Tiller, Goltsov, Ataev and Sordi stand out at PFL three after stoppage wins
Because the Skilled Fighters League kicked off its mild heavyweight and heavyweight seasons at PFL three in Uniondale, New York, on Thursday night time, we realized that one division is stacked with intriguing expertise whereas the opposite appears vast open because it seems for a star or two to emerge.
The 205-pounders impressed at instances, with Emiliano Sordi ending Vinny Magalhaes — final season’s mild heavyweight runner-up — within the second spherical with a collection of physique pictures, uppercuts and proper fingers.
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However Bozigit Ataev, the 40-year-old who’s the oldest competitor within the match, Ronny Markes and Viktor Nemkov additionally impressed with their efforts on an evening that wasn’t precisely action-packed and noticed nearly all of fights finish by resolution.
The heavyweights weren’t as polished, with simply two stoppages in six fights. Denis Goltsov shocked UFC veteran Jared Rosholt with a first-round, ground-and-pound end, and Kelvin “Mama’s Boy” Tiller obtained a submission win by way of first-round kimura over Muhammad Dereese.
Total, the heavyweights earned simply six bonus factors at PFL three. This is how the remainder of the night time performed out.
This story was up to date in actual time.
Emiliano Sordi def. Vinny Magalhaes by way of second-round TKO (referee stoppage) (5 factors) (Gentle heavyweight)
Final season, Vinny Magalhaes received his first 4 fights within the PFL by way of first-round stoppages. He was the headliner Thursday because of that rally, which ended with a loss within the title combat to Sean O’Connell.
However Emiliano Sordi, who misplaced within the quarterfinals in 2018, reminded us that final season is up to now with a dominant win over Magalhaes. The referee stopped the combat within the second spherical after Sordi had peppered Magalhaes with physique pictures, proper fingers and uppercuts all through the combat.
It was the fitting name by Dan Miragliotta, as Magalhaes continued to take punishment and fail to defend himself till Miragliotta known as the combat at 2:45 into Spherical 2.
Kelvin Tiller earned a submission win over Muhammed DeReese by way of kimura at PFL three — one in every of solely two finishes within the heavyweight division. Ryan Loco/PFL
Kelvin Tiller def. Muhammed Dereese by way of first-round kimura submission (6 factors) (Heavyweight)
Probably the most thrilling combat of the night time was staged between a pair of fighters nicknamed “Mama’s Boy” and “Mo Muscle.”
Muhammad Dereese was the busier fighter on the toes early within the first spherical as Kelvin Tiller tried to gauge his opponent and management the gap. However when the combat went to the bottom, Tiller instantly started to work for the kimura, which he secured and by no means launched.
Dereese, an alternate within the PFL final season who received a pair of fights by way of first-round knockouts, was brave as he tried to combat by the submission try. Tiller, who was a No. 2 seed in final season’s heavyweight playoff match, wouldn’t cease till he lastly secured the submission win and the complete six factors at three:22 into the primary spherical — and he seems like he is again to win this factor.
After final 12 months, we knew Tiller had a variety of energy, but when he is additionally a menace on the bottom, he could possibly be harmful. On an evening with out a variety of motion, Tiller secured the very best end of PFL three; it was actually spectacular work by the “Mama’s Boy.”
MMA veteran had his fingers full with Zeke Tuinei-Wily at PFL three, however finally walked away with a split-decision victory. Ryan Loco/PFL
Satoshi Ishii def. Zeke Tuinei-Wily by way of break up resolution (three factors) (Heavyweight)
Satoshi Ishii’s break up resolution victory over Zeke Tuinei-Wily showcased the worth of the PFL’s numerous expertise pool. It is a spot the place veterans who nonetheless have that starvation to combat and impressive up-and-comers can compete in the identical cage, all for the last word $1 million champion’s prize.
Tuinei-Wily is a former Division I faculty soccer participant who had 4 professional MMA fights on his résumé coming into Thursday’s matchup, whereas Ishii is a 2008 Olympic gold medalist in judo who has fought Mirko Cro Cop (who he now trains with in Croatia), Tim Sylvia, Fedor Emelianenko, Rampage Jackson and King Mo Lawal in blended martial arts.
