Movlid
Khaybulaev remains an unsolved mystery.
Repeated takedowns and suffocating control carried the Dagestani
grappler in the 2021
Professional Fighters League featherweight semifinals, as he
took a split decision from Brendan
Loughnane in the
PFL 9 main event on Friday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and
Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Judges John Rupert and Eliseo
Rodriguez cast 30-27 and 29-28 scorecards for Khaybulaev, while
Daniel Torres saw it 29-28 for Loughnane.
With few exceptions, the unbeaten Khaybulaev (18-0-1, 4-0-1 PFL)
was the dominant participant. He executed a takedown inside the
first 20 seconds, corralled Loughnane on the canvas and applied his
ground-and-pound. Khaybulaev was at peak strength in the middle
stanza, where he dragged the
Dana White’s Contender Series alum back to the mat, handcuffed
his arm behind his back and unleashed a volley of punches to his
exposed face. Loughnane (21-4, 4-1 PFL) managed to bloody his
counterpart’s nose with an uppercut in Round 3, but the damage
proved to be little more than a moral victory. Khaybulaev backed
him to the fence with punches, secured another takedown and chewed
up valuable time.
On a four-fight winning streak, Khaybulaev will confront Chris Wade in
the million-dollar featherweight final on Oct. 27. Wade (20-6, 8-3
PFL) outscrambled, outgrappled and outhustled Bubba
Jenkins to a unanimous decision in the first featherweight
semifinal. Scores were 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28, all for the Long
Island MMA representative.
Jenkins (16-5, 2-1 PFL) struck for two takedowns early in the first
round, then ran into trouble. Wade threatened the onetime NCAA
wrestling champion with an anaconda choke, transitioned to a
guillotine and ultimately moved to the back, where he worked toward
a rear-naked choke. The scene repeated itself over and over again
over the final 10 minutes. Jenkins initiated grappling exchanges,
only to be outmaneuvered by the former Ring of
Combat titleholder. Wade opened a cut near his counterpart’s
right eye with a hook kick in the third round and shifted to
advantageous positions once the action spilled onto the floor.
The loss was Jenkins’ first since March 1, 2017 and slammed the
door on his five-fight winning streak.
Meanwhile,
American Top Team’s Antonio
Carlos Jr. rode leg kicks, chopping right hands and timely
takedowns to a unanimous decision over Emiliano
Sordi in the 2021 light heavyweight semifinals. All three
cageside judges scored it for Carlos Jr. (12-5, 2-0 PFL): 30-27,
29-28 and 29-28.
Sordi (23-9-1, 7-2 PFL) managed to keep the Brazilian at bay for a
time with output and near-flawless takedown defense. However,
Carlos Jr. wore him down with sheer determination and force of
will. “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 3 winner seemed to grow
stronger as the fight went longer. He pressed the issue in the
clinch in the third round, where he struck for a pair of takedowns,
twice advanced to Sordi’s back and made the Argentinian play
defense when it mattered most.
The win moves Carlos Jr. into the light heavyweight final and a
million-dollar showdown with Marthin
Hamlet on Oct. 27.
Hamlet (8-2, 2-1 PFL) advanced to the light heavyweight final due
to a stroke of misfortune for Cezar
Ferreira, who appeared to suffer a serious hamstring injury
while throwing a body kick. Ferreira (14-10, 1-2 PFL) collapsed to the canvas in visible distress and ate
a few punches before referee Larry Folsom moved in to rescue him
from further damage 13 seconds into the first round of their
ill-fated semifinal.
The 29-year-old Hamlet has rattled off three wins in four
appearances.
In other action, Sheymon
Moraes (13-5, 2-1 PFL) put away Lazar
Stojadinovic (14-9, 0-2 PFL) with punches 4:45 into the second round of their
featherweight showcase; Chris
Camozzi (27-15, 2-1 PFL) captured a unanimous verdict over
Cory
Hendricks (8-4, 1-1 PFL), earning 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 scores
from the judges; Anthony
Dizy (14-4, 1-1 PFL) took a unanimous decision from Jesse Stirn
(11-6, 0-2 PFL) in a three-round featherweight encounter, carrying
29-28 scores across the board; Bobby
Moffett (14-6, 1-1 PFL) laid claim to a unanimous verdict over
Jason
Knight (22-7, 0-1 PFL) in a three-round featherweight clash,
drawing 29-28 marks from all three judges; Alejandro
Flores Garcia (19-3, 1-0 PFL) eked out a split decision—29-28,
28-29, 29-28—over Carl Deaton
(13-5, 0-1 PFL) in a three-round featherweight tilt; and Brandon
Jenkins (14-6, 1-0 PFL) knocked out Jacob
Kilburn (8-5, 0-1 PFL) with a flying knee 2:56 into the first round of
their lightweight pairing.