Professional
Fighters League will conclude its historic year with the
PFL Europe 2024 Finals in Lyon, France. Sherdog’s live coverage
will kick off with the first bout at 11 a.m. ET.
Advertisement
Play-by-play unavailable due to technical issues
The Official Result
Oscar Ownsworth def. Claudio Pacella via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28)
PFL Europe Welterweight Showcase Bout:
Brice
Belghazi (167.5) vs. Eoin
Sheridan (170.8)
Round 1
Ireland’s towering Sheridan and Lyon hometown favorite Belghazi
face off, with Dan Movahedi the third man in the cage. Belghazi
rushes straight in, clinches and shoves Sheridan to the fence,
where he launches a couple of knees up the middle. Sheridan
reverses him, knees him and fights off a takedown attempt. Sheridan
then uses a trip of his own, to deposit the Frenchman on the canvas
at the base of the fence. Belghazi kicks him off and they return to
the feet, still clinched against the cage. Two minutes down, and
Sheridan turns Belghazi into the fence and hits him with a shoulder
strike. They separate, Belghazi launches a long double-leg and
Sheridan rolls through, landing on top in half guard. Belghazi
works to regain full guard with a butterfly hook and succeeds.
Under 90 seconds to go in the round and Sheridan is on top, in
Belghazi’s full guard, shoving him into the fence. Belghazi throws
his hips up for a possible armbar or triangle attempt, but is
forced to give it up and goes back to full guard. Sheridan postures
up and throws a couple of elbows before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
Round 2
The welterweights touch gloves to start Round 2. Sheridan uses a
trip and body lock to dump Belghazi to the floor, where Belghazi
closes his guard. Sheridan scoots the Frenchman to the base of the
fence, where Sheridan passes to half guard and tries to drop
strikes from above. Belghazi kicks him off with a foot on the hips,
and they return to their feet by the fence. Belghazi takes the
inside position, but Sheridan reverses him and pushes him into the
cage. Belghazi nails Sheridan with a knee to the groin, and
Movahedi stops the action. After a break and a warning, the
fighters go back to work. Belghazi scores first with a jab, then
hauls Sheridan to the canvas, where he postures up and throws a
couple of blows. Sheridan uses Belghazi’s momentum to reverse him,
and lands on top on Belghazi’s guard. Sheridan keeps his posture
high, and Belghazi closes his guard and throws a pair of punches
from below. Sheridan is on top, but can’t get off many strikes
before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
Round 3
Belghazi comes forward behind a pair of punches, then changes
levels for a takedown. He can’t get it, and ends up driving
Sheridan all the way to the fence. Belghazi lands a knee up the
middle that draws a protesting look from Sheridan, but referee
Movahedi tells them to keep fighting. They separate a moment later,
and Belghazi rushes in for another takedown attempt behind
Sheridan’s next kick. Sheridan comes out on top of the ensuing
scramble, and slides right into mount, where he pelts Belghazi with
hammerfists. Belghazi bucks and squirms, and Movahedi halts them,
resetting the fighters away from the fence, Sheridan still in full
mount, apparently due to Belghazi putting his fingers or toes in
the fence. Sheridan lands a couple of punches and Belghazi turns
aside, with Sheridan taking back mount. Sheridan works for a
rear-naked choke with a minute left. Belghazi works to his hands
and knees, Sheridan still stuck to his back, then turns and gives
up mount again. Sheridan slides up high and rains down punches
until the horn. Dominant round for Eoin Sheridan.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan (30-27 Sheridan)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan (30-27 Sheridan)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan (30-27 Sheridan)
The Official Result
Eoin Sheridan def. Brice Belghazi via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 30-27)
Round 1
Scatizzi and Wisniewska square off for the PFL Europe flyweight
title. Rich Mitchell is on referee duty. Both women are in orthodox
stance, and Scatizzi dashes forward, swinging. Wisniewska tags her
with a couple of glancing punches, then a brutal knee up the middle
that lands on the chin, dropping Scatizzi in her tracks.
Wisniewska swarms with punches as the dazed Scatizzi tries to
survive. Mitchell jumps in for the stoppage as
Scatizzi is stuck on her hands and knees, eating punches. It’s all
over in just 20 seconds and Paulina Wisniewska is your 2024 PFL
Europe flyweight champ.
