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

Josh Blyden (146.8: Missed Weight) vs. Jesse Stirn (145.6)

Round 1

A featherweight tilt pitting Blyden (9-2, 0-0 PFL) against Stirn (15-6, 0-2 PFL) kicks off festivities for the 2023 PFL Championships. Blyden, who missed weight by 0.8 pounds, enters his promotional debut on the strength of a three-fight winning streak. Stirn, 31, has won four in a row. Jerin Valel serves as the third man in the cage. They touch gloves, and we are underway. Blyden presses forward behind jabs and leg kicks, shoots in for takedown and sneaks behind his counterpart. He drags Stirn down to the mat and climbs to the back. Stirn stands and breaks away from danger, only to concede a pair of mat returns. Blyden feeds knees to the back of the legs with the two men once again upright. He continues to win the hand battle and maintains an advantageous position. Stirn finally turns chest-to-chest and scores with knees to the body. They jockey for position at close range before breaking into open space. Blyden gets his hands in gear and forces Stirn to clinch. He connects upstairs and scores a pair of takedowns of his own. Blyden scrambles into top position with roughly a minute to go in the round. Stirn uses his butterfly guard to free himself. Blyden’s punches and kicks look more labored now. Stirn circles away and lands a few knees in tight before closing the round with a right hand over the top.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stirn
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Stirn
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stirn

Round 2

Back to work they go. Stirn circles on the outside but fails to keep his feet in motion. Blyden shoots on the hips and works on a head-outside single-leg. Stirn shoots a few knees to the body, then connects upstairs. He fires punches in bunches in a bid to finish and continues to sneak in a few knees to the body. Blyden pushes his adversary backward with jabs, as they fire away at one another in the center of the cage. Blyden once again wheels behind Stirn but fails to secure his position. Now, Stirn ducks under to the back with the two men standing against the fence. With two minutes left in the round, Stirn sweeps the leg and completes a takedown. Blyden forces his way back to his feet under threat of a leg lock. Stirn definitely looks like the fresher of the two. He throws in combination and barely misses a flying knee. Stirn firmly in control now with his opponent fading. He drives into the clinch and mixed knees with short punches, then sneaks a right hook around the guard. Blyden eats another right hand, and the round closes.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stirn
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Stirn
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stirn

Round 3

The lights briefly darken before they start Round 3, resulting in a few-second delay. Blyden will take all the help he can get. He fires a jab behind a low kick, then aims upstairs. Stirn operates on the outside and connects with a nice right cross. Blyden answers with a two-punch volley punctuated by a left hook. Stirn steps to the center of the cage, hammers the body with a kick and then bobs and weaves to avoid return fire. They trade leg kicks. Neither man doing much to seize the reins midway through the period. Blyden answers a few leg kicks with a sharp left hook, followed by a right hand. Stirn shoots a front kick up the middle and scores to the head, then follows it into the clinch. Blyden circles off but cannot secure his position, and the two combatants float back into open space. A little more than a minute to go. This is Blyden’s best round thus far, but it might not be enough. Stirn wheels behind Blyden against the fence but chooses to disengage with 30 seconds left. Stirn lands a kick to the leg and another to the body, then secures a takedown in the final second.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Blyden (29-28 Stirn)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Stirn (30-27 Stirn)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Blyden (29-28 Stirn)

The Official Result

Jesse Stirn def. Josh Blyden—Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Phil Caracappa (135.5) vs. Khai Wu (135.4)

Round 1

Bantamweights move the line forward, as Caracappa (10-3, 0-0 PFL) confronts Wu (7-4, 0-0 PFL) at 135 pounds. Kevin Mulhall answers the call to referee. The glove touch gets us started. Caracappa probes with his jab and fires an errant leg kick behind it. Wu circles on the outside. Caracappa moves in with a multi-punch burst, though his shots miss their intended target. Wu connects with a thudding right hook, only two eat three punches in return. Wu sets his opponent on unsteady legs with a clean left hook but allows Caracappa to close the distance. Wu sprawls on a takedown. Caracappa eats another sweeping right hook on his way into the clinch. Wu cuts off his advances with his back to the fence. Caracappa feeds his opponent a few shoulder strikes and knees. He trips Wu to the floor and sets up shop in half guard. Mild ground-and-pound follows. Caracappa increases the intensity of his punches while maintaining a dominant position. With 30 seconds left, Caracappa appears to have found Wu’s kryptonite. He continues to scores with punches to the body and head as the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Caracappa
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Caracappa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Caracappa

