CFFC 151 results: Vitor Resende claims heavyweight title with razor-thin decision victory over Larry Gonzales
Three new champions crowned at Friday's event, which streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Philadelphia's 2300 Arena
TAMPA, Florida – Once again, defending the CFFC heavyweight title proved an impossible task for the reigning champion, as Brazilian challenger Vitor Resende (6-1 MMA, 2-0 CFFC) claimed the belt with a razor-thing split decision over now former titleholder Larry Gonzales (8-5 MMA, 1-1 CFFC) in the main event of Friday's CFFC 151.
The five-round affair streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, with the result marking the third straight CFFC heavyweight champion to win the belt but then cede in his first scheduled defense after Anthony Guarascio and Bailey Schoenfelder also followed that unfortunate pattern.
The 6-foot-9 Brazilian used his range early to frustrate Gonzales, who found it difficult to navigate past the lengthy frame. However, Gonzales made adjustments in the middle stages of the fight, working to the clinch and using dirty boxing from the clinch to swing momentum back into his favor.
Both men tired over the course of four rounds, and there was uncertainty in the scores, but the judges saw it at two rounds a piece, forcing a sudden victory fifth round.
The final five minutes were also a bit of a rollercoaster, with Resende both starting and finishing the round strong, while Gonzales did his best work in the middle stages of the frame. At the conclusion, two of the three judges gave Resende the nod, and he walked away with the belt via split decision.
Resende was awarded the title by UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz and then also engaged in a faceoff with undefeated challenger Jackson Stanford, who was victorious in just 17 seconds in the night's co-main event, though the new champion was noncommittal in terms of his next move.
"Now I'm going to take a rest and talk with my managers and look for the next step," Resende said through a translator.
Complete CFFC 151 results include:
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS)
Vitor Resende def. Larry Gonzales via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) – to claim heavyweight title
Jackson Stanford def. Anthony Guarascio via TKO (knees) – Round 1, 0:17
Morquez Forest def. Ashton Charlton via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ron Humphrey def. Liam Hamill via knockout (punches) – Round 1. 1:52
Christian Carr def. Tyrime Da Silva via knockout (elbows) – Round 1, 0:28
Lucas Cortes def. Paul Carson via knockout (elbows) – Round 1, 0:56
PRELIMINARY CARD
Blake Smith def. Chance Beck via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:11
Diego Aleman def. Kenny Agosto via TKO (calf kick, punches) – Round 2, 0:29
Brayton Young def. Tommy Laipply via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:26
Fathy Elsony def. Cody Porter via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Eman Hardy def. Malcolm Wallace via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)