The Official Result
Paulina Wisniewska def. Valentina Scatizzi R1 0:20 via TKO (Knee
and Punches)
PFL Europe Welterweight Championship Bout:
Daniele
Miceli (169.9) vs. Florim
Zendeli (169.9)
Round 1
It’s Albania vs. Italy in the welterweight final, as Zendeli and
Miceli go to work under the watchful eye of referee Mourad
Benseghir. Miceli throws a heavy leg kick that nearly takes Zendeli
off his feet. Another low kick has the Albanian contemplating a
stance switch. Miceli intercepts a takedown attempt with a
10-finger guillotine attempt. Zendeli escapes and applies a front
headlock of his own, cinching up an anaconda choke and snapping
Miceli down to his knees. They roll through and Miceli extricates
his neck. They return to the feet after a furious 90 seconds, and
Zendeli surges forward, clinches and looks for the takedown. Miceli
uses an overhook to fight it off, and they disengage. Zendeli moves
back in with a double-leg and trips Miceli to the ground at the
base of the fence. Miceli tries to use the fence to deny Zendeli
back control, but
Zendeli squeezes through and comes out in back control, where he
locks up a body triangle, works for a rear-naked choke, and locks
it up. Miceli taps in seconds, and Florim Zendeli is
the 2024 PFL Europe welterweight champion.
The Official Result
Florim Zendeli def. Daniele Miceli R1 4:24 via Submission
(Rear-Naked Choke)
PFL Europe ‘Doumbe Decides’ Catchweight Bout:
Salvo
Giudice (176.8) vs. Atilla
Kobas (176.8)
Round 1
The first of the “Doumbe Decides” special feature bouts kicks off
with a 177-pound catchweight between Frenchmen Giudice and Kobas.
Kobas walks Guidice to the fence and throws a big left hook that
just grazes. Giudice slides out of the pocket but Kobas follows,
and takes him down. Giudice pops back up and, in the scramble that
ensues, comes out on top. Giudice throws short strikes from Kobas’
full guard, driving him to the base of the fence. Giudice passes to
half guard as Kobas locks up a kimura from below. Kobas holds on to
the arms even as Giudice threatens to pass to mount. Kobas uses a
butterfly hook to regain guard, letting go of the kimura as he does
so. Giudice passes to half guard again and Kobas fishes for another
kimura. They end up in an awkward position with arms partly trapped
underneath them, and Giudice pops up, grabbing a front headlock as
he does. He drives Kobas back down to the canvas and moves to full
mount. He moves around to the back and tries for a choke, but Kobas
slides out the back, spins and ends up on top. Kobas stands out of
Giudice’s guard and the round ends seconds later.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
Round 2
After a few feints, Kobas jumps in and tries a body lock takedown,
but it’s Giudice who ends up on top. Kobas suddenly looks very
tired, and Giudice spins to the back. Kobas stands up and Giudice
stays stuck to him as they collide with the fence. Giudice is still
on Kobas’ back and drags him to his knees at the base of the cage.
Giudice ends up in half guard while Kobas uses a kimura to prevent
him from making his way to the back. Giudice moves back to the
front and works for a D’Arce choke. Kobas extricates his head from
the grip, and goes to his back with Giudice in his full guard.