Round 2

Caracappa takes the center of the cage and scores with a few low kicks. Wu answers but generally throws on strike at a time. Caracappa fires a front kick to the chest to keep his opponent honest, then punches into the clinch and delivers a double-leg slam. He works to half guard. Wu reclaims full guard and largely neutralizes Caracappa’s efforts. Caracappa postures and cuts loose with a few left hands. A lack of action results in a restart. Wu moves to the center of the cage but fails to let his hands go. Caracappa unleashes jabs, dodges return fire and looks to counter. Wu connects with a leg kick but does not follow it with anything of substance. Caracappa pushes him toward the fence, cracks away with right hooks and secures another takedown with 45 seconds to go on the clock. Caracappa ends the round in half guard.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Caracappa
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Caracappa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Caracappa

Round 3

An eye poke leads to a brief pause 30 seconds into the third round. Wu hunts for openings as Caracappa switches stances. Caracappa punches into the clinch, shoots on the hips and works for a takedown. A stalemate ensues. Caracappa knees the legs, then surprises Wu with a takedown. Caracappa bleeding heavily from a cut near one of his eyes but maintains half guard and stays busy with punches. He eats an upkick while attempting to pass, then settles back in half guard. Caracappa jams punches into the ribs and briefly works to full mount. Back in half guard, he cuts loose with punches. This looks to be his fight to lose with a minute left in the period. Forearm strikes and punches build the lead further. Wu tries and ultimately fails to get back to his feet, perhaps resigned to his fate. Caracappa punches away in full guard, staying busy enough to avoid a restart.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Caracappa (30-27 Caracappa)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Caracappa (30-27 Caracappa)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Caracappa (30-27 Caracappa)

The Official Result

Phil Caracappa def. Khai Wu—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Biaggio Ali Walsh (155.8) vs. Joel Lopez (154.2)

Round 1

Walsh, the grandson of the late great Muhammad Ali, looks to take the next step in his development in an amateur lightweight affair opposite Lopez at 155 pounds. Michael Walter draws the officiating assignment. A customary glove tap gets the action started. Lopez connects with an inside leg kick. Walsh responds with a kick to the outside of the lead leg. Walsh swarms with rapid-fire power punches, mixes in a front kick and cuts loose with more punches to the body and head. Lopez sneaks in a right hook, but the difference in hand speed is significant. Walsh lands kicks to the body and leg, shucks off a takedown, paws with his jab and lets fly with hooks from both hands. Lopez scores with a few jabs, then a clean one-two. Walsh marches him backward, paws with his jab and steps into a lightning-quick right hand.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Walsh
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Walsh
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Walsh

Round 2

Back at it, Walsh connects with kicks to the inside and outside of the lead leg, ducks the return fire and decks Lopez with a brutal left hook. Lopez gets back to his feet on unsteady footing. He fires back and lands a left hook of his own. Walsh resets, then steps back into the pocket. Lopez connects with some accurate straight punches but leaves his chin exposed. Walsh takes advantage, stuns him with a rolling right hook behind the ear and then turns out the lights with a left hook. Lopez faceplants, and this one is done.

The Official Result

Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Joel Lopez—KO (Punch) 1:24 R2

PFL 2023 Featherweight Championship
Jesus Pinedo (145) vs. Gabriel Braga (144.6)

Round 1

The $1 featherweight final closes out the undercard, as the unbeaten Braga (12-0, 4-0 PFL) rematches Pinedo (22-6-1, 2-1 PFL) at 145 pounds. Braga eked out a split decision over Pinedo at PFL 1 on April 1. Fernando Yamasaki provides the law and order for the high-stakes encounter. They touch gloves to get us started. Braga re-introduces himself with a few leg kicks and a front kick up the middle. Pinedo steps forward with a push kick to the knee, then slaps away a couple of jabs from the Brazilian. Braga continues to lean on low kicks. Pinedo presses forward and looks for a home for his left hand. He turns instead to a body-head combo and gets himself in the game. Midway through Round 1, and neither man has gained a discernible advantage. Braga scores with another leg kick, switches stances and eats a few dirty-boxing uppercuts from the Peruvian. Excellent defense carrying Braga, though a trickle of blood from his nose serves as evidence for the kind of damage Pinedo can do. Braga counters as Pinedo moves forward. Pinedo catches a kick in the waning seconds and feeds Braga a handful of punches to the face.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo

