The LFA stayed in Oklahoma for LFA 102. Elijah Johns was beaten by Bruno Souza by Split decision in the main event. The Event featured the 3 person booth, and although I’m not a fan of the three person booth, I didn’t mind this one. Rafael Lovato Jr. was on commentary, and the man is good. -Analytical, fair, immense BJJ knowledge. – I was very impressed. Sanko was there also… She was OK, but at times you could hear a little fighter bias in her commentary. IMO commentators need to throw their egos and biases out the door and call what they see.
Main Event
Elijah Johns vs Bruno Souza– Featherweight – Souza missed weight
Round 1
Kicks from Souza. Souza drops his hands, and is counter-fighting. John lands some hard shots but Souza wears them well
Round 2
Souza has some effective counterstriking, and he does well to stay away from the takedown
Round 3
Johns gets some big takedowns and does work on the floor. 🚩Bruno Souza wins by Split decision
I thought the fight was very close, but I thought Elijah Johns won this fight. I gave him rounds 1 & 3, and I think that Souza hand a very good poker face. Also Souza came in heavy for this fight, and that information is critical, because Johns went for several takedowns in the first round and could not score them. Its a tough break for Johns, because I think he would’ve gotten a UFC call after this win. He still has a fantastic record, and I can see him breaking into the UFC with a win after this. He may also get a contender series call. I dont think Johns was able to pressure Souza like he wanted to. IMO Johns should’ve been throwing more body shots against the counter-striker. I think Souza improved from the last time I’ve seen him, he has exciting fights because he puts his chin on the line but, Souza fights a classic boxer, I can see him getting finished easily.
Gregory Rodrigues vs Al Matavao – Middleweight
Round 1
Rodrigues gets a takedown , gets a big slam and stays on Matavao’s back. Rodrigues puts a storm on Matavao
Round 2
Rodrigues hits Matavao with a big uppercut and finishes him with strikes against the cage. 🚩Rodriguez wins by TKO
Rodrigues was very impressive in this fight. He was landing everything he wanted to, and TBH Matavao didn’t look like was on Rodrigues’ level. The grappling looked good and the striking looked good. One thing that looked a little iffy about Rodrigues was the gas tank. Rodrigues looked like he was laboring at the end of the 1st round. This win sets up a Rodrigues vs Fremd middleweight title fight – And UFC call. Exciting
Nikolay Veretennikov vs Steve Jones – Welterweight
Round 1
Veretennikov with good kicks and loading up on his punches. Jones is a dog, and absorbs a lot of punishement.
Round 2
Veretennikov is loading up his punches, but is throwing good kicks
Round 3
Jones eats some big knees, but fights hard till the end.🚩 Veretennikov wins by unanimous decision
Veretennikov has poor punches. He loads up and throws sloppy 1-2s, but his kicks and knees are amazing. He has some of the best kicks that I’ve ever seen at Welterweight, and the Kazakh is a big Welterweight too. Steve Jones had a good fight, Jones is tough, but he endured too much punishment before he could start to get his wrestling game going. This was a high level contest.
AJ Cunningham vs Javier Garcia – Featherweight
Round 1
Garcia is countering well and Cunningham is flatfooted and eating shots. Garcia shows a good wrestling game in this round as well
Round 2
Cunningham gets 2 takedowns, but Garcia looks comfortable on the ground and tries for some submissions
Round 3
Garcia is just staying technical and doing work on the feet, Garcia gets a big takedown and does work on the floor.🚩 Javier Garcia wins by unanimous decision
Cunningham looks strong, and has a good chin, but his footwork is awful. In contrast, I thought Garcia’s footwork was excellent. Garcia also seemed to have a good fundamental MMA game. -He wasn’t especially fast nor powerful, but he had meat and potato striking, good technical grappling and again…good footwork. I hope to see more from Garcia
Brandon Lewis vs Jimmy Meza – Bantamweight – Meza missed weight
Round 1
Even round. Meza and Lewis are eating a lot and throwing a lot. Good footwork by both guys, but they both eat a lot of punches
Round 2
Lewis drops Meza and does work on the ground. Meza takes down Lewis and they both have a sloppy striking match
Round 3
Sloppy firefight with both guys eating shots. 🚩Lewis wins by split decision.
There wasn’t a lot between these two. No defense from either guy
Alberto Rodriguez vs Chris Mecate – Featherweight
Round 1
Mecate lands some big shots but doesnt follow up. Mecate throws a blind right hook and drops Rodriguez and finishes him on the ground. 🚩Mecate wins by TKO
Early days for both guys, Rodriguez was looking better early, but he was second guessing himself and paid the price. No half-stepping in MMA
Harris Talundzic vs Luis Iniguez – Welterweight
Round 1
Iniguez is moving around well and Iniguez has some wild striking. Talundzic grapples and has some success
Round 2
Sloppiness from both with Talundzic getting a takedown
Round 3
Talundzic gets a takedown. Iniguez does more damage. 🚩Talundzic wins by unanimous decision
Sloppy. Poor striking from both guys. Talundzic had the better grappling, but it was nothing to write home about
Gregory Rodrigues was unbroken @ LFA 102