LFA 202 delivered an action-packed night of fights, showcasing rising prospects and high-level performances across multiple weight classes. The event set the stage with a dominant strawweight battle before transitioning into a series of hard-fought decisions and spectacular finishes.
Cristina Brador vs. Jayde Sheeley
The opening fight of the night featured Cristina Brador taking on Jayde Sheeley in a strawweight contest. From the opening bell, Brador asserted her dominance, systematically dismantling Sheeley’s striking and grappling game. Sheeley, struggling to find any rhythm, resorted to pulling guard in an attempt to create offense from the bottom. However, Brador was well-prepared, shutting down every submission attempt and maintaining control throughout all three rounds.
Winner: Cristina Brador via unanimous decision.
Ferdaws Nayimi vs. Jacob Wiggins
Ferdaws Nayimi and Jacob Wiggins put on one of the most explosive fights of the night. Wiggins, a southpaw, planted himself at the center of the cage, eager to trade strikes with Nayimi, who was more than willing to engage. Both fighters had their moments in the first round, each landing significant strikes. Nayimi connected with a spinning backfist that appeared to stun Wiggins, but Wiggins showed resilience, countering effectively.
As the fight progressed into the second round, Nayimi’s speed advantage became more evident. He showcased crisp striking, but Wiggins remained dangerous, unloading flurries of counter shots. Despite Wiggins’ efforts, Nayimi seemed to have the edge going into the third round. By this point, Wiggins was visibly showing the damage, while Nayimi continued to dictate the pace, landing sharp jabs from the outside with growing confidence. In the final moments, Wiggins attempted to draw Nayimi into a wild exchange, pointing to the canvas in a move reminiscent of Max Holloway. However, Nayimi stayed disciplined knowing he had the fight in the bag.
Winner: Ferdaws Nayimi via unanimous decision.
Sierra Dinwoodie vs. Nikol Aguirre
The women’s bantamweight division saw an exciting battle between Sierra Dinwoodie and Nikol Aguirre. Dinwoodie made a statement early, landing a spinning backfist that dropped Aguirre. However, Aguirre showed impressive toughness, managing to recover and survive the early storm. The fight transitioned into the clinch, where neither fighter gained a clear advantage. Aguirre had some success breaking away and landing strikes, but the first round was clearly in Dinwoodie’s favor.
In the second round, Dinwoodie secured a body lock takedown, quickly advancing to a dominant position and landing ground-and-pound strikes. Aguirre showed great resilience, escaping out the back door and getting back to her feet, but Dinwoodie’s control earned her another round.
The third round saw Aguirre get rocked again by a flurry from Dinwoodie, but she responded by dropping Dinwoodie with a well-timed counter. Dinwoodie immediately went into survival mode, threatening a leg lock to force Aguirre onto the defensive. While Aguirre had a golden opportunity to turn the fight around, she was unable to capitalize, and Dinwoodie’s size and physicality wore her down throughout the bout.
Winner: Sierra Dinwoodie via unanimous decision.
Phillip Latu vs. Joe Taylor
The heavyweight bout between Phillip Latu and Joe Taylor was a one-sided affair, with Latu pressing the action for the full 15 minutes. Throughout the fight, Latu controlled the center of the cage, throwing an array of strikes, including head kicks, knees to the torso, and flying knees, in an attempt to finish Taylor.
Despite Latu’s relentless offensive attack, Taylor showcased remarkable durability, managing to survive to the final bell.
Entering the third round, Taylor needed a finish, but Latu stayed composed and secured late takedowns to put an exclamation mark on his dominant performance. While the first round was somewhat competitive, Latu was ultimately a step ahead in every aspect of the fight.
Winner: Phillip Latu via unanimous decision.
Shuya Kamikubo vs. Mateus Santos
Perhaps the most spectacular finish of the night came in the fight between Shuya Kamikubo and Mateus Santos. The fight started with fireworks as Santos, a heavy betting underdog, managed to clip Kamikubo early. A stunned Kamikubo was forced to panic shoot for a single-leg takedown while fending off what appeared to be a tight submission attempt. Eventually, Kamikubo successfully took the fight to the ground, where he found a modified twister submission to secure the victory. It was a valiant effort from Santos, who nearly pulled off a massive upset in the opening moments.
Winner: Shuya Kamikubo via submission.
Phumi Nkuta vs. Adrian Garcia
The main event between Phumi Nkuta and Adrian Garcia was a dominant showcase of Nkuta’s speed and experience. From the outset, Garcia found himself reacting to Nkuta’s relentless pace and grappling attempts rather than implementing his own game plan. Nkuta banked the first round comfortably.
In the second round, a head clash bloodied both fighters, causing visible damage. Despite the setback, Nkuta continued to control the fight, outgrappling Garcia and landing the better shots.
By the final round, with Nkuta well ahead on the scorecards, he turned up the pressure, landing unanswered combinations. Garcia had no answers as Nkuta swung for the fences in search of a finish, but Garcia managed to survive to the final bell. The decision was never in doubt, as Nkuta’s dominant performance secured him a clear victory.
Winner: Phumi Nkuta via unanimous decision.
With a mix of dominant decisions and highlight-reel finishes, LFA 202 proved to be a showcase of top-tier talent. As these fighters continue their ascent, many will be looking to take the next step toward bigger opportunities in their careers. The event delivered excitement and proved once again why LFA remains one of the premier platforms for MMA’s rising stars.