Round 2

Braga takes the center of the cage, bobs, weaves and sends a leg kick ricocheting off his opponent’s left elbow. The Brazilian blocks a head kick, continues to switch stances and hunts openings. Pinedo lands in combination and looks to keep Braga at bay with a push kick to the thigh. He backs up Brag with a multi-punch volley and a kick to the body. Pinedo doubles up on his jab and picks up his pace with a burst of punches and knee to the body. Output becoming an issue for Braga. Pinedo continues to land two, three and sometimes four punches at a time, having established a comfortable rhythm. Braga failing to match the volume with which he is being confronted. Pinedo paws with his jab, counters in combination and fires a knee to the body. Braga sneaks in a right hand, then delivers a kick to the leg. Pinedo tries to break the Brazilian’s defensive shell with a flying knee. They trade to end the round.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pinedo

Round 3

Braga presses forward, as Pinedo circles on the outside. Pinedo stomps at the knee, retreats and eats an overhand right. Pinedo stings Braga with a clean left hook in the center of the cage. Braga retreats to the fence and covers up. Pinedo lets his hands go, along with a flying knee, and forces a questionable standing stoppage from Yamasaki. The Peruvian’s bank account gets a life-changing seven-figure boost as the 2023 PFL featherweight champion.

The Official Result

Jesus Pinedo def. Gabriel Braga—TKO (Punches) 0:58 R3

Derek Brunson (185.8) vs. Ray Cooper III (186.8: Missed Weight)

Round 1

Middleweights get the ball rolling on the main card, as Brunson (23-9, 0-0 PFL) makes his promotional debut against Cooper (25-8-1, 12-3-1 PFL). Ahead of his first appearance since July 1, 2022, Cooper—a two-time PFL welterweight champion—missed weight by 0.8 pounds. Mulhall serves as the third man in the cage. No glove touch. Brunson opens with a wheel kick of all things. He misses, and Cooper closes the distance. Brunson, the much larger fighter, lures him into the clinch. Cooper holds his own and forces Brunson back into open space. Brunson connects with a body kick, then a one-two, using his enormous reach advantage. Copper stalks, cuts loose with punches and gets sucked into a body lock. Obviously not where the Hawaiian wants to be. Brunson wheels behind him, forces Cooper to carry his weight and lets left hands fly. He moves on a single-leg, lifts Cooper’s leg above his and head and eats a right hand. More shots have Brunson reeling. Brunson somehow recovers, powers into top position and climbs to full mount. Unanswered punches fall, as Cooper shows no real capability to defend. Brunson keeps punch, with Mulhall taking a close look. Brunson pauses his barrage to catch his breath, then resumes firing rights and lefts into Cooper’s face. Less than 30 seconds to go. Brunson continues to throw punches, and Cooper somehow survives.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brunson

Round 2

Did Brunson exhaust his reserves in his bid to finish? Time may soon tell. Cooper presses forward. Brunson completes a single-leg takedown and assumes a dominant position behind the kneeling Hawaiian. He feeds Cooper punches and again forces him to carry his weight. Brunson continues to batter him with punches from both sides. Cooper looks to be on the verge of breaking. Brunson threads one hook and briefly flattens out his counterpart. Cooper turtles in a defensive shell with two minutes to go in the round. Brunson threads his second hook, bails on it and resumes his assault. Cooper getting big brothered here. With a minute to go, the only question may involve how badly Brunson wants to pursue a finish. Brunson comfortable enough to consider a twister. He turns up the heat with punches as the round closes.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Brunson
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brunson