Giudice advances to half guard, then to back mount. He gets both
hooks in, flattens Koba and throws a flurry of punches. Koba tries
to explode up, and manages to go to his back with Giudice in half
guard, where they are when the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
Round 3
Kobas once again comes forward to open the third frame, and Giudice
gives ground. Kobas walks into the clinch and Giudice spins him
into the fence, then trips him to the canvas seconds later. Giudice
once again goes to work from half guard, dropping elbows. Giudice
has Kobas’ far wrist tied up and is throwing unblocked punches to
the face. Movahedi is looking on closely, but Kobas keeps moving
and manages to survive. Giudice is on Kobas’ back with one hook in,
then moves to top position as Kobas tries to scrape him off against
the fence. Kobas has one of Giudice’s wrists trapped, but he’s
still on bottom, where Giudice is kneeing him to the ribs. Giudice
is on top with 90 seconds to go, in Kobas’ full guard. Kobas is
doing a credible job stopping Giudice from really teeing off, but
he has offered zero offense of his own since the first minute of
the fight. Giudice stays busy on top, landing what strikes he can
through Kobas’ defenses. Giudice postures up and drops punches
until the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Giudice (30-27 Giudice)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Giudice (30-27 Giudice)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Giudice (30-27 Giudice)
The Official Result
Salvo Giudice def. Attila Kobas via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-26, 30-25)
PFL Europe ‘Doumbe Decides’ Bantamweight Bout:
Ezzoubair
Bouarsa (135.8) vs. Mahio
Campanella (136)
Round 1
Bantamweights Bouarsa and Campanella are the next to perform for
French kickboxing star Cedric Doumbe, and Campanella is the first
to land with a pair of body kicks, then a huge leg kick. Bouarsa
takes a couple of calf kicks, then rushes in and shoves Campanella
to the cage, where Campanella reverses him. Campanella throws a
couple of knees to the body, and they disengage. Campanella spins
with a back kick that lands on the guard, then another. Campanella
drives a kick up the middle. Bouarsa grabs a guillotine and goes to
his back. It looks tight for a moment, but Campanella finally pops
his head out and sets up shop in top position. Bouarsa gets to his
feet and moves to the fence with Campanella glued to him. Bouarsa
grabs another guillotine and they go down, but Campanella ends up
in top on the opposite side. Bouarsa is wide open for a Von Flue
choke, but Campanella doesn’t press the issue.
Bouarsa bucks and sits up, and Campanella adjusts, then applies a
more conventional head-and-arm choke. Referee Mitchell
recognizes that Bouarsa has gone to sleep and steps in for the
stoppage.
The Official Result
Mahio Campanella def. Ezzoubair Bouarsa R1 4:45 via Technical
Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
PFL Europe ‘Doumbe Decides’ Featherweight Bout:
Mathys
Duragrin (145.9) vs. Yassin
Chtatou (146)
Round 1
The final “Doumbe Decides” feature takes place at 145 pounds, with
Duragrin and Chtatou set to try and entertain “The Best.” Mourad
Bensghir is the referee. Chtatou inches forward as Duragrin circles
out. Both men feint, and Duragrin intercepts the advancing Chtatou
with a nicely timed level change, driving him to the canvas.
Chtatou pops right back up, but Duragrin never lets him go, and
hauls him right back down, landing in side control. Duragrin tries
to pin an arm so that he can start throwing unblocked
ground-and-pound, but Chtatou is wise to it and keeps Duragrin busy
enough to forestall any real damage. Chtatou regains full guard,
with Duragrin over him at the base of the cage. Duragrin stands up
out of guard, evades an upkick and dives back in, landing in half
guard. Duragrin is heavy on top, throwing short punches and passing
to three-quarter guard. Chtatou squirms and works back to full
guard. Under 90 seconds to go in the round and Duragrin is still
working to pass the guard, while throwing elbows. Chtatou explodes
to his feet and eats most of a knee to the face on his way up.
Chtatou goes for a takedown and Duragrin uses a front headlock to
force a stalemate against the cage. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
Round 2
Chtatou flicks out a low kick, then tries to intercept the
onrushing Duragrin with a knee. Duragrin runs Chtatou to the fence,
where he drives some knees to the thigh. Chtatou executes a
lightning-quick standing back take, but when he tries to drag his
man down, Duragrin hits an inside switch and ends up on top. They
pop back to their feet, but it’s Duragrin working for back control
now. Chtatou is bent over, looking for a switch, and takes a knee
to the face. Duragrin hauls Chtatou to the ground and ends up on
top in half guard. Duragrin posture up, looking to drop punches and
elbows, but Chtatou is again very effective at tying up the arms
and avoiding the worst of the ground-and-pound. They move far
enough from the fence for Duragrin to sit up in guard and drop a
flurry of hard punches. Chtatou scoots back to the fence and tries
to get his feet on Duragrin’s hips, but Duragrin is landing big
shots. Duragrin stand up out of guard and walks away a second
before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
Round 3
Chtatou once again is the one advancing as Round 3 opens, and
Duragrin jabs his way into range, changes levels and gets an
ultra-easy takedown near the fence. Duragrin is on Chtatou’s back
in a flash, sinks both hooks and tries to flatten his man out.
