CFFC 139 preview: Undefeated champ Bilal Hasan seeks first title defense, while Brian Hauser looks to play spoiler
Hasan puts flyweight title on the line at CFFC's first MMA event of 2025, live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
PHILADELPHIA, P.A. – Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns to the historic 2300 Arena on Saturday night for "CFFC 139: Hasan vs. Hauser," where the CFFC flyweight title will be on the line in the promotion's first MMA main event of 2025.
Undefeated champ Bilal Hasan and promotional newcomer Brian "Doogie" Hauser will square off in the matchup, which is expected to play out in front of a packed house and an electric atmosphere.
The CFFC 139 main card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS, while prelims stream on OnlyFans. Limited tickets remain at CFFC.tv.
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Champ Bilal Hasan vs. Brian Hauser – for flyweight title
Armando Gjetja vs. Chris Guariglia
Amin Almelik vs. John Caldone
Tyri Brown vs. Jose Rodriguez
Mariah Castro vs. Lateesha Mohl
Vincenzo Iannuzzo vs. Darwin Pena
PRELIMINARY CARD (OnlyFans, 6 p.m. ET)
Nick Galanti vs. Rakim Talley
Becca Evans vs. Maya Stewart
Nick Gebhard vs. Justice Harris
Jordan Baskerville vs. Elijah Sampson
NextGen: Jason Gomez vs. Michael McCaffrey – for flyweight title
NextGen: Parker Kropman vs. Spencer Sarloos
NextGen: Aidan Burke vs. Justin Cariss
MAIN EVENT: BILAL HASAN VS. BRIAN HAUSER
At just 23 years old, Bilal Hasan (5-0 MMA, 5-0 CFFC) has a seemingly endless upside. He's delivered four highlight-reel finishes in his past four CFFC appearances, claiming a vacant title along the way. He gets results and style points, and his swagger on the microphone adds to the total package, earning him the No. 1 spot on "The Short List" CFFC officials compile of athletes most ready for the next level.
Brian "Doogie" Hauser (3-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) isn't buying into the hype.
A former collegiate wrestler at Ohio's Notre Dame College, Hauser has remained active in training ever since, putting together an impressive amateur career before making the move to the professional ranks in 2018. He's struggled to remain busy, unfortunately, citing a propensity for opponents to withdraw from planned matchups that has left him with more cancellations than appearances.
Since he last competed in 2022, Hauser has worked diligently to improve his striking, as well as his submission grappling, even claiming a gold medal at December's IBJJF No Gi World jiu-Jitsu Championships in Las Vegas.
Another spectacular win from Hasan could potentially land him a spot in this year's Dana White's Contender Series run or elsewhere on the international stage. Meanwhile, Hauser not only looks to play spoiler but also to gain extraordinary momentum in his own pursuit of the sport's highest level. There's plenty at stake here beyond just CFFC gold.
ARMANDO GJETJA VS. CHRIS GUARIGLIA
The night's co-main event sees the return of Armando Gjetja (9-5 MMA, 1-2 CFFC) against a promotional newcomer in Chris "Big Nog" Guariglia (4-2 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) in what should play out as a clash of styles.
Gjetja came to the CFFC and received an immediate title shot, falling short in a bid to unseat lightweight champ Robert Watley. Gjetja then returned to the cage to face Keacy Raddon but suffered a second straight submission loss.
After dialing in his mental focus, Gjetja returned to work this past October and finally earned the CFFC win that had eluded him until then, needing just 56 seconds to knock out two-time UFC veteran Collin Anglin.
Meanwhile, Guariglia makes his CFFC debut on the strength of a three-fight winning streak. He also received his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in December, demonstrating an expertise in the grappling skills that have proven troublesome for Gjetja thus far in his CFFC run.
AMIN ALMELIK VS. JOHN CALDONE
In featured featherweight action, promotional newcomers Amin "Sweet Dreams" Almelik (6-4) and John "The Don" Caldone (6-3) seem likely to entertain.
Canada's Almelik is a Pan Am gold medalist and multiple-time amateur kickboxing champion who has transitioned to MMA with a striking-based approach. Meanwhile, Almelik is a former Ring of Combat champion and one-time PFL veteran who owns three of his six professional wins by knockout.
Expect fireworks.
TYRI BROWN VS. JOSE RODRIGUEZ
In lightweight action, South Carolina's Tyri Brown (1-1) makes his promotional debut when he takes on former CFFC NextGen champ Jose "Cheeto" Rodriguez (1-0)
Brown has fought almost exclusively in his native South Carolina but will now make the trip to Philadelphia for the biggest opportunity of his career. However, he'll find a stiff challenge on the other side of the cage in Rodriguez, who claimed a NextGen belt in his final amateur appearance before making his professional debut in October, scoring a third-round TKO to give him six straight wins in his combined pro and ammy runs, with four of those results earned by knockout.
MARIAH CASTRO VS. LATEESHA MOHL
In strawweight action, three-time Combate Global veteran Mariah Castro (2-1) makes her promotional debut when she takes on a returning Lateesha "Honey Badger" Mohl (1-0).
