RIO DE JANEIRO, RJ, Brazil — The LFA returned to Rio de Janeiro, which is the city where it began its international expansion in the summer of 2021. LFA 179 went down in “Cidade Maravilhosa” and was capped with a championship headliner. In the main event, prolific knockout artist Vanilto Antunes dethroned LFA welterweight champion Geraldo Neto via TKO (Punches) at 3:21 of Round 1. The man known as the “King of Rio” showed why as he dismantled the champion to capture the title in the first round. In the co-main event, José “Ze” Delano dominated Alan “El Gaucho” Villalba in the latest rendition of the fierce Brazil vs. Argentina rivalry. The Brazilian used crisp boxing to drop the Argentinian and then finished the bout via Rear Naked Choke with 5-seconds left in the opening round. The other fight results can be found below:
LFA 179 RESULTS:
Main Card (Worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS® at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Welterweight Title Bout (170 lb)
Vanilto Antunes def. Geraldo Neto via TKO (Punches) at 3:21 of Round 1.
Co-Main Event | Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
José Delano def. Alan Villalba via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:55 of Round 1.
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
Felipe Oliveira def. Caio Machado via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
Michael Oliveira def. Dallys Gama via KO (Head Kick and Ground Strikes) at 4:47 of Round 3.
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
João Pedro Saldanha def. Erick Visconde via Submission (Mounted Guillotine Choke) 3:08 of Round 1.
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
Richard Martins def. Augusto Matias via KO (Punches) at 4:11 of Round 2.
Preliminary Card (Available worldwide on LFA Fight Network at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT):
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
Mateus Soares def. Alexandre Junior via KO (Punches) 0:59 of Round 3.
Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
Luiz Felipe Herculano def. Werick Douglas via TKO (Punches) at 0:16 of Round 1.
Heavyweight Bout (265 lb)
Lucas Camacho def. Carlos Sena at 4:51 via TKO (Punches) of Round 2.
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
João Moraes def. Esteferson da Silva via KO (Punch to the Body) at 2:43 of Round 1.
About LFA:
LFA is a professional Mixed Martial Arts promotion that was formed by the powerhouse merger between RFA and Legacy FC in 2017. It has launched the careers of over 300 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC. LFA presents live Mixed Martial Arts events on a monthly basis around the world including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. Based in Las Vegas, NV, LFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. The promotion owns and operates LFA FIGHT NETWORK™ , a premium YouTube channel that features live combat sports events alongside live LFA Prelims and historical fights.
Please visit LFA.com for updates and information. Visit the official LFA YouTube channel (LFA FIGHT NETWORK™) at @LFAfights. LFA is on Facebook at Facebook.com/LFAfighting. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and X (formerly Twitter) at @LFAfighting.
About UFC FIGHT PASS®:
UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, UFC FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combats sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access UFC FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visit UFCFightPass.com.
About ARENA 1:
Arena 1 is an indoor stadium in Barra da Tijuca in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The venue hosted basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics as well as wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. As with a number of other venues in the Barra Olympic Park, Arena 1 was transformed after the games to become part of the Olympic Training Center.
