2023 PFL 1 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Cory Hendricks (205) vs. Impa Kasanganay (205.4)

Round 1

The PFL is back in full swing this year, kicking off its 2023 Regular Season on the day of pranks and practical jokes. This event is not for the laughs, however, as tournament stakes for the featherweight and light heavyweight divisions are up for grabs for 10 of the 11 matches this evening. The lone bout without points on the line is this one, as 2021 and 2022 season vet Hendricks (9-5, 3-2 PFL) tries to do more than watch from the sidelines. He takes on recent Challenger Series pickup and former welterweight Kasanganay (11-3, 1-0 PFL) at 205 pounds, in hopes that an impressive performance could merit involvement later on down the line this year. Referee Mark Smith draws the charge for the first bout of the night, and with a touch of gloves, we are underway. Hendricks sticks out a jab, and Kasanganay counters a subsequent low kick by charging with several swinging hooks. Hendricks circles away, but Kasanganay is right on top of him throwing bombs. Hendricks reaches out to clinch up, as Kasanganay crashes towards him, and he delivers one knee to the sternum while “Tshilobo” engages with him. Hendricks attempts to throw his opponent to the mat, and when that fails, he turns his foe around momentarily as they jockey for position against the fencing. Kasanganay pushes off thanks to several right hands over the top, and he ignores a knee to the body to thump a solid right on the temple. Hendricks dives forward in pursuit of a single-leg takedown, and Kasanganay hops away and resets. When Kasanganay moves back forward to strike, Hendricks changes levels and secures a takedown to plant “Tshilobo” on his back. In an instant, Hendricks circles around to take his adversary’s back, but before he can secure the hooks or hunt for a rear-naked choke, Kasanganay reverses him. Kasanganay sits up in the half guard to slug Hendricks in the face repeatedly as Hendricks shells up, and he settles down to use heavy chest pressure and slow things down. Hendricks turns to his knees as he attempts to escape, and he is able to work his way up despite Kasanganay’s best efforts. Kasanganay keeps his hands clasped around his opponent’s waist, and Hendricks defends with a standing kimura and uses it to drag Kasanganay down to the mat. Hendricks does not release the grip until Kasanganay powers back upright, and the two split up as Kasanganay cracks his man with a solid right hand. Hendricks wobbles back, and Kasanganay gives chase and throws a head kick that makes him topple over. Hendricks runs at him, swinging his fists right to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay

Round 2

The light heavyweights resume the second frame as Kasanganay walks forward and rips the body with a right hand. Hendricks tries to keep his range with a front kick, and a left hook catches Kasanganay but does not budge him. Kasanganay works his fists around the guard, and Hendricks’ face is showing some damage from the short salvos. Hendricks rebounds off the fence as Kasanganay drives him back, and he throws up a high kick that gets blocked with ease. Kasanganay leaps forward with a left hook, and Hendricks shakes it off and hand-fights with his right hand to find his own range. Kasanganay goes to the body and head as he walks down Hendricks without fear, and he clubs his man with a left. Kasanganay drills Hendricks with a right to the body and left to the head, and Hendricks drops down in levels after getting stung to go after a takedown. Kasanganay stuffs it and nearly slips on the mat, but he gathers his balance and pushes forward to keep throwing hands. Hendricks ties Kasanganay up and spams a few knees to the body, and he breaks off with a left. Kasanganay no-sells the solid blow and fires off a front kick that misses the mark by a matter of inches. Kasanganay telegraphs a booming right hand, but the one that follows lands clean. Hendricks stays composed and sticks his foe with a few short strikes, but Kasanganay stands right in front of him and swings hammers. The sheer momentum of Kasanganay allows him to tackle Hendricks to the mat, and he shifts straight into half guard. Smith is quick to tell Kasanganay to work while Kasanganay holds on from above, and he answers this with a couple short body shots with little effect. Hendricks throws his legs up and looks to sit up, but the smothering Kasanganay pushes him back down and presses his shoulder on Hendricks’ face. Hendricks kicks off with a moment of success, but Kasanganay is right there to leap back down on top of him. Kasanganay flusters the Syndicate MMA product with a series of right hands around the block, and these force Hendricks to turn over to his knees and possibly give his back up. Kasanganay follows him but cannot keep him grounded, and he looks for a high kick on the left side that is guarded. The round ends with the two clinched.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay

Round 3

The round opens up with Kasanganay swinging a spinning kick, and he backs Hendricks up and pressures him into the cage. The two stay pressed tightly against one another as time rips off the clock without much in the way of action. Hendricks looks to turn things around and take a dominant position against the wall, but Kasanganay is able to turn his man around into the fence. They separate and Kasanganay tees off with heavy hooks. Hendricks assumes top position during a wild sequence and looks to take his foe’s back. Hendricks rides on top while Kasanganay is on his knees, as Kasanganay appears fatigued from the labored effort thus far. Kasanganay attempts to roll out while Hendricks has him from behind, and he manages to turn the tables and flip Hendricks over. Hendricks is quick to get to his knees, and he explodes back upright with 30 seconds left in the fight. Hendricks attempts to roll, and Kasanganay follows him every step of the way and keeps him stuck, unable to offer offense. Kasanganay is pushed away from the clinch with seconds to spare, and they swing it out right until the final bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay (30-27 Kasanganay)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Hendricks (29-28 Kasanganay)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay (30-27 Kasanganay)

The Official Result

Impa Kasanganay def. Cory Hendricks via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Delan Monte (205.4) vs. Ty Flores (206)