Chtatou tucks his chin against the expected choke attempt, and
refuses to let his hips be flattened. Duragrin rolls to his side,
keeping the hooks, and works to get an arm under the chin. It’s all
Duragrin through half the round, and Chtatou is surviving, but
doing little else. Duragrin appears to have the choke locked up,
but Chtatou fights off the hands. He gets a body triangle as he
does so. Chtatou rolls over and Duragrin slides into full mount,
flattening Chtatou out and throwing punches to the ribs. With 30
seconds to go, Duragrin steps on the gas a bit, posturing up and
throwing a flurry of punches. Duragrin stands up with 10 seconds
left, steps to the center of the cage and points to the ground.
Chtatou is game, but time expires before any last-second heroics
can take place. Dominant work by Mathys Duragrin.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Duragrin (30-26 Duragrin)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin (30-27 Duragrin)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin (30-27 Duragrin)
The Official Result
Mathys Duragrin def. Yassin Chtatou via Unanimous Decision (30-26,
30-26, 30-25)
After deliberation, Cedric Doumbe awards
Professional Fighters League contracts to Mahio Campanella and
Mathys Duragrin.
PFL Europe Lightweight Championship Bout:
Jakub
Kaszuba (154.5) vs. Connor
Hughes (154.7)
Round 1
The parade of PFL Europe title fights resumes with Poland’s Kaszuba
and Ireland’s Hughes set to dispute the lightweight championship.
It would be a second straight for Kaszuba. Dan Movahedi sends the
fighters into action, and both set up in orthodox stance. Kaszuba
throws a leg kick that comes up short. Hughes’s hands are in
motion, feinting. Kaszuba is content so far to hang out in boxing
range, while Hughes is wary of the takedown attempt he knows is
likely coming. A minute and a half in, neither man has landed any
heavy blows, and the Lyon crowd grows restive. Hughes tags Kaszuba
with a lead left uppercut. The tentative stalemate is broken when
Hughes tags Kaszuba with a hard hook that definitely hurts. Under a
minute to go in the round, and Kaszuba may not have landed a
significant strike yet. Kaszuba shoots a quick single-leg, switches
to a double and drives Hughes to the cage. Hughes defends with a
guillotine and goes high-elbow for a second. Kaszuba extracts his
head right before the horn. The crowd boos.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Round 2
Hughes hits Kaszuba with a calf kick. Kaszuba steps forward and
throws a head kick that grazes the high guard of Hughes. Hughes
shows the lead uppercut again, perhaps to dissuade possible
takedown attempts. Kaszuba grabs a body lock, but it’s Hughes that
hoists him and walks him to the fence. Now it’s Hughes shoving
Kaszuba into the chain-link, as Kaszuba tries to reverse the
position. He does so, and tries to grab a leg as soon as Hughes’
back touches the cage. Hughes hauls him back up with an underhook
and Movahedi has seen enough, resetting them in the center of the
cage. Hughes backs Kaszuba up with a pair of hooks and a jabbing
front kick. Kaszuba shoots for a takedown and runs right into the
corkscrew uppercut that Hughes has been dialing in since the first
seconds of the fight. Kasuba drops and Hughes swarms, throwing a
flurry of punches. Movahedi is looking on, but Kaszuba regains his
wits, reverses position and takes Hughes down. He sets up in the
Irishman’s full guard against the cage. Kaszuba punches the ribs
and grinds short elbows while Hughes controls his posture with
closed guard and his arms. The round expires, and the Lyon crowd is
much more positive.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Round 3
Kaszuba stalks forward behind some long straight jabs. Hughes backs
up and returns fire with a jab of his own. They clinch in the
center of the cage and go careening toward the fence. Kaszuba
changes levels and Hughes counters with an overhook, but can’t step
over and Kaszuba secures the takedown. Kaszuba is in full guard,
then passes to half, dropping a couple of nice elbows. Hughes
shrimps and uses an underhook to stand up. Kaszuba stands with him,
keeps the body lock, and drags the action back to the floor.
