HOLLYWOOD, FL–In the main event, Olympic Gold medalist Kayla Harrison (2-1-0 this season) fought Taylor Guardado (3-0-0) for her second $1,000,000 purse and PFL Lightweight Championship at The Seminole Hard Rock Casino Harrison showed superior strength and ground control for the first two rounds and secured an arm bar at the four minute mark to earn the victory.
Cooper III KOs Magomedkerimov for PFL Welterweight Title
Magomed Magomedkerimov (career record 28-5-0, 2-0-0 with PFL) was a -275 favorite to take the Welterweight World Championship. His opponent, Ray Cooper lll (22-8-1 career, 2-1-0 with PFL this season) didn’t seem to notice. After taking a low kick in the first round, Cooper came back to control the action throughout round two.
The tables momentarily turned in round three and Magomedkerimov landed several vicious knees. Cooper answered with a right hand of his own, then found an opening for the knockout with another right hand at 3:02 of round three.
Montes Decisions Shields at PFL
In a three-round, non-title contest, Mexico’s Abagail Montes (2-0) gave 2-time Olympic gold medalist and multi-division world champion boxer Claressa Shields (1-0) a tough time by controlling distance, scoring takedowns, and initiating a vicious ground and pound. The fight went the distance with one judge scoring 29-28 for Shields, and the other two scoring 29-28 for the winner Abagail Montes.
Bruno Cappelozza (13-5, 3-0 this season) and Ante Delija (career 19-4-0) (2-1-0 this season in PFL)battled for the Heavyweight Championship in an exciting and violent contest that went the distance. Superior striking and ground and pound earned Bruno Cappelozza the decision on all cards. 48-46, 49-45 x 2.
Movlid Khaybulaev (3-0 this season with PFL) of Dagestan, Russia, undefeated in his professional MMA career with 18 wins and no losses faced Long Island’s Chris Wade (20-6 career , 3-0 this season with PFL) for the PFL Featherweight Championship.
Round one opened with fireworks as Khaybulaev scored three big right hands to the head of Wade before a brief lull in grappling range. Then the fight began. With 30 seconds left in the first round Khabulaev looked like he could secure a rear naked choke but the bell disagreed.
Wade came out charging in round two with some high kicks as the crowd chanted “USA, USA!” Khaybulaev continued to score with heavy shots to the head, and ended the round with advantage in the grappling range.
Rounds three and four saw a lot of grappling with the advantage still leaning towards Khaybulaev.
Wade attempted a flying knee in the opening seconds of round five but Khaybulaev deflected the blow and took control of the action once again. The round ended on the ground and the fight went to the judges. PFL’s innovative fight stat display showed eight takedowns for Khaybulaev, who was way ahead ion strikes as well, and none for Wade.
All judges scored the contest 50-45 for Khaybulaev.
Antonio Carlos Jr. (3-0) submitted Marthin Hamlet (2-2) for the PFL Light Heavyweight championship via Rear Naked Choke submission at 3:49 of round 1
