For the first time in his MMA career, heavyweight prospect Denzel Freeman can call himself a champion.
Freeman dethroned “Dana White’s Contender Series” alum Hugo Cunha on Saturday night to become the new LFA Heavyweight Champion. The second-round finish victory from Freeman headlined an action-heavy card from the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA.
Cunha looked to rely on his grappling background to win the fight, although his gameplan backfired. He failed to keep Freeman—who has a base in Greco-Roman wrestling—on the mat early in the bout, as the American would immediately spring back up to his feet after each takedown.
Freeman started to punish Cunha for his failed takedown attempts by the second round, kicking off the finishing sequence for the fight. After blocking an attempt from Cunha, Freeman started to unload with ground and pound shots.
Freeman maintained his high output of strikes for the next minute or so, continuing to unload as the fight went back to the feet.
After another pair of failed takedowns from Cunha, Freeman kept a top control position while continuing to let punches go. He kept with these strikes until the referee stopped the bout a little over two minutes into the round.
Freeman admitted afterward that his gas tank was in trouble near the end of the fight.
“I don’t know if you can tell, but, I’m tired right now,” Freeman said during his post-fight interview. “My arms are pretty dead, so the ref saved me there.”
The former WWE trainee now has his first regional title through seven pro fights. He earned the opportunity shortly after winning his promotional debut, submitting Steven Asplund in September.
Freeman had a brief run on the PFL roster before then, appearing on a pair of their cards in 2023.
For Cunha, Saturday offered a chance to come back from a massive loss he suffered in recent months. The Brazilian talent fell short during a chance to enter the UFC roster last August, losing via stoppage to Rizvan Kuniev on “Dana White’s Contender Series.”
The 32-year-old was coming back this weekend to the promotion where he became champ in late 2023, submitting Eduardo Neves on a card in Brazil. He’s now on the first two-fight skid of his career.
All five fights on LFA’s main card ended in finishes this evening. In the opener, former “Contender Series” talent An Tuan Ho bounced back from his first pro loss with a 16-second win.
The co-main event caused a scare, as losing competitor Ednilson Santos was carried away in a stretcher after his second-round defeat to Dylan Mantello.
Here are the quick results from LFA 204:
Main Card (9:00PM EDT) (UFC Fight Pass)
Bout 9: Denzel Freeman def. Hugo Cunha via TKO, Strikes (RD 2, 2:10) (LFA Heavyweight Championship)
Bout 8: Dylan Mantello def. Ednilson Santos via TKO, Strikes (RD 2, 2:36)
Bout 7: Joe Giannetti def. Leonardo Limberger via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 4:10)
Bout 6: Luis Henrique Barbosa def. Justin Sumter via Submission, Kimura (RD 2, 4:45)
Bout 5: An Tuan Ho def. Jimi Natividad via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 0:16)
Preliminary Card
Bout 4: Kyle Pufahl def. Kevin Carrier via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 3: Quentin Pasley def. Reylan Gracie via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 1:31)
Bout 2: Rodrigo Brauna def. Kelvin Sterling via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 1: Melvin Jovel def. Gates Cook via Decision, Unanimous (Amateur)
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