Round 1

This year’s PFL tournament officially begins with this light heavyweight clash, when 2022 playoff participant Monte (9-3, 1-2 PFL) welcomes “Big Medicine” Flores (11-4, 0-0 PFL) to the organization. Brazilian Monte has never before heard the final bell in 12 pro outings, with just two appearance beyond the first round, so Flores needs to be ready to kill or be killed, figuratively speaking. Referee Chris Tognoni is prepared to jump in at a moment’s notice, and a glove touch precedes the action. Monte scores first with a jab, and Flores answers with a kick to the calf. This inspires Monte to charge like a bull and swing with everything he has, and he gets off several uppercuts on the inside before Flores backs him away with a solid right. They reset, and Flores pushes out a front kick and closes in. Monte grabs hold of him and blasts him with several more uppercuts, and Flores’ nose busts open as his knees buckle. Flores retreats to get off the gunnery range, and Monte walks him down and slings a right hand that hurts him. When Flores leans down, having taken damage, Monte welcomes this with a plethora of uppercuts. Flores takes them all flush and breaks off, and he tosses out a few low kicks to hopefully slow the forward momentum of the Brazilian. Flores fires off a head kick that bounces off the guard, and Monte meets him with an overhand right. They both get off short uppercuts, and Flores ends a combination with a thudding calf kick. Flores sticks and looks for a high kick on the other side, and Monte sees it coming a mile away and is ready to counter. Flores digs a left to the body and right to the head, and Monte hops back to shake it out as he absorbs a subsequent kick to the ribs. Flores steps in with a straight right hand, and Monte shakes his head and allows a leg kick to find its home. Flores delivers a kick to the raised guard and then one beneath it to the liver, and they greet one another with wide, swinging hooks. Flores gets off a small calf kick as Monte bears down on him, and he attempts a level change that the stocky Brazilian shoves aside. Monte catches Flores during an exchange, but Flores appears no worse for wear as Monte is striking with more labored blows. Monte turns up the pace, sensing that Flores is equally fading, and he unloads with a long series of punches and drills Flores with a knee. Flores shakes his head, and they swing it out right to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Monte
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Monte
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Monte

Round 2

Round 2 opens as Monte claims the center of the cage, and he keeps his guard up as Flores throws hands at him to start. Flores walks face-first into an uppercut, but he maintains a stiff upper lip and targets the body with several strikes. Monte gets stuck with several jabs, and Flores leads one into a step-in knee to the gut. Monte looks for a jab-hook combination, and Flores blinks it out and fires off a knee when he senses Monte bearing down on him. Flores strings together a combination of punches that shakes the Brazilian up, and Monte shoots in for a double-leg takedown and forces Flores to the mat. Flores turns to his knees and gives up his back, and Monte is quick to take it. Flores keeps moving, rolling Monte over, but he gets caught in an armbar setup. The American stays calm and composed from the trap, and he slithers it out of danger and steps into half guard. Flores belts Monte with hammerfists and stays heavy on top, covering Monte’s mouth with his hand or otherwise making life miserable for him. Monte turns to his side in an attempt to escape, but Flores flattens him back out and slugs away with right hands. Despite the strikes landing from Flores, it is he is who is bleeding heavily, covering Monte’s chest and face with his own plasma. Flores works the body with several solid shots, and he postures up with a solid hammerfist. Monte rolls to his side again, and Flores pins him again and threatens with a potential head-and-arm choke. Monte shakes it out as he continues taking strikes, and Flores lowers his head down and appears to clash heads with the Brazilian. “Bad Medicine” sits up and delivers some medicine in the form of his fists to Monte’s face, and even drops down double hammerfists in true Kazushi Sakuraba fashion. The pounding ends when the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Flores
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Flores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Flores

Round 3

Flores immediately starts off the round in pursuit of a single-leg takedown, in hopes of putting Monte back where they left off. The Brazilian staves it off and gets back to striking range, where he throws hammers to keep Flores honest. Flores lumbers forward to scoop up a double, and Monte defends with a guillotine choke instead of a sprawl and is lifted off the ground. “Bad Medicine” dumps his man to the mat, and he starts beating on Monte until an arm-triangle choke opens itself up. Instead of going after the submission, Flores moves into full mount, but this is short-lived when Monte recovers to half guard. Monte attempts to escape by pulling on the inside of his opponent’s glove, and he is warned for this and still explodes to his feet. Flores remains tightly pressed on him, with a knee and a takedown effort in the clinch. Monte fights it off and breaks away, and he proceeds to swing for the fences until Flores grabs hold of him and hits another double. Monte jumps guard for a guillotine choke, but with little energy left in the tank, he is nowhere close before his back hits the mat. Flores climbs back into the half guard, and Monte looks to grab his gloves again to stop the oncoming ground-and-pound. Flores transitions to three-quarter mount as he lets his hands go, but Monte is active enough to turn to his side, sit up and prevent any possible referee intervention. Monte turns to his knees and climbs up the wall, but Flores is a wet blanket and drags him down again. Monte turns towards his opponent, uses the fence at his back to walk upright, and settles for a clinch position in hopes of going after uppercuts. Flores answers this with a number of knees on the jaw, and he hunts for another double and lifts the Brazilian off the ground. Flores slams him down to the canvas with style points, and he gets off a few more punches until the final bell stops the fight. Barring something odd, Flores should be the first fighter of the 2023 season to get on the board, with three points for his decision win.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Flores (29-28 Flores)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Flores (29-28 Flores)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Flores (29-28 Flores)

The Official Result

Ty Flores def. Delan Monte via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)

Gabriel Braga (146) vs. Jesus Pinedo (144.6)

