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- Kasanganay, Wilkinson, Yagshimuradov, Carlos Jr., Silveira, Dufort, Collard, Primus, Espinoza and Rabadanov earn victories in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS: The Professional Fighters League on Friday returned with Global Season action, with the 11-fight card delivering five first-round finishes coming in the light heavyweight division.
The second event of the season featured athletes from the light heavyweight and lightweight divisions at The Theater at Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas.
The main event saw 2023 PFL light heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay face off against Alex Polizzi. Kasanganay overwhelmed Polizzi in the first round with a barrage of vicious strikes for a TKO victory and six points in the ultra-competitive division.
In the co-main event of the evening, Rob Wilkinson, the 2022 PFL light heavyweight champion, confronted Tom Breese. Wilkinson turned in an impressive performance in his return to the PFL SmartCage, defeating his rival via first-round TKO and earning six points in the division.
In a battle of strikers, Clay Collard faced Patricky Pitbull in an all out action matchup. The two lightweights traded haymakers before Collard put together a series of punches in the second round leading to a TKO. Collard’s victory was the 25th of his career and earned him five points in the lightweight standings.
In lightweight division action, Mads Burnell and Michael Dufort battled valiantly, but it was Dufort who left the cage as the decisive winner after he choked out Burnell in the second round. Dufort was awarded five points for his dominating performance.
“The second event of the 2024 PFL Global Season delivered unmatched MMA excitement to fans around the globe with five first round finishes in the light heavyweight division,” said PFL CEO Petery Murray.
“The PFL’s unique season format is a catalyst for action with elite athletes aware of the stakes and impact of each contest in the Global Season standings.”
“Tonight the light heavyweights and lightweights showed the depth of the PFL Global Season roster with incredible action from start to finish,” said Ray Sefo, president of Fighter Operations at PFL. “We are proud of our athletes and cannot wait to step back into the PFL SmartCage April 19 in Chicago.”
Josh Silveira squared off with Sadibou Sy, who made his light heavyweight debut. The fight ended with a first-round TKO for Silveira when Sy could not continue due to injury. The TKO gives Silveira six points in the PFL light heavyweight standings.
Action continued in the light heavyweight division with the return of 2021 PFL light heavyweight champion Antonio Carlos Jr. Carlos Jr. wasted limited time in submitting Simon Biyong via rear naked choke in the first round. The submission earned Carlos Jr. six division points.
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov overwhelmed 2023 PFL Europe light heavyweight champion Jakob Nedoh with a series of strikes leading to a first-round knockout. The victory gave Yagshimuradov six points in the light heavyweight division.
Continued lightweight action saw Bruno Miranda and Brent Primus step into the PFL SmartCage. Primus emerged victorious, submitting Miranda with a rear naked choke in the second round, earning five points in the PFL lightweight division.
Lightweights clashed when Gadzhi Rabadanov, a combat sambo specialist, faced off against Solomon Renfro, a 2023 PFL welterweight semifinalist. After a back-and-forth contest, it was Rabadanov who defeated Renfro by unanimous decision, earning four points in the PFL lightweight division.
Elvin Espinoza stepped into the PFL SmartCage on a three-day notice to take on Adam Piccolotti. Espinoza kept his undefeated record intact, knocking out his rival in the third round and earning four points in the lightweight division.
In a PFL Heavyweight Showcase bout, Marcelo Nunes defeated Jordan Heiderman by first-round submission via armbar. Nunes notched his 11th professional victory.
The 2024 PFL Global Season action returns on Friday, April 19, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, with welterweight and featherweight action.