The LFA rolled into Albuquerque, New Mexico and I watched some fights and checked out some of the talent coming through.
Main Event
Jaleel Willis vs Harvey Park – Lightweight
Round 1
Willis clinches immediately. Park is able to break the clinch, and the two have a feeling out patch. Park has very poor head movement, and for some reason Willis is looking to take him down. Willis looks like he’s fighting scared- a lot of unsure movements and backing off. Park eventually rocks Willis, which sits him down. Park throws an illegal knee to a grounded opponent, the knee glances off Willis’ head, and Park finishes him with punches.🚩 Park wins by TKO
Park’s striking is terrible. He throws good kicks, and his hands can be fast, but his movement leaves him open for a knockout. Other fighters that want to make a name for themselves will be licking their chops. The result of the fight may change, due to Park’s illegal knee, that the referee missed.
Demetrius Wilson vs Joby Sanchez – Flyweight
Round 1
Sanchez’s movement is excellent. Wilson seems to need more head movement, maybe I’m wrong about this because, Sanchez makes him look so lazy. Sanchez looks so fundamentally sound in this fight, its hard to see him losing it.
Round 2
Sanchez looks classy, but he does not have the killer instinct. Sanchez continues to cut off the cage and outscore Wilson. He finishes the round on top
Round 3
More of the same professional performance from Sanchez. 🚩Sanchez wins by Unanimous decision.
Sanchez needs to add more volume and accuracy to be a better fighter, but his game is already advanced. Wilson didnt seem to have anything for Sanchez in this fight.
Donald Sanchez vs Fernando Padilla – Lightweight
Round 1
Sanchez looks stiff, and he has a lot of holes in his game. The younger Padilla can definitely use this fight to see where he is professionally. Padilla looks better technically, but still eats some shots.
Round 2
Leg kicks put Sanchez down, Padilla stands over him and punches him on the ground, Sanchez eats the shots and goes for a leglock. The ref stops the fight.🚩 Padilla wins by TKO
Sanchez uses his chin like a weapon- he eats shots to get in close. Padilla showed that he didn’t have the power to put away such a defensively poor fighter. He also showed he didnt have the discipline to not get hit, as he took more shots than he should have. The referee stopped the fight early, because though Sanchez was eating those shots, he was intelligently defending himself.
Toninjo Marajo vs Vince Fricilone – Featherweight
Round 1
Fricilone looks uninitiated. He gets rocked to the body. Then eats a brutal knee. Flawless victory for Marajo. He was untested. 🚩Marajo wins by KO
Call him Marajo, call him Gavinho, call him devastating. Sometimes MMA fights don’t look fair and this is one of them.
Flavian Pilgrim vs Sherwin Price – Lightweight
Round 1
Pligrim throws some leg kicks, which eventually sets up a right hand. Price was out before he hit the ground. 🚩Pilgrim wins by KO
We didn’t get to see much more of Pilgrim’s MMA skills, but he looks impressive on the feet, and he has some great looking physical tools as well. He’s definitely one to keep your eye on.
Maycon Mendonca vs Josh Moreno – Welterweight
Round 1
Kicks galore. Mendonca is not moving his head. There are some wild strikes thrown in this one. Towards the end, the strikes get violent. Mendonca looks much better and starts to land. He nearly finishes the fight at the end of the first round with punches and elbows.
Round 2
Moreno’s corner shound assess in their fight can handle the punishement that Mendonca is dishing out. Moreno looks stiff and heavy on his feet. Mondonca uses his elbows like axes, and he bloodies Moreno’s face.
Round 3
Moreno is tough, but I have to think that this lack of defense takes years off your life. Mendonca rocks Moreno early, Moreno is unbroken. Moreno is looking to win this round and he comes on strong. Mendonca puts a blanket on the situation and takes him down. Mendonca sinks in a rear naked choke as the fight comes to an end. Mendoza survives to the bell. 🚩Mendonca wins by Unanimous decision.
Moreno doesn’t lack stamina, he doesn’t lack heart, he doesn’t lack a chin, but he lacks so many other things. He always thought that he could win this fight, and he left himself wide open. This could’ve easily been a career changing fight for Moreno. Mendonca looked good, his offense is devastating, but he too has holes in his game. These two gave the crowd their money’s worth.
Henry Barahona vs Natal Levy – Featherweight
Round 1
Both look talented. A hook kick from Levy rocks Barahona. There is clichwork. Barahona takes Levy down, and Levy gets to show off some good defensive Jiu Jitsu. Barahona finishes on top
Round 2
Levy dumps Barahona off a kick, the fight goes to the mat, and it is obvious that Levy has a better top game than Barahona. They both get back to their feet, and then technique goes out the window. Both guys eat shots.
Round 3
Levy is better at keeping technique and bouncing around even though he looks a little tired. He is also looks more imposing. Barahona on the other hand, doesn’t look violent enough. He looks good at being the nail, but he cant seem to be the hammer. 🚩Levy wins by Unanimous decision.
Barahona might have the better upside, but he needs to get a bit of a mean streak in him. I’d like to see him throw more stuff with bad intentions. Levy is very good fundamentally. He looks like he may need to work on his offensive Jiu Jitsu
Josh Moreno is unbroken