Round 3

Cooper hunts the knockout with shots to the head and body, then surprises Brunson with a takedown. Interesting turn of events. Brunson throws up his legs in a bid for a triangle, then decides against it. Cooper slides to half guard. Brunson sheds an arm-triangle, reverses into top position and settles in half guard before getting his ground-and-pound going. Body-head punches follow as Cooper reclaims full guard. With half a round to go, the Hawaiian may have seen his best chance come and go. Brunson maintains top position with smothering control and keeps feeding Cooper punches from above. Brunson showing no regard for his opponent’s bottom game. Cooper tries to kick off the North Carolina native but does not appear to have the energy to scramble back to his feet. Brunson alternates between punches and hammerfists and looks to be closing in on a successful PFL debut. Cooper manages to avoid being finished, but Brunson stays on top and piles up points with his fists.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brunson (30-26 Brunson)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Brunson (30-27 Brunson)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brunson (30-27 Brunson)

The Official Result

Derek Brunson def. Ray Cooper III—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-25)

Kayla Harrison (150.4) vs. Aspen Ladd (150)

Round 1

Harrison (15-1, 14-1 PFL)—the two-time Olympic gold medalist—returns to the stage for the first time in nearly a full calendar year and takes on Ladd (11-4, 2-1 PFL), a short-notice replacement for former Bellator MMA champion Julia Budd. Valel answers the call to referee. Ladd steps forward behind punches and slips in a leg kick. Harrison, light on her feet, cuts loose with an overhand left and nearly slips on a high kick. She ducks into a powerful takedown and moves immediately to side control. She floats through an attempted crucifix and slams home a series of left hands. Ladd tries to bridge out from the bottom, gives up mount and sets off a scramble. Harrison lands in top position, passes to side control once more and connects with a few punches. Ladd stays active from the bottom, forcing Harrison to change gears. She reclaims guard but has no real answer for Harrison’s combination of power and technique. Harrison moves behind her and scores with right hands under the armpit. Ladd manages to get back to her feet but cannot get away from the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Harrison forces her to carry her weight for the final 20 seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Harrison
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Harrison
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Harrison

Round 2

Harrison moves to the center of the cage and exchanges on the feet. Ladd scores with a leg kick and denies a takedown. Harrison fires a right hand and completes a takedown. She works punches to the body, postures and full guard and continues to punish the UFC veteran. Ladd creates a scramble and gets back to an upright position. For how long, though? Harrison presses her into the fence and dumps her on the mat. Ladd again scrambles to her feet, only to be victimized by a spectacular throw from the judoka. Harrison settles in side control with 90 seconds left in the round. She cuts off an escape, but Ladd reclaims half guard and gets back to her feet. Harrison knees the legs, kicks out Ladd’s base and climbs to the back. Harrison frames an arm-triangle as time expires on the middle stanza.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Harrison
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Harrison
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Harrison

Round 3

They touch gloves in a show of respect. Harrison operates from the center of the cage, pushes Ladd backward and connects with a left hook. Ladd answers with a low kick, probes with a jab and misses with a wild spinning backfist. Harrison presses forward, connects with a jab and circles away from return fire. Ladd paws with her jab but absorbs a straight left for her troubles. Harrison follows a straight left with a clubbing right hook. Harrison ducks into another double-leg takedown. Ladd sweeps and nearly takes the back. She threads one hook and fishes for an armbar but surrenders top position. Harrison moves toward an arm-triangle and softens Ladd with punches to the body before moving to side control. Ladd scrambles away and gets back to her feet. Harrison lands two knees upstairs from the rear waistlock. Ladd retreats to a kneeling position before getting back to her feet once again. Harrison sweeps out her base with 15 seconds left. Ladd, however, refuses to go away, gets back to her feet and forces the heavy favorite to go the distance.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Harrison (30-27 Harrison)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Harrison (30-27 Harrison)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Harrison (30-27 Harrison)

The Official Result

Kayla Harrison def. Aspen Ladd—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

PFL 2023 Light Heavyweight Championship
Joshua Silveira (202.6) vs. Impa Kasanganay (203.4)

