Thomas Petersen entered LFA 113 ready to wrestle, but he didn’t need it.
Petersen needed just 1:02 to earn a scintillating TKO finish of Vernon Lewis to claim the vacant LFA heavyweight championship Friday at Bell County Expo Center in Belton, Texas. It was Petersen’s fifth knockout in as many career professional fights.
Petersen (5-0) and Lewis (8-5) both came out tentatively to open the fight. They circled each other cautiously until Petersen shot in for a takedown that was stuffed by Lewis. After disengaging, the two fighters circled each other again until Petersen, 20 pounds lighter than the 264-pound Lewis, rushed in with a 1-2 combo right down the pipe.
The jab stunned Lewis, and the cross landed flush and dropped him. Petersen hurried for the finish with follow-up punches and nearly let Lewis off the hook by backing off too soon, but he rushed back in. When Lewis dropped to the canvas for a second time, the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
Thomas Petersen didn't come to wrestle tonight!!!!!#LFA113 pic.twitter.com/crwInLwGlX
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) July 31, 2021
Afterward, Petersen had nothing but praise for Lewis, a police officer from Waco who was fighting in front of his hometown fans.
Thomas Peterson is all class, ya love to see it.#LFA113 pic.twitter.com/Od8GVfupzQ
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) July 31, 2021
Complete LFA 113 results:
- Thomas Petersen def. Vernon Lewis via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:02
- Ricky Camp def. Greg Fischer split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
- Chris Brown def. Glaucio Eliziario via verbal submission (slam) – Round 2, 4:59
- Alden Coria def. Donnie Ballou via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:35
- Giovanna Canuto def. Kathy Solorzano via verbal submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 2:10
- Cezly Collard def. Patrick Ferguson via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 0:44