Kaszuba is on top in half guard, chipping away with short strikes.
Hughes again sits up and tries to use an underhook to stand, but
Kaszuba is heavy on top and forces him back down. Hughes gets
butterfly guard, but can’t elevate Kaszuba off of him and starts
landing elbows in earnest, taking advantage of Hughes’s right arm
being partially trapped beneath him. Kaszuba pins the arms with a
leg and continues racking up ground-and-pound. The round expires
with Kaszuba on top and the momentum having definitely shifted.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kaszuba
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Kaszuba
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Kaszuba
Round 4
Round 4 kicks off with Kaszuba matching forward behind a couple of
jabs. He shoots a double-leg and gets an easy takedown next to the
cage, aided by Hughes grabbing a guillotine and falling to his
back. Kaszuba pulls his head out of the choke and punches the ribs.
Kaszuba is in half guard, where he lands a pair of heavy elbows.
Hughes is bleeding, apparently from the forehead. Kaszuba is
dropping elbows while Hughes scoots to the fence and tries to use
it to sit up. Kaszuba drags him away from the cage and tries to
create space to drop more ground strikes. Hughes locks his arms
around Kaszuba’s body, trying to control posture. Kaszuba is nearly
in side control, landing a steady stream of elbows to the face and
head. Hughes tries to wall-walk, but Kaszuba pulls him off of the
fence and uses shoulder pressure to slide into mount. Hughes
quickly regains half guard, but Kaszuba is in full control, keeping
Hughes on the defensive positionally, while never letting up on the
ground-and-pound onslaught.
Movahedi pleads with Hughes to work. Hughes keeps moving,
squirming, but after another 10-15 seconds of action in which he
fails to materially improve his situation, Movahedi calls off the
fight, awarding the technical knockout to now two-time
PFL Europe lightweight champion, Jakub Kaszuba.
The Official Result
Jakub Kaszuba def. Connor Hughes R4 3:40 via TKO (Elbows)
Round 1
The PFL Europe bantamweight final features two young fighters in
England’s McGrillen-Evans and Germany’s Luster who may well be
vying for a spot in next year’s global season. The third man in the
cage is Rich Mitchell. Luster is orthodox, McGrillen southpaw,
keeping his trademark left hand cocked. Luster slides around the
outside, flicking out his jab and looking for a body kick to the
open side. McGrillen stalks forward and fires off a right hook that
clatters off the guard. Luster tries another body kick and just
barely slips the left counter coming back his way. Luster kicks
again, and McGrillen once again returns fire with the left, which
glances. Luster tries a single-leg but McGrillen fights it off,
returns to his feet and drops Luster with a clean left. McGrillen
swarms, looking for the finish, but when Luster recovers, McGrillen
let him up. Luster is bloodied as they go back to work on the feet.
McGrillen throws a left high kick that is mostly blocked. Luster
shoots a long single-leg from outside, runs McGrillen to the fence
and drills him with a couple of knees to the head. They disengage,
and McGrillen walks Luster to the cage, measuring him for another
big left hand. Luster fires back with a good right hand, and both
bantamweights flurry. Luster slips on a kick at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 McGrillen
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 McGrillen
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 McGrillen
Round 2
McGrillen surges forward again to open Round 2 and quickly lands a
left hand. Luster drives for a takedown, but McGrillen sprawls and
Luster is forced to let it go. Luster times another McGrillen
entry, gets a deep single-leg, but it’s McGrillen who ends up on
top at the base of the fence. McGrillen lets him up and they go
back to striking. Luster catches McGrillen with a knee to the head.
McGrillen backs Luster up to the fence; Luster is breathing with
his mouth wide open thanks to his nose, which has been busted badly
by McGrillen’s work. McGrillen is relentless, cutting off Luster’s
escape routes and keeping him corralled against the cage.
Luster is giving back as well, but McGrillen crushes him with a
left hand. Luster drops and the Englishman dives in, swarming with
elbows and punches from both hands until Mitchell is forced to
interpose himself for the stoppage. Great work by
Lewis McGrillen-Evans.