Castro earned a reputation as an all-action fighter in her Combate Global run, while Mohl's nickname is certainly appropriate given her energy level in her MMA, boxing and kickboxing outings.
With all of CFFC's previous strawweight champs – including Miranda Granger, Elise Reed and Fatima Kline – eventually making their way to the UFC, these two women will certainly be looking to take a step forward in the division.
VINCENZO IANNUZZO VS. DARWIN PENA
The night's main card kicks off on UFC FIGHT PASS with a featherweight contest between promotional newcomer Vincenzo "Il Prescelto" Iannuzzo (1-1) and former CFFC NextGen champ Darwin "Gatillero" Pena (1-0).
New York's Iannuzzo is a heavy-handed striker who scored a first-round knockout in his professional debut and now looks to rebound from a recent setback following a decision loss in October. He'll take on Pena, who was a perfect 7-0 as an amateur and also looked impressive in scoring a first-round submission in his professional debut just three months ago.
NICK GALANTI VS. RAKIM TALLEY
The night's final preliminary bout sees the return of former CFFC NextGen champ Nick Galanti (2-1) as he takes on PFL Challenger Series veteran Rakim Talley (1-1).
Galante, a Dante Rivera BJJ product, was triumphant in his first two professional outings but suffered a decision loss this past August when he took on an undefeated prospect Brandon Holmes. Now Galanti returns seeking redemption when he faces promotional newcomer Talley, a Tennessee native who went an impressive 9-2 with seven finishes as an amateur and has split his first two professional outings.
BECCA EVANS VS. MAYA STEWART
In women's bantamweight action, Becca "The Giraffe" Evans (3-0) returns to the CFFC cage to take on promotional newcomer Maya Stewart (2-2).
Evans went undefeated as an amateur and enjoys a similar status through the first three bouts of her professional career, including a TKO win over Marilia Morais at CFFC 121. Evans will look to pick up where she left off, returning to action nearly 19 months after that win.
Meanwhile, Stewart makes her CFFC debut on the strength of back-to-back victories, both scored in 2024, evening up her record after two disappointing setbacks to start her professional run.
NICK GEBHARD VS. JUSTICE HARRIS
In flyweight action, both former CFFC NextGen champ Nick Gebhard (0-2) and promotional newcomer Justice Harris (0-3) will seek their first wins as professionals.
Gebhard ended his amateur run on a four-fight win streak but has suffered back-to-back submission losses since making the move to the pro ranks. Meanwhile, Harris began his professional journey with three straight losses in 2023 but took 14 months off to regroup and now looks to make that long-awaited entry into the win column.
JORDAN BASKERVILLE VS. ELIJAH SAMPSON
The night's first professional bout of the evening features the debuts of Jordan Baskerville and Elijah "The Sniper" Sampson.
New Jersey's Baskerville went 3-0 as an amateur, picking up a title on the regional scene in his most recent outing, a stunning 18-second knockout. Meanwhile, New York's Sampson went 4-0 as an amateur but also owns amateur kickboxing experience, as well. Styles make fights, and this one should be fun.
NEXTGEN: JASON GOMEZ VS. MICHAEL MCCAFFREY
While the CFFC flyweight title is on the line in the night's main event, the promotion's vacant NextGen belt is up for grabs in the final preliminary bout of CFFC 139, when Jason Gomez (2-0) takes on Michael "The Ghost" McCaffrey (5-2).
Gomez is undefeated thus far in his amateur MMA run, though he hasn't competed in the sport since November 2023. He did stay active, however, taking a kickboxing bout in 2024, and now he looks to resume his early success. Meanwhile, McCaffrey has done a little bit of standup fighting along the way, as well, and also boasts more MMA experience than his opponent, most recently picking up a decision win on the Pennsylvania regional scene in December.
NEXTGEN: PARKER KROPMAN VS. SPENCER SARLOOS
In amateur lightweight action, former Drexel University wrestler Parker Kropman (1-0) returns to the CFFC cage to take on striking specialist Spencer Saarloos (Debut).
Kropman, a two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships qualifier, scored a submission win in his professional debut in 2023 before injury forced him to the sidelines. Now he makes his return in a clash of styles with the debuting Sarloos, a USKA Kickboxing champion who also owns a win under the CFFC Muay Thai banner.
NEXTGEN: AIDAN BURKE VS. JUSTIN CARISS
The night's first bout kicks off with an amateur catchweight matchup at 130 pounds, as Aidan Burke (Debut) takes on a returning Justin Cariss (1-1).
Pennsylvania's Burke makes his amateur debut but does have two appearances under the FURY Professional Grappling banner, scoring a 46-second submission win over Nick Dingler at this past May's FURY Professional Grappling 10, while also grappling to a draw with former CFFC flyweight champ Santo Curatolo in 2023.
Meanwhile, New Jersey's Cariss made his CFFC debut in October, suffering a second-round submission loss via armbar. Now the 23-year-old returns to the cage and will look to show an improved performance against another savvy grappler.