Round 1

On just 24-hours’ notice, tourney alternate Braga (9-0, 1-0 PFL) has been tapped to join the featherweight bracket. He jumps in against former two-time UFC competitor Pinedo (20-5-1, 0-0 PFL), who has performed four straight knockouts since leaving the UFC in 2019. Whether Braga loses his shiny 0 or Pinedo breaks his own win streak, the two have upwards of 15 minutes under the nonsense-free eye of referee Keith Peterson to figure it out. Happy to still be on the card, Pinedo offers a fist bump that is accepted. Pinedo immediately backs off to circle around the cage and find his rhythm, while the unbeaten fighter walks him down. Braga flicks out a front kick and one to the calf in an effort to determine his distance, and he slings a calf kick on the inside for good measure. Braga walks into a one-two, and he is driven back from the strike and forced to keep his hands high from a high kick. Braga lashes out with a head kick of his own, and Pinedo guards against it and absorbs two leg kicks. Pinedo slips a right hand around the guard as he uses awkward, herky-jerky movement, but the calf kicks from Braga continue to find their home. Braga trips up his opponent with an inside low kick, and Pinedo starts and stops a punch combination because of it. Braga continues to cautiously approach his opponent, blocking a chain of punches and throwing back a single right hand. Braga’s leg kick chips away actively, and his raised guard defends his mug from anything Pinedo throws at him high up. Pinedo sees this and targets the body with his shin, and Braga responds in kind. Braga swings and misses with hooks, and his calf kicks are ever-active and frustrating. One such sweeping kick makes Pinedo raise it up to lift it away from the blow, and he trips Pinedo out with another. Pinedo hops back up and absorbs one, and he starts throwing hammers. Braga takes them on the chin and fires back, welcoming the brawl, as he swings with power. Pinedo is the one who backpedals after taking the strikes, and his head kicks all are guarded until the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Braga
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Braga
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Braga

Round 2

The featherweights bump fists to start up again, and Braga immediately leads off with a nasty calf kick. Pinedo backs off and gathers his thoughts, and he suddenly blitzes with a number of punches. Braga shells up and blocks the majority of them, but Pinedo splits the guard occasionally as he empties his gas tank. Braga takes a few flush and gets his face busted up as a result, but he lets Pinedo continue to unload so he can chew up the lead wheel. Pinedo’s ankle rolls as he absorbs a few more, and he takes one more before shooting in for a double. Braga hits his seat for about a second before bouncing back up, and he slams his shin into Pinedo’s calf and deadens the nerves. Pinedo lumbers forward, practically dragging his foot so he does not have to lift it, and he throws hands. Braga clobbers the right leg of his opponent until Pinedo decides to switch stances, and this opens him up to an overhand right that soars at his dome. Braga does not mind this change of position, as he connects with a few more low kicks and a solid right hook. Pinedo’s responsive strikes have little mustard on them while Braga fearlessly walks through them, and he is backed up against the fence and eats a stiff combination. Pinedo looks to counter with a right hand as Braga plods forward, and he swats away a front kick but cannot stop the Brazilian from thrashing his newly front leg. They clash together with big hooks, and Braga gets the better of the exchange and continues marching forward. Pinedo blocks the second of two body kicks and smiles, lining up a right hand over the top to catch the advancing Braga. Right hooks from both men land flush right at the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Braga
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo

Round 3

One final glove touch checks in the last round, and Braga picks up his bullying approach from before and marches Pinedo down like a Terminator. Braga swings his fists while aiming low kicks, and Pinedo sits down on counters. Other than the kicks down low for Braga, neither man appears to have the power to hurt the other. They trade punches, and Braga counters a body kick with an overhand right. Pinedo digs a few body shots in as Braga stings him with a right hand. They stand in front of one another trading recklessly, and they back off to start taking turns striking one another. Pinedo pops Braga coming in, but Braga meets him with an overhand right that bloodies his nose. Pinedo, limping around, still manages to keep enough movement to maintain his range and land strikes. “El Mudo” cannot plant off either leg from the damage, but he still gets Braga’s respect with a punch combination that backs Braga up to the wall. Braga responds with a thudding overhand right, and Pinedo nods at him and tries to initiate a brawl. As Braga opens up with strikes to answer this, Pinedo shoots in for a double and dumps Braga to the mat. The unbeaten fighter powers back up with the fence behind him, and he throws everything he has into a few more punches before the final bell rings. This will be a close one, and the victor will take home three points towards their playoff standings.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo (29-28 Braga)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo (29-28 Pinedo)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Braga (29-28 Braga)

The Official Result

Gabriel Braga def. Jesus Pinedo via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Alejandro Flores Garcia (145.4) vs. Daniel Torres(146)

Round 1

Sticking to the 145-pound category, 2022 season member Flores (21-4, 2-1 PFL) tries to go for the gold again. He will do so potentially at the expense of ex-KSW champ Torres (14-5, 1 NC; 0-0 PFL), who is competing in the U.S. for the first time as a pro. This classic matchup of Mexico vs. Austria will be overseen by referee Chris Tognoni, and it starts even though the two do not touch ‘em up. The fighters are tentative to engage early, missing with inaccurate strikes that maybe more for range-finding purposes. Torres rushes forward momentarily to throw two punches, and he dips back and whips a low kick. Flores crowds him and throws a low kick, and the kick slides up and bounces off his cup. Torres is stunned, lowering his hands and staring at Flores quizzically. Tognoni pauses the action, and allows the stoic yet quietly enraged Torres to walk to his corner to recover. The camera then cuts to an awkward shot of Bubba Jenkins sleeping in the locker room, and he opens his eyes and smiles as the crowd whistles. The action resumes after nearly two minutes of a break, and a low kick from Flores nearly hits the cup again. The two clinch up, as Flores bullies his foe to the wall and proceeds to stomp on his toes mercilessly. Commentator Randy Couture thinks back to the old days when seeing these strikes land, and the two jockey for position when tied up. A failed takedown attempt from Flores allows Torres to fall on top of him, and he maintains top position momentarily before the two return to their feet. They clinch up after a few strikes, and Flores slaps Torres in the back of the head and is warned for it. Flores turns Torres around and squeezes him against the fencing, and Torres moves him out to the center of the cage and manages to land a takedown. Torres ends the tepid round on top.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Flores
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Flores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Flores

