PFL Challenger Series 1 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Miles Amos (205.6) vs. Karl Williams (205.2)

Round 1

Larry Folsom will serve as the third man in the cage for the inauguarl PFL Challenger Series bout. They touch gloves and Williams lands a right hook shortly thereafter. Amos initiates the clinch and the light heavyweights jockey for position until Williams executes a takedown and lands in side control. Williams drops a pair of left hands from above. Williams is looking to trap the right arm of “Black Santa,” but thus far he just maintains side control. Amos tries unsuccessfully to sit up. Williams peppers the body of his foe with a series of short right hands. Amos still doesn’t have any answers off his back. Amos attempts to kick off the fence, but he can’t shake Williams, who has remained on top for the majority of the round. Amos returns to his feet when Williams tries to pass to mount. Amos presses Williams into the cage, but Williams reverses the position and lands a knee to the gut. Williams pulls Amos off the fence and plants him on his back with 15 seconds remaining. That’s how the round will end.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Williams
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Williams
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Williams

Round 2

Williams circles on the outside and Amos shoots behind a winging right hand. Williams quickly turns his man around and shoves Amos into the fence. He uses his underhook and powers Amos to the canvas once again, landing in side control a little less than one minute into the frame. Williams is heavy on top, landing periodic ground-and-pound from above. They gradually move toward the cage and Amos puts his feet on the fence. He can’t buck Williams off him, however, and Williams stays busy enough with positional control and the occasional offense from above. Amos recovers half guard with less than 2:00 remaining. Williams postures up and drops punches. Amos briefly threatens with an armbar, but Williams is able to step over into side control again as time ticks down. He’ll end the period in side control.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Williams
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Williams
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Williams

Round 3

They touch gloves at the outset of the final frame. Amos wings punches and changes levels. The shot is unsuccessful and now Amos is stuck in the clinch with Williams. They separate in short order this time. Amos ties up behind a right hand, and Williams shoves his foe into the fence. Williams drops for a takedown and Amos initially defends, but Williams is eventually able to ride him down to the mat. Williams passes to mount, and he’s trying to up the intensity of his ground-and-pound. Amos nearly reverses position using his guard, but Williams regains top position in a scramble. He’s working in Amos’ full guard now, and a stinging right hand finds the mark. Williams passes back to side control, but Amos is able to return to his feet in a scramble. Amos flicks out a kick to the body. Amos stumbles on a takedown behind a looping right hand, and Williams is able to sidestep the shot and power his adversary to his back with a little less than a minute remaining. Amos is trying to make something happen with his guard, but he eats a couple hammerfists for his efforts. Williams stands and dives in with more punches before the final bell.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Williams (30-27 Williams)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Williams (30-27 Williams)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Williams (30-27 Williams)

The Official Result

Karl Williams def. Miles Amos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) R3 5:00

Travis Davis (206) vs. Bruce Souto (202.4)

Round 1

Andrew Glenn will officiate the second light heavyweight bout of the evening. Davis just misses a jab to the body. A hard leg kick finds the mark for Souto. They trade leg kicks and Davis goes after the body with the jab again. Souto just misses a big right hand, but he follows with another hard leg kick. Davis attacks the lead leg of his foe. Davis catches a kick and plants Souto on the canvas. Davis sets up in the full guard of his opponent. Souto scoots toward the fence and Davis passes to half guard. Davis transitions to a front headlock position and applies the squeeze with a front choke, but Souto is able to pop his head free. Souto stands and they separate with less than 90 seconds remaining. Souto lands a jab. The combatants trade punches in the pocket. Souto presses forward and staggers Davis with a leaping knee that lands flush to the chin. Davis is reeling and the Brazilian swarms with about five left hands near the fence. Davis crumbles to the canvas and Glenn dives in to wave off the bout.

The Official Result

Bruce Souto def. Travis Davis via KO (Flying Knee and Punches) R1 4:43

Alexander Poppeck (205.6) vs. Taylor Johnson (204.2)

Round 1

Larry Folsom is the referee for this matchup. Poppeck has a high kick blocked and Johnson explodes for a takedown behind a left hand. Poppeck is seated against the fence, and Johnson has his opponent’s legs wrapped up in his own. Johnson is attempting to slide Poppeck away from the fence. Poppeck frees one leg and then another as he works his way to his feet. Poppeck frames his leg on the outside of his opponent’s to prevent the takedown, which has resulted in a stalling position against the fence. It works for Johnson, who is in control. Folsom doesn’t see enough action and orders the fighters to separate. Poppeck lands a kick to Johnson’s lead leg. Poppeck snaps a front kick down the middle. Johnson lands a low kick of his own. Poppeck flicks out a couple jabs, then catches Johnson coming forward with an uppercut. Johnson fires off a kick to the body, and Poppeck responds with a left hook. Johnson pressures with winging punches, but Poppeck angles out of danger.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Johnson

