CFFC 134 results: Tafon Nchukwi guts out decision win; David Mgoyan stays unbeaten
Former NextGen champ Jerry Lleshi also impresses at Friday's event at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – UFC and CFFC veteran Tafon Nchukwi returned to his old stomping grounds with one mission: Victory. He accomplished that goal by securing a unanimous decision win against fellow UFC and CFFC vet Chris Daukaus in the main event of Friday's CFFC 134 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
Nchukwi (7-4 MMA, 3-0 CFFC) was pushed to his limits in earning the victory, using an impressive variety of striking attacks against Daukaus (12-8 MMA, 4-3 CFFC) and scoring two knockdowns of the Philadelphia native. Along the way, Nchukwi remained patient in the contest and was tested, as well, also hitting the deck twice but showing his toughness in weathering the assault by Daukaus.
Despite featuring a pair of athletes with a history of knockouts, the fight went the distance, and Tafon "Da Don" was awarded a decision win. Afterward, he expressed profound respect for his adversary after their three-round war.
"I feel that Chris Daukaus is a tough ass dude," Nchukwi said. "I hit him with some shots, and he just looked at me and kept coming, bleeding from the face. That guy is a freaking monster."
Nchukwi was thrilled for the opportunity to get back into the win column following a six-fight stint with the UFC but said he also wants to explore all combat sports opportunities, including a potential booking at CFFC Muay Thai.
“There's actually quite a bit I want to accomplish," Nchukwi said. "Muay Thai – I'm looking to expand and try everything."
In the co-main event of the evening, David Mgoyan delivered a statement-making TKO victory against New Jersey native Frank Wells.
Russia's Mgoyan (5-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) entered enemy territory and secured a second-round finish after stepping in on short notice as a replacement for Wells' original foe. After some back-and-forth exchanges, Mgoyan landed a straight right to the chin of Wells (5-4 MMA, 5-4 CFFC) and immediately pounced on him for the stoppage.
With the CFFC featherweight championship vacated following Jose Perez's departure to the PFL, Mgoyan will have to show to CFFC that he can make the featherweight limit if he hopes to challenge for the belt, as he did show up five pounds over the featherweight limit for the contest.
In the featured bout of the night, Dante Rivera protege Jerry Lleshi received the biggest crowd reaction of the night with his second-round TKO victory against Jacob Romano.
Lleshi (3-1 MMA, 3-1 CFFC) outclassed Romano (5-3 MMA, 0-2 CFFC) on the feet and the ground, using an impressive overall game and vicious ground-and-pound assault for the win.
"I needed a finish," Lleshi said. "That finish was important. I was looking for it."
Complete CFFC 134 results include:
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS)
Tafon Nchukwi def. Chris Daukaus via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
David Mgoyan def. Frank Wells via TKO (punches) - Round 2, 3:18
Jerry Lleshi def. Jacob Romano via TKO (strikes)- Round 2, 4:29
Angel Alvarez def. Justin Montalvo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Brandon Holmes def. Nick Galanti via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ONLYFANS)
Jose Soto def. Tyree Sutton via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lateesha Mohl def. Sandra Chheng by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Bryce Layme def. Nick Gebhard via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 1, 1:00