Titan FC 54 results & highlights: Soares vs Franca
On Friday night, Apr. 26, 2019, Titan Fighting Championship returned to action with Titan FC 54. The event takes place at Xtreme Action Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.
The main event features unbeaten Titan FC featherweight champion Jason Soares defending his title against Brazilian mixed martial artist, Ariston Franca. Soares captured the title a little over a year ago when he defeated Luis Gomez at Titan FC 49 via a fourth round submission. “The Specimen” successfully defended the title back in January. Will a win do the trick to get the call up to the UFC? This will be the time to do it as UFC president Dana White will be in attendance for the event.
What an insane fight this was. Soares pummeling Franca on the canvas throughout most of the fight when out of nowhere, the champion is dropped from a vicious knee to the face. Franca pounces in and lands dozens of strikes. A huge gash is opened up under the left eye of Soares, but somehow he survives, shoots a double leg, and pummels the challenger to retain his belt. Crazy comeback and all signs are pointing to Soares headed to the UFC.
After a fourth round and finish like that, somebody’s UFC dream just came true at #TitanFC54…
Find out who by catching the replay HERE!https://t.co/EozqrXZ78z pic.twitter.com/sLRvo5QoOn
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) April 27, 2019
In the co-main event, another title was on the line as Felipe Douglas battled Rafael Alves for the interim Titan FC lightweight title. The first round was nearly split down the middle as far as control goes but it was in the second round that Alves sprung into action, knocking out his opponent, and capturing the gold in the process.
Heading into the main and co-main events, Herbert Burns delivered in a big way. Early in the fight, Burns was able to take former featherweight title challenger Luis Gomez to the mat — Burns’ world. After some patience, Burns was able to sink in a rear naked choke to finish the fight at 2:21 of the opening round. Dana White applauded the performance and nodded his head.
There was certainly a lot of hype around the two title fights, but middleweight Andreas Michailidis certainly put the MMA community, and one would assume the UFC president, on notice with a nasty striking display to pick up a first round finish of UFC vet Marcel Fortuna.
Follow along with MyMMANews.com to stay updated on Titan FC 54.
Titan FC 54 fight card:
Main Card, UFC Fight Pass, 8 p.m. EST:
- Jason Soares defeated Ariston Franca via TKO – Round 4, 2:50 – featherweight title fight
- Rafael Alves defeated Felipe Douglas via KO – Round 2, 2:18 – interim lightweight title fight
- Herbert Burns def. Luis Gomez via submission, Round 1, 2:21
Not a lot ya can do on that one.#TitanFC54 pic.twitter.com/5mtRqOY2VR
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) April 27, 2019
- Andreas Michailidis def. Marcel Fortuna via TKO, Round 1, 4:26
Hey @danawhite, you have a favorite so far?#TitanFC54 pic.twitter.com/RkdSt65tjH
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) April 27, 2019
That didn't take long.#TitanFC54 pic.twitter.com/sAFPNJ71cy
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) April 27, 2019
- Beibit Nazarov def. Thomas Webb via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
- Ange Loosa def. Collin Lubburts via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
- Marc Stevens def. Quartius Stitt via TKO, Round 2, 4:41
Marc Stevens ends the KO drought here at #TitanFC54, hunts Dana down and begs for his UFC opportunity. pic.twitter.com/bwYYQIGP4L
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) April 27, 2019
- Said Sowma def. James Lawson via decision (29-28 x3)
- Matt Wagy def. Edit Terry via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Now they know when you talk about the Hammer,
You talk about a show that's hyped and tight,#TitanFC54 pic.twitter.com/8fhC72qyL3— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) April 27, 2019
- Dylan Salvador def. Kenny Porter via submission, Round 3, 1:04
Dylan Salvador wins by way of the patented "Anaconda Squeeze"#TitanFC54 pic.twitter.com/GUYA6I5kPV
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) April 27, 2019
Preliminary Bouts, Facebook Live, 6:30 p.m EST:
- Muhammadjon Naimov def. Landon Quinones via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Jessica Borga def. Lucie Bertaud via TKO, Round 1, 3:36
- Shaheen Santana def. Marco Simmons via submission, Round 2, 1:55
