So the LFA stayed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for LFA 85, and it was a fantastic show, I think it was the best show of the year. Cards like this need a live audience, but all in good time I guess. The pandemic can’t last forever, or can it? … Whatever… Great fights at LFA 85!!
Main event
Vanessa Demopoulos vs Sam Hughes – Strawweight
Round 1
Hughes comes out and puts together some great combinations and throws a lot of good leg kicks.
Round 2
Hughes turns it up, and gets Demopoulos down. Hughes then eats an illegal up-kick, the referee takes a point from Demopoulos.
Round 3
Demopoulos comes out hard, but Hughes is in control and she begins to work Demopoulos up against the cage, Hughes’ coach is calling for a finish
Round 4
Demopoulos comes out hard. Hughes clinches and gets her down. Demopoulos throws up an inverted triangle, Hughes goes limp. 🚩Demopoulos wins by technical submission.
Both these girls are fantastic. Hughes is great technically, she just got caught in a bad spot. -And I don’t agree with Hughes’ coach calling for her to finish her opponent. I expect that Demopoulos will get a call to go to the UFC, she’s entertaining, she has a fun style, bubbly personality and most of all, she is a GAME fighter. She may not have it all together on the feet yet, but she is tenacious, and has fantastic tight BJJ. I can also see Hughes winning a couple more fights and going to the UFC as well…
Kyle Estrada vs Kevin Natividad – Bantamweight
Round 1
Leg kicks by Estrada, with Natividad pressuring.
Round 2
Estrada starts out a little flat, Natividad puts on some pressure, and then nails Estrada with a straight right.🚩 Natividad wins by TKO
Estrada doesn’t do well with being pressured. He likes to have space to work, and Natividad eats punches to the face on the regular. I think Estrada just got complacent and got caught. I think Natividad has improved a little bit, but he still has huge holes in his game.
Leandro Gomes vs Jacob Thrall Featherweight
Round 1
Gomes cuts Thrall. Thrall then goes on top, then gets reversed. Gomes stays on top and does some work.
Round 2
Gomes rocks thrall on the feet. Thrall then gets a takedown at the end of the round.
Round 3
Gomes controls most of the round from the mount position. 🚩Gomes wins by unanimous decision.
I like both of these fighters. Thrall is a game and gritty fighter, but Gomes is the more advanced martial artist. Gomes has improved in every fight I’ve seen him in, his striking is a lot better, he’s a little quicker on the ground now, and he is more accurate. The next part of his game I want to see him work on is putting people away when he has them in bad positions on the ground – I’m talking submissions, of-course he may need strikes to soften them up. I’m excited to see even more from Gomes. -Thrall? Thrall needs an effective stand up game to compliment his good wrestling. Both these guys are good.
Levion Lewis vs Jordan Leavitt – Lightweight
Round 1
Leavitt goes for several leg-locks
Round 2
Leavitt goes for some leg-locks, an inverted triangle, and then gets Lewis with the anaconda. 🚩Leavitt wins by submission.
Lewis just needed to keep this fight standing to have a better chance. All I saw from Leavitt was grappling game. -And, its pretty good
Michael Aquila vs Chris Natividad – Bantamweight
Round 1
Aquila eats some leather and pulls guard. Aquila wants no part of the stand up, and goes for some Imanari rolls. Natividad moves in and out and smokes Aquila with a right hand. Natividad wins by KO
Aquila just looked lost on the feet. Early days for both guys. Natividad is much further ahead in the striking department
Darion Abbey vs Michael Sipe – Heavyweight
Round 1
Sipe comes in swinging big and catches Abbey, Abbey goes down and gets finished on the ground. 🚩Sipe wins by TKO
Nice win by Sipe, but Abbey wasn’t showing any head movement nor diversity in attacks. There are a few heavyweight fights that I’d like to see Sipe have in the LFA. Renan Ferreira comes to mind.
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Great show
Vanessa Demopoulos was unbroken