CFFC 142 results: Luke Fernandez defends title again, but two belts change hands in thrilling night
Eric Nolan and Ryan Cafaro also claim titles in emotional results at New Jersey's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – An incredible tripleheader of championship matchups saw two belts change hands in a night filled with emotional results at Saturday's CFFC 142, which played out in front of a packed house at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
Reigning light heavyweight champion Luke Fernandez did manage to retain his belt in the second successful defense of his title, but the same could not be said for Blayne Edwards and Anthony Dilemme.
In the night's main event, Fernandez faced the tallest opponent of his career in eight-time Bellator MMA veteran Christian Edwards, and the stylistic matchup proved a challenge. While Fernandez never found himself in trouble in the contest, his opponent's lengthy frame meant fighting on the inside was the wise approach, and the clinch proved to be a stalemate in many of the exchanges.
Fernandez did score with a few choice left hands at range, and he was also able to bring the fight to the floor on a few occasions, but Edwards' resiliency was on full display throughout the contest.
While there weren't many highlight-reel moments for Fernandez, he was never under any real duress and was able to bank some potentially valuable cage time against a high-level opponent, taking home a clearcut decision win, 40-36 on all three judges' cards.
While it's the first fight of Fernandez's professional career that he didn't win by knockout, he believes it was still a very positive result.
"It's one of the things we trained for," Fernandez said after his win. "This training camp was ruthless, and I just think all that hard work goes into one of these four-round battles. There was a lot of people talking about how I couldn't go four rounds or I was always finishing people early. Christian Edwards is a guy that's been at the highest levels, eight fights in Bellator. I knew had to be on top of my game.
"I wasn't taking no easy fight here, so to go four rounds with him and win a unanimous decision I think speaks to my hard work."
With the win, Fernandez (5-0 MMA, 5-0 CFFC) notches the second defense of his title, while Edwards (7-4 MMA, 0-1 CFFC) sees a two-fight win streak snapped.
In the night's co-main event, it was Marine Corps veteran Eric Nolan who delivered one of the most stunning results of the evening with a first-round knockout in his long-awaited rematch with Edwards to claim the CFFC welterweight title.
While the two had a grueling back-and-forth battle in their 2023 meeting, the second matchup played out much differently, with Nolan clearly playing to his strengths early and eventually delivering a picture perfect left hook that sent Edwards crashing to the canvas. Nolan rushed to deliver more damage on the ground, but referee Vitor Ribeiro waved it off at the 3:06 mark of the first round, declaring "Night Time" the new champion.
Nolan (8-3 MMA, 8-3 CFFC) was ecstatic with the result but was sure to offer credit to Richards (9-3 MMA, 3-1 CFFC) for fueling the fire needed for the result
"You really can't draw it up any better than that," Nolan said. "I just want to thank Blayne Richards, man. He made me a better fighter. He lit a fire under my ass two years ago when he beat me and he busted me up, and I've been chasing him ever since.
"Coming into my hometown on Memorial Day, in front of this huge crowd, all respect to him, but this was just my night. Last time was his night, tonight was my night."
Meanwhile, the night's third title fight featured an incredibly dramatic result, with longtime MMA veteran Ryan Cafaro scoring the biggest result of his career with an upset win over the previously undefeated Dilemme to take the CFFC featherweight crown.
Cafaro showed slick movement on the feet, avoiding the big bombs that Dilemme repeatedly fired his way, but it was the grappling where he really shined, as well, establishing positional dominance and taking away his opponent's primary weapons.
After the two split the first two rounds, it was Cafaro who appeared the fresher man and was able to push the pace, taking the final two frames on two of the judges' cards and avoiding a sudden victory round by ciaiming a majority decision win, 38-38, 39-37 and 39-37.
After an emotional celebration of the result, Cafaro called for the UFC to give him a chance in the octagon.
"For the first time in my career, I really, truly believe I belong in the UFC," Cafaro said. "So Sean Shelby, Dana White, if you're listening, I've never been in a boring fight in 20 pro fights. I'm allergic to boring fights. I look 25. I'm great on the mic. I'm cute as the dickens. You bring me to the UFC, and you won't regret it, and I'm ready, baby."
At 35, time will tell if Cafaro (13-6 MMA, 8-2 CFFC) is granted his wish. Meanwhile, Dilemme (7-1 MMA, 6-1 CFFC) loses for the first time as a pro but still appears to have plenty of upside moving forward.
Complete CFFC 142 weigh include:
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS)
Champ Luke Fernandez def. Christian Edwards via unanimous decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) – to defend light heavyweight title
Eric Nolan def. Blayne Richards via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:06 – to claim welterweight title
Ryan Cafaro def. Anthony Dilemme via majority decision (38-38, 39-37, 39-37) – to claim featherweight title
Riley Palmer vs. Nika Sabanashvili declared a unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
Nick Galanti def. Shane Sobnosky via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:59
Busurman Zhumagul def. Dean Sherry via knockout (knee) – Round 1, 0:40
PRELIMINARY CARD (ONLYFANS)
Shaun Stant def. Christian Bobe via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ben Coyle def. Christopher Daniel via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:51
Karli Thomas def. Lateesha Mohl via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:31
Taylor Samarco def. Hope Holmes via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Eliab Evangelista def. Vinny Iannuzzo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
NextGen: Jeremiah Delgado def. Brandon Bernard via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:04