This article is the play-by-play to accompany the live coverage for LFA 87. Live coverage of the event can be found here.
Quick Results:
Preliminary Card
Bout 1: Ryan Charlebois def. Andrew Lipp via KO, Punch (RD 1, 3:37)
Main Card (8:00PM EDT / 7:00PM CDT) (UFC Fight Pass)
Bout 2: Zac Pauga def. Zac Cavender via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 3: Gerald Scott def. Keith Phatheam via TKO, Punches (RD 2, 4:33)
Bout 4: Kai Kamaka III def. Michael Stack via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 5: Joaquin Buckley def. Jackie Gosh via TKO, Punches (RD 2, 1:47)
Bout 6: Nick Browne def. Ben Egli via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 7: Bryce Logan def. Jacob Rosales via Decision, Unanimous (Vacant LFA Lightweight Championship)
Live Coverage:
Bout 2: Zac Cavender (3-1) vs. Zac Pauga (0-0) (Light Heavyweight)
Pauga got a leg kick early to put Cavender in a clinch against the cage. He got a takedown shortly after, moving into side control, Cavender got ahold of a leg from the bottom, although Pauga was able to escape. Pauga got on the back of Cavender, throwing punches to the side of Cavender’s head. They got back up in the second minute, although Pauga was quick to score another takedown. Cavender was bleeding slightly due to strikes. Cavender tried for an armbar, trying for a kneebar moments after. Paige stood up, with Cavender keeping ahold of a leg. Pauga escaped the hold, moving into side control with under two minutes to work. They got up with just over a minute to go, where Cavender landed Pauga went into a clinch for a moment. Cavender was bleeding a fair amount on the left side of his face at this point. Pauga landed a knee to the body, putting Cavender against the cage for a moment after. They stayed on the feet as the round ended.
Pauga got a single leg takedown in the first minute of the second round. They traded strikes while Pauga held full and half guard on top. Cavender tried to get up, only getting to the feet in the final few seconds of the round.
The final round started slow as both fighters were clearly fatigued. Pauga put Cavender in a clinch against the cage in the third minute after they went to their knees for a moment. Cavender was able to land elbows from the position. Pauga tried for a takedown from the position but could not secure one. The fight stayed in the position, where Cavender was able to land dozens of strikes. After three rounds, Pauga got his MMA debut victory (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Cavender | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
| Pauga | 10 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
Bout 3: Keith Phatheam (2-1-1) vs. Gerald Scott (3-0) (Lightweight)
As the close striking battle between the two was heating up a pause came as Phatheam was hit in the groin. Scott landed a series of good body kicks in the final minute after they resumed. Phatheam was kept on the perimeter of the cage for the round.
Phatheam had a hot start to the second round, putting Scott against the fence in the first 10 seconds of the bout. They separated shortly after, although Scott got a takedown later, going into half guard. While Phatheam would shift around, Scott was able to stay on top and in control for many minutes. Scott stood up in the final minute, pouring on a flurry of punches until the referee ended the fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Phatheam | 9 | |||
| Scott | 10 |
Bout 4: Michael Stack (4-0) vs. Kai Kamaka III (6-2) (Featherweight)
The fighters were throwing hard punches right off the bat in the first round. Kamaka III stopped a takedown attempt in the first round, putting Stack against the cage while on his back after. They separated after Kamaka III threw a kick to the body. They clinched in the second minute, although there was a scare before the clinch when they collided heads for a moment. Kamaka III was putting together strong combinations on the feet throughout the round. Kamaka III tried for a takedown in the closing seconds of the round, although Stack was able to stay to a clinch.
The hard strikes continued in the second round. In the second minute Stack had a good combination after exiting a clinch, scoring a combination of elbows and punches to the head and body. Stack had a series of uppercuts in the fourth minute, which Kamaka III stopped by putting Stack against the cage in a clinch. When they separated, Stack continued to be the better striker in the round.