Though it did not appear to be a balanced matchup on paper, with Tuinei-Wily coming in as a late alternative for defending champion Philipe Lins, the underdog used his sturdiness and power to make the combat fascinating on the scorecards. Coming into the third spherical, the 2 fighters had landed 70 punches mixed (41 for Ishii, 29 for Tuinei-Wily). Ishii bloodied Tuinei-Wily with arduous left fingers, however Tuinei-Wily returned hearth a number of instances within the combat.
The rounds had been troublesome to attain, however Ishii’s strain gave him the sting within the combat and, finally, three key factors.
Denis Goltsov earned the primary stoppage victory within the heavyweight division at PFL three with a first-round TKO of Jared Rosholt. Ryan Loco/PFL
Denis Goltsov def. Jared Rosholt by way of first-round TKO (6 factors) (Heavyweight)
Denis Goltsov secured the heavyweight division’s first end of the season when he earned a first-round TKO win over Jared Rosholt at 2:03, a UFC veteran who reached the PFL semifinals final season.
Rosholt got here ahead early within the combat. However Goltsov timed his rush and caught him with a examine left hook akin to the shot Floyd Mayweather Jr. used to combat off the ropes towards Manny Pacquiao.
It was an exquisite shot. Goltsov, a former world sambo champion who nonetheless competes within the sport, ended the bout by touchdown blows to a downed Rosholt, who appeared fully shocked by the fast momentum shift within the combat. It was a fast ending sequence, however one which proves Goltsov is a legit menace on this match.
Ali Isaev took Valdrin Istrefi down eight instances of their heavyweight combat at PFL three, on the way in which to a unanimous resolution victory. Ryan Loco/PFL
Ali Isaev def. Valdrin Istrefi by way of unanimous resolution (three factors) (Heavyweight)
There shall be takedowns within the PFL’s heavyweight division this season, it appears. The division witnessed its third consecutive resolution victory on Thursday when Ali Isaev managed the motion all through his combat towards Valdrin Istrefi. Istrefi, who solely missed the PFL playoffs a 12 months in the past after struggling an damage in coaching earlier than his quarterfinal matchup, needed to cope with Isaev’s superior wrestling abilities and spent a lot of the combat on his again..
Isaev completed the combat with eight takedowns, actually, and ran away with what was finally a 30-27 resolution on all three choose’s playing cards. He took Istrefi down every time he needed to. He threw a couple of arduous leg kicks whereas on prime, and a knee to Istrefi’s again that you would virtually really feel by your TV.
Isaev by no means relented by three rounds, and he earned the three factors for the choice win.
Viktor Nemkov earned a choice victory over Rakim Cleveland, in some of the energetic and entertaining fights of the night time at PFL three. Ryan Loco/PFL
Viktor Nemkov def. Rakim Cleveland by way of unanimous resolution (three factors) (Gentle heavyweight)
One other combat at PFL, and one other resolution — however this one featured a good bit extra motion than most of the different fights thus far on the cardboard.
Viktor Nemkov was extra lively all through his unanimous resolution win (29-28 on all three scorecards) over Rakim Cleveland, though Cleveland proved that he has enhanced his grappling abilities after shedding two fights by way of submission final season.
Nemkov almost completed the combat within the first spherical with a pair of anaconda choke makes an attempt that Cleveland defended effectively. A takedown within the third spherical by Nemkov doubtless sealed the win for him.
Cleveland, who broke Rashid Yusupov’s jaw in final 12 months’s PFL, has improved as a grappler, and regardless of falling quick in a combat wherein Nemkov entered because the clear favourite, Cleveland had Nemkov in a good guillotine within the ultimate minute of the combat. However Cleveland, a boxer, did not benefit from his alternatives within the heart of the cage — a mistake he could not afford towards a veteran like Nemkov.
