PFL6

Harrison vs. Young

MMA's League

We created this blog to explain exactly how Verdict Tournaments works.

A Guide to Verdict Tournaments

We discuss the history between these two fighters and their competitive rivalry.

The History Between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira

Visit this channel for the latest interviews and scrums for UFC 276.

MMA Underground YouTube Channel with John Morgan

Jack MacCool

As we currently sit just days away from UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier on July 2, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada, we also sit days away from an unprecedented trilogy. It is not often in MMA that a trilogy bout will be booked when one side has lost the first two encounters, but that is the case when it comes to Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski 3. However, another storyline entering this weekend’s pay-per-view is that we could be on the verge of another trilogy fight where one fighter is 0-2, and that fighter is the Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya.

City Kickboxing's Adesanya has defeated the likes of Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, Marvin Vettori, and more as he makes a run for one of the greatest champions in UFC history. Though he'll be defending his Middleweight title against Jared Cannonier, Adesanya will be near a familiar foe during international fight week.

![WilnisVSAdesanya-11.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/66abf106-8276-4218-160f-56e54a32c200/pub "Israel Adesanya landing a right hook against Jason Wilnis in Kickboxing. Credits to: James Law-GLORY Sports")

Before he transitioned to MMA full-time in 2017, ‘The Last Stylebender’ was an accomplished kickboxer, amassing a record of 75-5 over the course of his pro career. He competed in China as well as New Zealand, capturing titles and knockouts en route to competing in Glory Kickboxing, the world’s premier kickboxing promotion. It was in Glory where the UFC Middleweight Champion would run into his biggest rival for the first time– Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira.

![128897445_1325374217794917_2661496557776113805_n.0.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/54d00dac-ad47-4d89-fd22-8c78e1874200/pub "Alex Pereira finishing Thomas Powell by knockout. This was his final win in MMA before joining the UFC. Credits to: Jerry Chavez-LFA")


Pereira and Adesanya fought for the first time in a three-round bout at Glory of Heroes 1: Shenzhen, where Pereira would capture a unanimous decision victory. The two would then rematch a year later at Glory of Heroes 7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with differing results for both sides. The reigning UFC Middleweight Champion would see a lot of success in the rematch, winning many of the exchanges.


He kept the Brazilian on the back foot, peppering him with combinations, nearly finishing Pereira with a standing knockdown in round two. When it seemed like he was on his way to avenging the first loss to Pereira, Adesanya’s success would come to a screeching halt when he was brutally knocked out by a picture perfect counter left hook to the chin in round three.

At the time of writing this, that remains the only time Adesanya has been knocked out in his illustrious combat sports career. After the win, Pereira would go on to become Glory’s first two-division champion, capturing the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight titles. The loss would also be the final kickboxing bout of Adesanya’s career before he transitioned to MMA.

Like his former adversary, Pereira would make the transition to MMA from kickboxing in the mid-2010s, however, it was not until 2021 that he would be signed by the UFC. Holding a record of 3-1, he made his debut in November of 2021, capturing a flying knee knockout win over Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2, earning him a performance of the night bonus. His sophomore fight in the UFC came against Bruno Silva where he would win a unanimous decision. The first two rounds were competitive, but Pereira came on strong in the third to take the victory.  

```twitter

https://twitter.com/VerdictMMA/status/1541233350819557377

```

At this point, it became clear that in a depleted Middleweight division, fast-tracking the kickboxing champion towards another fight with Adesanya would be the best promotional choice the UFC could make. Not only does he hold two wins over the current champion, but he also is an action fighter with massive power in his hands.

In what will easily be the most difficult test of his career, Pereira is set to take on Sean Strickland at UFC 276 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is just two fights down the card from ‘The Last Stylebender’s’ latest title defense. If each picks up a victory Saturday night, it seems clear that the trilogy fight for the UFC Middleweight Championship is the fight to make. Whereas the first two fights were in the kickboxing realm, the third fight would be in the mixed martial arts realm.


If Israel gets past Cannonier, which is a difficult task in its own right, the division will lack fresh contenders for the Champion, outside of the winner of Strickland and Pereira. As well, Pereira is 34 and has not had the same amount of time to develop a well-rounded MMA game, meaning matching him up with the elites of the Middleweight division is a risky game.  


Currently, 52% of the Verdict Community is picking Pereira to get it done on July 2nd, which means another 0-2 trilogy bout could be coming sooner than we may think. Only this time it would take place in the Octagon, in an entirely different sport. Kickboxing isn’t MMA, and MMA isn’t kickboxing, but this rivalry transcends disciplines and would be a massive part of the legendary history between these two fighters.  

Taylor Dow

At UFC 276 on July 2, 2022, Jared Cannonier will challenge Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cannonier has had an interesting journey until this point. Although today Cannonier is a fan-favorite Middleweight contender, his beginnings were a lot different as it took some time for him to find his true weight class in the Middleweight division. Let us take you through his journey from Heavyweight to Middleweight. 

 
# The Days of Heavyweight

Jared “The Killa Gorilla” Cannonier made his professional mixed martial arts debut on June 19, 2011, in Alaska, as a Heavyweight, where he won 6 consecutive fights by stoppage. He then defeated Tony Lopez by split decision to become the AFC Heavyweight Champion. This earned him an opportunity to compete for the UFC. 


Cannonier debuted against Strikeforce veteran Shawn Jordan, where he lost by KO in the first round, but Jared did not let this break his spirit and took another Heavyweight fight within the promotion, this time finishing Cyril Asker by first round knockout. This win earned him performance of the night honors. 
 
 
 # A Drop Down To 205 
 
 
Determined to make his fighting career successful, Cannonier opted to drop some weight and move down to the Light Heavyweight division, where only a short 8 months later he faced Ion Cuțelaba at 205 pounds and won a unanimous decision in a bout that earned fight of the night honors. In his second fight in the division, he faced future champion Glover Teixeira where he lost a unanimous decision but was not giving up on his dream of becoming a UFC champion as that same year, he faced Nick Roehrick and scored his second win in the division, this time by way of knockout.  

 
![jared lhw.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/60ac28fe-eb5b-4fbe-5a87-640791617500/pub "Jared Cannonier and Ion Cuțelaba put on a Fight of the Night. Credit: Tracy Lee - USA TODAY Sports.")
 

After taking two losses in a row against Jan Błachowicz and Dominick Reyes, Jared decided his days at Light Heavyweight were over and again opted to lose some more weight and drop down to the Middleweight division. 


