CFFC 144 results: Emily Martins, Sean Mora claim vacant bantamweight titles with stoppage wins
Brazil's Martins earned title in dramatic fashion, while Mora was dominant from the start at Friday's event on UFC FIGHT PASS.
TAMPA, Florida – Two new bantamweight champions were crowned in the featured bouts of Friday's CFFC 144, as Brazil's Emily Martins took home the women's title, and Cuba's Sean Mora collected the men's belt, each earning a stoppage win in the process.
The matchups served as the main and co-main event of the card, which streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS from the Florida State Fairgrounds.
In the headliner, Martins (4-1 MMA, 4-1 CFFC) was seeking revenge against the only woman to beat her thus far in her professional career in Auttumn Norton (4-3 MMA, 1-1 CFFC), who defeated "Galega BJJ" last June to claim a vacant belt. Ahead of the rematch, Norton unfortunately lost her title at the scales after registering 140.4 pounds at the official weigh-ins, but pride was still very much on the line, and it showed early.
The heavy-handed Norton looked incredibly comfortable on the feet, stifling many of Martins' grappling attempts and patiently working to land heavy shots from top position when she was forced to the ground. Martins struggled to close the distance in the standup game, and was sent to the canvas on a few occasions courtesy of a spinning back kick to the body, as well as a sneaky uppercut that landed clean to the chin.
Despite the struggles, Martins was not to be denied.
Face bloodied and needing a turn in momentum, Martins was able to finally bring the action to the canvas halfway through the third round, where she was quick to move to the back, locking in a body triangle in the process. From there, Martins expertly used wrist control on her right side to clear entry for her left arm to sneak under the neck. Once in place, she attacked with a short choke before adjusting the grip to a more traditional rear-naked choke, eventually forcing a frustrated Norton to tap at the 3:28 mark of the frame.
The tears began to flow immediately for the 21-year-old Martins, who not only gained a measure of revenge with the result, but also the CFFC women's bantamweight title.
"I told you guys, 10 seconds of that last fight, that wasn't me," Martins told CM Punk after the win. "The 19-year-old girl me is gone. I know I improved my striking by showing I could defend her punches. She is still very, very hard, but my jiu-jitsu – jiu-jitsu saves, man."
Meanwhile, in the co-feature, Mora (7-1 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) made his promotional debut in style, needing just 66 seconds to dispose of former CFFC NextGen champ Mark Grey (7-2 MMA, 5-2) in violent fashion.
Facing a dominant wrestler, More clearly understood the assignment. With each Great advance, Mora was ready with a kick or a knee up the middle, and those counters found the mark early. The durable Grey press through anyway, bringing the action to the canvas, but Mora was able to get his feet on the hips, create space, and work back to the standup game.
It didn't stay there long.
With Grey still hoping to utilize his wrestling-based attacks, Mora once again delivered a pinpoint knee that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas. Mora quickly pounced with some 16 unanswered blows, and the fight was waved off just past the opening minute.
After the emphatic win – his third straight stoppage victory – the 29-year-old Mora made it clear his ultimate goal is MMA's top level.
"I want to knock out everybody," Mora said through an interpreter. "I'm tired of waiting for the call, Dana White. I'm ready to fight in the UFC."
Full CFFC 144 results include:
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS)
Emily Martins def. Auttumn Norton via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:28 – to claim vacant woman's bantamweight title
Sean Mora def. Mark Grey via TKO (knee, punches) – Round 1, 1:06 – to claim vacant bantamweight title
Max Quinones def. Shamel Findley via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Hunter Lee def. Chris Choo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jerry Lleshi def. Gage Mitchell via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Matt Hammerstone def. Marvin Chavez via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:30
PRELIMINARY CARD (OnlyFans)
Tommy Laipply def. Jaylon McDaniel via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:33
NextGen: Jesse Dejong def. Dontay Friga via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:33 – for vacant bantamweight title
NextGen: Emilio Barco def. Jesse Soules via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
NextGen: Noah Lopez def. John Murphy via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:16
NextGen: Juan Cruz def. Jessin Williams via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
NextGen: Caleb Nelson def. Jose Norat via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)