Round 2

The second round kicks off with a front kick from Flores, and he swings his leg low to follow as Torres comes at him with an overhand right. Torres walks forward with a punch to the body and one to the head, and he flails with subsequent, inaccurate strikes. Torres times a ducking Flores with an uppercut, but it is one-and-done and no more blows come from it. Torres presses forward into the clinch, and he thwarts a takedown effort and knees Flores in the face. Torres knees his man once more, and Flores turns him around against the wire. The fighters remain clinched up in the center of the cage until Torres spins out of it, and Flores looks for an overhand right but comes up short. Torres unleashes a ferocious right hand that rocks Flores, and he is forced to immediately shut down a takedown effort. When Flores stands back up, he is on baby deer legs, clearly still compromised from the blow, but Torres lets him off the hook and does not follow up whatsoever. Flores gathers his thoughts and eventually strikes with a head kick, but it glances off the guard to no effect. Flores pushes off an attempted clinch and tries to catch his man with a right hand, but the former KSW champ is out of the way. Torres loads up on another power right hand, and Flores ducks this one and settles to get tied up. Flores spins him around and knees him in the midsection, and Torres wrenches him to the mat. In Flores’ closed guard, Torres lands a few punches, but elects to stand back up rather than getting anything going. Flores swats at him with feeble upkicks, and one slams into Torres’ cup. Torres turns around, angry from the foul, and Tognoni calls time with seconds left in Round 2. The PFL cuts to commercial, despite that the round did not end, and Torres is still taking time to recover. Flores is issued a hard warning for his second strike to the groin, and he is advised that any further fouls will result in a point deduction. When they resume, Flores lashes out with a jumping front kick, and then the unfortunate round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Torres
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Torres
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Torres

Round 3

The featherweights meet in the middle of the cage and appear like they are finally ready to start fighting after 10 minutes of passivity. Flores pushes out with a front kick, and throws a couple more that Torres ignores. Torres paws out with an overhand right, and Flores responds with a few body shots. The action quickly slows down to a crawl again, and Torres measures a single right hand that is well off the mark. When Torres chambers another, Flores grabs hold of him to tie him up. Torres pushes the Mexican fighter up against the wall, and Flores turns him around and hooks his fingers in the chain links to trap him there. Torres explodes out, and Flores sits down on a body kick as Torres looks to throw haymakers. Torres jumps forward with a front kick to the chest, and Flores responds with a few heavy strikes. Torres connects with a low kick, and Flores backs him off with a combination. Flores catches Torres with a solid right on the way in, and he hunts for a double but only manages to shove the Austrian fighter against the wire. Torres breaks out and dodges a heavy right hand, and they trade in alternating combinations. Flores throws a hammerfist at his foe’s lead thigh, and he kicks the same spot before pursuing a double. When he changes it to a single, Torres threatens with a standing guillotine choke. Flores easily escapes it and turns Torres to the wall, and he holds the fencing to get warned again. Torres looks for a low trip, and Flores pushes him away. They land left hands at the same time, and Flores charges with all his might to tackle Torres to the ground right before the final bell sounds. This miserable slog of a fight comes to a merciful conclusion, and the judges once again have their hands full.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Torres (29-28 Torres)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Torres (29-28 Torres)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Torres (29-28 Torres)

The Official Result

Alejandro Flores Garcia def. Daniel Torres via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Joshua Silveira (202.8) vs. Sam Kei (206)

Round 1

This pattern of two fights in one weight class and then two in the other will continue for the remainder of the night, as light heavyweights now take center stage. Fresh off his first career setback – a 2022 playoff loss to eventual finalist Omari Akhmedov – Silveira (9-1, 2-1 PFL) will look to bounce back against former heavyweight Kei (8-6, 0-1 PFL). The latter initially tipped the scales slightly above the 206-pound mark on Friday, only to come back and hit 206 pounds with extra time. The two bump fists as referee Kerry Hatley stands by, and Silveira’s braided mullet dangles behind him as he advances. Kei paws out a few jabs, and he ducks into a head kick but has his arms up to block it. Silveira strikes out with another high kick, which is once more guarded. The American goes low with a sweeping calf kick, and he backs Kei up but is more intent on faking and feinting than committing to anything besides a telegraphed head kick. The third attempt from Silveira to kick the dome fails, and they tie up as a result. Silveira pushes off and clubs the former heavyweight on the side of the head, and he splits the guard with a subsequent jab. Silveira kicks the body once with his shin and then stabs the chest with his toes, and he goes after the thigh as he keeps Kei guessing. The pressuring Silveira is spun around when they enter the clinch, and he manages to trip Kei out and put him on the ground. Kei explodes up to his knees, but he gives up his back in the process, and this is the worst possible thing he can do. Silveira leaps on the back and gets his hooks in, and in a moment’s notice, he hunts for a rear-naked choke. It does not take more than a few seconds for Silveira to secure the tapout, and we have our first finish of the night. Silveira earns six easy points for the first-round finish, and he bounces back from his first career defeat impressively.