Ronny Markes earned a second-round TKO victory towards Sigi Pesaleli, however misplaced out on some probably key factors after failing to make weight. Ryan Loco/PFL
Ronny Markes def. Sigi Pesaleli by way of second-round KO (Zero factors) (Gentle heavyweight)
Sigi Pesaleli is 25 years previous, the youngest fighter within the PFL’s mild heavyweight division. Ronny Markes entered his combat towards his inexperienced opponent with 25 fights on his résumé.
Markes obtained the TKO victory within the second spherical after taking Pesaleli’s again and ending him with quite a few punches, and Pesaleli was defenseless.
None of it mattered. Markes missed weight and subsequently couldn’t earn any factors within the PFL format, so Pesaleli robotically obtained the three factors for a victory earlier than the bout started, with an opportunity to earn bonus factors. However Markes is a legit jiu-jitsu black belt and veteran who stayed aggressive along with his submission makes an attempt and finally overwhelmed Pesaleli, who had fought solely thrice previous to Thursday’s combat. The hole in expertise confirmed.
It may have been an enormous, five-point win for Markes if he had made weight.
Rashid Yusupov managed most of a defense-heavy bout towards Mikhail Mokhnatkin at PFL three. Ryan Loco/PFL
Rashid Yusupov def. Mikhail Mokhnatkin by way of unanimous resolution (three factors) (Gentle heavyweight)
Within the first two PFL playing cards of the second season, 40 % of the bouts ended with first-round finishes. On Thursday, followers in Uniondale, New York, booed mild heavyweights Rashid Yusupov and Mikhail Mokhnatkin as they fought to the fourth consecutive resolution of the night time at PFL three.
The 2 fought at a distance, with Yusupov being extra lively all through the combat. That was mirrored within the judges’ ultimate scores, which had been 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27
Coming into the third spherical, solely seven punches had been landed between the 2 fighters, however Yusupov hit Mokhnatkin with a robust left hook that dropped his fellow Russian combatant. The gang obtained excited, however Yusupov could not end Mokhnatkin by the ultimate horn.
In the end, Yusupov did win the three factors. Final 12 months, his PFL marketing campaign was derailed when he suffered a damaged jaw in his first combat. He’d been undefeated previous to that. Maybe he can regain the momentum he misplaced final season.
Total, the followers in Uniondale continued to attend for a combat that can wake them up with the sort of knockout that the sunshine heavyweight and heavyweight divisions are usually identified for.
Francimar Barroso earned a break up resolution over Alex Nicholson to earn three factors within the heavyweight division at PFL three. Ryan Loco/PFL
Francimar Barroso def. Alex Nicholson by way of break up resolution (three factors) (Heavyweight)
Each Alex Nicholson, the aggressive fighter who noticed all 4 of his fights finish by way of KO final season, and Francimar Barroso, the previous UFC mild heavyweight and the No. 1 seed coming into final 12 months’s heavyweight playoffs, pushed the tempo early of their combat, which closed out the preliminaries on the ESPN2 portion of the PFL three card. However neither had the power to take care of that motion by three rounds. Barroso’s takedowns doubtless secured the victory, though Nicholson used a number of escapes and threw arduous punches even when he was fatigued.
One choose gave the combat to Nicholson, 29-28 and the opposite two judges scored the bout 29-28 for Barroso, who earned three factors for the break up resolution win.
Barroso had some heavy punches of his personal within the matchup, too, however he almost noticed the combat get away from him within the third. After a slower second spherical, an precise combat broke out once more within the opening moments of the third spherical when the 2 exchanged arduous punches and Nicholson mounted Barroso for a ground-and-pound assault — however Barroso escaped and spent the majority of the spherical on prime, attempting to smother his opponent as each males breathed closely. At instances, the 2 staged a strong bout. Barroso merely had a bit of extra power down the stretch than his opponent.
