Fernandez, a former CFFC NextGen amateur champion who eventually graduated to the pro ranks and become the full CFFC world champion in a little over two years, has his sights set on the UFC, but faced one of his most dangerous opponents to date in Edwards, who arrived in Atlantic City with eight Bellator fights to his name.
#ANDSTILL Luke Fernandez keeps the belt after a hard fought decision – his first time going the distance as a professional!#CFFC142 pic.twitter.com/y9SrwaAvR8
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) May 25, 2025
But, in their main event title clash at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Fernandez looked like the man with the experience edge as he stuck to a solid gameplan to nullify much of Edwards’ rangy arsenal and force the taller, leaner man to wrestle and clinch. And, when he got his man to the mat, Fernandez piled the pressure on Edwards as he went in search of a submission.
Edwards’ toughness and cage savvy was enough to prevent him from being finished, but when the four regulation championship rounds had elapsed, there was little doubt over who had won the fight. When the judges returned their decision, Fernandez retained his belt with scores of 40-36, 40-36, 40-36.
Nolan gets his revenge, captures welterweight title
The co-main event saw a spectacular finish as Eric Nolan avenged his 2023 loss to Blayne Richards as he stunned the CFFC welterweight champion with a huge left hook for a title-winning first-round knockout victory.
Wow! Eric Nolan KO’s Blayne Richards in the first round to win the @CFFCMMA welterweight title. An absolute peach of a left hook gets the job done as he avenges his 2023 loss to Richards in spectacular style. #CFFC142 https://t.co/z2RMSK4W1v
— Simon Head (@simonheadsport) May 25, 2025
Nolan lost to Richards via second-round rear-naked choke at CFFC 118, but since that defeat, Nolan has regrouped and, after heading into Atlantic City on a three-fight win streak, “Night Time” turned the lights out on Richards with a huge left hand as he captured the 170-pound strap.
‘Korean Thunder’ shoots his shot
The night’s first title fight saw a veteran get his flowers as “Korean Thunder” Ryan Cafaro defeated the previously undefeated Anthony Dilemme after four hard-fought rounds to capture the CFFC featherweight title.
Cafaro, who works as a striking coach, was expected to stand and strike with knockout artist Dilemme, but he threw a curveball at the defending champion by expertly mixing in well-timed takedowns to put Dilemme on the back foot.
And, after four well-contested rounds of action, the scorecards were totalled, with two of the three judges scoring the bout for Cafaro, who captured his first major title at the age of 35.
It was an emotional victory for Cafaro, who had spent much of his fighting prime helping other fighters develop their careers, rather than focusing on his own. But now, with Cafaro concentrating more on his personal success, he has earned a significant title, and put himself on the radar of the UFC.
After his victory, he delivered his elevator pitch to the UFC matchmakers as he said, “”I’m allergic to boring fights, I look 25, I’m great on the mic, I’m cute as the dickens. You bring me to the UFC, you won’t regret it. I’m ready, baby.”
Spoils shared as Palmer and Sabanashvili fight to unanimous draw
The featured non-title fight on the card saw American Top Team’s Riley Palmer and Georgia’s Nika Sabanashvili battle to the scorecards in a bout that was scored unanimously as a 28-28 draw.
Palmer dominated the opening round, but wasn’t able to do enough to earn 10-8 scores from the judges. Sabanashvili came back strongly in Round 2, but an illegal strike to the back of the head late in the round resulted in a point deduction for the Tbilisi native.
It meant Sabanashvili needed to win the final round to avoid defeat, and he did just that to ensure the fight was scored a draw – a result neither fighter looked at all happy with.
Galanti ‘jumps the gilly’ for first-round finish
Former CFFC NextGen middleweight champion Nick Galanti made it back-to-back victories inside the CFFC cage in 2025 as he finished Shane Sobnosky in the first round.
Sobnosky looked to take Galanti to the mat, but Galanti used it as an opening to jump into a guillotine choke attempt. He locked up the choke tightly and forced 13-fight veteran Sobnosky to tap for the first time in his career as Galanti moved to 4-1 as a pro in fine style.
Slick stuff from Nick Galanti, who locks up the guillotine choke for the first-round sub. Very nicely done. #CFFC142 https://t.co/pI0BdtamZw
— Simon Head (@simonheadsport) May 25, 2025
The main card opened up with a 40-second knockout, courtesy of Kyrgyzstan welterweight Busurman Zhumagul, who flattened Dean Sherry with a nasty Muay Thai knee to claim his third professional victory.
The six-foot-four welterweight is just 20 years of age and, while he’s only just getting started in his pro MMA career, he already looks like a prospect to watch in the CFFC ranks.
Here’s that KO from Zhumagul. He’s six feet four, just 20 years old, 3-0 as a pro, and looking like a real prospect at 170 pounds for @CFFCMMA. #CFFC142 https://t.co/DVwEXLI8XX
— Simon Head (@simonheadsport) May 25, 2025
CFFC 142: Main card results
- Luke Fernandez def. Christian Edwards via unanimous decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) – for light heavyweight title
- Eric Nolan def. Blayne Richards via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:06 – for welterweight title
- Ryan Cafaro def. Anthony Dilemme via majority decision (38-38, 39-37, 39-37) – for featherweight title
- Riley Palmer vs. Nika Sabanashvili scored a unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
- Nick Galanti def. Shane Sobnosky via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:59
- Busurman Zhumagul def. Dean Sherry via knockout (knee) – Round 1, 0:40