The Official Result
Lewis McGrillen-Evans def. Alexander Luster R2 3:53 via TKO
(Punches and Elbows)
Round 1
Big men take to the cage, as PFL heavyweight prospects Groguhe and
Sene face off in a featured attraction. Mourad Bensaghir set to
oversee the proceedings. Both heavyweights are in orthodox stances.
They exchange a flurry of punches, and Sene clinches and drives
Groguhe to the fence, where he promptly puts a knee on Groguhe’s
cup. After a moment to recover, they resume work and Sene
immediately shoves Groguhe back to the fence. Sene fires another
knee to the midsection, this time legal. Bensaghir tells them to
work, and Sene obliges with a couple of punches, but it isn’t
enough, and the ref resets them in the center of the cage. Groguhe
flicks out a nice jab that snaps the shorter man’s head back.
Groguhe with a low kick that Sene does not like. Sene tries to
clinch, but Groguh sidesteps nimbly. Sene gets it on a second
effort, and shoves the taller man to the cage again. Sene’s
pressure and head position keep Groguhe stuck to the chain link,
but Sene is not landing much, if any damaging offense. Sene with a
short elbow upstairs that gets Groguhe’s attention, and staves off
intervention by the referee. Sene controls a wrist, stomps the foot
and knees the thigh. A change in camera angles reveals Sene’s hand
blatantly grabbing the fence. They break away and Groguhe lands a
glancing head kick before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
Round 2
Groguhe takes the center of the cage, then gives ground as Sene
advances. Groguhe looks to meet the advances of Sene with his jab,
then throws a heavy kick to the thigh. Groguhe with another hard
leg kick. Groguhe catches Sene with a left straight and a right
hook. Sene looks bewildered in space against Groguh, but isn’t
trying for the clinch as he did in Round 1. Two minutes down and
the pace has slowed, but Groguhe lands another leg kick and Sene is
favoring the left leg visibly. Groguh meets a Sene charge with a
glancing combination of punches. Sene gets his hands on Groguh and
drives him to the cage. Sene lands a knee up the middle that lands
on the cup. Bensaghir breaks them up, gives Groguh a moment to
recover and remonstrates in French to Sene. He waves them back into
action and Groguh looks tired. He’s fresh enough to catch the
onrushing Sene with a punch that rocks him, however. Sene clinches
and recovers his wits. Under 90 seconds to go and Sene is pushing
Groguh into the fence, landing mugging uppercuts with his right
hand. Groguhe shows no particular urgency to get off the fence, as
Sene strikes his thighs with knees. Bensaghir tells the
heavyweights to get busy, and they do not obey. He separates them
with seconds to go, and nothing of consequence happens before the
horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
Round 3
The final round kicks off and considering the low level of
effective offense and the wild judges’ scorecards so far, it is
probably still anyone’s fight. Groguhe goes back to work with kicks
to the left thigh of Sene, which have been the most effective
technique so far by either man. Both fighters are clearly tired,
and the workrate has plummeted. The crowd lets out a few jeers when
neither man moves for several seconds. They take another mutual
breather slash cease-fire, and Bensaghir tells them to get to work.
Groguh, to his credit, is the one moving forward and throwing
nearly all of the strikes. Groguhe’s jab is still quick and snappy,
and he lands another big leg kick. Half of the round is gone, and
the Lyon crowd sounds close to throwing gourmet food at the cage.
Groguhe stalks forward and sticks out his jab again. Sene gives
ground, then surges forward and points to the floor in the center
of the cage, as if challenging Groguh to stand and fight. Groguhe
laughs it off and continues to use his superior footwork to win the
fight. Sene clinches and shoves Groguh to the fence, where Groguh
once again makes no particular move to get away, instead trusting
to the referee’s quick trigger finger. Seconds later, his faith is
rewarded as Bensaghir breaks them up. The final horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe (30-27 Groguhe)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe (30-27 Groguhe)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe (30-27 Groguhe)
The Official Result
Mickael Groguhe def. Mamadou Lamine Sene via Unanimous Decision
(29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Round 1
The co-main event is a 165-pound catchweight attraction between
hungry prospects Habirora and Safta, with the crowd audibly behind
the undefeated Belgian Habirora. Dan Movahedi gets his final
referee assignment of the night. Habirora launches a fast head kick
that glances. Safta marches forward, trying to get inside the
taller man’s kicking range, but Habirora is too slick, sliding
laterally and flicking out his jab. Safta finally corrals Habirora
against the fence and lands a pair of flush hooks that hurt.