The Official Result

Joshua Silveira def. Sam Kei R1 2:46 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)

Marthin Hamlet (205.6) vs. Mohammad Fakhreddine (205.6)

Round 1

The prelims conclude with this 205-pound tilt pitting 2021 and 2022 playoff entrant Hamlet (10-4, 4-3 PFL) against Brave CF vet and league newcomer Fakhreddine (15-4, 2 NC; 0-0 PFL). The former has alternated wins and losses throughout his entire PFL tenure, while the man known as “The Latest” has gone unbeaten in his last three outings dating back to 2020. With an open division ahead of them the two fighters bump fists, and referee Mark Smith is ready for whatever happens next. Hamlet shoots in for a double within the first second of the fight, and he plants Fakhreddine on his backside early. Fakhreddine fights back upright, and Hamlet has him from behind and drags him back down. Hamlet throws his arms up for a front choke, and before anything comes together, he pushes off and starts throwing haymakers at his opponent. A charging Hamlet takes Fakhreddine off his feet again, and Fakhreddine counters with a guillotine choke that traps Hamlet’s head. Fakhreddine decides instead to release his hands and try to stand back up, allowing Hamlet to swirl around and take his back. The Norwegian fighter grabs hold of a rear-naked choke type of grip, but he keeps it over Fakhreddine’s face instead of sliding it under the chin. With full power, Hamlet squeezes with a jawbreaking palm-to-palm grip, and Fakhreddine punches from behind his own head until his eyes go wide and he frantically taps out. Hamlet releases his man as soon as Smith intervenes, and as he walks away, Fakhreddine writhes on the ground in pain from the move. That is one way to announce yourself to the division, by positively running through a newcomer that had only been submitted once before in his career. Hamlet takes control over the leaderboard with a sub much faster than Silveira’s, as he claims six points in the light heavyweight division.

The Official Result

Marthin Hamlet def. Mohammad Fakhreddine R1 1:05 via Submission (Face Crank)

Chris Wade (145.6) vs. Bubba Jenkins (146)

Round 1

A rematch nearly two years in the making kicks off the main card of PFL’s 2023 season opener, as past finalists Wade (22-8, 10-6 PFL) and Jenkins (19-6, 5-2 PFL) lock horns again to start their year off strong. Wade outworked his opponent at the 2021 playoffs for a spot in the finals, and neither man has claimed gold yet despite multiple efforts – the Long Island, New York, fighter has competed in all four past seasons, a feat very few others can claim. Bragging rights and upwards of six playoff points are on the line here, and referee Chris Tognoni will receive the honor of officiating this featherweight rematch. There is no love lost between these two, and they decline to touch gloves. Jenkins leads off with a head kick, and he sticks out a jab and chases an early takedown. “The Long Island Killer” fights off the first attempt, but Jenkins – who just said on the lead-up promo package that he was not interested in any wrestling – secures the attempt on the second try. Jenkins scoops his left arm under both of Wade’s legs to keep him seated on the mat, while using his right hand to soften up the body. Wade sits up against the wall, but Jenkins grips one arm of his opponent to trap it across his chest. Jenkins nearly takes the back, and Wade moves to his knees and breaks the grip to turn Jenkins to his back. Jenkins grabs hold of Wade’s left leg to lift him up and flip him back over. When Wade sits up on his knees, Jenkins knees him presumably on the chin illegally, and Tognoni sees it and halts the action. On replay, the knee actually connects with the chest and not the head, and Wade is compromised from the blow and given time to recover. Tognoni calls for a replay of the strike, and Wade is still seeming hurt. Tognoni determines that it was a legal blow, and he partially resets the position where the fighters left off, other than Wade on his seat instead of knees. Wade does eventually turn back to his knees as they grapple, and Jenkins drags him down and follows him as Wade keeps spinning. Jenkins takes the back and gets one hook in, and he keeps his right arm around Wade’s neck and manages to take Wade’s back when Wade is trying to escape. Jenkins slugs him on the side of the head repeatedly, until Wade lays on his back again. Bubba steps over once more, and he keeps his full body weight pressed on his opponent until the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins

Round 2

Wade leads the dance early with a head kick of his own to start off the second frame, but Jenkins appears the far fresher man and he comes out swinging. Jenkins backs Wade up against the wall as he throws haymakers, and he changes levels suddenly and trips Wade down to his knees. Wade leans back to set up a guillotine choke, and he keeps his elbow high in an effort to completely lock it down. ESPN encounters video technical difficulties as Bubba slowly escapes from the submission, and he threatens with his own potential submission in the form of a Von Preux shoulder choke before Wade becomes wise to it and lets go. Jenkins moves to the side and transitions to north-south position, but this allows Wade to turn over and get to his knees. Jenkins seems to allow this so he can slither around to take the back, and he secures one hook and presses Wade down. Jenkins sits up with three-quarter mount and drops down a few punches, but he prefers control over submission or damage and rides. As Wade looks to spin out, Jenkins gets a hook in again around the back, and he disallows Wade from moving or getting any offense off of his own. Jenkins fully embraces the grind, hanging onto Wade without doing anything else, and making certain Wade is trapped and unable to get up. Wade pulls off the fence with his toes in a desperate effort to escape with seconds to spare, but there is nothing to it before round comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins

Round 3

The 145ers meet in the middle, and when Wade throws hands, Jenkins punches back and part of his glove jams straight into the Long Island MMA fighter’s eye socket. Tognoni pauses the round and calls in the doctor, and replays show it was a knuckle and not a finger – this is the second time that Wade has gotten away with a legal strike originally ruled illegal. Wade says he is ready to go, and on the reset, Jenkins comes out like a house on fire with a jumping kick. When landing, Jenkins grins and circles around before shooting in for a single. Wade hits his posterior on the canvas, and he threatens with a guillotine choke that is not there. Jenkins drags a bloodied Wade down flat and steps into mount, and he takes the back quickly when Wade turns over. Jenkins slides a hook in around the back and keeps himself in dominant position, and Wade looks to slide out the back door. Jenkins lets Wade try as he might to reverse position or get out, as precious seconds tick off the clock, and he maintains full control over his opponent. When Wade scoots to a knee, Jenkins throws a knee to the backside that is dangerously close to the spine. Wade turns around to lean his back on the wall while still seated, and Jenkins has him completely nullified. Tognoni tells Jenkins he needs to look to improve position, and Wade pops up in this moment. Jenkins immediately lands a mat return, and Wade falls down and latches on to an ill-advised guillotine choke. The grip is secured as Wade has his hands clasped, but Jenkins does not appear remotely concerned as he is still on top without being in submission danger. Jenkins continues his shutdown game as he holds on to Wade’s legs, elevating them enough to not let Wade stand. Jenkins stands up to punch Wade a few times to make one final statement, and this grind of a 15-minute affair finally comes to a close with a ringing bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins (30-27 Jenkins)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins (30-27 Jenkins)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jenkins (30-27 Jenkins)

The Official Result

Bubba Jenkins def. Chris Wade via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Movlid Khaybulaev (145.8) vs. Ryoji Kudo (146)

Round 1

2021 season victor Khaybulaev (19-0-1, 1 NC; 5-0-1, 1 NC PFL) won out his bracket with four straight decisions, including a finals victory over Wade to take home the $1 million prize. Since then, he has not competed, and he will be now back in action and putting his undefeated record on the line against Japanese striker Kudo (11-4-1, 1-2 PFL). The two will tangle as cage commander Keith Peterson serves as the referee for this featherweight encounter. There is a quick bump of fists without any nonsense, and the two get down to it. Khaybulaev loops a right hand over the top that misses by a wide margin, and he dives down low to grab an ankle. Kudo hops away and winds up on top when Khaybulaev falls to his back for a flying submission attempt. As Kudo moves away from that try, Khaybulaev follows him and strips his legs out to jam him in the corner between the fence and the floor. Kudo fights his way back up to his feet, only to get sucked back down to the ground. The Dagestan native is more than happy to ragdoll Kudo, stopping Kudo from having any additional time on the feet or with any space. Kudo turns to his back to escape, and as he does, Khaybulaev follows him and secures back control. There is no submission to come while Khaybulaev rides the dominant position, and the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev

Round 2

Kudo starts off the second round fairly aggressively, with distance on the feet and the ability to get off some strikes. A head kick is blocked as Kudo chases Khaybulaev with punches, and the Russian slowly turns the pressure around and backs Kudo away. Kudo sprints away when Khaybulaev leaps at him with a left hook, and he resets and throws two punches. Khaybulaev grabs hold of him and practically tackles him down to the ground. Khaybulaev does not get reckless as he maintains top position, instead keeping Kudo from standing up. As a result, it turns into a stalemate as Khaybulaev controls without advancing to a dominant position, and instead one that traps Kudo and shuts him down. Kudo pushes off the fence, but Khaybulaev uses heavy shoulder pressure to flatten Kudo out. The round ends with Khaybulaev on top.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev

Round 3

The last round opens cautiously, as Kudo does not overextend with any strike so that he does not have to deal with any grappling. The Japanese fighter slaps out a low kick, and he springs away. Darting back forward again, Kudo reaches with a left hand, and a subsequent body kick is met by a charging Khaybulaev that relocates them to the mat. Kudo looks to crawl to the fence and wall-walk, but Khaybulaev drags him back out and flattens him out in half guard. No matter what he does, Kudo cannot break the grip from the man from Dagestan, who smothers him and makes his life miserable. As soon as Kudo gets a little momentum to move to his knees and stand, Khaybulaev easily dumps him back down. Khaybulaev settles down in the full guard, grinding with all his might. Khaybulaev lands punches to the body and head intermittently to stave off Peterson’s intervention, and Kudo is stuck with no options. The fight concludes in this position, with 15 minutes of dominant grappling in the books and a bunch of featherweights tied with three points apiece including Khaybulaev.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev (30-27 Khaybulaev)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev (30-27 Khaybulaev)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Khaybulaev (30-27 Khaybulaev)

The Official Result

Movlid Khaybulaev def. Ryoji Kudo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Krzysztof Jotko (205.4) vs. Will Fleury (205.6)

Round 1

Free from the confines of the UFC and up a weight category, Jotko (24-6, 0-0 PFL) dives head-first into the PFL pond in search for six playoff points. Facing him in this light heavyweight match will be Fleury (11-3, 1-0 PFL), who proved his worth last season by defeating Anthony Salamone to earn a shot in this year’s tourney. Referee Kerry Hatley is in this one for the long haul, with both fighters going to decision more often than not in their respective careers. There is ample respect as the sportsmen touch gloves, and the fight begins with a pair of leg kicks from Jotko. Jotko then misses with a front kick, and he swings a right hand over the top as Fleury rushes towards him with a level change. Fleury is unable to completely ground him, as he holds on to Jotko to keep him stuck on the floor. Jotko explodes upright and fires off a high kick and a few punches, and he lands and rolls his ankle. Jotko fights through it as he rushes at Fleury, and the two wind up in a clinch again. Fleury brings up a knee when up tight, and it connects with the cup. Hatley sees the foul and calls a pause, and only needs about 15 seconds to get his wind back. Jotko aims another kick high, and when that is blocked, he connects with a clean right hand. Fleury intercepts his man with a left hand before dropping down for a single, and Jotko defends as he pushes his heel off the wall. Jotko lands a right hand when he breaks, and he resets before a Fleury kick can reach him. Jotko counters his foe with a few hooks, and he attempts his own double to push the Irishman back to the wire. The round ends with Jotko squeezing on Fleury against the cage.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jotko
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Jotko
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jotko