# Finding His True Weight Class 

Jared’s debut at Middleweight went exceptionally well as he finished David Branch by knockout at 0:39 of the second round at UFC 230 in November of 2018. This secured him his third Performance of the Night bonus. With this win, he became the first modern-day UFC fighter to score knockouts wins in 3 different weight classes inside the promotion. After this, Jared put himself on a fast track to a UFC title when he finished Anderson Silva and Jack Hermansson by KO/TKO within a total fight-time of 10 minutes to cap off 2019.  
 

Now only one fight away from a title shot, he took on one of the greatest Middleweights of all time in Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker and unfortunately came up short losing by unanimous decision. But again, Jared did not let this ruin his dreams of UFC gold and quickly took on Kelvin Gastelum in a main event spot where he won by unanimous decision.


In early 2022, Jared Cannonier and Derek Brunson, competed in a title-eliminator fight. After facing some adversity in the first round of the fight, Jared managed to score the knockout late in the second round, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus and a shot at the Middleweight championship. 

 
It's rare that we get to watch a professional fighter’s weight-loss journey and for them to have as much success as Jared has. Jared’s story is one of dedication and perseverance, going from someone overweight and losing fights to now facing Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya for the Middleweight championship. Regardless of what happens this Saturday in the main event of UFC 276, we can all learn a lot from Jared "The Killa Gorilla" Cannonier. 

Jared Cannonier’s Journey Through Three Weight Classes 

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

The UFC’s Lightweight division is perhaps the most intriguing divison in mixed martial arts. We've seen the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson, and more acheive great success. 

This past weekend's main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot gave us a gimpse into the future of the division, as Gamrot defeated Tsarukyan in a highly competitive unanimous decision.

We're now entering a new era at Lightweight where a new crop of talent is emerging to the top. Let's take a look at five fights to make next in the UFC's Lightweight division.


## Beneil Dairush vs Mateusz Gamrot

As an underdog, Mateusz Gamrot won an impressive unanimous decision against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Vegas 57. Gamrot should take Tsarukyan’s 11th position in the Lightweight rankings. In my eyes, his next opponent should be Beneil Dariush. While Gamrot challenged Justin Gaethje following his win, I believe Gaethje should hold off for another Lightweight prospect, which I will mention later. Dariush is currently rehabbing a knee injury, but is nearing a comeback. It will be interesting to see how Gamrot handles the grappling pedigree of Dariush. 

## Tony Ferguson vs Arman Tsarukyan

Even with a loss, I feel that Arman Tsarukyan’s stock still rises. He put on an exceptional performance against Gamrot that many scored for him. In fact, Tsarukyan had the higher final score on the Verdict Scorecard against Gamrot. Tsarukyan is a formidable opponent for anyone in the division. As for what’s next, I think a fight with Tony Ferguson makes sense. Both fighters are looking to get back on track, and a win will allow both to regain some confidence and move up the division. 

## Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Dos Anjos/Rafael Fiziev winner

Here’s the Justin Gaethje fight that I think makes the most sense for right now. While I think that a fight between Gaethje and Gamrot would be entertaining, I believe Justin Gaethje should fight the winner of Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rafael Fiziev who are set to headline the July 9th UFC Fight Night event. These are two Lightweights, who like Gaethje, are not afraid to throw down.

## Michael Chandler vs Conor McGregor

This fight makes a lot of sense, considering where both fighters are at in the division right now. Dana White has said that this is the fight to make, and Chandler has had his eye on McGregor for some time now. Following his most recent knockout over Tony Ferguson, Chandler called out “The Notorious” for a fight when he returned from his injury. These are two of the most exciting fighters in the division. McGregor should be ready to go early in 2023 and Chandler has stated that he will wait for him to return.

## Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev

Finally, this is a fight that is all but official. Islam Makhachev is the rightful next opponent for Charles Oliveira, who was stripped of his Lightweight title back at UFC 274 for missing weight. Oliveira defeated Justin Gaethje and is the number one contender at Lightweight. Makhachev has won ten consecutive fights and seems to be the heir to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s throne.  


Five Fights To Make Next In the Lightweight Division

Verdict MMA

The UFC returns to its home of Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex for a fight night card headlined by a Lightweight bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot. This card is loaded with promising prospects that could be future title contenders. The prelims begin at 7 PM ET and the main card kicks off at 10 PM ET. Refresh this page for live play-by-play action.

## Mateusz Gamrot defeats Arman Tsarukyan by decision

Round 1:

The tension can be felt to the touch in the UFC Apex as these two square off, each refusing to back down from the other. They touch 'em up and begin. Arman is bouncing around and throws flashy kicks before attempting a takedown. It gets denied in a beautiful scramble and Arman lands a body kick. He lands a few leg kicks and goes high, seemingly having the speed advantage. Big takedown for the Armenian. Gamrot hip scoots to the fence and rolls out of it. He scrambles again and finds Arman's back now. Level change from Gamrot as he seeks the body lock. They return to the center. Arman kicks the leg then head. Pitter patter as Arman tries another leg kick, evaded by Gamrot. Body kick from Arman gets countered by a cross. Gamrot catches a kick and attempts a high single but Arman denies. Good cross from Gamrot returned by a body kick from Arman. This fight is everything we'd hoped for. Arman shoots and the two scramble again, Arman lads in a front headlock position to ride out the final 5 seconds.

Round 2:

Both fighters look fresh as they bounce to the center. Arman paws with the lead hand before throwing another kick that gets caught. Gamrot answers with a cross. Another body kick from Arman gets blocked. He advances and lands a nice hook. Gamrot blitzes with the 1-2 again. Another check hook for Arman. Powerful body kick lands. Left hook for Arman and now a leg kick. Lead hook into a level change that gets nullified. Arman continues to land his kicks and goes for a takedown. It fails him as they end up in a half and half whizzer position, arms interlocked. Left straight lands for Gamrot. Left hook now for Arman. Left to the body of Gamrot. Arman continues to pressure before landing a body kick that has Gamrot wincing. Spinning attack is thrown by the Armenian. Another body kick and the round ends.

Round 3: 

The crowd chants "Arman!" before the bell rings. Another body kick to open the round for Arman. Gamrot lands a right hand before they continue circling. Good movement from Gamrot but he gets caught with a right hand. Attempts a level change before landing one of his own. Stiff jab lands as Gamrot dips his head. Left hook to cross lands for him now and he succeeds on a takedown, briefly meeting the mat before Arman stands. Gamrot holds the body lock and controls Arman against the fence. Another takedown and he finds Arman's back. They return to the feet and see some seperation. Good cross for Gamrot as he dances around the cage. Arman shoots but gets sprawled on. He doesn't give up though as he chases a single that will be denied. Spinning kick to the body for Arman now lands as they trade heavy leather in the pocket for a moment. Arman rips the body again with the kick as the final seconds of the round tick away. 