Stack wobbled Kamaka III with a punch early in the third round. Kamaka III got a double leg takedown in the second minute of the round. After Kamaka III stayed in full guard for a while, the referee stood the fighters up due to inactivity. They went back to striking on the feet with a minute left. The fighters traded punches in the final minute. Kamaka III was given a unanimous decision after three rounds (29-28, 29-28 & 29-28).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Stack | 9 | 10 | 9 | 28 |
| Kamaka III | 10 | 9 | 10 | 29 |
Bout 5: Joaquin Buckley (9-2) vs. Jackie Gosh (8-2) (Middleweight)
The fight had an explosive start on the feet with both fighters throwing a wide array of strikes including a flying knee from Gosh. Gosh tried for a takedown in the second minute, although Buckley kept the fight on the feet. Buckley scored a hard combination in the third minute, scoring a head and body punch combination. Gosh tried for another takedown in the fourth minute, but Buckley was able to avoid. Buckley had a strong finish to the round, scoring a combination of punches in the final minute that put Gosh against the cage.
Buckley was taunting Gosh during striking exchanges at the start of the second round. He shouted at Gosh, telling him to fight. Buckley came forward with punches early in the second round that had Gosh backing up and covering up. A three-punch combination in the second minute of the round dropped Gosh, ending the fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Buckley | 10 | |||
| Gosh | 9 |
Bout 6: Nick Browne (9-1) vs. Ben Egli (12-3) (Lightweight)
After a minute or so of striking, Browne tried for a takedown. Egli kept the attempt to a clinch on the feet. Browne got a takedown in another attempt in the fourth minute of the fight. Browne held full guard on the ground, landing some slaps to the body during the time. They stayed in this position until the round ended.
Brown put Egli against the cage in a clinch a minute into the second round. They went down again, with Brown in full mount on top. Egli was able to escape the position, with the fight getting back to a clinch on the feet with three minutes left in the round. Staying in the clinch, Browne got another takedown halfway through the round. Egli slipped out, almost getting on the back of Browne for a moment. Browne was able to get on top in a north south position for a moment before moving into side control. Brown moved into full mount, posturing up and landing some punches. Egli was able to put Browne in a half guard. Egli got into side control on top with jut over 30 seconds left in the fight. They went to the feet with 20 seconds to go. Browne got a takedown, going down on the back of Egli and staying there until the round ended.
The final round started with some clinch work from both fighters. Browne got a throw takedown from a clinch, and while Egli tried to reverse, Brown landed in full guard in the end. Egli tried for an armbar that Browne was able to escape. Egli was able to take control on the ground, going into side control. They went back to their feet with a minute-and-a-half to go in the round. Egli rolled to the ground with Browne on his back. Egli tried for a kneebar with less than a minute left. Browne escaped the hold, moving into a side control after. Browne tried for an armbar that was seemingly locked in, although Egli rolled out. The round ran out of time shortly after. Needing scorecards to find a winner, Browne was picked by all three (29-28, 29-28 & 30-27).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Browne | 10 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
| Egli | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
Bout 7: Bryce Logan (11-4) vs. Jacob Rosales (12-5) (Vacant LFA Lightweight Championship)
Rosales landed a clean two-punch combination in the first minute of the fight. They clinched in the second minute, although Rosales shoved Logan off seconds later. The rest of the fight on the feet was slow, as both fighters threw singular shots most of the time. Logan was connecting more, even playing a counter-punching role, waiting for Rosales to come into his range.
Logan dropped Rosales in the second minute of the second round with a jab. Rosales stayed on his back on the ground, grabbing a leg of Logan after he approached. Logan landed some hammerfist punches to Rosales, who was on the ground. Rosales, who was bleeding from the nose at this point, was stood up with half of the round to go. Rosales was the advancing fighter on the feet, with Logan backpedalling and avoiding strikes.
Rosales, who was still advancing in the third round, landing a good three-punch combo early in the round. Logan continued to succeed in a counter-punching role, scoring with small shots throughout.
Rosales shot for a takedown in the fourth round, with Logan keeping it to a clinch before separating. Logan was able to score a double leg takedown in the final minute of the round. Rosales tried for a heel hook from the bottom. Logan ended the round by landing a few hammerfist strikes.
The final round saw Rosales land his strikes, with Logan strafing side to side and attempting to avoid strikes. Logan tried for a takedown in the final minute of the fight, putting Rosales against the cage in a clinch after. Rosales tried to throw punches from the clinch until the round ran out of time. After 25 minutes of battle, the judges crowned Logan as the new LFA Lightweight Champion (48-47, 48-47 & 48-47).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Total |
| Logan | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 49 |
| Rosales | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 46 |
Knockdown News 