Round 2

The 205ers touch ‘em up to start off Round 2, and Jotko does not appear compromised from the ankle tweak from the previous frame. He leads off with a heavy kick to the calf, and he backs away as Fleury replies in kind. They crash together, and Jotko is the one to muscle them back to the cage wall. Jotko nearly completes the takedown but cannot quite put Fleury down. Fleury gets pinned against the fencing as Jotko holds tight, and after a stall, Fleury turns them around. A failed takedown from Fleury is met by a couple soft knees on the inside by the Polish man, and Jotko breaks away to return to striking range. Fleury lands a few slapping calf kicks as Jotko walks him down, and Jotko dips a hook to counter with a left. Fleury overswings with a few punches, but the leg kick that follows does connect. The two go tit-for-tat with single strikes or short combinations, and Jotko has a head kick blocked and swings two punches. Jotko sprints forward with a sudden boost of momentum, and he takes Fleury off his feet and traps Fleury’s right leg between his own. Jotko connects with a solid right hand when pressed up against his opponent, and Fleury smacks him in the ear with feeble strikes in response. Fleury fights to his feet, and the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jotko
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Jotko
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jotko

Round 3

The fighters hug it out to start off the final frame, and they back off to reset with a low kick from each. Jotko lands a right hand over the top, and Fleury responds with a charging takedown attempt. Jotko lowers himself to a knee before standing up, and he protects his body with a raised knee. Jotko gets away and sneaks in a right hand on the break, and they fire off simultaneous leg kicks that clack shins together. Jotko changes levels this time and looks for a body lock takedown, but the Irishman stonewalls him. Fleury spins him around as he stops it, and he wings a left hand but gets kneed square in the face. Fleury leans forward as he pursues a takedown, moving face-first into an uppercut but still pulling Jotko to a single knee again. Fleury switches to pursue a single, and that comes up short. Fleury throws a short left, and Jotko counters with three in response. Fleury pins two leg kicks on the calf, and he does everything he can to take the fight down and ends up falling to his knees in an effort to secure it. Jotko stands firm and fights out of the clinch, and he ducks a punch to hit a trip and plant the Irishman on his back. Jotko secures side control, and Fleury scoots on his back towards the fence. Fleury slowly works his way up, and with 15 seconds to spare, he stands. Jotko slugs him in the face once, and Fleury flails at him with inaccurate, labored strikes. The dreadful encounter wraps up as the bell rings, one that even the commentary team calls “rough.”

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Jotko (30-27 Jotko)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Jotko (30-27 Jotko)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jotko (30-27 Jotko)

The Official Result

Will Fleury def. Krzysztof Jotko via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Rob Wilkinson (205.4) vs. Thiago Santos (206)

Round 1

Two former UFC fighters claim the co-headliner spot in what could be a violent one for as long as it lasts. Australia’s Wilkinson (17-2, 4-0 PFL) smashed his way through the opposition in the 2022 season to hoist the strap at year’s end, with four knockouts in four appearances. On the other side of the equation, the 39-year-old Santos (22-11, 0-0 PFL) has struggled as of late, departing the Las Vegas-based promotion on the heels of five losses in six fights. Anything can happen in this light heavyweight slugfest, and referee Mark Smith is prepped and ready for the hostilities. Before looking to knock the other’s head into the third row, they gentlemanly bump fists together. Wilkinson jabs his way forward into range, and he hops back when Santos throws two big hooks back his way. Santos backs up as he is reached by a front kick, and he swings with a left hook that would have knocked a building down. Santos sits down on a body kick, and Wilkinson gives chase and tags him with a left hand in the midst of a combination. The Aussie uses his momentum to take Santos off his feet with a tripping takedown, and he succeeds in dragging Santos to a single knee. Santos muscles his way back to his feet, but he cannot break the grip around his waist and is subsequently dragged back down to the floor. Santos once more works his way from knees to standing position, and when Wilkinson sweeps, Santos grabs the fence and is warned. Wilkinson still completes the trip, and Santos hits the ground and scrambles. During the scramble, the Brazilian inadvertently gives up his back, and Wilkinson gladly claims it and secures both hooks. Wilkinson fishes for a rear-naked choke of some kind, and Santos explodes and almost turns completely over. Instead, Wilkinson follows the turn and uses an arm-triangle choke to pin Santos back down to the mat. Wilkinson transitions to half guard as he controls from above. The round ends with Wilkinson on top.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wilkinson
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Wilkinson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Wilkinson

Round 2

A touch of gloves checks in the second stanza, and the fighters meet right in the center of the cage. Wilkinson slowly advances without throwing anything, and he hops away from a looping left hand. The Brazilian lashes out with a heavy body kick, and he aims a second to the same target to decent effect. Santos kicks low, and he gets popped with a short left hook before getting shoved back to the wall in a failed takedown effort. “Razor Rob” rushes forward, punching his way into a takedown, and he gets it this time as he bangs the back of Santos’ head against the wall. Santos calmly turns to a knee and stands, and Wilkinson doggedly pursues the mat return as he holds onto Santos from behind. Wilkinson successfully gets a hook around the back and uses his body weight to wrench Santos to the ground. Santos times a clean reversal and clasps his hands around the waist, but Wilkinson welcomes additional grappling so that he can go for another level change. Wilkinson drives a knee to the sternum before hitting the takedown, and he scoops Santos up off the ground as Santos posts off both arms. Santos moves to not stay grounded for more than a few seconds, and he wall-walks to stand once again. Wilkinson eats a knee and fires off a left hand on the break, and they split apart. Santos is only able to throw one single kick before Wilkinson blitzes him with a swarm of punches and a clinch-up into a takedown try. Santos fights it off and takes a flush knee to the body, with Wilkinson holding on in the clinch to score the occasional knee. Santos knees the midsection once before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wilkinson
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Wilkinson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Wilkinson

