On June 3rd, 2022, Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) presented its 154th event, featuring a highly anticipated main event between two top bantamweight prospects, Thiago Fernando and Marcos Silva. The event took place at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota, and showcased a strong lineup of exciting fights.
FRIDAY MARCH 10,
08:00 PM ET
Fernando, a Brazilian fighter with a record of 10-2, was coming off a dominant decision victory in his last outing and was looking to continue his winning ways. Silva, also from Brazil, had an impressive record of 12-1 and was riding a six-fight win streak.
As the bell rang for the first round, both fighters came out aggressively, looking to establish dominance early on. Fernando looked to use his striking skills to keep Silva at bay, while Silva attempted to close the distance and take the fight to the ground.
After some back-and-forth exchanges, it was Silva who was able to secure a takedown and take Fernando’s back. From there, Silva worked for a rear-naked choke, but Fernando was able to defend and escape.
The rest of the round saw both fighters trading shots on the feet, with Fernando appearing to land the more significant strikes. However, it was clear that Silva’s grappling ability was a threat that Fernando would need to be mindful of throughout the fight.
In the second round, Fernando came out with a more measured approach, looking to pick his shots and avoid getting taken down. He landed some solid leg kicks and punches, but Silva was able to weather the storm and eventually secured another takedown.
This time, Silva was able to maintain top control and landed some ground-and-pound shots before transitioning to a dominant position against the cage. Fernando was able to defend against Silva’s submission attempts, but was unable to mount any offense of his own.
As the third and final round began, Fernando knew he needed to do something dramatic to secure the victory. He came out aggressively, looking to land a knockout blow, but Silva was able to weather the storm and once again take the fight to the ground.
From there, Silva was able to maintain top control for the rest of the round, landing some solid strikes and controlling the pace of the fight. While Fernando showed heart and resilience throughout the fight, it was Silva who ultimately emerged victorious, earning a unanimous decision victory from the judges.
The co-main event featured a women’s strawweight bout between Amanda Souza and Leticia Vasquez. Souza, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, was able to utilize her grappling skills to dominate the fight, securing takedowns and controlling the action on the ground.
Despite Vasquez’s best efforts to defend and mount offense from her back, Souza was able to maintain top control and land some ground-and-pound shots. In the end, Souza was awarded a unanimous decision victory, improving her record to 4-0.
Other notable fights on the card included a featherweight matchup between Jhonoven Pati and Kyron Bowen, which saw Pati win via first-round knockout, and a flyweight bout between Maria Agapova and Jennifer Chang, which saw Agapova earn a unanimous decision victory.
Overall, LFA 154 was a night of exciting fights and top-level performances. The main event between Fernando and Silva was a back-and-forth battle that showcased the skills and heart of both fighters, while Souza’s dominant win in the co-main event was a reminder of the power of grappling in MMA.
As LFA continues to showcase some of the top prospects in the sport, events like LFA 154 serve as a platform for up-and-coming fighters to make a name for themselves and earn their shot at the big leagues. With a commitment to putting on exciting fights