Round 4:

They swang and bang for a moment before Gamrot shoots in, they remain even  once again before seperating. Spinning backfist puts Mateusz down for a moment. Gamrot lands a big one and tries a spinning attack. Arman seems to be slowing here as he throws another 1-2 followed by a spin. Arman swings big and Gamrot secures another takedown. Tsarukyan gets to his feet momentarily before being tripped down again. Gamrot finds the back and secures the hooks. They find themselves in an awkward position as Arman slips away for a moment before Gamrot pins him again till the round ends.

Round 5:

The fifth and final round is upon us. Gamrot lands a cross before hitting the mat courtesy of a leg kick from Arman. Gamrot is bouncing around and Arman seems to be in an unfamiliar place. Mateusz lands a right hand and Arman shoots. Another cross and a takedown for Gamrot as he spins around for the back before pinning Arman's hips to the mat. They return to the feet and Gamrot secures another brief takedown. They stand again and Arman doubles up on a couple jabs. Good hook frm Gamrot followed by a cross. Low single is shot by Gamrot but he gets headlocked off a sprawl. Body kick for Arman countered by a cross. Another right hand and a takedown for Gamrot. He secures the body lock behind Arman as he denies a roll. Arman reverses and finds the front headlock in the last 5 seconds of the fight. He gives a final offering of a few right hands before the horn sounds for the final time of the night.

**Official Result:** Mateusz Gamrot by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)

## Shavkhat Rakhmonov defeats Neil Magny by submission

Round 1: 

The jitters are in the air as these fighters do not touch gloves. Magny opens with kicks but gets tripped down as one gets caught. Rakhmonov follows him down and lands in half guard. Magny fights the hands of Shavkhat thwarting any efforts to get offense going. He'll get walked up to the fence and try to evade heavy shots that rain down. He lands an upkick but gets mounted. Shavkhat throws punishing ground and pound to the body of Magny which initiates a brief guillotine attempt. Awkward grappling ensues as Magny manipulates the leg of Shavkhat, threatening a leg lock. Magny does an excellent job using his own legs to maintain distance and continue to threaten the heel hook. Shavkhat breaks free and lands a few shots before the horn is heard. 

Round 2:

Magny kicks again but it gets caught, Rakhmonov backs him up to the cage. A spinning kick lands to the body of Magny before they clinch up, Shavkhat pressuring his opponent to the fence before finding a trip that takes the fight to the mat. Shavkhat stacks him as he searches for heavy blows, now passing to side control. Magny tries a hip bump off the fence to escape but briefly gives the back before Shavkhat regains side control and then half guard. Magny attempts a few sweeps and escapes but not much is working for him. Rakhmonov is raining short shots from the top as he seeks a better position. Magny gets his guard back momentarily but Shavkhat passes again. With seconds left Rakhmonov pulls into a guillotine leaving Magny no choice but to tap.

**Official Result:** Shavkhat Rakhmonov by 2nd round submission

## Josh Parisian defeats Alan Baudot by TKO

Round 1:

Mark Smith is the man in the middle for this one. The two rush to the center as Parisian doubles up on the jab. Baudot lands an oblique kick before a spinning back fist comes his way. He easily evades but lands a low blow right after. They resume and Parisian lands a strong leg kick. Good uppercut from Baudot. Parisian keeps a kicking game to the legs and body. They flurry along the fence punctuated by a body shot from Josh. They trade and clinch in the middle. Strong jab from Baudot, another flurry and Parisian lands. Baudot sends him the ground right after with a strike. He follows him down and seeks the finish but they engage in some grappling. Baudot hammers away from the top, the referee could step in. They find their way back to the feet and Parisian clinches against the fence before getting a takedown and landing huge shots. Both men came close to a finish this round.

Round 2:

Parisian lands a good punch but Baudot stuns him. He finds a takedown and starts pounding on Baudot. Mark Smith gives a warning and Baudot tries to defend. Aother warning but Baudot does just enough to stay in the fight for now. Another warning and Baudot finds his way back to the feet. The two are exhausted now. Parisian finds a takedown but is nearly reversed in the process. Josh finds the full mount and begins chipping away, another warning from the referee and he finally steps in. What a comeback win for Josh Parisian.

**Official Result:** Josh Parisian by 2nd round TKO

## Thiago Moises defeats Christos Giagos by submission

Round 1: Your ref is Herb Dean for this one. The two stand in the middle and trade shots before Moises attempts a takedown. Giagos defends well against the fence before getting tossed down. Moises  takes the back but seems to be cut. Giagos stands up with Moises on him like a backpack. Thiago lands shots as he tries to sink int the rear-naked choke. One attempt is defended but the other is not as Thiago switches sides to lock in the choke, forcing Giagos to tap.

**Official result:** Thiago Moises by 1st round submission 

## Umar Nurmagomedov defeats Nate Maness by decision

Round 1: You can feel the tension in the air for this one ladies and gentlemen. A respectful showing occurs as they touch up. Front kick misses the mark for Umar, leg kick follows. Round kick is caught by Maness as he launches a right hand. Another kick thrown, Umar pressuring. They clinch up in the center and Umar trips him down, landing in Nate's full guard. Umar pressures downward as Nate throws short punches. He's slowly walking him to the fence, landing a big shot here and there. Nate opens the guard as he tries to push the hips of Umar, nothing doing. Umar is smothering him as he passes to half guard. Looks like he may be trying to isolate an arm. Umar is close to full mount. He's hunting an americana in the last 10 seconds. The bell rings and they return to their corners.

Round 2:

Hands touch again and Umar whips a kick up top. Another one. A third, blocked well but Umar secures a takedown right after. Lands in half guard with nearly a round to go. He now advances to side control and continues to pressure. Umar lands a heavy knee to the body while Nate sits to a hip. Nurmagomedov looks to mount him and almost does so. He returns to half guard and then side control. Back to half guard now and then side control again. He lads a short elbow to the dome of Maness. North-south position as Umar spins around him. Maness tries to stand but Umar finds the back. He lands heavy ground and pound before the horn souds.

Rounnd 3: Umar kicks again and again, landing a strong push kick to the face of Maness. Umar continues to pressure. Nate tries a headkick of his own but it's easily evaded. Nurmagomedov finds another takedown against the fence and lands in Nat's full guard. He lands a massive elbow to the forehead of Maness that leaves visible damage. More elbows as he passes to side control but not for long as Nate regains his guard. Umar lands heavy shots from the top. He contiues to do so until the round ends.