Round 3

The last round kicks off tentatively, with neither man committing on a strike or willing to make a mistake. Santos slams a shin to the midsection, and Wilkinson sprints through it so he can latch on to Santos and not let any more land. Santos flails with fists while his foe advances, and he stops the takedown and slugs Wilkinson on the side of the head to shut it down. Santos bursts out of the position and spins with a wheel kick that misses the mark, but a side kick does connect. “Marreta” connects with a hammer of a left hand, and Wilkinson catches him with a left of his own to open a cut on the corner of the Brazilian’s eye. Another lull in the action rears its ugly head, and Santos punctuates that inactive stretch with a pounding kick to the ribcage. Wilkinson rushes out with a few punches, and the takedown that follows is stopped before it can even begin. Wilkinson fires off a right hand, and he walks through a stern knee to the sternum to hit a takedown. Santos fights his way back up tooth-and-nail, and he tries to break away from the clinch while Wilkinson is desperately clinging to him to nullify any Hail Mary offense. Santos manages to break off with a minute left in the match, and he walks the Aussie down and just misses with a spinning wheel kick. Wilkinson drives him back with a few punches, and he is sucking wind and has his hands low. Santos looks for a flying knee that bounces off the guard, and Wilkinson snags another takedown to seal the fight. Santos works his way up with five seconds left, and he sprints at Wilkinson and wings bombs that detonate off Wilkinson’s chin. Before he can get anything done, the disappointing contest ends at the sound of the bell, and Smith has to step between him and cross his fingers he does not take friendly fire.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos (29-28 Wilkinson)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Wilkinson (30-27 Wilkinson)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos (29-28 Wilkinson)

The Official Result

Rob Wilkinson def. Thiago Santos via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Brendan Loughnane (146) vs. Marlon Moraes (145.4)

Round 1

The final fight of the night takes place at the featherweight category, and 2022 champ Loughnane (25-4, 8-1 PFL) would like nothing more than to get off to a fiery start by punching out storied vet Moraes (23-11-1, 11-1 PFL). The latter suffered his first defeat under the company’s banner last November, with 11 victories all in World Series of Fighting as he held its bantamweight strap from 2014 to 2016. Momentum is firmly on the side of the Brit, as the winner of his last four, while Moraes has been knocked out five times in a row. If that number for the Brazilian is soon to become six, referee Keith Peterson will be on call to make sure things do not get too nonsensical. Fully aware that anything can and often does happen in the fight game, the two headliners meet in the middle to bump fists, before letting their fists decide the rest. Moraes quickly fires off a spinning wheel kick to test the waters, and Loughnane does not bite and instead slowly advances to lead with a jab. The Brazilian connects with a heavy low kick, and he sweeps out with a second that Loughnane dodges. Moraes counters a jab with a slapping kick, and he absorbs one chopping kick in response. Moraes checks a subsequent calf kick, and the two are largely containing themselves to single strikes. Moraes checks another kick that lands with a thud, and he backs off from a one-two. Moraes swings with a right hook that comes up short by a matter of inches, and he absorbs a few more low kicks. The Brazilian sinks in a solid left hook, and it is one-and-done as low kicks keep doing work. Moraes picks his leg up and hops around after taking one especially damaging kick, and he switches stances when the Brit kicks it again. Loughnane welcomes this so that he can chop at the lead wheel more, and Moraes rushes forward and the two clack heads together. A brief pause and no ill will leads to them resuming without issue, and Moraes swings for the bleachers as he continues to take damage. Moraes fires off a spinning wheel kick, but it is an uppercut that gets Loughnane’s attention. Moraes lunges with home run strikes that Loughnane largely sees coming, and he intercepts Moraes with a knee. Loughnane stings his man with a right hand, and he slams a few more leg kicks home on both legs of Moraes to draw a grimace out of the longtime veteran. Loughnane sweeps the leg out with a hefty kick, and he thinks about lowering himself into Moraes’ guard but instead backs off and tells him to stand. Moraes is feeling it, and Loughnane quickly chops him back down again. Moraes very slowly works his way back up, but his legs are thrashed and Loughnane goes for a head kick. The bell sounds, and Moraes limps back to his corner, unable to put much weight on either leg. This fight might not continue, as he shakes his head to his corner between rounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Loughnane
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Loughnane
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Loughnane

Round 2

Moraes gets off the stool after all, and Peterson calls in the doctor to check on Moraes’ condition. Moraes says he is good to go, and the second round does begin. They touch gloves, and Moraes blitzes forward immediately to go for a finish. Loughnane kicks low and then has an inside leg kick clack off the cup, and Moraes complains but the action does not pause. An enraged Moraes charges again, ducks very nearly into an intercepting knee, but it does not slow him. Moraes recklessly attacks, and Loughnane remains calm and collected on the outside as he works the leg. When Moraes readies himself for one potential final assault, Loughnane winds up with all his might and shellacks Moraes’ lead leg, knocking him down once and for all. The visage of Moraes is one of sheer agony, and Peterson sees this and waves off the fight instead of allowing Moraes to take any further punishment. The corner should have intervened sooner, and some questions might arise of whether they should have sent him back out at the end of the first frame at all. Despite the rough visual of the stoppage, Loughnane has secured five points and sits atop the featherweight leaderboard with the sole finish across all five 145-pound fights tonight. With this final match in the books, this rough card is now complete, and fans can hope for more action next week at PFL 2 or UFC 287, depending on their taste. No matter the major event next weekend, we will be here for them. We hope you are too.

The Official Result

Brendan Loughnane def. Marlon Moraes R2 1:11 via TKO (Leg Kicks)