A previously-vacant title now has a Brazilian owner following LFA 126, which took place Friday at Complexo Ribalta in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In the featherweight title fight main event, Jose Delano (10-2) battled Dana White’s Contender Series alum Jonas Bilharinho (9-2-1) but no champion was crowned. Delano won via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 48-47) after five hard-fought rounds.
Delano wasn’t even originally scheduled for the five-round main event. He prepared for a main card opener, which he missed weight for by six pounds Thursday. When originally-scheduled headline fighter Rafael Barbosa was pulled by CABMMMA (sanctioning body), Delano stepped in but was ineligible for a title in a last-second elevation into the headlining bout.
The first two rounds were closely contested as Delano led the dance and bloodied Bilharinho. In Round 3, Delano dragged the fight to the canvas and remained heavy on top.
The fighters entered the championship rounds and Delano continued to make things ugly. He tied up Bilharinho in the clinch, but ate a big head-splitting elbow. Blood poured down from the middle of his forehead as the striking resumed. The final round was perhaps the most violent of the fight as both bloody fighters landed wild spinning strikes in the final seconds. When the dust settled, Delano had a new piece of hardware.
After the fight, Delano vowed to make weight in his next outing, should LFA grant him another opportunity.
The loss stings for Bilharinho, who many fans thought was snubbed on DWCS in 2021. Bilharinho landed a highlight-reel wheel kick knockout on the series, but was not awarded a contract from the UFC president.
What a way to close out a WILD fight#LFA126 pic.twitter.com/jdTICWYdKZ
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) March 12, 2022
In the co-main event, Gabriel Bonfim (12-0) made a major statement in a big way. Entering the fight with a hugely lopsided record, Bonfim widened the spread when he pieced up Eduardo Garvon (13-4) on the feet before he sunk in a deep D’Arce choke. The tap came shortly thereafter and made Bonfim the seventh welterweight champion in LFA history.
Quickest hands in Brazil??#LFA126 pic.twitter.com/0BNNWcDI5V
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) March 12, 2022
What a good night to be a Bonfim!!
Give him the belt!!!#LFA126 pic.twitter.com/mzManI87s3
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) March 12, 2022
Before titles were on the line, other rising Brazilian prospects made the most of their moments under the spotlight of an international stream.
Heavyweight Eduardo Neves (5-0) remained undefeated with a violent bonanza of punches that marked the beginning of the end for previously unbeaten Andre Vieira (4-1). Neves finished the fight 64 seconds into Round 1.
Bantamweight Tamires Vidal (6-1) showed off her slick submission skills when she snatched a slick, second-round heel hook against Queila Braga (5-2).
OVER AND OUT!#LFA126 pic.twitter.com/VInL4EBCF8
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) March 12, 2022
She sneaks the submission in!#LFA126 pic.twitter.com/9fPU7CNCew
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) March 12, 2022
In the opening main card bout, Rodolfo Vieira (8-1) maintained his winning ways with a buzzer-beating triangle choke against Thiago Vieira (11-5).
The event marked the promotion’s second trip to Brazil after two events in one weekend, LFA 111 and LFA 112 in July 2021. The internationally-streamed platform is somewhat unique for the talent in Brazil. Although the country has produced numerous UFC fighters, many enter the promotion with little or no fight tape on the internet.
LFA CEO Ed Soares, a longtime manager of legendary Brazilian fighters Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira among others, has indicated Brazil will regularly be in the promotion’s rotation from here on out. LFA plans to return in May 2022.
The LFA 126 results include:
- Jose Delano def. Jonas Bilharinho via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 48-47)
- Gabriel Bonfirm def. Eduardo Garvon via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 1, 1:19 – for vacant welterweight title
- Ismael Bonfim def. Andrey Augusto via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Eduardo Neves def. Andre Vieira via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:04
- Tamires Vidal def. Queila Braga via submission (heel hook) – Round 2, 3:36
- Rodolfo Bellato def. Thiago Vieira via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 4:58
- Gabriel Alves Braga def. Rogerio Ferreira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
