XFC 25 results: Eggink taps Magana to win strawweight title

There was plenty of talk between Angela Magana and Stephanie Eggink, but in the end, Eggink let her ground game do the talking.

Eggink weathered a second-round storm from Magana and went after a triangle choke that did in her more experience opponent and won her the inaugural XFC women’s strawweight title.

“XFC 25: Boiling Point” took place at Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico with a main card airing live on AXS TV.

Magana kicked early, trying to keep some distance between her and Eggink, who had a big height advantage. Twice, Magana was able to get inside and land combinations against Eggink. But Eggink did her best work late – maybe not enough.

In the second, Magana got inside and put Eggink on her back. Eggink did a good job controlling Magana’s posture and keeping her from doing much damage on top. Right in front of her corner, Eggink took the advice of Shayna Baszler and went after a triangle. She got it, then went to work punching Magana’s head. From there, she tightened the triangle and Magana finally had to tap at the 3:10 mark of the second round.

“Our whole plan the first round was for me not to do much,” Eggink said. “That’s exactly what I did. Maybe throw my jab a few times and just see how she’s going to fight, and that’s what I did. I’m not supposed to play on my back as much, according to Shayna. But it was there, so I took it.”

Eggink (4-1) won for the third straight time and stayed unbeaten under the XFC banner. Magana (11-7) lost her second straight after a three-fight winning streak.

Lima picks up split decision against Rainey
In the co-main event, Dhiego Lima had his work cut out for him against Ricky Rainey, but do Rainey’s dismay picked up a split-decision win.

Rainey kept the center of the cage and kept Lima circling outside early. Nearly two minutes in, the two finally tied up and Lima pressed Rainey against the cage. After an accidental low knee from Rainey, Lima threw a kick on the restart that Rainey tried to take advantage of. He landed a big barrage that forced Lima to clinch up in defense. Lima took Rainey down deep into the second round and looked like he might be close to an advantageous position to work for a finish. But Rainey got to the third round.

Both fighters looked fatigued in the final frame, and Rainey went after a takedown late. He couldn’t get it, and the two traded sloppy punches as the seconds ticked off. Rainey got the fight to the ground with five seconds left, but that wasn’t enough to seal the deal with the judges as Lima took a pair of 29-28s for the victory.

“Every time you get in the cage, it’s a tough fight,” Lima said. “I didn’t overlook him. I felt a little slow, and I’m not happy at all with my performance – but I’m glad I got the win.”

Lima (9-1), who recently participated in tryouts for Season 19 of “The Ultimate Fighter,) won for the third straight time. Rainey (6-2) had a three-fight win streak snapped.

Sharipov pounds out Bass, punches title ticket
Farkhad Sharipov got a good test from Stephen Bass early, but then took advantage of a tiring opponent to get a second-round TKO and advance to a featherweight title shot. In the second round, it was clear Sharipov had worn Bass down. He got to full back mount and began landing punches that Bass just couldn’t muster enough energy to defend. Sharipov got the stoppage at the 1:19 mark of the second to advance to a featherweight title shot. Sharipov (14-5), a Bellator veteran, snapped a two-fight losing skid. Bass (10-2), fighting for the first time since a TUF 14 Finale loss to Marcus Brimage, lost for the second straight time.

Thomas pounds out France in rematch
In a rematch from a fight earlier this summer for the Indiana-based Colosseum Combat promotion, Ryan Thomas eventually went for broke and got it to pay off against Rocky France. Thomas asserted his will early, and on the ground he absolutely leveled France with an elbow. France began bleeding immediately, and Thomas spent the round mostly dominating him as the blood poured from what would ultimately be three cuts. With 10 seconds left in the round, the doctor looked at France’s cuts, but he was able to continue. France wanted a quick started in the second, but Thomas went after a flying triangle, then an armbar, and ultimately France had to tap to the triangle choke. Thomas (17-7) won for the fifth straight time. France (3-7) lost for the third time in four fights and second straight time to Thomas.

Vannata takes split decision from Reese
Lando Vannata knew he’d have to deal with James Reese‘s takedown attempts. But once past those, he did the better work on the feet to win a split decision from the NCAA wrestling All-American and former Strikeforce and Bellator fighter. Reese immediately went after a takedown, but Vannata scrambled out of it. Vannata began working for a right hand, and he landed a big uppercut, then a right hand behind it to wobble Reese for a moment. And that seemed to be the story of the fight, with the two trading momentum, but Vannata ultimate getting a 30-27 and 29-28, while Reese got a 29-28 from a dissenting judge. Vannata (3-0) stayed unbeaten, but went the distance for the first time. Reese (9-7) lost for the third straight time and fourth time in five fights.

Sanchez waits out Moell takedown attempts for TKO
Joby Sanchez had to deal with some pesky takedown attempts from Eric Moell, but he made the best of it. Moell worked for an early takedown, but Sanchez defended and landed some punches on the inside that cut Moell near his right eye. Again, Moell wanted a takedown, and again he paid the price on the exit. But he stayed after it and tied Sanchez up on the cage. When he went for one more takedown, Sanchez clipped him and took advantage. He pounced on Moell and landed a barrage of punches and elbows before referee Gary Copeland finally stopped the fight. Sanchez (5-0), the winner of XFC’s recent open tryouts, stayed unbeaten with all of his wins by stoppage. Moell (3-2) lost for the second straight time.

Complete XFC 25 results:

MAIN CARD (AXS TV, 10 p.m. ET)

• Stephanie Eggink def. Angela Magana via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:10 – to win inaugural strawweight title
• Dhiego Lima def. Ricky Rainey via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Farkhad Sharipov def. Stephen Bass via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:19 – featherweight tourney semifinals
• Ryan Thomas def. Rocky France via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 1:27
• Lando Vannata def. James Reese via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
• Joby Sanchez def. Eric Moell via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:25

PRELIMINARY CARD (Untelevised)

• Josh Montoya def. Ed Tomaselli via TKO – Round 1
• Jordan Espinosa def. Tim Sosa via submission (choke) – Round 1, 1:36
• Martin Manrique def. Francisco Marin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For more on XFC 25, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Stephanie Eggink)