**Official Result:** Umar Nurmagomedov by decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)

## Chris Curtis defeats Rodolfo Viera by unanimous decision

Round 1:

They touch up the gloves, Curtis presses forward, giving lots of looks. Viera circles against the fence. Rodolfo shoots as he eats a hook. Curtis reverses him and lands on top. They return to the feet with Rodolfo clamping onto Curtis' waist. Rodolfo throws a knee to the groin along the octagon, this looks like a bad one. Curtis is hurting. He pops back up in under a minute though and they start in the center of the cage. Good kick from Rodolfo followed by a failed shot. He shoots again and gets deep on a single leg. Curtis fights him off against the cage. Curtis rips the body as they separate. They return to the center once again. A minute and a half left in the first. Another low blow from Rodolfo, this time a kick. They resume the action swiftly. Curtis rips the body again. We see the slo mo and the shot appears to have been to the body. Rodolfo fails another shot and Curtis touches the body again. Rodolfo ends the round with some strong jabs and a body shot. 

Round 2:

They touch'em up again and bounce around in the middle. Rodolfo pressuring with kicks. Curtis swiftly pushes him back though, Viera responds with a single leg. Curtis defends against the fence, making use of the wall behind him to maintain balance. Viera is expending a lot of energy here. They seperate and Curtis lands to the body again whilst Viera jabs. Curtis calls another low blow but the referee denies it. Rodolfo shoots again and Curtis sprawls back to the feet. He lands another strong body shot. A strong right hand lands from Curtis. Rodolfo continues to jab. They trade shots for a bit, boxing in the center. Curtis tries a headkick that barely misses. Curtis pressuring and landing both high and low. Viera doesn't give in though. Curtis lands a massive body shot that visibly affects Viera. He lands hard shots for the remaining few seconds of the round. Strong ending for the Action Man.

Round 3:

The final roud begins with another glove touch, a teep from Curtis hits the elbow of Viera. The Brazilian seems tired as Curtis continues to thrash the body. Curtis throws with volume as Viera runs into him for a takedown, completely missing the mark. He fails another shot in the open. Curtis lands his left. 3 minutes to go. Another cross to the body from Curtis. Viera lands a good jab, Curtis returns to the body. Viera lands a 1-2 in between two failed shots. Both fighters appear to be fatigued. Curtis lands his left again, Viera returns with a jab. Both fighters land but advantage Curtis as Viera is denied two more takedowns. He lands a few good punches after though. Curtis rips the body once more before another shot from Viera. Strong jab lands from Viera as he shoots again. Another shot but he stays on the ground. Seconds left as Curtis leaps into a massive punch to the head of Viera just before the bell rings. This one is in the hands of the judges folks.

**Official Result:** Chris Curtis by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

## Carlos Ulberg finishes Tafon Nchukwi by TKO

Round 1:

This fight didn't last long, as City Kickboxing's Carlos Ulberg needed only 74 seconds to finish Tafon Nchukwi by TKO. Ulberg's teammates Israel Adesanya and Alex Volkanovski were in attendance to watch him fight, just 7 days before their title defenses at UFC 276.

**Official Result:** Carlos Ulberg by 1st round TKO

## Shayilan Nuerdanbieke defeats T.J. Brown by unanimous decision

Round 1:

The 1st round began with wild striking exchanges with both fighters landing damaging strikes. The fight ended up on the mat with Nuerdanbieke controlling Brown with his wrestling.

Round 2:

The 2nd round was contested mostly on the mat with Nuerdanbieke controlling the action. Brown secured Nuerdanbieke with a triangle choke in the final minute of the round, but Nuerdanbieke managed to survive with the 1st round ending while in the choke.

Round 3:

The round opened up with a striking exchange but quickly ended up on the mat. Both fighters had moments of control in the grappling department, but it was ultimately Brown then ended the fight on top. Nuerdanbieke pushed Brown off of him at the end of the contest.

**Official Result:** Shayilan Nuerdanbieke by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 

## Sergey Morozov defeats Raulian Paiva by unanimous decision

Round 1:

Raulian Paiva stuns Morozov in the opening minute of the fight, then Morozov engages in a clinch to recover. Paiva continues to tag Morozov with his right hand and puts on constant pressure. Paiva should get the nod by the judges for the 1st round.

Round 2:

Sergey Morozov turns the tide, as he neutralizes Paiva with his grappling. Morozov spent the majority of the 2nd round pushing Paiva against the fence with his clinching. The fight looks like it's 1-1 headed into the final round.

Round 3:

Raulian Paiva has drastically slowed down in the 3rd round, as it's now Morozov that's winning the striking exchanges. The final minute of the fight turned into a brawl with both fighters landing strikes. Morozov still appears the fresher of the two, landing the more effective strikes. This will be an interesting decision.

**Official Result:** Sergey Morozov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 


## Cody Durden finishes JP Buys by TKO

Round 1:

This fight kicked off with a fast pace as Cody Durden blitzed JP Buys as soon as the fight began. Durden dropped Buys, then finished him with strikes at the 68 second mark in the 1st round. 

**Official Result:** Cody Durden by 1st round TKO

## Mario Bautista submits Brian Kelleher

Round 1:

Bautista and Kelleher immediately get into a grappling exchange as soon as the fight begins. This contest quickly came to an end as Bautista submitted Brian Kelleher with a rear naked choke at 2:27 of the 1st round.

**Official Result:** Mario Bautista by 1st round submission


## Vanessa Demopoulos defeats Jinh Yu Frey by split decision

Round 1:

After a tentative opening minute, both Demopoulos and Frey have began pushing the action. Frey landed several leg kicks while Demopoulos had success with her jab. Demopoulos secured a takedown with 1 minute left to go in the round which could have swayed the round in her favor.

Round 2:

The action immediately picks up where it left off at the start of the 2nd round with both competitors opening up with strikes. Frey lands a head kick which doesn't phase Demopoulos. Demopoulos continues to have success with her straight right hand. At the end of the round, Demopoulos immediately sits against the Octagon fence which could mean fatigue is starting to hit her. 

Round 3:

Demopoulos begins the final round with a quick start landing several punches against Frey. Demopoulos has engaged in the grappling more in the 3rd round than she did in the rounds prior, pushing Frey up against the fence landing knees. After 1 minute of Demopoulos' cage control, the two fighters separate with 10 seconds left to go and start brawling, with Frey getting the better of the final exchange.

**Official Result:** Vanessa Demopoulos by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)



UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot Live Play-By-Play Action

Abdullah Ouazri

The Proffesional Fighter's League returns to the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia for PFL 5. This is the final opportunity for fighters to advance to the Playoffs. Let's take a look at the main card.

