So, the All-Television era of MMA continues. People are still trying to recover from the Pandemic, and the disease is still pretty rampant in different pockets of the US. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the LFA’s fight Island. So far, there have been three weeks of fights there, and the shows have been great. LFA 86 was a quick and entertaining one.
Main Event.
Greg Fischer vs Jimmy Flick – Flyweight
Round 1
Flick gets the single-leg, turns the pipe, and gets the takedown, he advances to an arm-triangle choke and gets the sub. 🚩Flick wins by submission.
This fight was so fast, that there’s not a lot to break down. Flick just showed his great grappling ability. The man has been in the LFA for a while, and he’s faced some tough opponents. I do like Flick a lot, but I think he may need to defend his new belt at least once, before the UFC can take a look at him.
Arthur Estrazulas vs Dominic Clark – Lightweight
Round 1
Clark grapples with Estrazulas up against the fence. Estrazulas is able to take Clark down, slap on the RNC and get the tap.🚩 Estrazulas wins by submission.
Estrazulas is a quick, quality grappler, and for some reason Clark wanted to test the man’s grappling game. I really wanted to see Estrazulas’ striking get tested, because the last time I saw him, he didn’t show a lot in that area. You can only perform based on where the fight takes you, and Estrazulas performed well here. I’ll be looking to see more of him.
Fabio Cherant vs Erick Murray – Light Heavyweight – Cherant missed weight by 9 lbs
Round 1
Cherant rocks Murray with a left and then locks up a quick anaconda. 🚩Cherant wins by submission.
I saw Cherant in the Contender Series and I made the comment that he needs to work on his hands. It looks like his hands have gotten better, but this fight was way too quick to really make an assessment. Cherant’s weight miss was so bad, that I think I need to mention it again. 9 lbs is a big miss. The LFA is an organized MMA promotion, not a fly-by-night bar-room enterprise, there are weight classes for a reason. What I think should happen is, Cherant should give Murray an immediate rematch and make weight this time -I dont care if its even for another promotion.
Jeff Jepsen vs Mando Gutierrez – Bantamweight
Round 1
Jepsen eats some big knees, almost gets hanged by a guillotine and then beat up on the ground. Gutierrez takes the back and then gets the RNC. 🚩Gutierrez wins by submission.
Gutierrez was more physical, and just more dominant in this contest. He treated Jepsen like he was not on his level. I’ll be looking to see more from Gutierrez. Jepsen didn’t look horrible; he tried what he could, but he didn’t have the technical tools to deal with a stronger fighter. The thing is, if you dont have the physical gifts for fighting, you better have the technical gifts. And when you have both -Well, that’s when you’re a Jon Jones, or a Kamaru Usman.
Mark Martin vs Tony Grant – Welterweight
Round 1
Martin clinches. Martin eventually gets the takedown and beats down Grant and rocks him with an uppercut. Grant goes down and Martin beats him up on the floor. 🚩Martin wins by TKO
Grant was very tentative in this contest and did not offer much. Martin is good, but with his style I’d like to see him work on his clinch Muay Thai game. Yes, Elbows and Knees. If his clinch gets better, guys will crumple and then his wrestling can take over. It will be interesting to see how Martin develops
Jacob Heavlin vs Jordan Heiderman – Heavyweight
Round 1
They clinch and strike against the cage. Heavlin gets cut. Heavlin keeps coming forward and eating punches.
Round 2
Slow motion fighting with Heiderman being more ellusive. The Jab is winning the fight for Heiderman.
Round 3
They circle and throw one shot at a time. Heavlin gets a takedown and Heiderman is able to reverse it. 🚩Heiderman wins by Split decision.
Heavlin must think a big part of fighting is eating shots. Its entertaining, but you certainly want to GIVE more punches than you receive. -I thought that was the goal. Heiderman should’ve went to the body earlier, and his conditioning could be a lot better.
Jimmy Flick and his interview after LFA 86 was unBroken