Vacant Featherweight Title at Stake Friday in Philadelphia

It’s another big weekend of championship action around the MMA world this third weekend of October. After Contender Series ends its eighth season on Tuesday night, the competitive violence picks up again on Friday. On the eve of an anticipated PFL Super Fights card on pay-per-view via DAZN and ESPN+, you won’t need to pay the extra fee for action in primetime this Friday from Cage Fury Fighting Championships.

2300 Arena is the host venue for CFFC 137 this coming weekend. Live coverage begins Friday at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on OnlyFans with the amateur undercard. Note: A subscription to the CFFC OnlyFans page is free of charge.

Main card action follows at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT on UFC Fight Pass. All told, barring any late cancellations or postponements between now and Friday, the final version of CFFC 137 will feature a full 12-fight card between amateur and professional contests.

New Featherweight Champion To Be Crowned in CFFC 137 Main Event

Highlighting the night’s itinerary is the battle for the Vacant CFFC Featherweight Championship in the CFFC 137 main event of the evening. Undefeated Anthony Dilemme (6-0 MMA, 5-0 CFFC) meets up with Beau Samaniego (6-1 MMA, 3-1 CFFC.)

Its winner succeeds former titleholder Jose Perez (9-1 MMA, 7-1 CFFC), who joined the PFL’s active roster for its 2024 season, as the champion. Like all CFFC championship fights, the CFFC 137 main event on Friday night will be an advertised maximum of four rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.

If. however, the scorecards produce a draw after 20 minutes of action, the CFFC 137 main event will then progress to a fifth round to break the deadlock.

Saved by the bell. #CFFC111

NOT! pic.twitter.com/6E7oGvuHV1

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) July 30, 2022

CFFC 137 Main Event Fighter Comparison

Heading into the CFFC 137 main event on Friday night, Beau Samaniego stands as the taller man at 5-foot-8, compared to the 5-foot-7 frame of Anthony Dilemme. Samaniego owns a 71-inch reach, with no such information accessible for Dilemme at press time.

Currently, the oddsmakers have yet to release money lines for CFFC 137 on Friday. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend in MMA and/or combat sports, please wager responsibly.

Could Dilemme Be on Fast Track to UFC With Win in CFFC 137 Main Event?

Anthony Dilemme has yet to lose thus far in his professional MMA career. Factoring in amateur MMA fights, he’s won nine out of his last 10 contests dating back to Oct. 16, 2021, three years ago.

Last time out, he scored a third-round knockout against Wendel Araujo (7-5 MMA, 0-2 CFFC) on April 12 during CFFC 131 on UFC Fight Pass. Ahead of that fight, USA Today’s MMA Junkie had Anthony Dilemme’s name listed among those who had the potential to receive a contract from UFC CEO Dana White with a victory that month.

While Dilemme didn’t get a voicemail from White in the aftermath of CFFC 131 this past spring, one would have to believe that his name is still on the shortlist for a UFC contract. He’s going for his 10th consecutive win across all competitions and will be fighting for a championship in the CFFC 137 main event this weekend.

History is on his side ahead of this contest, since four of the previous champions at 145 lbs. relinquished their belts to join the UFC later on. In order to become the fifth to make that claim, Dilemme will first need to emerge victorious this week.

Samaniego Returns for First Time in Over a Year

In the other corner, Beau Samaniego has gone 5-0 in his last five fights. Most recently, he bested Damion Nelson (6-4 MMA, 2-2 CFFC) during CFFC 120 in June of last year.

Samaniego has been fighting on and off under the CFFC promotional banner ever since May of 2021 during CFFC 97. His backstory is an interesting one, having been employed as a custodian at his high school after he was expelled from his college wrestling team due to drug use.

He’d attend practices with the Thornton High School wrestling team,  setting the scene for his MMA career. He hasn’t fought in more than a full calendar year. Will the layoff have any negative affect for Samaniego?

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

Expect both men to give it their all in the CFFC 137 main event.

Dilemme Can Battle Back if Needed

Anthony Dilemme has the skillset to bring momentum over to his side of the ledger. During the first round of his fight against Isa Dalipaj, the latter dropped the former with a right-handed punch and nearly put Dilemme away with ground and pound shots, forcing him to clasp his hands.

Upon returning to his feet, Dilemme and Dalipaj exchanged shots before Dilemme had to fight off an armbar attempt. After Dilemme steadied himself, he landed counterstrikes against Dalipaj before landing a crushing right-handed punch to finish his opponent.

If Dilemme finds himself in a bind, he can work his way out of a jam.

Samaniego Capable of Beating the Clock

In the other corner, Beau Samaniego can get the job done late into the round if needed, as seen in his contest versus DeAndre Anderson. Throughout that second round, Samaniego held serve on the mat and largely gave Anderson no chance to rise up to his feet.

Upon taking full mat with under 30 seconds left to go on the clock, Samaniego began hammering away with a devastating flurry of ground and pound shots, forcing the referee to intervene with only three seconds remaining in the round.

Should Samaniego find himself in a good position with time winding down, look for him to hit a home run before the round or fight ends.

Final Thoughts

A vacant championship fight is always an exciting event. That’s just what Cage Fury is offering on Friday in the CFFC 137 main event. Don’t miss it.

Prediction: Anthony Dilemme by First-Round Knockout.