Five new
Professional Fighting League world champions took home a belt
and a $1 million payday Friday night at the
2023 PFL Championships in Washington D.C.

However, the main event saw a familiar face claim championship
glory. Last year’s lightweight champion Olivier
Aubin-Mercier (21-5, 10-0 PFL) defended his title against the
surging “Cassius” Clay
Collard in a competitive scrap. Collard dug in stinging body
shots and pushed the Canadian back to the fence, but Aubin-Mercier
routinely worked Collard (24-11, 6-3 PFL) on the ground. This
resulted in „OAM“ taking a unanimous decision win with a trio of
49-46 scorecards in his favor.

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With multiple Bellator
MMA champions in the crowd to promote eventual
cross-promotional fights as a part of PFL’s takeover of the former
rival promotion, the future of PFL looked exciting Friday
night.

Ferreira Shocks Goltsov

You never know what’s bound to happen when giants face off.
244-pound Dennis Goltsov locked heads against 6-foot-8 Renan
Ferreira, and the ensuing violence didn’t disappoint. Ferreira
cashed out big off a thunderous right hand that took out Goltsov 26
seconds into the second round. Goltsov (32-8, 10-3 PFL) started the fight strong and nearly
finished his foe after transitioning into mount late in the first
round. Goltsov showed that it would be a long night on the ground
and nearly finished Ferreira with an Ezekiel choke. The Brazilian
knew then he didn’t have long to play around.

Ferreira took advantage of every second he was on his feet to start
the second frame. He rushed out of his corner and met Goltsov at
the center cage before knocking him out with a pair of overhands.
Ferreira finished up his work with a handful of hammer fists before
the title was officially in his grasp. As the PFL heavyweight
champion, Ferreira (12-3, 6-1 PFL) would love to welcome Francis
Ngannou to the organization, but a showdown with Bellator
champion Ryan Bader
seems more likely.

Pacheco Survives Mokhnatkina Leglock

Larissa
Pacheco made history, becoming the first two-division PFL
champion after holding off Marina
Mokhnatkina in the featherweight final. Pacheco, who upset
Kayla
Harrison in the lightweight final last season, notched a second
belt in a fight that gave her little trouble besides a tight
leglock in Round 1.

After five rounds of action, the scorecards read 49-46, 49-46,
49-46, all for Pacheco. The Brazilian’s dominance over the first
four rounds secured the victory. Pacheco (23-4, 12-2 PFL) largely
set the pace of the fight and constantly tried to cut off the cage.
Mokhnatkina seemed content with circling and avoiding Pacheco’s
heavy fists. Mokhnatkina amped up her offense late and stole the
final round, but she fought to survive most of the fight.

Magomedkerimov Taps Sy

Magomed
Magomedkerimov was the last man to defeat reigning PFL
welterweight champion Sadibou Sy,
and he proved Friday night that he was up to the task yet again.
Magomedkerimov took a 2-0 lead in their rivalry after submitting Sy
with a guillotine in the third round of the welterweight final.

The twitchy and erratic head movement of Magomedkerimov (34-6, 16-1
PFL) made it hard for Sy to figure out his distance and timing.
Magomedkerimov took advantage and slipped his way inside for tight
body locks that he evolved into takedowns.

Down 2-0 on the cards, Sy looked to up the pressure in the third
round. After staying long with his kicks, Sy shot under
Magomedkerimov’s right hand to clinch but was too high up, falling
into a guillotine trap. Magomedkerimov quickly locked up the choke
and $1 million seconds later at the 1:17 mark of Round 3.

Kasanganay Wins Light Heavyweight Gold

Impa
Kasanganay’s prolific journey to the championship won’t be
forgotten. Kasangnay went from sleeping in his car to earning a
shot in the PFL Challenger Series and finally winning the entire
light heavyweight tournament.

Kasanganay’s unconquerable spirit was on full display in his
championship tilt against Joshua
Silveira. Over five long rounds, Kasanganay dug deeper and
proved that he wanted it more. Dominating Silveira in both striking
and grappling, Kasanganay earned a unanimous decision win with
three 50-45 scorecards in his favor.

Nearly two years ago, Kasanganay was knocked out by Carlston
Harris. Now, he has the opportunity to blossom into one of the
PFL’s biggest stars. In his post-fight interview, Kasanganay set up
an eventual showdown with Bellator light heavyweight champion
Vadim
Nemkov.

Harrison Cruises Past Ladd

Kayla
Harrison (16-1,15-1 PFL) showed little ring rust in her
much-anticipated return to the SmartCage. It had been nearly a year
since Harrison’s loss in last year’s lightweight final, but she got
back to her winning ways in a 150-pound catchweight fight against
Aspen
Ladd (11-5, 2-2 PFL).