## Bruno Capelozza vs. Matheus Scheffel

The PFL's 2021 Heavyweight champion Bruno Capelozza (15-5) has gone undefeated in five fights since signing to the promotion after facing current UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka. He finished all but one in brutal fashion and looks to continue that streak against his next opponent, Matheus Scheffel.

Scheffel (15-8) is an always game knockout artist looking to rebound from a recent defeat in his PFL debut in the biggest fight of his life. Boasting seven first round KO's, he is a dangerous fight for anyone in the Heavyweight division. 

As dangerous as he is though, the Verdict Community doesn't see the fight ending well for him, with over 85% predicting Bruno to win, most popularly by 1st round KO.


## Anthony Pettis vs. Stevie Ray

There isn't enough that can be said about the former UFC and WEC Lightweight champion Anthony 'Showtime' Pettis (25-12). He secured a speedy submission in his last ouing, tapping out Myles Price to a first round triangle choke, earning 6 points in the PFL tournament. Prior to that he lost a controversial decision to Raush Manfio, a fight that the Verdict community clearly scored for him. He now seeks another win over a tough opponent in Stevie Ray.

Stevie Ray (23-10) is an experienced UFC veteran with wins over Joe Lauzon, Ross Pearson, and Michael Johnson. He is a well rounded mixed martial artist that showcases his skills everywhere, and in multiple sports. He submitted UFC star Paddy Pimblett during a grappling match. He's no easy outing for anyone. 

With that said, he is heavily favored against by the Verdict Community, with over 83% predicting Anthony Pettis to win, and neary 30% predicting it to be a KO finish. 

## Renan Ferreira vs. Klidson Abreu

Renan Ferreira (9-2-0 1NC) is a mountian of a man, standing at 6'8 with and 85" inch reach, he is the largest fighter on the PFL roster. Perhaps more impressive than his hulking stature is the athleticism and speed he possesses. Lightning quick for a heavyweight, he has finished seven of his nine wins inside the distance and is coming off of a stunning first round KO.

His adversary is Klidson Abreu (16-5). A product of the renowned gym American Top Team and a polished UFC veteran. He's fought the likes of Magomed Ankalaev, Jamahal Hill, and Sam Alvey. His last fight saw him defeat then undefeated Adam Keresh at the PFL 2 earlier this year.

The odds are stacked against him though as only 17% of the Verdict community predict him to win. The world's most common pick is Renan Ferreira by first round KO.

## Chris Wade vs. Kyle Bochniak

Chris Wade (21-7) is a formidable Featherweight that has given trouble to some of the best fighters in the world, such as Islam Makhachev, during his UFC run. He has become a staple of the PFL, having competed in 13 bouts under the promotion, his last a unanimous decision win over two time PFL champion, Lance Palmer. He truly believes his well rounded skillset will lead him to one day call himself the best in the world.

On the topic of believing that you're the best in the world, his opponent Kyle Bochniak ( 11-6) is lacking no confidence. Producing back and forth fights with Zabit Magomedsharipov, Hakeem Dawudu, and Sean Woodson, Bochniak knows he can hang with the best. His last fight a decision loss to Bubba Jenkins, he's looking to rebound in a big way and set his career trajectory towards the coveted $1 million prize. 

This fight is one of the closer contested of the evening, with approximately 63% predicting Wade to win, whereas 37% believe Bochniak will get it done.

## Ante Delija vs. Shelton Graves

Ante Delija (20-5) is a powerful and well rounded heavyweight mixed martial artist. He last competed against one of tonight's main event fighters, Matheus Scheffel. He finished him in under 1 minute with a powerful right cross. Scheffel isn't the only man on this card he has fought though. He defeated Denis Goltzov via unanimous decision and gave Bruno Capelozza one of his hardest fights in an all time classic war in October of last year. 

He faces off against Shelton Graves, (9-5) a heavy hitter with ill intent. Six of his nine wins have come by way of stoppage. He's a dynamic fighter, with wins coming by way of knees, kimura, and punches. 

He's a sizeable underdog tonight.

## Bubba Jenkins vs. Reinaldo Ekson

Bubba Jenkins (17-5) is a gritty PFL veteran with wins over Kyle Bochniak and Lance Palmer. His imposing style makes him a difficult test for anyone on any given night. He is looking to extend his winning streak to two with a win tonight in hopes of getting closer to the coveted PFL prize of $1 million. 

The man standing in his way is Reinaldo Ekson (18-5).  Reinaldo is a dangerous submission threat on the ground, riding a 4 fight win streak with 3 of those coming by tapout. This is his second fight in the PFL and what he believes is his biggest opportunity to showcase who is is to the fans. 

## Denis Goltzov vs. Maurice Green

Denis Goltzov (28-7) is a fighter that is discontent with letting the judges decide the winner. He has finished 23 of his opponents with an array of methods, spanning from ezekial chokes to spinning backfists. His last win saw him earn a first round ground and pound finish over Gary Goodale at the PFL 2 earlier this year.

Maurice Green (10-6) is a seasoned UFC veteran that competed on the Ultimate Fighter: Whittaker vs Gastelum. He began is UFC career 3-0 with two first round finishes. He would compete against the high level elites such as Aleksei Oleinik, Sergei Pavlovich, and Gian Villante before parting ways with the promotion. He's currently coming off of a first roud arm-triangle  choke victory and will make his PFL debut tonight.



PFL 5 Pre-fight Preview

The UFC has returned to the fight capital of the world Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot. The event features undefeated prospects and crafty veterans. All fighters have made weight and are ready to compete.

Here's a look at the weigh-in resuts from this fight card.

