Canada's first mixed martial arts event since the coronavirus outbreak began proved to be a success for all involved.
MFL 17 delivered 19 amateur bouts total—15 in MMA and four in kickboxing—at an outdoor venue just outside Montreal, QC on Saturday evening.
Headlining the card, Gordon Cunningham (now 3-0) handed Louis-Philippe Caron (now 1-1) a unanimous decision loss to capture the MFL light heavyweight title.
Even with the belt around his waist, Cunningham admitted he wasn't satisfied with how the bout played out and was taken aback by the approach Caron employed.
"This isn't how I envisioned things playing out, nor was it what I anticipated," Cunningham told MMA Empire. "He kept pinning me against the cage whenever possible, which drove me nuts, but I still landed some solid strikes."
"If his strategy was simply to clinch and hold me against the fence, that doesn't scream champion to me. I hope that doesn't sound offensive, but folks are spending real money to watch this, especially during such a difficult period. Fighters are entertainers first—we owe it to the crowd to deliver."
At just three professional bouts into his amateur record, Cunningham has already captured his first title, though he did so in a weight bracket higher than his comfort zone.
Cunningham indicated he intends to return to middleweight competition and plans to win that belt as well.
"Frankly, I don't see myself stepping back into the 205-pound division anytime soon. But when a title shot arrives during a global pandemic, you jump on it," he explained.
"185 pounds is where I belong, and I fully intend to claim that gold. The champion-beating champion is on the horizon."
Morrisson Recaptures His Crown
The co-feature saw Tommy Morrisson (now 7-1) reclaim the MFL amateur flyweight championship by submitting Zachary Baldwin (now 3-2) with a rear-naked choke as the second-round buzzer sounded.
Morrisson expressed satisfaction at regaining the title he maintains he never truly relinquished, asserting his dominance in the flyweight division.
"It feels incredible. I held the belt previously, but I chose to step away because finals were approaching and I needed to focus on school," Morrisson shared with MMA Empire. "Now I'm back, and I've reclaimed what rightfully belongs to me. I genuinely believe I've dominated this division, so I'm curious about what comes next."
Across eight amateur contests, Morrisson has competed at bantamweight just once, and that remains the sole defeat on his record.
Having overcome most of the top contenders in flyweight, Morrisson mentioned his next target is capturing the bantamweight belt as well.
"I'm definitely considering turning professional, but not immediately—I want more experience under my belt first," Morrisson noted.
"I'm planning to move up to 135 and pursue that championship too."
Gallagher's Hard Work Pays Off
Competing for the now-vacant MFL amateur bantamweight title, Liam Gallagher (now 5-0) claimed his first title with a unanimous decision over Patrick Arseneau (now 3-1).
Gallagher described the victory as deeply meaningful, noting it validates all the effort he's poured into the sport over the years.
"This is an incredible feeling. It's something I've chased for a long time," Gallagher told MMA Empire. "Countless hours spent with my coaches, days, weeks, months, and years dedicated to this sport—it's finally starting to show results. I'm thrilled, and this is just one more chapter in a much longer story."
With Canadian MMA still facing uncertainty due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions limiting events, Gallagher plans to remain active in amateur competition, particularly if MFL continues hosting shows, before targeting his professional debut in 2021.
When told about Morrisson's interest in moving up to bantamweight to challenge for the title, Gallagher welcomed the matchup enthusiastically.
"Tell that little guy to come up to 135—I'll gladly step up to that challenge," Gallagher quipped.
In other MMA bouts, Alejandro Alvarado-Jimenez, Charles Azoulay, Olivier Poisson, Kevin Ostiguy, Luke Roberts, Innokentiy Perelmutov, Zak Raymond, Nikita Ponomarenko, Jo Gauthir, Geran Buckner, Mohammad Safa, and Alex Moher all earned victories. Asher Alfieri, Jonathan Ramundi, Nick Gallipoli, and Etienne Gagne claimed wins in their kickboxing matches.
