Jaqueline Amorim Captures Strawweight Title With Brutal Kneebar of Lovethoatra Young at LFA 125

Do not mess with Jaqueline Amorim on the ground!!! #AndNew#LFA125 pic.twitter.com/a1jrEe93X8

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 26, 2022

Not only did Jaqueline Amorim become the fourth women’s strawweight champion in Legacy Fighting Alliance history, she is now the first-ever Brazilian woman to win a title for the promotion.

Amorim (5-0) made quick work of Nigeria’s Lovethpatra Young in the main event of LFA 125 on Friday night in Nigara Falls, New York, but the fight wasn’t without some controversy. Amorim shot in for a double-leg takedown and she appeared to have been able to get it, but Young (3-2-1) grabbed a hold of the fence and refused to let go. Veteran referee John English yelled for Young to let go of the fence multiple times before having to physically pry her fingers loose. The third man called time and deducted a point from Young, but things only got worse for her.

When the fight was restarted on their feet, Young dropped Amorim with a looping overhand right and began unloading hammerfists. However, Amorim had enough wits to roll Young into a kneebar, which Young fought off until she couldn’t. Amorim reset her grip and torqued her hips, forcing a grimace of agony to wash over Young’s face as she had no choice but to tap; Amorim said after the fight that he heard her foe’s knee pop.

The end came at 1:26 of the opening round, allowing Amorim to not only stay perfect as a pro but also make history along the way.

HOLY...... UPSET!

Adam Fugitt shocks the crowd! #LFA125 pic.twitter.com/2vgZ8KhvS4

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 26, 2022

Welterweight prospect Adam Fugitt came from across the country and into enemy territory, only to destroy local fighter Solomon Renfro in under a minute. The two came out firing early, but a perfectly-timed right check hook dropped Renfro (8-3) onto his back. Fugitt (8-3) smelled blood, pounced on his woozy adversary and unloaded a series of hammerfists until referee Matt Rocca intervened, ending the mugging in just 43 seconds.

Michael Stack turned in a workmanlike performance against Brazil’s Caio Gregorio and was awarded a unanimous decision for his effort. Much of the 149-pound catchweight battle took place on the canvas as Stack (7-1) scored four takedowns in the matchup and controlled most of the action on the ground. Gregorio (7-4) was never able to get his submission game going and Stack swept all three cards by taking it 29-28.

Ashley Nichols had stepped away from mixed martial arts for four years as she plied her trade in muay Thai and boxing, but time away from the cage had no ill effect on her performance. Nichols (4-3) fought a measured battle against fellow strawweight Hilarie Rose en route to a unanimous decision win. Nichols landed scattered punches and kicks, scored multiple takedowns and avoided submission threats as Rose (5-4) grew desperate down the stretch. Nichols won via tallies of 30-27 (twice) and 29-28.

Welterweight Guilherme Faria de Souza was patient and took his time against hard-swinging Hawaiian Zach Zane and stopped him in the second period. Faria (18-9) hammered Zane’s legs with thudding kicks and rocked Zane (15-11) with right hooks upstairs. Zane gassed out and eventually crumbled against the cage after taking too many leg kicks and punches, ending the fight at the 3:27 mark.

In the opening bout of the night, Austin Ross stopped Terry Copling via TKO (Punches) at 0:45 of the third round in a 200-pound catchweight battle.