FSM Recap: TuffNuff 153

Justin Vazquez came to Las Vegas on Friday and left as the new Tuff-N-Uff Featherweight Champion. He had to go through hell to get there, too. The card went down at the Pearl Theater inside Palms Casino Resort, and it was a finish fest from the first fight to the last.

Main Event – Justin Vazquez vs. Canaan Kawaihae 

The fight almost ended before it really got started. Canaan Kawaihae (10-4) wasted zero time getting the fight to the ground, and within 90 seconds, he had a body triangle locked in and was working a choke. Most guys do not come back from that spot. Justin Vazquez (13-5) is not most guys.

Vazquez kept his composure, avoided the damage, and worked his way out of danger. That survival instinct was the turning point of the whole fight. Once he got out of that bad spot, Kawaihae never threatened like that again.

In the second round, Vazquez was a completely different fighter. He started landing strikes and elbows, taking control of where the fight was going. Kawaihae was now the one dealing with pressure and had no answer for what Slick J was bringing. Vazquez kept building and eventually found the finish.

To come back from being that close to losing in the first round and then go on to stop the other guy is something special. Vazquez is the new featherweight champion, and he earned every bit of it.

Co-Main Event – Jaeleen Robledo vs. Alejandra Lara

This one went three rounds, and Jaeleen Robledo (6-1) had to earn every second of it. Alejandra Lara (12-10) is a real fighter who spent years competing in Bellator, and she showed up ready to take that belt home.

Lara made it a dog fight. She brought pressure and experience, making Robledo uncomfortable for long stretches. Going into the third round, it was genuinely up in the air.

Then Robledo locked in the guillotine, and that was that. Tap at 3:43 of round three. Defending a title against someone as tough and experienced as Lara is not easy, and Robledo did it the hard way by finishing her late.

Full Card Recap

Main Card

• Justin Vazquez def. Canaan Kawaihae — TKO, Tuff-N-Uff Featherweight Championship
• Jaeleen Robledo def. Alejandra Lara — Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 3, 3:43
• Jeremiah Robinson def. Daniel Keepers — Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00
• Delian Alishahi def. Dylan Potter — Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke), Round 3, 1:59
• Miguel Suazo def. Dmitriy Makhotskiy — TKO (Elbows and Punches), Round 1, 1:18
• Nasir Worthy def. Nick Tarabochia — Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 1, 2:32 (Title Fight)

Preliminary Card

• Vitor Markes def. Parker Ford — TKO (Punches), Round 1, 2:51
• Joseph Gomez def. Kevin Sundburg — TKO (Punches), Round 1, 1:05
• Justin Boyde def. Brandon Morales — Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 1, 1:40
• Anwar Alnaser def. Kawika Palimo’o — Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 1, 1:35
• Stav Golod def. Cleudis Oliveras Diaz — Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 2, 1:15

What’s Next?

Vazquez is the new champ, and that comeback story is going to stick with people for a while. He was in real danger early and still found a way to win. That is not something everyone can do.

Robledo keeps winning in big moments. She is one of the best fighters on the Tuff-N-Uff roster right now, and if she keeps this up, someone bigger is going to come calling.

Nasir Worthy made quick work of Tarabochia to grab a title of his own. Jeremiah Robinson went three rounds with Keepers and got the nod from all three judges, with Big John McCarthy watching up close. And Miguel Suazo did what he always does and finished it fast. Elbows and punches in under two minutes. The guy just does not waste time.

Be sure to tune into FSM’s Main Event with Kalani Lua (@KLua11) on Franchise Sports Media for all the latest in combat sports.

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Alex Hernandez – Franchise Sports Media
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