## Arman Tsarukyan (156 lbs.) vs. Mateusz Gamrot (156 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0122_51047666-4b56-4242-afbb-ba14dd14955b.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4ae9c908-1ac7-4e12-ea4b-1500870d5200/pub "Opponents Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot face off ahead of their first UFC main event. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## Neil Magny (171 lbs.) vs. Shavkhat Rakhmonov (170.5 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0114_fb7f17c9-413f-4e34-a805-3296ccc70449.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/df08c85e-70f9-44ae-9f02-a6d6d62f2f00/pub "Veteran Neil Magny faces off against undefeated prospect Shavkhat Rakhmonov. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## Josh Parisian (265.5 lbs.) vs. Alan Boudot (253 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0104_4233bb3e-f16e-4481-8d96-fb7e35211431.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/34f31162-5da7-4f01-c920-836f8af9b400/pub  "Heavyweights Josh Parisian and Alan Boudot face off. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## Thiago Moises (155.5 lbs.) vs. Christos Giagos (156 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0102_678753b5-ed4e-407f-8848-3027fe6fd46d.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e7ab648e-4534-4aed-bb5d-4e8626bff100/pub "Lightweights Thiago Moises and Christos Giagos face off. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## Nate Maness (135 lbs.) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (136 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0101_68627a0d-a0ac-4a2a-9fe6-e21b0ff21092.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5824f333-d37d-42bc-82d4-9b9fa73ce900/pub "Nate Maness face off against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## Chris Curtis (185.5 lbs.) vs. Rodolfo Viera (185 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0096_a9bc1677-55b5-4ac8-9592-1de88c2fffca.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/07792c55-b1e0-4620-6e39-f1f7dce95f00/pub "Opponents Chris Curtis and Rodolfo Viera face off before their Middleweight fight. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## Carlos Ulberg (204.5 lbs.) vs. Tafon Nchukwi (206 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0093_f8d88dc9-8312-41ac-b2ae-c526a89a4d22.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cb0f9c2b-0ade-4f21-d109-9ba674de7900/pub "Light Heavyweights Carlos Ulberg and Tafon Nchukwi face off. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")


## Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (146 lbs.) vs. TJ Brown (145.5 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0089_88e5b481-3a5d-4af8-8dc9-620e21165ded.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8b8b324b-d8d9-40c7-3b81-40e4d7e67a00/pub "Shayilan Nuerdanbieke and TJ Brown face off before their Featherweight bout. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## Raulian Paiva (136 lbs.) vs. Sergey Morozov (136 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0085_5b153b76-1cc6-4809-9849-e7ce62c138af.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e1e8de07-04b9-4573-466e-cf37660ea800/pub "Raulian Paiva and Sergey Morozov face off. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## JP Buys (126 lbs.) vs. Cody Durden (126 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0081_8cbc48b5-a617-4c2c-91b1-ab933323008a.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9484a04a-5ff2-445c-23f1-76a5e43dd900/pub "JP Buys and Cody Durden face off before their Flyweight fight. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## Brian Kelleher (135.5 lbs.) vs. Mario Bautista (135.5 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0077_579424a6-ab50-4499-bc7a-5a140f561de5.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0ef15d74-ccb2-4486-5d61-dccf0a55d400/pub "Brian Kelleher and Mario Bautista face off before their Bantamweight bout. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

## Vanessa Demopoulos (115.5 lbs.) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (115.5 lbs.)

![UFC_JB_2022-06-24_0076_718127b8-7340-4501-9d8b-ca8d28adc150.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4f761115-2053-43ed-b380-88f25b06fe00/pub "Vanessa Demopoulos and Jinh Yu Frey face off before the lone Women's fight on the card. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

With weigh-ins wrapped up and all of fighters making weight, the card is official and only one day seperates us from the fights. We'll see you all there.

UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot Weigh-in Results

Collin Quarles

It will be difficult to live up to the excitement of this past weekend's Fight Night, however, a handful of rising prospects will be looking to put on a standout performance this Saturday evening at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card is to be headlined by a pair of heavy-handed grapplers between Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot, who are both looking to squeeze into the top 10 of the UFC's Lightweight division. The co-main event sees veteran Neil Magny face the surging Shavkat Rakhmonov in what promises to be a sturdy test for the Kazakhstani prospect.

As for the rest of the card, we have several interesting match-ups to look forward to, including the return of former Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov's cousin Umar Nurmagomedov, who looks to follow in the footsteps of his kin by keeping an unblemished record. We will also be treated to the return of Jiu-Jitsu ace Rodolfo Vieira and an always-game Thiago Moises.

If you are a fan of high-level grappling and dynamic striking, this card is for you.

## Arman Tsarukyan vs Mateusz Gamrot

Arman Tsarukyan wasn't done any favors by UFC match-makers when he was paired up against future number 4 ranked Islam Makhachev in his promotional debut, however, the Armenian-Russian gave the AKA representative all he could handle for three competitive rounds. Despite coming up short in his debut, every educated mixed martial arts fan saw the promise in Tsarukyan's game.

Coming into the UFC, Tsarukyan already held the accolades of Master of Sport in Freestyle Wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts, as well as the hype behind an impressive twelve-fight win streak. These skills were on full display as Tsarukyan seamlessly blended his strikes with explosive level changes into takedowns. Although a little wilder in his shot selection during his early UFC tenure, "Ahalkalakets" has polished up his striking in recent fights, now favoring intercepting straight punches over looping shots.

Now riding a five-fight win streak, Tsarukyan will look to keep the momentum going and climb the ranks of the shark tank that is the UFC's Lightweight Division.

On the flip side, Mateusz Gamrot came into the promotion with an eerily similar story to Tsarukyan; Gamrot transitioned to MMA with a decorated background in the sport of Freestyle Wrestling, as well as submission grappling. Once again, UFC match-makers pitted two hot prospects against each other in their respective debuts when the 17-0 Gamrot was set to face Guram Kutateladze at UFC Fight Night 180. The battle was closely contested, with Gamrot coming out on the losing end of a split decision.

Despite the rocky start, many fans saw the massive potential as "Gamer" showcased a stellar ability to explode into level changes, as well as angle out to finish his takedowns. As many thought, the Polish warrior bounced back from defeat by securing three straight stoppage victories over Scott Holtzman, Jeremy Stephens, and Diego Ferreira.

Many times in fights where we have two high-level grapplers we get a stalemate of sorts in that department and end up with a striking contest. Whether or not that comes to fruition, the Verdict Community seems confident that this bout will go the distance in Tsarukyan's favor, with 40% predicting a Decision win for the Armenian-Russian.

![TsarukyanGamrot.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d4de3add-7594-4a37-6c86-39e814e11900/public)

## Neil Magny vs Shavkat Rakhmonov

To be the best, you have to beat the best. Shavkat Rakhmonov isn't quite there yet, but this will certainly be a step in the right direction if he can manage to earn a victory over 26-fight UFC veteran Neil "The Haitian Sensation" Magny.
Magny represents a unique type of test for up-in-comers; not only does Magny hold the coveted number 10 slot in the UFC's Welterweight rankings, but he is also a measuring stick of sorts for green prospects.

What makes Magny a tough out for just about anyone is not only his well-roundedness, but more importantly the admirable intangibles that he possesses. As previously stated, Magny has seen a wide variety of skills inside the UFC Octagon. He has fought wrestlers, grapplers, strikers, judokas, and the list goes on. He also consistently displays a high level of conditioning and durability that he has become somewhat known for.
What this means for the undefeated marauder, Shavkat Rakhmonov, is that he will likely be tested in all facets of the modern mixed martial arts game.

