The 2023
Professional Fighters League Playoffs continue Friday in new
York City with
PFL 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The action airs live on ESPN+ and then
continues on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.
Round 1
Tommy Santana is the referee for tonight’s first fight. Mazar comes
out swinging but comes up short. Neil throws a kick that is caught,
and the two clinch against the cage. They separate, with not much
happening besides a few knees. Neil lands a nice right hand that
rocks Mazar. Neil is staying on the outside and using her range,
forcing Mazar to try to swing to close the distance. Neil works the
jab, although she’s mostly punching air rather than connecting.
Mazar lands a leg kick. Neil catches Mazar as she comes in and once
again stumbles her opponent. Neil puts together her offense,
connecting with a right hand after throwing a left high kick. Mazar
clinches against the cage and the round expires after Neil lands a
solid knee in the clinch.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Neil
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Neil
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Neil
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Round 2
The second round begins with Neil taking the center. Mazar is more
aggressive, coming out and throwing push kicks. A high kick from
Mazar is blocked. Mazar continues to kick, and Neil isn’t throwing
much back at her. Neil backs away when Mazar rushes in. Neil is
hesitant to throw, and Mazar is working well from the outside by
leading with calf kicks. Another low kick lands for Mazar, and Neil
is moving much slower.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Mazar
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Mazar
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mazar
Round 3
Both women come out throwing leg kicks. Mazar is the more active
fighter, throwing leg kicks and staying busy. Neil starts working
her jab and finds some success. Neither woman finds their target
much, often coming up short. Neil throws an axe kick. Mazar is
outpointing Neil but isn’t doing any damage. Two minutes are left,
and it is anyone’s fight. Mazar continues to land leg kicks and the
occasional 1-2. They briefly clinch, and Neil lands a big knee.
Neil follows Mazar and scores another knee to the face that
bloodied up Mazar. Neil stuffs a takedown attempt and ends the
fight by throwing a series of punches. A big momentum shift for
Neil.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Neil (29-28 Neil)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Neil (29-28 Neil)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Neil (29-28 Neil)
The Official Result
Maira Mazar def. Kaytlin Neil via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28,
29-28); R3, 5:00.
Round 1
Marc Goddard will oversee this heavyweight contest. Marques throws
a right head kick and is looking to use his range against Ishii.
Very slow first round. Marques lands two leg kicks. Ishii walks
into a right hand from Marques. Two solid body kicks land for
Marques, who is landing all the superior strikes. Ishii charges in
with a left hook. Marques throws a thudding high kick that is
blocked and tries a spinning kick that misses. Ishii clinches for a
takedown, but Marques is able to separate with 90 seconds left. A
right hand from Marques drops Ishii, but he pops back up. Marques
is in full control as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Marques
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Marques
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Marques
Round 2
Ishii lands a right hand in a quick start to the round. Marques
throws a knee as Ishii comes in. Marques is staying on the outside
and throwing kicks. Marques does a great job of keeping away from
the grappling of Ishii and lands a solid knee. They clinch, but
Marques is able to shuck Ishii off. Ishii tries again but can’t get
a takedown. Marques continues landing solid kicks and isn’t taking
any damage. Marques paws with a jab and occasionally throws his
right hand as well. One minute left. Marques throws an overhand
right and is met with an overhand left from Ishii that lands.
Ishii’s body is now red from the kicks. Ishii lands several lefts
and tries to clinch but doesn’t get it.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Marques
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Marques
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Marques
Round 3
Ishii is very aggressive to begin the final round. Ishii lands a
left hand and goes for a double leg. Marques defends well and stays
on his feet. However, Ishii keeps his opponent against the cage and
lands short punches. Marques gets out of the position after 90
seconds. Now on the feet, Marques starts landing punches and is
able to throw a knee. Marques goes for a choreographed takedown
that goes nowhere, and Ishii then clinches against the cage. Ishii
is more active and throws lots of punches, although Marques is
occasionally slipping in a solid knee. They separate with a minute
left. Ishii is wildly throwing, and the two clinch again. Looks
like it will be too little, too late for Ishii. The fight ends with
Ishii throwing against the cage while Marques throws back.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ishii (29-28 Marques)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Ishii (29-28 Marques)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ishii (29-28 Marques)
The Official Result
Danilo Marques def. Satoshi Ishii via Unanimous Decision (29-28,
29-28, 29-28); R3, 5:00.
Round 1
The final prelim will be refereed by Tommy Santana. Kelly is quite
aggressive and comes out firing punches and leg kicks. A solid
right hand lands for Kelly, and Nelson is all on the defensive.
Nelson is able to slow down the pace and lands a few leg kicks of
his own. Kelly is looking to go over the top and is throwing some
big overhand punches. Nelson is avoiding any huge damage but isn’t
able to get his own offense off. Nelson lands a nice leg kick with
two minutes left. Kelly misses two punches but follows up with a
third that lands and a solid leg kick of his own. Kelly is much
more active. The fight is paused after an eye poke occurs to Kelly.
The fight is restarted. Both men end the round swinging wildly,
with Kelly getting the better of the exchange.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kelly
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Kelly
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kelly
Round 2
Nelson is starting to find his range to start Round 2 and is
landing some solid kicks of his own. Kelly strikes back with a few
of his own but is getting outlanded. Kelly goes for a single-leg
takedown, but Nelson defends it well. The two clinch against the
cage before Nelson escapes. Nelson works his jab and Kelly can’t
find many openings. Kelly lands a right hand that wobbles Nelson
and goes for another takedown. Kelly can’t get the takedown. Nelson
lands some solid body punches and leg kick to finish the round.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nelson
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Nelson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nelson
Round 3
The final round sees both men start a bit hesitant. Nelson starts
swinging with wild hooks, and Kelly lands a solid counter. A leg
kick from Nelson forces Kelly to switch his stance. A right hand
lands for Kelly, which stumbles an off-balanced Nelson. Kelly goes
for a takedown attempt and gets Nelson against the cage. Kelly
lands some solid knees. They break with less than two minutes left.
A left hook lands for Nelson, who then goes to the body. A head
kick from Nelson misses. Kelly looks tired, but Nelson isn’t
putting on enough pressure to capitalize. Kelly starts pressuring
Nelson instead and goes for a takedown. They clinch against the
cage and the fight ends shortly afterward.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kelly (29-28 Kelly)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Kelly (29-28 Kelly)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kelly (29-28 Kelly)
The Official Result
Nathan Kelly def. Daimon Nelson via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28); R3, 5:00.
2023 PFL Playoffs Heavyweight Semifinal:
Denis
Goltsov (243) vs. Jordan
Heiderman (247.2)
Round 1
Marc Goddard is the referee for this heavyweight semifinal. Both
men come out throwing leg kicks and looking to counter with
punches. Heiderman is landing solid kicks, while Goltsov lands with
the jab. Goltsov clinches and trips Heiderman. Goltsov gets into
side control with ease. Goltsov lands some really solid punches
that bust open the nose of Heiderman, who recovers guard. Goltsov
keeps the pressure on and gets into half-guard.
An arm triangle is secured by Goltsov, and Heiderman taps to end
the fight. A very one-sided fight in favor of
Goltsov.
The Official Result
Denis Goltsov def. Jordan Heiderman via Submission (Arm-Triangle
Choke); R1, 4:16.