F2W 180 Results and Video Highlights: Lovato Wins Main Event, Tama Submits Najmi to Win Title
Fight To Win 180 went down on Friday, August 6, live from Los Angeles. The main event saw former Bellator MMA middleweight champion and Fight To Win regular Rafael Lovato Jr. win a very close decision over Gabriel Arges. Lower on the card, Johnny Tama earned Submission of the Night honors with a heel hook win over Edwin Najmi, and longtime MMA and jiu-jitsu veteran Baret Yoshida earned a submission win with a gi choke from his trademark crucifix position.
View the full Fight To Win 180 results below.
The main event started relatively slowly, as Arges sat to guard while Lovato tried to pass from his knees. Essentially the entire match would play out this way, with Arges unable to launch any serious attacks from his back while Lovato was unable to achieve any passes or near passes from top position. In the final 15 seconds, though, Lovato sat back on a straight ankle lock, and although he didn’t get the tap, that submission attempt, coupled with Lovato’s constant attempts to pass the guard, were enough to give him the decision win.
The co-main event was a fun one between Johnny Tama and Edwin Najmi. Through the first eight minutes, Tama worked from his back while Najmi worked from top position, but both men were attacking often. Tama was able to achieve several deep leg entanglements, but Najmi defended well and even attacked leg locks of his own. With just over two minutes remaining, Tama entered deep on Najmi’s legs and was able to finish a backside 50/50 heel hook.
Veteran Baret Yoshida picked up one of the more interesting submissions of the night when he trapped Jeff Nolasco in a crucifix position. From there, Yoshida trapped Nolasco’s arm in his gi and choked Nolasco with a gi lapel.
View additional video highlights from Fight To Win 180 below:
