Amber “The Apex Predator” Stautzenberger kept her winning streak alive with a close decision victory tonight at Dakota Fighting Championships 15: “Spring Brawl” in Fargo, North Dakota. The strawweight prospect edged out Glena “Heartless” Avila, who stepped into the fight on short notice.

Both women threatened with numerous submission attempts throughout the back-and-forth bout. Avila came on strong at the end of rounds one and two, but her late rallies were not quite enough to sway the cageside judges and Stautzenberger’s dominant final round solidified her win on the scorecards.

Stautzenberger (3-1-0) and Avila (2-2-0) exchanged punches right away and clinched against the cage. They battled for position and Stautzenberger landed short knees. She took Avila down and punched with her left hand, but Avila was active from her back and hunted for an armbar. Stautzenberger kept Avila pinned down and landed more punches, but Avila scrambled up to her feet and scored a slam takedown. She moved to a top-side crucifix and punched until the end of the close round.

The second round began with another exchange of punches and Avila tried for a takedown against the cage. She picked Stautzenberger up again and tried to slam her a second time, but Stautzenberger countered with a guillotine choke. She switched to an armbar and a scramble followed. Stautzenberger wound up on top and she landed hammerfists from side control. She lost the position while working for a submission and the round ended with Avila landing knees in the clinch.

Stautzenberger flurried with punches and mixed in leg kicks in the final round. Avila backed her up to the cage and Stautzenberger countered with a harai goshi throw into side control. She landed punches and transitioned to a high back mount in search of an armbar. She pulled back on Avila’s right arm, but Avila escaped and the fight returned to the feet. Stautzenberger dropped down with another armbar attempt from the clinch and Avila defended until the end of the fight.

All three cageside judges favoured Stautzenberger’s positional control and strikes on the ground and she took home her third straight win, but Avila once again put on a solid showing inside the Dakota FC cage. She previously fought to a razor-thin and somewhat controversial Split Decision loss to Emily Kagan at Dakota FC 13 in October.

Winner: Amber Stautzenberger by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 3-1-0.

(Photo Credit: All Event Photography)