LFA 37 highlights: Two champs crowned, but an early stoppage in one?

Two new champions were crowned at Friday’s LFA 37 event, but did one of them come from an early stoppage?

The event took place at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., and the main card aired on AXS TV.

In the co-headliner, “Head Kick Queen” Sabina Mazo (5-0) didn’t land one of her patented high kicks, but she did cruise to a win over tough but overmatched Shannon Sinn (5-6). As cageside commentator Pat Miletich mentioned, Mazo never really got out of second gear – because she didn’t need to.

Mazo cruised to a striking-heavy win via shutout 50-45 scores across the board. She picked up the organization’s vacant women’s flyweight title with the performance.

While that finish was decisive, the main event had a tad of controversy. Maikel Perez (7-1) used his wrestling and ground control to eventual pin local favorite Sid Bice (8-2) to the mat, where he delivered some fight-ending ground and pound late in the second round.

Here’s another look at the stoppage:

As Miletich notes, they’re not exactly overpowering shots, though Brice seemed to have little answer from his back. Regardless, Perez was crowned the organization’s new flyweight champion with the win.

Also on the card, lightweight Demarques Jackson (8-2) scored a highlight-reel knockout win over Hamilton Ash (7-4) in the first round.

Official LFA 37 results included:

• Maikel Perez def. Sid Bice via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:14 to win vacant flyweight title
• Sabina Mazo def. Shannon Sinn via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) – to win vacant women’s flyweight title
• Jordon Larson def. Clarence Jordan via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 2:50
• Bryce Logan def. Dakota Bush via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Demarques Jackson def. Hamilton Ash via knockout (strikes) – Round 1, 1:48
• Tyler Ray def. Theron Martin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For more on LFA 37, check out the MMA Events section of the site.