Alexei
Pergande submitted Joe Hamm with
an arm-triangle choke in the second round of their
PFL Challenger Series 7 lightweight attraction and in doing so
netted a
Professional Fighters League contract on Friday at Universal
Studios in Orlando, Florida. Pergande (1-0), who has spent time at
the powerhouse Sanford MMA camp, brought it to a close 4:42 into Round 2.
Hamm (0-1) was largely ineffective. Pergande managed distance,
controlled the clinch and shifted momentum with takedowns. He
grounded Hamm with 90 seconds left in the second round, climbed to
full mount and zeroed in with punches. From there, Pergande
progressed to the back, transitioned to the choke and let his
squeeze do the rest.
Meanwhile, Sanford MMA prospect Andrija
Stankovic pieced together educated striking combinations,
surprising takedowns and suffocating top control, as he banked a
unanimous decision over Louis
Brewington in a three-round welterweight feature. Stankovic
(1-0) swept the scorecards with 30-27 nods from the judiciary.
Brewington (0-1) had his moments. He stung the Serb with straight
left hands on more than one occasion and nearly caught him in a
triangle choke in the second round. However, those efforts failed
to lead to anything meaningful, and Stankovic seized the reins in
Round 3. There, he swooped into top position twice, piled up
control time and did just enough to get his hand raised.
Finally, Christian
Turner overcame a slow start, made the necessary adjustments
and laid claim to a unanimous decision over Chayanne
Serrano in a three-round lightweight showcase. All three judges
struck 29-28 scorecards for Turner (1-0).
Serrano (0-1) overwhelmed his 20-year-old counterpart with a
multi-faceted approach in the first round, where he connected with
punching volleys, a spinning back kick to the body and a partially
blocked head kick, all while mixing in takedowns. Turner did not
retreat. He found another gear in Round 2, as he leaned on airtight
wrestling defense, a potent jab and a tide-turning takedown.
Serrano looked lost in the third round. Turner executed multiple
takedowns, paired them with ground-and-pound and tied the bow on
his comeback with some standing-to-ground punches.
In other action, Daeri
Alderman (1-0) took a unanimous decision from Jaylon
McDaniel (0-1) in a three-round featherweight affair, and Rakim
Tally (1-0) was awarded a unanimous verdict over Santino
Zurita (0-1) in a three-round heavyweight tilt.