Magny comes into this bout with a two-fight win streak, both via decision. Conversely, "Nomad" has looked like an unstoppable force, holding a perfect fifteen-fight win streak, all by stoppage, and just three of those being under the UFC banner.
The Verdict Community seems confident that not only will Shavkat Rakhmonov continue to add names to his flawless resume, but he will also earn a knockout victory in the second round.

![MagnyRakhmonov.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/66c1b67b-03a0-4fe2-22cd-24e6af44ec00/public)

## Josh Parisian vs Alan Baudot

It isn't always pretty, but more often than not the Heavyweights come to throw heat. Fingers crossed, that saying will ring true when Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series alum Josh Parisian faces off against fellow striker Alan Baudot.
Candidly, these two men have the least hype of all the main card bouts this weekend, but frequently the lesser-known fighters provide solid entertainment value.

Both men will likely come out in the orthodox stance looking to strike from the outside. The key differences in styles here are fairly simple; Parisian heavily favors a jab and kick-heavy approach whereas Baudot prefers to blitz in more with looping shots.
If past is prologue, expect Parisian to poke and prod from the outside with low kicks, teep kicks to the gut, jabs, and potentially some dirty boxing from the clinch.

On Baudot's end, expect a more in and out approach consisting of the left hook, right overhand, and lots of bouncing. Between the two, Parisian is a much slower starter and requires time to accelerate, whereas Baudot likes to start guns a-blazing, sometimes to his detriment. Hopefully, we get a typical heavy-handed KO here, however, the Verdict Community expects Alan Baudot to pick up a decision victory.

![ParisianBaudot.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/97203137-6e80-41ee-27c8-4638d7d3a500/public)

## Thiago Moises vs Christos Giagos

The UFC's Lightweight division is punishing. The reason why that fact is so important to bring up in the context of this matchup is to point out that neither of these men are ranked in the top 15. That isn't an insult to either of these fighters, but a compliment, as Thiago Moises and Christos Giagos both have very respectable games.

Despite Moises being a Black Belt and Giagos being a Brown Belt in jiu-jitsu, both of these men largely prefer to strike. Moises has shown a much more composed and reactive counter striker style from the orthodox stance in recent bouts, whereas Giagos is a switch stance fighter who elects to blitz in and out with flurries.
Although it's somewhat of a crude over-simplification, this fight is a bit of a throwback match-up to the old-school style vs style fights, Moises being more of a traditional muay thai/ jiu-jitsu style fighter and Giagos being a karate/ wrestler style fighter.

Despite losing his last two fights, Moises has shown some very clean boxing technique, as well as the ability to mix in a good low kick. He also has a very dangerous guard and is excellent at getting back to his feet after being taken down.
Giagos, on the other hand, is coming off a loss to the headlining Arman Tsarukyan. Expect to see plenty of bouncing, blitzing, stance switching, and blast double legs from "The Spartan". The Verdict Community is fairly confident that this fight will go the distance, with Thiago Moises getting his hand raised.

![MoisesGiagos.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2f4f0823-9226-4d70-3683-0050559f5000/public)

## Nate Maness vs Umar Nurmagomedov

When the name Nurmagomedov is attached to a card, it is probably wise to tune in. Despite being cousin to the all-time-great Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov has a game that is unique all on its own. Nurmagomedov does possess some of the similar qualities that his relative was known for. His takedowns, top control, pressure, ground and pound, and submission threat are all incredibly formidable, however, what makes Umar stand out from Khabib is his ability to kick. Nurmagomedov is a real threat from kicking range. He will throw anything from a low kick, body kick, teep kick, front kick, high kick, question mark kick, hook kick, and just about any other kick you can think of.

Umar's game is heavily predicated on kicking until his opponent can close the distance, to which his answer is the Dagestani grapple heavy attack that is all too familiar. Once on the mat, Nurmagomedov is a finisher. He will grab a body lock to pass the guard, force his opponent to expose their back, attach to them as if his life depends on it, and look to sink in a rear-naked choke, which he has 6 of on his record already.

Nate Maness is not to be overlooked though, as "Mayhem" is on a four-fight win streak, three of those being by way of stoppage. What seems to make Maness so formidable thus far is his height. Nate Maness is a staggering 5'10", which certainly makes him one of the tallest athletes in the UFC's Bantamweight division. Being tall is only part of the equation though, as you must know how to effectively use your height and reach, and it seems like Maness does as he already has two stoppage victories in the UFC.
As you could probably guess, The Verdict Community has Umar Nurmagomedov pegged as a huge favorite, with the majority of users predicting a first-round submission victory for the Dagestani standout.

![ManessNurmagomedov.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2f6691b4-a4d6-42d1-16d5-2fe08e33c600/pub)

## Chris Curtis vs Rodolfo Vieira

The UFC wanted to set the mood by opening the main card with an absolute banger. Relatively unknown to the casual audience, Chris "The Action Man' Curtis more often than not lives up to his nickname and it will certainly be put to the test when he faces one of the greatest jiu-jitsu practitioners of all time in Rodolfo "The Black Belt Slayer" Vieira. In a classic striker vs grappler matchup, Curtis will almost certainly try to keep this fight on the feet and Vieira will most likely look to take the fight to the ground.

Curtis is coming into this contest with a seven-fight win streak, including finishes over the likes of Phil Hawes and Brendan Allen. Ironically, "The Action Man" has shown to be a bit of a slow starter, however, he is extremely defensively sound. Curtis typically looks to cover and roll with the punches until he can make his reads. Once he does decide to go on the attack though, he has exhibited some excellent counterpunching.

Vieira on the other hand has a much more conservative striking style, especially after showing some conditioning issues against Anthony Hernandez. Vieira's weapons of choice of late have been the jab, the right cross, and a variety of low kicks. These, however, are all secondary to his elite-level grappling game. Vieira frequently will punch into blast double legs, usually finishing them along the fence. Once he has you down, Vieira is a bloodhound in his hunt for the back. If Vieira is unable to finish with his signature rear-naked choke, he is also very inclined to take the mount position in search of the arm triangle.

The Verdict Community is predicting a first or second-round KO for "The Action Man" Chris Curtis, however, make sure you tune into this one as it is almost guaranteed to not go the full 15 minutes.

![CurtisVieira.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/235c39c0-4b60-414f-49fe-c2e00fefc200/pub)

UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot Preview

An electric night of upsets has come to a close in the bright city of Atlanta, Georgia. We as fans were treated to everything from stunning knockouts to rare submissions and masterclass performances. Let's take a closer look at the main card results.

