Cage Fury Fighting Championships took center stage on UFC Fight Pass Saturday evening while other major promotions were idle.
CFFC 97 served as the second event on back-to-back nights for the promotion in Philadelphia, headlined by a title fight in the strawweight division between undefeated champ Elise Reed and Hilarie Rose, a Dana White Contender Series veteran.
The first round of the main event was a wild one with crazy scrambles on the mat. It all started after the pair exchanged blows on the feet and Rose attempted a takedown. The champ Reed would defend the attempt well, but her opponent popped back up and locked in a standing arm triangle submission attempt.
Reed ended up on top of her opponent on the canvas, starting a series of wild transitions and submission attempts until the round expired.
This is getting close….#CFFC97 pic.twitter.com/DuAgZNFgPm
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) May 30, 2021
To start the second round, the two strawweights traded strikes on the feet, with Reed finding a home for her right hand a number of times, prompting a takedown attempt from Rose. The champ defended the takedown again, resulting in a clinch along the fence before Reed brought the fight to the mat and began raining down punches. Rose was able to grab a hold of Reed and attempt another armbar, but staying calm, the champ worked her way out of it with 30 seconds remaining in the round.
The escape would spell the end of the fight for Reed, as the champ unleashed a series of hard elbow strikes from the top, forcing the referee to call a stop to the action with only a few seconds remaining in the round.
Reed successfully defended her CFFC strawweight title for the second time with an emphatic finish, calling out any and all challengers for her title.
“I’ve got the belt. Someone come and get it,” Reed stated.
The main card as a whole had its share of exciting finishes, including a trio of rear-naked choke finishes from Jose Perez, James Lyons, and Efren Escareno.
That was nonsense.#CFFC97 pic.twitter.com/vYHmkFatpY
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) May 30, 2021
Ol’ John Morgan was pumped about that one.#CFFC97 pic.twitter.com/vopw6tZqHF
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) May 30, 2021
Check out the full results from CFFC 97 below:
MAIN CARD
- Elise Reed def Hilarie Rose via TKO (elbows) – Round 2, 4:57
- Jose Perez def. Jaleon Alston via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:04
- James Lyons def. Beau Samaniego via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:01
- Feraris Golden def. Nicholas Giulietti via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Efren Escareno def Matt Turnbull via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:15
- Greg Velasco def. Halston Williams via TKO (ground and pound) – Round 1, 3:18
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Matthew Hicks def. Kyle Broadwater via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)