Habirora grabs Safta and dumps him to the floor, but they bounce
back up immediately. Habirora pushes Safta into the chain-link, but
Safta takes underhooks and reverses them. Movahedi steps in to
break them up and admonishes Safta for throwing a knee after the
break. They resume working and quickly end up back on the fence.
This time they break it up themselves, and when they go back to
work in space, it’s once again Habirora moving around the outside
as Safta gives chase. Safta works on the front leg of Habirora with
low kicks. The horn sounds on a tense, tentative five minutes.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
Round 2
Safta goes right back to kicking the legs of Habirora, which have
been more effective for him than just about anything else he’s
tried on the feet so far. Safta throws a front kick to the
midsection. They clinch and go careening towards the fence again,
with Movahedi giving chase, warning them about head clashes. Safta
takes the outside position, but disengages and lets Habirora off
the fence. Habirora lances Safta with a beautiful long jab.
Habirora lands a kick and eats a sharp counter, then lands a body
kick unanswered. Habirora drops levels for a takedown and gets a
great penetration step, but Safta ends up against the fence, where
he stands Habirora back up. Safta tries for a takedown of his own,
and Habirora punishes him with elbows to the head, forcing him to
bail on the attempt. They’re back in the center of the cage with 90
second left. Habirora catches a kick one-handed and tosses Safta
back, off balance. Habirora with another left kick to the ribs.
Habirora is being forced to choose his poison on that side, as
Habirora switches between kicking the body and head. Habirora walks
Safta to the fence and flurries with punches. Safta slips out the
side. Habirora tries a spinning backfist right before the horn,
which glances.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
Round 3
Safta goes right back to kicking the legs of Habirora, which have
been more effective for him than just about anything else he’s
tried on the feet so far. Safta throws a front kick to the
midsection. They clinch and go careening towards the fence again,
with Movahedi giving chase, warning them about head clashes. Safta
takes the outside position, but disengages and lets Habirora off
the fence. Habirora lances Safta with a beautiful long jab.
Habirora lands a kick and eats a sharp counter, then lands a body
kick unanswered. Habirora drops levels for a takedown and gets a
great penetration step, but Safta ends up against the fence, where
he stands Habirora back up. Safta tries for a takedown of his own,
and Habirora punishes him with elbows to the head, forcing him to
bail on the attempt. They’re back in the center of the cage with 90
second left. Habirora catches a kick one-handed and tosses Safta
back, off balance. Habirora with another left kick to the ribs.
Habirora is being forced to choose his poison on that side, as
Habirora switches between kicking the body and head. Habirora walks
Safta to the fence and flurries with punches. Safta slips out the
side. Habirora tries a spinning backfist right before the horn,
which glances. The final round kicks off with Safta advancing,
feinting punches and trying to corral Habirora against the cage.
Safta throws a right body kick which Habirora catches, then lets
go. Habirora tags Safta with a sharp jab. Habirora essays another
spinning backfist, this one at half speed. Safta continues to move
forward, but is having all kinds of trouble with the reach, speed
and footwork of Habirora. Habirora jabs and is countered with a low
kick. Habirora jabs the body. Safta lands another solid low kick.
Habirora catches Safta walking right into a beautifully timed right
hook to the jaw. Safta drops as if he’s been shot, already
unconscious, and Movahedi is already diving for the save as
Habirora lands one glancing hammerfist. Nasty knockout
by Patrick Habirora, who launches himself over the cage wall and
into the adoring arms of his cheering section.
The Official Result
Patrick Habirora def. Catalin Safta R3 2:16 via KO (Punch)
Round 1
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round:
J.L. Kirven scores the round:
Mike Pendleton scores the round:
Round 2
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round:
J.L. Kirven scores the round:
Mike Pendleton scores the round:
Round 3
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round:
J.L. Kirven scores the round:
Mike Pendleton scores the round: