Going head-to-head with Invicta FC, LFA returned on Friday with LFA 83. From The Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas, USA, the card was stacked with prospects. In the main event, Damon Jackson returned from promotion PFL to fight against Mauro Chaulet.
Quick Results – Click a fight to skip to its part:
Bout 1: Fernie Garcia def. Jay Viola via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 2: Victor Altamirano def. Chris Ocon via Decision, Split
Bout 3: Vernon Lewis def. Austen Lane via TKO, Punches (RD 1, 4:10)
Bout 4: Hailey Cowan def. Brittney Cloudy via Decision, Split
Bout 5: Matt Dixon def. Justin Patterson via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 6: Damon Jackson def. Mauro Chaulet via Submission, Rear Naked Choke (RD 1, 2:11)
Full Coverage
Bout 1: Fernie Garcia (6-1) vs. Jay Viola (3-1) (Bantamweight)
The first fight on the main card saw Fernie Garcia fight the much older Jay Viola in a bantamweight match. Garcia threw lots of punches in the second minute, not giving Viola the opportunity to answer back. Viola weathered the storm until Garcia threw another flurry. The punches made Viola start to bleed. Halfway through the round, they brought in a doctor to check out the cuts on Viola’s face. After being wiped off, the fight resumed. Viola was charging forward, but kept getting hit by more punches than he was connecting with. To call this a kickboxing match wouldn’t even be fair, as not kicks were being thrown. It was a boxing match in MMA gloves. Garcia continued to out-land Viola until the round ended.
After the dominant striking from Garcia continued in the first minute of the second round, he got a takedown. Garcia tried for a guillotine choke for a second before they got to their feet in a clinch against the cage. Viola tried for a single leg takedown, never getting it. Viola threw a combination of punches that put Garcia against the cage again, trying for another takedown. Both fighters landed some punches, albeit none of them fight ending. Garcia tried for another takedown, not obtaining it. Both fighters were quite tired as the round ended.
The final round saw both fatigued fighters slug it out. Garcia connected more often, however it was Viola advancing throughout. Garcia landed a good right cross in the fourth minute of the fight. The fight went all three rounds, with Fernie Garcia getting a landslide win (30-27, 30-27 & 30-26).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Garcia | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Viola | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
Bout 2: Victor Altamirano (6-1) vs. Chris Ocon (4-1) (Flyweight)
Attempting to bounce back from his loss to former UFC fighter Jarred Brooks, Victor Altamirano returned to LFA to fight Chris Ocon. Altamirano started with lots of kicks. Early on, the fighters were seemingly taking turns throwing their combinations. They were connecting with shots, but none of it was hard enough to put anyone in trouble. It was a very strategic striking round. Altamirano shot for a takedown in the final seconds, but Ocon stuffed it.
In the first minute of the second round, Altamirano landed a head kick which head Ocon backtracking. While running backwards, Ocon scored a takedown. They both landed some strikes from their position on the ground. Altamirano tried for a guillotine for a moment while on his back. Altamirano kept quite active with striking from the bottom.
Ocon got his second takedown in the first minute of the final round. Ocon punched Altamirano in the side while holding top position. The referee stood them up with just over a minute to go in the fight. They stayed in stand-up for the final minute of the fight. Ocon had Altamirano up against the cage as the clock ran out. In a split decision, Victor Altamirano got back in the win column, getting his seventh win in LFA (29-28 Ocon, 29-28 Altamirano & 29-28 Altamirano).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Altamirano | 10 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
| Ocon | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
Bout 3: Vernon Lewis (7-3) vs. Austen Lane (6-2) (Heavyweight)
In a heavyweight fight, Vernon Lewis and former NFL player Austen Lane fought. Lane, who was the much taller fighter, threw a leg kick to start the fight. Lewis clinched up early, getting a takedown from it. From the bottom, Lane tried for an ankle lock. Lewis eventually escaped, going into half guard on top. Lane threw some elbows from the bottom. Lewis postured up and started to throw strikes. Lane stopped the striking by moving. In side control, Lewis started to throw elbows. Lane got cut open from one of the strikes. Lewis started to throw punches, with the referee eventually stopping it. Getting his second LFA win in a row, Vernon Lewis stops Austen Lane.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Lewis | ||||
| Lane |
Bout 4: Hailey Cowan (4-1) vs. Brittney Cloudy (2-1) (Bantamweight)
In the solo womens fight of the card, Hailey Cowan fought Brittney Cloudy. Cowan put Cloudy against the fence early on. They exchanged knees to the body while in the clinch. Cowan sliped after throwing a kick, getting put in a clinch when she got up. Cloudy exploded with punches when they left clinch. They clinched up again in the final minute of the round. Cloudy ended the round with a right cross, then throwing Cowan.
Just like the round before, the second round saw lots of clinch work from the fighters. Up against the cage, Cloudy tried for a guillotine. Cloudy landed some elbows when exiting clinch. Seconds later, she caught a kick to dump Cowan to the ground. Cloudy took top position on the ground. Cowan tried for an armbar, never fully getting it. Cloudy endured the armbar until the round ended.
The final round started with a clinch. Cloudy got a trip takedown with three minutes to go. Cloudy got on the back of Cowan, trying for a rear naked choke. She was able to escape, however Cloudy kept on her, trying for the choke again moments later. With a minute left, Cloudy tried for an armbar. They got up with 10 seconds to go. After going the distance, a split decision awarded Hailey Cowan a win (29-28 Cowan, 29-28 Cloudy & 29-28 Cowan).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Cowan | 10 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
| Cloudy | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
Bout 5: Matt Dixon (8-0) vs. Justin Patterson (11-5) (Welterweight)
The co-main event of the show saw undefeated Matt Dixon fight Justin Patterson. Patterson’s striking was connecting early. Dixon found a perfectly timed double leg takedown a minute into the fight. They got back up halfway through the round. Dixon dropped Patterson with a kick to the leg. Patterson still had power in his fists, showing impact when he would land on Dixon. Dixon tried for another takedown, although this time Patterson stopped. Patterson landed another punch before Dixon tried for a takedown, not getting it before the round ran out of time.
Dixon got a takedown in the first minute of the second round after enduring some punches. They stood up halfway through the round. Patterson continued to connect with shots. Dixon put Patterson up against the cage with two minutes to go in the round. Dixon got a trip takedown with a minute left. From the bottom, Patterson landed elbows to the body.
Dixon got a takedown in the third round, bloodying Patterson with strikes. He took the back of Patterson for a moment. They got back up with under two minutes to go. Dixon got another takedown with a minute and a half to go. They fight ended with Dixon in side control. Consulting the judges, Matt Dixon remained undefeated (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27). The broadcast was shocked by this stoppage. The crowd, not so much.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Dixon | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
| Patterson | 10 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
Bout 6: Mauro Chaulet (14-6) vs. Damon Jackson (16-3) (Featherweight)
Main eventing the card, Mauro Chaulet fought Damon Jackson. Being from Dallas, Texas, Jackson had the crowd behind him. Right off the bat, Chaulet got hit with a head kick. Chaulet got dropped by a hook a few seconds later. On the ground, Jackson got on the back of Chaulet. He tried for a rear naked choke, letting it go eventually. Upon putting it back on a minute later, Chaulet tapped out. Getting back in the win column, Damon Jackson got a quick win over Mauro Chaulet.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Chaulet | ||||
| Jackson |
LFA’s next event is on March 20th, with LFA 84 from the Arizona Federal Theater in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Main eventing the show, Daniel Madrid and undefeated Impa Kasanganay battle for the vacant LFA Middleweight Championship.
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