CFFC 157 results: Sarek Shields outgrapples Manny Morales to take home decision win in promotional debut
Morales sees four-fight win streak snapped in Friday's headliner at New Jersey's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Promotional newcomer Sarek Shields played spoiler in the elevated main event of CFFC 157, using a dominant grappling game to outpoint longtime CFFC vet Manny Morales over the course of three rounds.
The welterweight matchup headlined Friday's event from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, promoted to that spot after Abdysamat Malakanov missed weight by 10 pounds on Thursday, scrapping a planned title fight with Christian Bobe. As always, the featured action unfolded on UFC FIGHT PASS.
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Shields needed less that 10 seconds to get the action to the canvas at the start of the fight, walking through a few big shots in order to wrap up the body. Less than 90 seconds later, Shields had a great look at an arm-triangle choke, though he wasn't quite bale to get the squeeze needed to finish the fight.
Morales' defense was sound, though he was only able to stay safe, and not actually get himself out of danger. That inability would cost him as the fight wore on.
Morales did have his best offensive opportunity late in the first round, finally reversing position and getting to enjoy a little time in top position before briefly transitioning to the back. A late attack on the arm looked promising, as well, but Morales couldn't quite get the tap.
Shields' grappling advantage would be amplified in rounds 2 and 3, getting the fight to the floor with relative ease and looking frequently for his signature arm-triangle finish. Morales (7-3 MMA, 3-3 CFFC) refused to give up, but he just couldn't ever quite mount a real rally, and Shields (9-3 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) walked away with the unanimous decision nod.
Complete CFFC 157 results include:
MAIN CARD
Sarek Shields def. Manny Morales via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Tyler Berger def. Christian Carr via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:18
Will Breslin def. David Bergida via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Paige Wilcox def. Lateesha Potoka via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Michael McCaffrey def. Lou Raimo via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:44
Cole Barnard def. Gavin Rice via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Tayvonne Thomas def. Abraham Charles via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:13
NextGen: Joey Milano def. Jesse Pastore via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:12 – to claim inaugural 197-pound title
NextGen: Trig Tennant def. Ethen Mercado via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
NextGen: Ronnie Potts def. Aidan Rhea via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:16