LFA 24 results: Curtis Millender scores highlight-reel finish, Mackenzie Dern stays perfect

Four-time Bellator veteran Curtis Millender (13-3) is looking for a return to the big show, and he certainly helped his cause with a 38-second knockout of a tough Matthew Frincu (11-3).

The welterweight contest served as the headlining bout of Friday’s LFA 24 event, which aired on AXS TV from Comerica Theatre in Phoenix.

The two explosive fighters came out looking to bang, and it was Frincu who flashed powerful high kicks to open. However, Millender patiently absorbed the blows, adjusted his angles and countered with a right high kick of his own that landed flush on the chin and sent his opponent crashing to the floor. Millender was poised to follow with additional strikes, but the referee called off the fight at just 38 seconds.

Afterward, an emotional Millender pleaded for a UFC invite, insisting his “circumstances need to change.”

In the bantamweight co-feature, Brazilian import Vinicius Zani (11-4) picked up his fourth consecutive win in impressive fashion, outgunning Joey Miolla (9-3) in a three-round striking battle.

Both fighters came out ready to trade shots, sitting down on every blow from the start. Both landed flush in spots – and both immediately insisted it didn’t hurt – before Miolla eventually brought the fight to the floor. However, he couldn’t keep it there, with Zani popping quickly back to his feet to resume the entertaining exchanges.

The pace slowed a bit in the second, thought both men were still throwing meaningful strikes. Zani controlled the center of the cage for most of the round, and he punctuated his highlights with applause and knowing nods, much to the delight of a vocal crowd.

Zani seemed to gain control as the third unfolded. Powerful low kicks started to dot his opponent’s lead leg, and while Miolla’s returns were still loaded with power, they weren’t thrown frequently or quickly enough to prove truly effective. Miolla scored a takedown with 80 seconds left, but Zani simply pushed the head away, drove elbows inside and created enough space to scramble back to his feet. Zani finished strong with punches and kicks to seal the result, 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27.

In a featured women’s flyweight fight, submission specialist Mackenzie Dern (4-0) earned another tapout, but it was her hands, not her grappling, that earned the win over Mandy Polk (3-4).

After a brief striking exchange to start the contest, it was Dern who looked first for the takedown, though Polk displayed excellent defense to remain upright. Forced to adjust, Dern backed away and fired wild haymakers, rocking Polk with one and sending her to the canvas with another. With Polk dazed on her knees, Dern followed to the floor, slipped to her back and locked in a rear-naked choke, earning a tap at the 2:55 mark of the first frame.

LFA 24 results include:

• Curtis Millender def. Matthew Frincu via knockout (kick) – Round 1, 0:38
• Vinicius Zani def. Joey Miolla via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Mackenzie Dern def. Mandy Polk via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:55
• LaRue Burley def. Maycon Mendonca via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Cory Sandhagen def. Luiz Gavinho via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:00
• Glen Baker def. Kevin Natividad via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:09
• Keoni Diggs def. Nick Chasteen via submission (kneebar) – Round 3, 1:53

For more on LFA 24, check out the MMA Events section of the site.