PFL Challenger Series 1 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Round 1

Larry Folsom will serve as the third man in the cage for the
inauguarl PFL Challenger Series bout. They touch gloves and
Williams lands a right hook shortly thereafter. Amos initiates the
clinch and the light heavyweights jockey for position until
Williams executes a takedown and lands in side control. Williams
drops a pair of left hands from above. Williams is looking to trap
the right arm of “Black Santa,” but thus far he just maintains side
control. Amos tries unsuccessfully to sit up. Williams peppers the
body of his foe with a series of short right hands. Amos still
doesn’t have any answers off his back. Amos attempts to kick off
the fence, but he can’t shake Williams, who has remained on top for
the majority of the round. Amos returns to his feet when Williams
tries to pass to mount. Amos presses Williams into the cage, but
Williams reverses the position and lands a knee to the gut.
Williams pulls Amos off the fence and plants him on his back with
15 seconds remaining. That’s how the round will end.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Williams
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Williams
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Williams

Round 2

Williams circles on the outside and Amos shoots behind a winging
right hand. Williams quickly turns his man around and shoves Amos
into the fence. He uses his underhook and powers Amos to the canvas
once again, landing in side control a little less than one minute
into the frame. Williams is heavy on top, landing periodic
ground-and-pound from above. They gradually move toward the cage
and Amos puts his feet on the fence. He can’t buck Williams off
him, however, and Williams stays busy enough with positional
control and the occasional offense from above. Amos recovers half
guard with less than 2:00 remaining. Williams postures up and drops
punches. Amos briefly threatens with an armbar, but Williams is
able to step over into side control again as time ticks down. He’ll
end the period in side control.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Williams
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Williams
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Williams

Round 3

They touch gloves at the outset of the final frame. Amos wings
punches and changes levels. The shot is unsuccessful and now Amos
is stuck in the clinch with Williams. They separate in short order
this time. Amos ties up behind a right hand, and Williams shoves
his foe into the fence. Williams drops for a takedown and Amos
initially defends, but Williams is eventually able to ride him down
to the mat. Williams passes to mount, and he’s trying to up the
intensity of his ground-and-pound. Amos nearly reverses position
using his guard, but Williams regains top position in a scramble.
He’s working in Amos’ full guard now, and a stinging right hand
finds the mark. Williams passes back to side control, but Amos is
able to return to his feet in a scramble. Amos flicks out a kick to
the body. Amos stumbles on a takedown behind a looping right hand,
and Williams is able to sidestep the shot and power his adversary
to his back with a little less than a minute remaining. Amos is
trying to make something happen with his guard, but he eats a
couple hammerfists for his efforts. Williams stands and dives in
with more punches before the final bell.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Williams (30-27
Williams)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Williams (30-27 Williams)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Williams (30-27 Williams)

The Official Result

Karl Williams def. Miles Amos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27,
30-26) R3 5:00

Round 1

Andrew Glenn will officiate the second light heavyweight bout of
the evening. Davis just misses a jab to the body. A hard leg kick
finds the mark for Souto. They trade leg kicks and Davis goes after
the body with the jab again. Souto just misses a big right hand,
but he follows with another hard leg kick. Davis attacks the lead
leg of his foe. Davis catches a kick and plants Souto on the
canvas. Davis sets up in the full guard of his opponent. Souto
scoots toward the fence and Davis passes to half guard. Davis
transitions to a front headlock position and applies the squeeze
with a front choke, but Souto is able to pop his head free. Souto
stands and they separate with less than 90 seconds remaining. Souto
lands a jab. The combatants trade punches in the pocket. Souto presses forward and staggers Davis with a
leaping knee that lands flush to the chin. Davis is reeling and
the Brazilian swarms with about five left hands near the fence.
Davis crumbles to the canvas and Glenn dives in to wave off the
bout.

The Official Result

Bruce Souto def. Travis Davis via KO (Flying Knee and Punches) R1
4:43

Round 1

Larry Folsom is the referee for this matchup. Poppeck has a high
kick blocked and Johnson explodes for a takedown behind a left
hand. Poppeck is seated against the fence, and Johnson has his
opponent’s legs wrapped up in his own. Johnson is attempting to
slide Poppeck away from the fence. Poppeck frees one leg and then
another as he works his way to his feet. Poppeck frames his leg on
the outside of his opponent’s to prevent the takedown, which has
resulted in a stalling position against the fence. It works for
Johnson, who is in control. Folsom doesn’t see enough action and
orders the fighters to separate. Poppeck lands a kick to Johnson’s
lead leg. Poppeck snaps a front kick down the middle. Johnson lands
a low kick of his own. Poppeck flicks out a couple jabs, then
catches Johnson coming forward with an uppercut. Johnson fires off
a kick to the body, and Poppeck responds with a left hook. Johnson
pressures with winging punches, but Poppeck angles out of danger.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Johnson

