Legacy Fighting Alliance is in Vail, Colorado for LFA 65. The main event is in the Flyweight division with former title challenger Brandon “Raw Dawg” Royval against UFC vet Joby Sanchez.
The night got started with Jota Ninomiya vs. Daniel Nieto. Ninomiya dropped Nieto with a body kick head kick. Early in the 2nd round a vicious leg kick drops Nieto, follow up ground & pound secures the 2nd round TKO victory.
Fight number two saw Matt Powers vs. Anthony Pineda. Pineda came out showing a full skill set out striking Powers and when the fight hit, Pineda threatened with an armbar. In the third pressuring Powers to the cage Pineda ripped off a 3-punch combination dropping Powers and forcing the ref to jump in signaling the finish.
Fight 3 the final amateur bout saw Carmen Sage vs. Tayler Sprowl. Sprowl came out like a house on fire, letting her hands go. Sage cut the angle put Sprowl on the cage and completed the takedown. The second round saw more top control and grinding from Sage. In the third round Sprowl turned the tables putting Sage on her back, laying in with the leather. After three rounds the judges returned a split decision in favor of Carmen Sage.
The pro card started off with Daniel Argueta vs. Max Rojas. Argueta struck his way into a double leg takedown. Rojas gave his back and got back to a vertical base. Argueta took Rojas down again right away delivering a beating while transitioning between mount and back mount eventually getting the first round finish.
The AXS TV main card started off with Bantamweight action, Adam Martinez vs. Cory Galloway. Galloway controlled the first round with his jab-cross combination. The second round was highlighted by a pair of right hands staggering Galloway. Martinez answered with a takedown an rear naked choke attempt. Martinez scored a second takedown closing out round two on top. Galloway again drops Martinez in the third round with a right hand. Martinez gets up scores his own knock down off a right hand proceeding to jump on a guillotine choke. Galloway would escape it and then get caught back in the guillotine submitting the second time.
Fight 6 Adam Stroup vs. Hayward Charles. Charles tired to by any means take the fight to the ground, but Stroup had other ideas. Charles twice pulled guard eating punches. Stroup was continually scoring with punches from long distance and knees an elbows while in the clinch, with Charles left eye absorbing much or the damage. After the final bell the judges returned a clean sweep on the score cards fro Adam Stroup.
Fight 7 Pauline Macias vs. Sarah Shell. Macias showed off her highly touted Judo credentials accumulating 6 takesdowns over the three round contest, including a trio of spectacular throws. Shell’s best moment came in the closing seconds of the fight a she threatened for an armbar.
Fight 8 Youssef Zalal vs. Matt Jones. The fight started off slow with feeling out process of both fighters throwing things out and gagging the other reaction. Jones took control towards the end of the round sticking Zalal along the cage. Jnes fought back to the clinch grinding away the second round. Zalal got going in the third round htting his own take down and attempting a few front chokes. Jones would end the fight on top. Going the distance the judges returned a split decision in favor of Matt Jones.
Co-main event Jose Mariscal vs. Joanderson Brito. Controversy right off the bat as Brito throws a jumping kick that obviously lands low, but the ref doesn’t halt the action allowing Mariscal to be hit with a pair of big punches. The ref eventually dose call the foul. When action restarts an angry Mariscal decides to exchange with Brito, who with one clean left hand knocks Mariscal out cold.
Main Event Joby Sanchez vs. Brandon Royval. Royval comes out bouncing around, light on his feet, and attacking with kicks. Sanchez working behind his jab, adding in a few solid power shots. Royval slipped off a kick and Sanchez took the moment to make the bout a grappling match, hunting for a D’race Choke. Royval would defend rolling to his back getting Sanchez in his guard. With a lightning fast switch of the hips Royval locks in an armbar forcing Sanchez to tap. Winner by armbar in the first round Brandon Royval.
AXS TV Main Card
125: Brandon Royval (9-4) def. Joby Sanchez (12-5) by submission (armbar) 3:17 R1
145: Joanderson Brito (11-2-1) def. Jose Mariscal by KO (left cross) 0:44 R1
145: Matt Jones (8-3) def. Youssef Zalal (6-2) by (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) split decision
115: Pauline Macias (3-0) def. Sarah Shell (1-2) by (30-27, 29-28 x2) unanimous decision
185: Adam Stroup (1-5) def. Hayward Charles (16-13) by (30-27 x3) unanimous decision
135: Adam Martinez (6-2) def. Cory Galloway (11-10) by submission (guillotine choke) 2:35 R3
Prelims
145: Daniel Arguetq (1-0) def. Max Rojas (0-1) by 3:48 TKO (ground & pound) R1
Amateur
135: Carmen Sage (4-0) def. Tayler Sprowl (2-1) by (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) split decision
165: Anthony Pineda (2-1) def. Matthew Powers (0-4) by TKO (punches) 0:26 R3
150: Jota Ninomiya (1-3) def. Daniel Nieto (3-4) by TKO (leg kick + ground & pound) 0:18 R2
