LFA 154: Fernando vs. Silva
LFA 154: Fernando vs. Silva was a highly anticipated event that took place on March 11, 2023, at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The event featured a main event between two of the top featherweight prospects in the world, Rafael Fernando and Matheus Silva.
LFA 154: Fernando vs. Silva
The main event between Fernando and Silva was a highly anticipated matchup between two of the most exciting prospects in the featherweight division. Fernando, who is originally from Brazil but trains out of American Top Team in Florida, came into the fight with a record of 9-1 and was looking to continue his climb up the ranks. Silva, who is also from Brazil but trains out of Team Alpha Male in California, came into the fight with a record of 7-1 and was looking to prove himself against a tough opponent.
The fight started with both fighters feeling each other out, with Fernando looking to use his superior striking to keep Silva at bay and Silva looking to close the distance and take the fight to the ground. Fernando was able to land some heavy punches and kicks early in the first round, but Silva was able to weather the storm and take the fight to the ground towards the end of the round.
In the second round, Silva continued to look for takedowns, but Fernando was able to defend well and keep the fight standing. Fernando was able to land some heavy punches and kicks, but Silva was able to land a takedown towards the end of the round and control Fernando on the ground.
The third round saw both fighters come out more aggressively, with Fernando looking to finish the fight with strikes and Silva looking for another takedown. Fernando was able to land some heavy punches and kicks, but Silva was able to take the fight to the ground once again and control Fernando for the majority of the round.
In the end, the judges awarded Silva a unanimous decision victory, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 in his favor. The victory was a huge statement for Silva, who is now one of the top contenders in the featherweight division.
In the co-main event, Minnesota native and UFC veteran Brock Larson took on Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Rafael Monteiro. The fight was a back-and-forth battle, with Larson using his superior wrestling and ground and pound and Monteiro looking to use his grappling to control the fight.
In the end, it was Larson who came out on top, landing heavy strikes and dominating the ground game. The victory was a huge win for Larson, who is now looking to make a run in the welterweight division.
In other main card action, former NCAA Division II wrestling champion Alex Kocic made his professional MMA debut against Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Rodrigo Santos. The fight was a showcase of Kocic's superior wrestling, as he was able to take Santos down at will and control him on the ground for the majority of the fight.
In the end, the judges awarded Kocic a unanimous decision victory, with all three judges scoring the fight 30-27 in his favor. The victory was a huge statement for Kocic, who is now one of the top prospects in the bantamweight division.
Overall, LFA 154 was an exciting event that showcased some of the top talent in the featherweight and welterweight divisions. The main event between Fernando and Silva was a highly anticipated matchup between two of the most exciting prospects in the world, and the co-main event between Larson and Monteiro was a showcase of the wrestling vs. grappling matchup that MMA fans love to see. With the victory, Silva has solidified his status as a top contender in the featherweight division and is now looking to make a run at the LFA title.