Round 2

Poppeck tests the waters with a high kick and then Johnson moves
forward and lands a body kick. Poppeck backs up Johnson with a
straight right hand. A two-punch combo lands for Poppeck, who is
starting to find his range. Johnson, who is bleeding near his left
eye, eats a right hand from Poppeck. Johnson changes levels for a
takedown, then has to reset to be able to dump the German on the
mat. Once again, Johnson wraps up one leg of his opponent with
Poppeck seated against the cage. Poppeck gradually powers his way
up and lands a knee to the body. Johnson drops for a takedown, but
Poppeck defends nicely and they’re back in space. Poppeck connects
with another straight right. A left hook lands for Johnson. Johnson
lands a combination and Poppeck answers to the body. Johnson shoots
in the waning seconds and Poppeck defends before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Poppeck
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Poppeck
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Poppeck

Round 3

Johnson presses forward behind a right hook. He moves in again with
punches and circles out when a takedown doesn’t come to fruition.
Johnson lands an inadvertent kick to the cup, and after a momentary
pause, the action resumes. A counter left hand from Johnson puts
Poppeck on his seat and shortly thereafter, the American takes his
opponent to the mat with a high amplitude throw in a nice piece of
counter wrestling. Johnson is now in half guard with more than 3:00
to go in the fight. Johnson continues to control positioning while
creating openings for periodic ground-and-pound. Poppeck tries to
force a scramble by going for a leg lock, but Johnson is able to
spin out and regain control near the fence. Johnson has wrapped up
his foe’s right leg with Poppeck seated against cage, a familiar
position for this fight. Poppeck fires a couple punches to the
ribs, but Johnson is relentless with his pressure. Poppeck stands
briefly, but Johnson transitions to the back before scrambling into
mount. Johnson pours it on with punches from top position until the
final bell.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (29-28
Johnson)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Johnson)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Johnson)

The Official Result

Taylor Johnson def. Alexander Poppeck via Unanimous Decision
(29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Round 1

Andrew Glenn will oversee the featured contest of the night.
Silveira lands a front kick early and Juma respods with a left
hand. Silveira kicks Juma’s leg out from under him. Juma pressures
forward but Silveira changes levels and executes a powerful slam
takedown. Silveira locks up a standing choke but Juma defends.
Silveira is deep on a body lock and he takes Juma down, landing in
side control. Juma posts and eats a series of right hands. Juma
stands, with his mouthpiece hanging halfway out. Silveira lands a
knee on the exit. Back in the center of the cage, Silveira lands a
leg kick. Juma can’t find the range on the majority his punches.
Juma is denied on a single-leg atempt. Sliveira follows a right
hook with a takedown try near the fence. He gives up and they
separate. Silveira has a high kick blocked. Juma is stalking his
foe, swinging heavy leather. Juma lands an accidental low blow and
the action is paused. The action resumes and the southpaws are back
at it. Silveira times a level change and grounds Juma, who hustles
back to his feet. Juma attempts to frame a standing kimura, while
Silveira wants to work his way to his opponent’s back. Silveira
with a knee to the gut, and he spins around to the back. The round
will end without any more threat from Silveira.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silveira
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Silveira
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Silveira

Round 2

Juma marches forward, throwing combinations. Silveira circles away
and lands a knee down the middle. Juma is aggressive early, but he
is mostly missing the mark. Silveira explodes for a double leg, but
Juma scrambles to his feet in a hurry and lands some punches on the
way up. Now Juma is driving for the takedown, with Silveira
defending against the fence. Silveira falls back for a guillotine
attempt. Silveira applies the squeeze as Juma attempts to free his
head. Juma is able to pop his head free and then referee Glenn
orders a pause to the action and takes a point away from Juma for
using a fish hook to help him escape the choke. The action resumes
at the 3:07 mark. Silveira drops low for a single leg and shoves
Juma into the fence. Juma turns Silveira into the fence while
attempting a guillotine of his own. Silveira isn’t in real danger,
and he reverses the position. Silveira shoots for a takedown and
Juma defends against the fence. The American Top Team member is
able to pull Juma off the cage and dump him on the mat. Silveira is
looking to set up an arm-triangle from half guard. Silveira passes
to full mount with a little less than a minute left. He’s still
hunting for the arm-triangle choke, but finally gives up on it.
Silveira punches Juma from mount while complaining to Glenn about
Juma’s hands in his face. A big right hammerfist punctuates the
round for Silveira.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Silveira
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-8 Silveira
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-8 Silveira

Round 3

Silveira backs Juma into the fence and lands a left. A front kick
connects for the former LFA champion. Silveira lands a combination
as Juma backs away. A left lands for Silvveira and Juma continues
to circle away. Silveira shoots for a takedown and ultimately drags
Juma down with a rear-body lock. Silveira quickly jumps on the back and transitions
to a rear-naked choke. Juma resists initially, but Silveira is
persistent with the squeeze. Finally, Juma taps out with both
fists. Silveira stands and taunts his fallen foe, obviously
still upset about the foul in the second round.

The Official Result

Joshua Silveira def. Mohamed Juma via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke
) R3 1:52

Contract(s) Announcement:

Bruce
Souto was awarded a
Professional Fighters League contract for his performance. The
other winners are eligible to return for the Season Finale in Week
8 on April 8.