CFFC 71 results – Balmaceda vs. Norris – UFC Fight Pass
Cage Fury Fighting Championships returns to Atlantic City, New Jersey, tonight, December 14, for another night of professional mixed martial arts action with a stacked CFFC 71 fight card.
Former WWE superstar turned UFC fighter CM Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, will commentate tonight’s action at the Borgata Hotel and Casino. The event marks the organization’s first on UFC Fight Pass.
The main event is an interim lightweight title fight between Damian Norris and Cesar Balmaceda.
The first fight on UFC Fight Pass following early prelims was Pat Sabatini vs. Da’Mon Blackshear. Sabatini, the CFFC featherweight champ kept Blackshear’s back to the cage for much of the fight, putting the challenger at a disadvantage. It was a pretty dominant four-round fight in favor of the champion as he landed several takedowns and controlled much of the fight, ending the fight with ground and pound before going to the judges for a decision. Sabatini retains unanimously.
Andre Bernardo entered his bantamweight bout against top Russian prospect Alexander Keshtov on roughly one week’s notice. Keshtov found early success with his strikes as he battered and bloodied the Brazilian Zombie. But… just as zombies are known to do, Bernando came back from the dead. He would not be put down, he kept on fighting. In the third round, referee Gasper Oliver suffered a footwear malfunction and temporarily halted the fight to fix his shoe. Odd thing to do, and luckily had no impact on the bout. Keshtov keeps pounding away, fights to the bell. You have to give it to Bernardo for hanging in there. Keshtov remains undefeated and wins bantamweight title.
Former UFC fighter and CFFC champion Jonavin Webb looked fantastic in his welterweight bout with the visiting Hugh Pulley from Missiouri. Webb’s striking was sharp, crisp, and on-point. By the time there were less than three minutes left in the fight, Webb had found a groove, lighting Pulley up like a Christmas tree. Seconds later, the fight is on the ground and Pulley is on top, in Webb’s guard.
A women’s strawweight bout between Miranda Granger and Jamie Colleen could propel the winner into the UFC. The fight did not last very long. Goes to the ground and Granger works for a choke and then transitions to an armbar where she gets the tap and the victory.
Chase Hooper does not look like your typical fighter, tall, skinny, young, but finds himself here in the night’s co-main event against Lashawn Alcocks. Hooper, the taller fighter was controlling a lot of the fight. Both his grappling and striking looked fantastic. With two and a half minutes left in the fight, Alcocks stuns Hooper, knocks him down. It does not look good. Then Hooper able to recover and fight back. Hooper throws a kick and Alcocks catches it and throws his opponent to the ground. The fight goes the distance and is ruled a split draw.
The 30-year old Damian Norris feels the 23-year old Cesar Balmaceda will go too hard and get tired out early in the night’s main event. Right out the gate, it is Balmaceda bringing the pressure. Shortly into the fight Balmaceda knocks Norris down and continues the ground and pound before the referee calls an end to the fight. Norris is protesting the stoppage. Balmaceda takes home the interim title.
Complete CFFC 71 results below:
Bantamweight – Justin Clarke defeated Daniel Rodriguez via knockout – Round 1, 0:51
Featherweight – Paul Capaldo defeated Bobby Malcolm via knockout – Round 2, 3:04
Featherweight – Josh Altum defeated BJ Young via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:28
Welterweight – Tajuddin Abdul Hakim defeated Marco Smallman via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Flyweight – Joseph Penafiel vs. Santo Curatolo
Featherweight – Pat Sabatini defeated Da’Mon Blackshear via unanimous decision (40-35, 40-36, 40-36) for CFFC featherweight title
Bantamweight – Alexander Keshtov defeated Andre Bernardo via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26) for CFFC bantamweight title
Welterweight – Jonavin Webb defeated Hugh Pulley via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Strawweight – Miranda Granger defeated Jamie Colleen via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:11
Lightweight – Lashawn Alcocks vs. Chase Hooper ruled a split draw (29-28, 28-29, 28-28)
Lightweight – Cesar Balmaceda defeated Damian Norris via TKO – Round 1, 1:44