Round 2

Poppeck tests the waters with a high kick and then Johnson moves forward and lands a body kick. Poppeck backs up Johnson with a straight right hand. A two-punch combo lands for Poppeck, who is starting to find his range. Johnson, who is bleeding near his left eye, eats a right hand from Poppeck. Johnson changes levels for a takedown, then has to reset to be able to dump the German on the mat. Once again, Johnson wraps up one leg of his opponent with Poppeck seated against the cage. Poppeck gradually powers his way up and lands a knee to the body. Johnson drops for a takedown, but Poppeck defends nicely and they’re back in space. Poppeck connects with another straight right. A left hook lands for Johnson. Johnson lands a combination and Poppeck answers to the body. Johnson shoots in the waning seconds and Poppeck defends before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Poppeck
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Poppeck
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Poppeck

Round 3

Johnson presses forward behind a right hook. He moves in again with punches and circles out when a takedown doesn’t come to fruition. Johnson lands an inadvertent kick to the cup, and after a momentary pause, the action resumes. A counter left hand from Johnson puts Poppeck on his seat and shortly thereafter, the American takes his opponent to the mat with a high amplitude throw in a nice piece of counter wrestling. Johnson is now in half guard with more than 3:00 to go in the fight. Johnson continues to control positioning while creating openings for periodic ground-and-pound. Poppeck tries to force a scramble by going for a leg lock, but Johnson is able to spin out and regain control near the fence. Johnson has wrapped up his foe’s right leg with Poppeck seated against cage, a familiar position for this fight. Poppeck fires a couple punches to the ribs, but Johnson is relentless with his pressure. Poppeck stands briefly, but Johnson transitions to the back before scrambling into mount. Johnson pours it on with punches from top position until the final bell.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Johnson)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Johnson)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Johnson)

The Official Result

Taylor Johnson def. Alexander Poppeck via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Joshua Silveira (205) vs. Mohamed Juma (205.2)

Round 1

Andrew Glenn will oversee the featured contest of the night. Silveira lands a front kick early and Juma respods with a left hand. Silveira kicks Juma’s leg out from under him. Juma pressures forward but Silveira changes levels and executes a powerful slam takedown. Silveira locks up a standing choke but Juma defends. Silveira is deep on a body lock and he takes Juma down, landing in side control. Juma posts and eats a series of right hands. Juma stands, with his mouthpiece hanging halfway out. Silveira lands a knee on the exit. Back in the center of the cage, Silveira lands a leg kick. Juma can’t find the range on the majority his punches. Juma is denied on a single-leg atempt. Sliveira follows a right hook with a takedown try near the fence. He gives up and they separate. Silveira has a high kick blocked. Juma is stalking his foe, swinging heavy leather. Juma lands an accidental low blow and the action is paused. The action resumes and the southpaws are back at it. Silveira times a level change and grounds Juma, who hustles back to his feet. Juma attempts to frame a standing kimura, while Silveira wants to work his way to his opponent’s back. Silveira with a knee to the gut, and he spins around to the back. The round will end without any more threat from Silveira.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silveira
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Silveira
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Silveira

Round 2

Juma marches forward, throwing combinations. Silveira circles away and lands a knee down the middle. Juma is aggressive early, but he is mostly missing the mark. Silveira explodes for a double leg, but Juma scrambles to his feet in a hurry and lands some punches on the way up. Now Juma is driving for the takedown, with Silveira defending against the fence. Silveira falls back for a guillotine attempt. Silveira applies the squeeze as Juma attempts to free his head. Juma is able to pop his head free and then referee Glenn orders a pause to the action and takes a point away from Juma for using a fish hook to help him escape the choke. The action resumes at the 3:07 mark. Silveira drops low for a single leg and shoves Juma into the fence. Juma turns Silveira into the fence while attempting a guillotine of his own. Silveira isn’t in real danger, and he reverses the position. Silveira shoots for a takedown and Juma defends against the fence. The American Top Team member is able to pull Juma off the cage and dump him on the mat. Silveira is looking to set up an arm-triangle from half guard. Silveira passes to full mount with a little less than a minute left. He’s still hunting for the arm-triangle choke, but finally gives up on it. Silveira punches Juma from mount while complaining to Glenn about Juma’s hands in his face. A big right hammerfist punctuates the round for Silveira.

Sherdog Scores

Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Silveira
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-8 Silveira
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-8 Silveira

Round 3

Silveira backs Juma into the fence and lands a left. A front kick connects for the former LFA champion. Silveira lands a combination as Juma backs away. A left lands for Silvveira and Juma continues to circle away. Silveira shoots for a takedown and ultimately drags Juma down with a rear-body lock. Silveira quickly jumps on the back and transitions to a rear-naked choke. Juma resists initially, but Silveira is persistent with the squeeze. Finally, Juma taps out with both fists. Silveira stands and taunts his fallen foe, obviously still upset about the foul in the second round.

The Official Result

Joshua Silveira def. Mohamed Juma via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke ) R3 1:52

Contract(s) Announcement:

Bruce Souto was awarded a Professional Fighters League contract for his performance. The other winners are eligible to return for the Season Finale in Week 8 on April 8.