signed by the PFL.
Undefeated Anthony Dilemme and Perez's longtime training partner Beau Samaniego are both familiar faces to CFFC fans, and the two each get their first crack at gold in the night's headliner, capping off a stacked lineup of 12 total fights on the card.
Limited tickets remain at CFFC.tv.
The CFFC 137 main card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS, while prelims stream on OnlyFans. Longtime MMA broadcaster and journalist John Morgan will call the action alongside WWE superstar CM Punk, who returns to the mic for the first time since June's CFFC 132, which also took place in Philadelphia.
Veteran sports commentator Geena Lucille will also be featured on the broadcast.
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 9 p.m. ET)
Anthony Dilemme vs. Beau Samaniego – for vacant featherweight title
Alex Martinez vs. Robert Varricchio
Adamu Abubakar vs. Kaushik Saikumar
Christian McAuley vs. Tial Thang
Collin Anglin vs. Armando Gjetja
Eric Nolan vs. Aireon Tavarres
PRELIMINARY CARD (ONLYFANS, 7 p.m. ET)
Andrew Smith vs. Busurman Zhumagul
Jake Cena vs. Darwin Pena
Tom Hinz vs. Christian Porter
Xavier Martin vs. Jose Rodriguez
NextGen: Chris Hayes vs. David Harrison – for vacant middleweight title
NextGen: Justin Cariss vs. Jeremy Garcia
MAIN EVENT: ANTHONY DILEMME VS. BEAU SAMANIEGO
While the CFFC's featherweight division has recently added a few intriguing contenders, you'd be hard pressed to find two athletes more deserving of an opportunity to compete for the organization's vacant 145-pound title than the hard hitting Anthony Dilemme (6-0 MMA, 5-0 CFFC) and the gritty Beau Samaniego (6-1 MMA, 3-1 CFFC).
The undefeated Dilemme, a 28-year-old Serra-Longo Fight Team rep, came to the organization in 2022 and has rattled off five straight wins in the CFFC cage, including a third-round finish of Brazil's Wendel Araujo earlier this year to set himself up for the title fight, as well as a vicious 2023 knockout of Isa Dalipaj that served as one of that year's top highlights.
Meanwhile, Samaniego works alongside Perez with the rapidly emerging Gilbert Grappling crew in Illinois. The 28-year-old debuted for the organization in 2021 with a surprising submission loss to James Lyons but has since come roaring back with three consecutive victories in the CFFC cage and five straight wins overall to earn himself a shot at the belt formerly held by his training partner.
Both Dilemme and Samaniego have their sights set firmly on an opportunity to compete under the UFC banner and know that a highlight-reel finish and CFFC gold can go a long way towards accomplishing that dream. Expect the best out of them both in this fantastic clash of styles.
ALEX MARTINEZ VS. ROBERT VARRICCHIO
The night's co-main event features a pair of lightweights capable of finishing fights at any moment, as the hard-hitting "Ruthless" Robert Varricchio (5-1 MMA, 3-1 CFFC) faces eight-time PFL veteran Alex Martinez (10-5 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Varricchio has earned all five of his professional victories by knockout, though he enters the matchup looking to rebound from his first career loss after coming up short in a bid for an interim belt in April against a then-undefeated Morquez Forest.
Meanwhile, Paraguay's Martinez spent three seasons in the PFL, picking up victories over notables Clay Collard, Stevie Ray and Loik Radzhabov along the way. However, after coming up short of the $1 million prize three times, he now makes his CFFC debut.
The well-rounded Martinez might look to take the action to the canvas, but Varricchio has different ideas as he looks to deliver another spectacular finish and perhaps another crack at a lightweight title, as reigning champ Robert Watley mulls over his career options.
ADAMU ABUBAKAR VS. KAUSHIK SAIKUMAR
Two intriguing prospects collide in featured catchweight matchup at 140 pounds, as Nigeria's Adamu Abubakar (4-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) faces India's Kaushik "The Pride of Chennai" Saikumar (4-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC).
CFFC newcomer Abubakar is a taekwondo black belt who has competed at the international level and now trains at Florida's Kill Cliff FC. Meanwhile, Saikumar began his martial arts journey training in boxing, taekwondo and muay Thai and now serves as the striking coach at grappling savant Ryan Hall's Fifty/50 Martial Arts.
Saikumar's well-rounded skillset has already landed him on "The Shortlist," where CFFC officials identify athletes most deserving of a shot on the international stage. Can he deliver another impressive win, or will Abubakar steal that shine in his promotional debut?