## Matheus Scheffel defeats Bruno Capelozza by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 

![740D6E4E-8F75-4C9E-9C78-ED0E784FDC95.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3cd5014a-d608-4509-c9df-e274fcd8fd00/pub "Matheus Scheffel springs the upset and ends Bruno Capelozza's undefeated run in the PFL. Credits to: The PFL")

Matheus Scheffel earned the biggest victory of his career by defeating the 2021 PFL Heavyweight Champion Bruno Capelozza. Scheffel, a 6 to 1 underdog, made a statement against Capelozza. Round one began with Capelozza showing off his speed whilst Scheffel remained patient, prodding with leg kicks. In the midst of a close range flurry, Scheffel caught the former champion with two powerful blows, sending him to the fence on shaky legs. He continued to unload for the remainder of the round, finding the mark more often than not

Capeloza entered the 2nd round rejuvenated and intent to win, as he pressed forward unleashing his hands. Scheffel remained patient, investing in the lead leg of his opponent and picking his shots well. By the time the 3rd round came, it was clear that Scheffel's investment in the lead leg was paying off well, with Bruno's movement considerably compromised. With only one leg to stand on, he couldn't place power into his shots nor could he evade Scheffel's effectively, and thus through a calculated effort, Scheffel earned the decision victory and upset a 10 to 1 favorite. He later revealed to Verdict MMA in an interview with Abdullah Ouazri that he made a pinky promise to his mother on her death bed and vowed to her that he would become Champion, and never stop fighting. In return, she was to never stop fighting against the cancer that eventually took her. 

## Stevie Ray def. Anthony Pettis by 2nd round submission (modified twister)

![1818B8E0-A6DE-4E3C-8242-7C019185057B.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f4d4f2a3-c2c5-4678-476d-8f1a06983800/pub "Stevie Ray roars as after submittig Anthony Pettis. Credits to: The PFL" )

One of the most stunning submissions in PFL history took place last night as Stevie Ray submitted former UFC and WEC champion Anthony Pettis with a modified twister. The fight began with Pettis unleashing his arsenal of 'Showtime' techniques, including flying kicks and knees. He dug to the body often and was constantly out of Stevie's range. It was in the latter half of the round was when the Scott began to find his rhythm, finally starting to land on Pettis. They flurried late and Showtime threw a spinning kick. Round two opens up with more offense from Pettis as he lands kicks and punches regularly, with Ray still pressing forward. Pettis initiates a level change but is reversed and Ray takes the back, body triangle locked in. Pettis tries to turn out of it but Ray squeezes his hips and contorts his neck and spine, forcing a tap. 

## Klidson Abreu defeats Renan Ferreira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

![4B62F0D3-C3A5-44EE-9FA7-B1A046FFCA3D.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/51d94bdb-d73e-41fe-7064-56506b3bd700/pub "Klidson Abreu halts the hype of Renan Ferreira. Credits to: The PFL")

"I showed the world who Klidson Abreu is!" Abreu said to Verdict MMA in an interview after the fight. He told all who would listen what he was going to do, and he went out and did it. The first round started off with Renan looking swift and precise on the feet as many expected he would. The two trade shots before Abreu finds a takedown and rides out the rest of the round. He lands early in round two before setting up another takedown. Time goes by as he rests in side control and half guard, smothering Renan and raining down short hammerfists. Renan tried to escape couldn't, and the round ended with more shots from Abreu. In the third round Abreu once again uses his hands to set up the takedown. He spends the remainder of the fight attempting to advance positions on the ground, slowly chipping away with short blows. The final bell rings and he stands triumphantly with his hands raised, knowing he proved the doubters wrong. 

## Chris Wade defeats Kyle Bochniak by second round TKO (headkick to punches)

![75656BCB-FF23-456D-8EBA-E646C36335B2.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/34791a54-af9c-4835-951b-2025e4c27500/pub "Chris Wade finishes Kely Bochniak with a headkick in round one. Credits to: The PFL")

Chris Wade found the 'Quick Six' he was looking for in the form of a first round knockout over Kyle Bochniak. The two wasted no time getting after it as soon as the bell rang, exchanging right away. Wade, looking sharp, blasted the body and leg of Bochniak. He offered a strong single leg that momentarily brings the fight to the mat but was swiftly denied. It mattered not though as he launched a high kick to the head of Bochniak, resulting in a knockdown. The strikes that followed forced the referee to stop the fight. Wade had previously expressed his desire to finish more fights, and that he would never let himself lose again for the sake of his daughter. 

## Ante Delija defeats Shelton Graves by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

![7969EB78-DE01-4E73-95AD-1258F3377975.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/36693ca5-c39b-442b-7863-ab155b339e00/pub "Ante Delija earns a victory against Shelton Graves. Credits to: The PFL")

In a fight neither man was proud of, Ante Delija defeated Shelton Graves by unanimous decision. The first round through the third was a combination of awkward and erratic movement by Graves that caused multiple headbutts, and a clinch heavy game from Ante. It was one of those clashes of heads that saw a point deducted from Shelton Graves. Ante won all three rounds firmly on the Verdict Scorecard but was forced to settle with a unanimous decision with all judges scoring the bout 29-27.

## Bubba Jenkins defeats Reinaldo Ekson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

![24F32A58-C7A5-4B51-8F75-FB05F9CAE7F8.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/af5d5e09-4f5c-4a4b-9c85-b522cc920500/pub "Bubba Jenkins takes Reinaldo Ekson for a ride inside the smart cage. Credits to: The PFL")

It was a flawless performance from Jenkins that truly put his improvements on full display. The first round opened up with clean lands and strong wrestling offense. The second and third rounds were completely in his control as he took his opponent airborn with massive slams. Feeling like a new fighter, Jenkins secured a shutout on all three scorecards.

## Denis Goltzov defeats Maurice Greene by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

![3EBECB6E-A550-46E4-A869-A58D3B4C7548.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/659cdbb4-6294-4aca-03a1-1d6cf6c28400/pub "Denis Goltzov defeats Maurice Greene by decision. Credits to: The PFL")

Although much was made of Maurice Greene having the legend Jon Jones in his corner, Denis seemed to block out all of that noise. He performed as he always does without showing any fear or respect for the all time great standing behind his opponent. After the cage closed he immediately took Greene down and began working his offense. He threatened an arm triangle choke in the first, but Greene was able to use his raw strength to push out of it. The round ended with Denis on top, foreshadowing how the fight would go. The second and third rounds were much of the same, only lacking the near fight ending submission attempts. Goltzov showed the difference between himself and his opponent clearly and walked away with a dominant victory.