Harrison dominated Ladd on the ground en route to a unanimous
decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Harrison stated that she was
nervous heading into the fight after re-dedicating herself to the
sport after a year-long layoff. The two-time Olympic gold medalist
had little trouble getting Ladd to the ground, but the finish
eluded her. Ladd was gritty and kept the former PFL champion busy
but lacked the power to get Harrison off her. Following her win,
Harrison called out Bellator women’s featherweight champion
Cristiane
Justino to what would be one of the biggest fights in women’s
MMA history.


Brunson Decisions Overweight Cooper

Former UFC middleweight contender Derek
Brunson (24-9, 1-0 PFL) turned back the clock in his PFL debut.
The 37-year-old Brunson outworked and outwrestled 2021 PFL
welterweight champion Ray Cooper
III, cruising to a clear unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25,
30-25).

Cooper (25-9-1 12-4-1 PFL) showed up for the middleweight showcase
fight overweight, sluggish and unmotivated. Cooper cracked Brunson
early with a right hand but failed to capitalize on the
opportunity. Brunson recovered by inside-tripping Copper and
settling into full mount. Brunson nearly gassed himself as he
reigned down punches on a helpless Cooper. Brunson beat on Cooper
until the bell mercifully ended the action.

Brunson’s wrestling dominated the Hawaiian all night. Brunson sunk
in easy single legs and kept Cooper pinned for minutes at a time.
It wasn’t pretty, but the win was indisputable.

Pinedo Claims Featherweight Glory

Jesus
“El Mudo” Pinedo left a definitive statement Friday night,
avenging his early season loss to Gabriel
Braga with a third-round revenge-filled TKO to win the 2023 PFL
Featherweight Championship.

Pinedo (23-6-1, 3-1 PFL) became the first Peruvian to win a major
mixed martial arts title despite coming in as the underdog against
the previously undefeated Braga (12-1, 4-1 PFL). Braga lit up
Pinedo’s legs en route to a split decision win in their first
fight, but Pinedo found success when he moved forward and let his
hands go.

Braga looked to establish the calf kick early, but Pinedo offset
its effectiveness by moving laterally. Pinedo’s pressure from the
fight carried over into the rematch as he battered Braga with
combinations. Braga’s defense was sturdy, but his guard could only
fend off so many punches.

As Pinedo began to find a rhythm, his shots started to land much
crisper. The beginning of the end
came off a sneaky shovel hook that sent Braga stumbling into the
ropes. The Brazilian immediately shelled up and took the brunt of
Pinedo’s furious fists. Despite blocking most of the
shots, Braga’s night was called early by referee Fernando Yamasaki
at 53 seconds into Round 3.

With the win, Pinedo takes home the $1 million prize and sets up an
eventual cross-promotional showdown with Bellator featherweight
champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire in 2024.

Ali Walsh KOs Lopez

The grandson of Muhammad
Ali was destined to have hands. Biaggio
Ali Walsh (6-1 AMMA) showed flashes of “The Greatest” after
floating around Joel Lopez
for two short rounds. Ali Walsh stung Lopez
with an overhand right before knocking him out cold with a left
hook 1:24 into the second round of their amateur
lightweight clash. Ali Walsh clearly has the speed and power to
make the jump to the pro ranks. His legendary lineage doesn’t hurt,
either. It’s only a matter of time.

Wu Outwrestles Caracappa

Bantamweight newcomer Phil
Caracappa (11-3, 1-0 PFL) picked up a unanimous decision win
over fellow PFL debutant Khai Wu (30-27,
29-28, 29-28). Caracappa entered 2-3 in his last five but picked up
the biggest win of his career by outwrestling Wu in half-guard.
Caracappa secured the position in all three rounds and punished Wu
(7-5, 0-1 PFL) with punches every chance he got. Wu scrambled away
and neutralized most of Caracappa’s attacks but never got to
establish an offense of his own. He was out-worked for most of the
15 minutes, resulting in his third loss in four fights.

Stirn Outstrikes Blyden

Jesse
Stirn (16-6, 1-2 PFL) opened the 2023 PFL Championship card
with a gritty unanimous decision win over promotional newcomer
Josh
Blyden (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Blyden came in nearly a pound
overweight and a step slower than Stirn but managed to secure a
pair of takedowns early.

Stirn edged out his fellow featherweight in the clinch and battered
him with thudding knees and elbows, which knotted up the fight
heading into the final round. The final five minutes could’ve gone
to either man, but a last-minute takedown from Stirn resonated with
the judges. With the win, Stirn picked up his fifth straight
victory and his first in the PFL SmartCage.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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