Maxim Grishin scored essentially the most important second of the combat when he knocked down Jordan Johnson within the closing moments of their PFL three bout, however the resolution consequence swung on the scoring in what was judged to be a detailed second spherical. Ryan Loco/PFL
Maxim Grishin def. Jordan Johnson by way of unanimous resolution (three factors) (Gentle heavyweight)
Within the closing seconds of their bout, Maxim Grishin put Jordan Johnson on the mat with a heavy proper hand — however the Russian veteran did not observe up with a significant assault. That was the story of the combat, it appeared. However the judges picked Grishin’s occasional mixtures and strikes over Johnson’s constant wrestling-heavy strain by a lot of the combat. Grishin would throw a excessive kick or proper hand in spurts, however could not match the strain of Johnson, the previous Iowa wrestler who arrived within the PFL following a Four-Zero stint within the UFC.
Johnson, who trains with Bellator two-division champ Ryan Bader, suffered his first loss as a professional regardless of touchdown 51 of 107 strikes, in comparison with 26 of 69 strikes for Grishin. He was more practical and lively all through the combat. And his grappling was the overwhelming ability within the matchup.
Grishin had an opportunity to complete the combat within the ultimate seconds, it appeared, however he did not pounce on a shocked Johnson. He did not should, per the judges, who gave him three factors and a win in some of the controversial outcomes up to now within the second season of the PFL.
That is a message to the opposite fighters within the PFL: go for the end. Johnson did not try this.
Ante Delija appeared to have Carl Seumanutafa in bother within the first spherical of their combat at PFL three, however settled for a choice win after a dominant efficiency all through. Ryan Loco/PFL
Ante Delija def. Carl Seumanutafa by way of unanimous resolution (three factors) (Heavyweight)
Each Ante Delija and Carl Seumanutafa fought as if they’d little curiosity within the bonus factors out there to them within the opening heavyweight bout of the night time at PFL three. It wasn’t fairly. However Delija, who had fought simply as soon as since struggling a damaged leg in a TKO loss to Marcin Tybura in 2015, continued his comeback with a choice win over Seumanutafa, a late alternative for the injured Ben Edwards.
Delija was lively within the first spherical, taking his opponent down and throwing some heavy hammerfists from prime and controlling the combat. However he performed it secure within the second and third rounds, securing the win by smothering Seumanutafa towards the cage. It was sufficient to earn the lopsided resolution and three factors with the win.
Gentle heavyweight Bozigit Ataev earned a first-round TKO towards Dan Spohn within the opening bout of PFL three, avenging a loss to Spohn throughout the first season of the PFL. Ryan Loco/PFL
Bozigit Ataev def. Dan Spohn by way of first-round TKO (6 factors) (Gentle heavyweight)
Final 12 months, Bozigit Ataev was profitable his mild heavyweight combat towards Dan Spohn throughout the first season of the PFL when Spohn threw a vicious combo late within the third spherical of the combat and secured the victory. It appeared that Spohn is likely to be poised to repeat that feat once more on Thursday within the rematch, which was the opening bout of PFL three
However the 40-year-old Ataev — the oldest fighter within the division — weathered an early one-two combo after which completed the combat at three:25 into the primary spherical. He put Spohn down with a tough proper hand and ended the bout with aggressive ground-and-pound, avenging final 12 months’s consequence and incomes six factors for the first-round stoppage.
Heavyweight Division after PFL three
FighterPointsW-LDenis Goltsov61-0Kevin Tiller61-0Satoshi Ishii31-0Ali Isaev31-0Francimar Barroso31-0Ante Delija31-0Alex Nicholson00-1Carl Seumanutafa00-1Valdrin Istrefi00-1Jared Rosholt00-1Zeke Tuinei-Wily00-1Muhammed Dereese00-1
Gentle Heavyweight Division after PFL three
FighterPointsW-LBozigit Ataev61-0Emiliano Sordi51-0Rashid Yusupov31-0Maxim Grishin31-0Viktor Nemkov31-Zero*Sigi Pesaleli31-0Jordan Johnson00-1Rakim Cleveland00-1Mikhail Mokhnatkin00-1Vinny Magalhaes00-1Dan Spohn00-1*Ronny Markes00-1* Markes defeated Pesaleli at PFL three, however Markes missed weight,
giving Pesaleli and automated win and three factors