CHRISTIAN MCAULEY VS. TIAL THANG
In another 140-pound catchweight matchup, undefeated prospect Christian McAuley (4-0 MMA, 3-0 CFFC) returns to action to face the most experienced opponent of his career to date in Myanmar's Tial "The Dragon Leg" Thang (7-4 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Following an undefeated amateur run, the 25-year-old McAuley has been perfect as a professional, as well, showing his range in three fights under the CFFC banner, with wins by knockout, submission and decision. On the other side, Thiang struggled early in his career while making six appearances for ONE Championship but continues to develop now under the guidance of countryman Aung La Nsang as he readies for his CFFC debut.
COLLIN ANGLIN VS. ARMANDO GJETJA
Veteran lightweights each seek their first CFFC win as two-time UFC veteran Collin Anglin (9-5 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) faces former CFFC title challenger Armando Gjetja (8-5 MMA, 0-2 CFFC).
Anglin made his way to the sport's highest level through a contract-winning performance at Dana White's Contender Series but then suffered losses to Melsik Baghdasaryan and Sean Woodson and was ushered out of the promotion. In June, he returned to the win column with a 77-second victory at a regional event in Michigan and now looks to score a high-profile victory on his way back to the UFC.
Gjetja debuted for CFFC this past December, unsuccessfully challenging for the organization's lightweight title against reigning champ Robert Watley. He returned to action in April and suffered a submission loss to Kaecy Raddon and now makes his third attempt at picking up an initial win under the CFFC banner.
ERIC NOLAN VS. AIREON TAVARRES
The night's main card opens at welterweight, with CFFC staple Eric "Night Time" Nolan (5-3 MMA, 5-3 CFFC) taking on promotional newcomer Aireon "The Hyphy Kid" Tavarres (7-2 MMA, 0-0 CFFC).
Nolan has spent the entirety of his professional career competing in the CFFC cage, proving himself willing to take any assignment passed his way. At CFFC 137, he looks to build on the strength of an April win over R'Mandel Cameron when he takes on Tavarres, who competes for the fourth time in 2024 and has been to a judges' decision just once in his pro run.
ANDREW SMITH VS. BUSURMAN ZHUMAGUL
The night's featured preliminary bout takes place at welterweight, with the first pro appearance for Andrew Smith (Pro debut) and the return of Busurman Zhumagul (1-0).
The 23-year-old Smith makes his CFFC debut after picking up an amateur title in a regional event in Ohio, scoring a submission win via rear-naked choke. He now takes on the 20-year-old Zhumagul, who made his professional debut in June with a 49-second victory via armbar following a perfect amateur run, as well.
JAKE CENA VS. DARWIN PENA
A pair of athletes making their professional debuts meet at featherweight, as promotional newcomer Jake "The Slim Reaper" Cena takes on the returning Darwin "Gatillero" Pena.
Michigan's Cena displayed capable grappling skills in his amateur run, earning each of his two wins by rear-naked choke. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic's Pena claimed the CFFC NextGen featherweight belt in June with a first-round knockout, ending his ammy career at a perfect 6-0.
TOM HINZ VS. CHRISTIAN PORTER
Featherweights clash in the night's second professional bout, as New Jersey's Tom Hinz (1-0) faces Ohio's Christian "Cutta" Porter (2-1).
Hinz made his professional debut under the CFFC banner in June, taking home a decision win. He now takes on Porter, who looks to rebound from the first loss of his professional career after tapping out to a rear-naked choke in June at a regional event in Canada.
XAVIER MARTIN VS. JOSE RODRIGUEZ
The night's first professional bout takes place at lightweight, as Texan Xavier "Ironside" Martin (0-1) takes on Minnesota's Jose "Cheeto" Rodriguez (Pro debut).
Martin debuted in June, suffering a submission loss on the New Mexico regional scene, and now hopes for his first win as a pro. Meanwhile, Rodriguez closed out his amateur career in June, as well, claiming the CFFC NextGen lightweight title, and now looks to build on that success in the pro ranks.
NEXTGEN: CHRIS HAYES VS. DAVID HARRISON
The night's final NextGen contests features a vacant middleweight title fight between undefeated athletes, as New Jersey's Chris Hayes (4-0) takes on North Carolina's David Harrison (3-0), who each make their CFFC debut.
Hayes has yet to see the third round in his MMA career, with all four of his wins coming by stoppage, including two knockouts and two submissions. He now faces Harrison, who fights for the fourth time in 2024, a run that includes two first-round stoppages.
NEXTGEN: JUSTIN CARISS VS. JEREMY GARCIA
The evening kicks off with a bantamweight matchup in the NextGen division, as New Jersey's Justin Cariss (1-0) takes on New York's Jeremy Garcia (1-1) in the first CFFC appearance for both men.
Cariss went the distance in his June debut and was expected to return in September on the Pennsylvania regional scene before the event was postponed. Three weeks after that planned matchup, he faces Garcia, who boasts amateur kickboxing experience, as well, but now looks to rebound from a decision loss in February.
