CFFC 143 results: Bilal Hasan batters durable Jason Eastman for second title defense; Chris Brown claims interim middleweight belt
Flyweight champ Hasan survives scare to remain undefeated, while Brown sets up unification bout with Kyle Daukaus.
NEW TOWN, North Dakota – While he was forced into the championship rounds for the first time in his career, undefeated CFFC flyweight champion Bilal Hasan was able to secure the second defense of his title with a fourth-round stoppage of an incredibly tough Jason Eastman.
The contest served as the main of event of Friday's CFFC 143, which streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS from 4 Bears Casino & Lodge.
Both men's skills were on display early, with Hasan proving himself the sharper striker in the standup game and Eastman making his plans to wrestle clear, eventually scoring a takedown late in the round and immediately looking to attack the leg when his opponent scramble back to the feet. While the attempt was unsuccessful, it was foreshadowing of what was to come.
In an early exchange in the second, Eastman went to the floor after Hasan successfully countered a takedown in the clinch. Once there, Eastman isolated the left leg and immediately attacked with submissions from all angles. A few heel hook attempts along the way looked incredibly threatening, but Hasan turned and rolled and countered with meaningful strikes at every opportunity.
Hasan survived to the bell, and Eastman wobbled slightly as he returned to the corner.
Eastman would score another takedown early in the third, but this time Hasan was able to return quickly to the feet and resume his potent striking attacks, busting open his opponent and sending blood spattering to the canvas. Damaged but undeterred, Eastman again took the fight to the canvas late and targeting a submission an Americana but running out of time before he could elicit the tap.
Hasan was clearly the fresher man in the fourth, and he turned up the heat with a nonstop barrage of pinpoint striking. Eastman was bloodied and battered but never hesitated to engage. Hasan happily obliged, flashing the spectacular techniques that have become his signature. Eastman refused to fall to the canvas in the face of the nonstop attacks, but referee Eric McMahon eventually stepped in to wave off the contest at the 1:46 mark of the fourth.
After the stern test, Hasan said he was thankful for the challenge.
"I'm very grateful for it," Hasan said. "As a regional professional right now, all I need is experience. He took me into waters that I wasn't able to experience in my professional career yet."
With the win, Hasan (7-0 MMA, 7-0 CFFC) remains undefeated and would appear on the verge of a potential UFC invite in the near future. Meanwhile, Eastman (8-5 MMA, 1-2 CFFC) fails for the second time to claim the CFFC flyweight title but certainly showed his grit in the process.
Meanwhile, in the night's co-feature, Chris Brown (12-5 MMA, 2-0 CFFC) was able to claim the CFFC interim middleweight title with a decision win over Buddy Wallace (23-11-1 MMA, 0-1 CFFC), 40-36 on all three cards.
Afterwards, Brown took aim at reigning champion Kyle Daukaus, who was originally scheduled to face Brown at CFFC 143 but withdrew from the contest.
"The real champion is right here," Brown said. "That other dude is a scared little b-tch. We were supposed to fight here, but he didn't want to fight in front of ya'll. He refused to come out here and fight in North Dakota."
Full CFFC 143 results include:
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS)
Champ Bilal Hasan def. Jason Eastman via TKO (punches) – Round 4, 1:46 – to defend flyweight title
Chris Brown def. Buddy Wallace via unanimous decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) – to claim interim middleweight title
Angel Alvarez def. JT Schulte via TKO (head kick, punches) – Round 1, 3:30
Beau Samaniego def. Antonio Castillo Jr. via submission (mounted guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:50
Michael Jamiyandorj def. Jartavis Jackson via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:58
Guram Gochashvili def. Christian Echols via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:31
PRELIMINARY CARD
Chris Choo def. Frank Rayford via submission (short choke) – Round 2, 2:28
Micaela Rampage def. Alana Cook via technical submission (standing guillotine choke) – Round 3, 1:26
Geovanny Salazar def. Kieran Hernandez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 0:39
Cameron Williamson def. Ronnie Roberson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:09