Round 1

Silveira (12-1, 5-1 PFL), a former two-division Legacy Fighting Alliance champion, takes aim at Kasanganay (14-3, 4-0 PFL) in the $1 million light heavyweight final. The 29-year-old Kasanganay has rattled off five straight victories, four of them finishes. Mario Yamasaki draws the officiating assignment. Kasanganay breaks out of the gate aggressively, mixing kicks and punches while forcing his opponent onto the back foot. Silveira lures him into the clinch and connects with a short-range knee strike to the body. Kasanganay backs up the American Top Team rep with power punches from both hands. Silveira keeps his composure under duress. Kasanganay finding a home with his right hands. Silveira answers with a jab, then ducks into a single-leg takedown midway through the round. He scrambles to the back and threatens a rear-naked choke, but Kasanganay scrambles free and takes top position. Eventually, they return to their feet. Kasanganay still in attack mode, throwing hands with no real fear of anything coming back at him. Silveira struggling to find an avenue for offense as the seconds tick off the clock.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay

Round 2

Kasanganay steps forward with power punches and works to continue to control the narrative. Silveira fires a front kick to the body. Kasanganay shuts down an attempted takedown and backs his adversary to the fence before floating back to the center of the cage. Silveira turns to basic one-twos and enjoys some success. He level changes and shoot, only to have Kasanganay escape. Kasanganay slips on a knee and allows Silveira to take top position. Silveira works from half guard midway through the round. Kasanganay gets to his feet and uncorks a mean left hook on the break. Silveira might have to win this one on the feet, though it is not going well for him in the standup exchanges. Silveira gets his jab going. Kasanganay answers with a right hand, then flurries briefly. They circle one another in the center of the cage. Kasanganay connects with a right hook to the body, then follows with a left to head.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay

Round 3

Silveira needs to turn the tide here. Kasanganay blitzes forward with a three-punch salvo, picking up right where he left off. Silveira marches forward with a front kick to the body. Kasanganay swings at the head, then denies an attempted takedown before turning Silveira into the cage. He controls the wrist, feeds Silveira a shoulder strike, ducks behind him and dumps him to the canvas. Kasanganay takes top position, briefly hunts the choke and then connects with a knee to the body. Silveira gets back to his feet but eats an uppercut for his troubles. Kasanganay continues to throw and land in combination. He sprawls out of a takedown, pancakes Silveira into a kneeling position and spins behind him. He nearly cinches the rear-naked choke but fails to involve his legs, allowing Silveira to escape. Kasanganay catches a standing arm-triangle choke as Silveira tries to get back to an upright position, pushing him back to the canvas. This is becoming a rout—and a surprising one.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay

Round 4

Kasanganay showing no signs of fatigue. He opens the round with heavy punching combinations, perhaps sensing the end is near. Kasanganay snaps off a nasty left hook. Silveira carrying his hands low. Kasanganay feeds the American Top Team export a right hand, circles on the perimeter and patiently waits for openings to present themselves. Silveira’s movements have grown noticeably labored, his frustration undoubtedly building. Kasanganay operates behind his thudding right hand, shrugs off an attempted takedown and brings his jab into play. Silveira looks like a man who realizes he has no answers. Kasanganay has been superior in all phases. Kasanganay shoots a straight right to the body. Silveira answers with a few hooks to the midsection, then puts together a nice combination. Kasanganay counters a knee with a right hand over the top.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay

Round 5

It seems to be Kasanganay’s fight to lose entering Round 5. He lands to the body, then sends a sweeping right hook glancing off Silveira’s chin. Silveira works kicks to the body. Kasanganay pumps out his jab, interrupting any chance for Silveira to establish a rhythm. He needs a miracle. Silveira shoots on the hips but goes nowhere. Kasanganay circles on the outside. Silveira starting to connect upstairs and enjoys some success crowding Kasanganay. If only he had gotten started sooner. Kasanganay answers. Silveira counters with a right hook and marches forward with punches from both hands. He whiffs on a lunging left hook. Kasanganay seems content to cruise to the finish line. With a minute to go, he sprawls on an attempted takedown from Silveira and breaks free. Kasanganay clinches in the center of the cage, cuts loose with short punches and bleeds more valuable time off the clock. He traps Silveira along the fence, and time expires. Give that man his $1 million.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay (50-45 Kasanganay)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay (50-45 Kasanganay)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kasanganay (50-45 Kasanganay)

The Official Result

Impa Kasanganay def. Joshua Silveira—Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)

PFL 2023 Welterweight Championship
Magomed Magomedkerimov (170) vs. Sadibou Sy (169.8)

Round 1

Sy (16-6-2, 10-4-2 PFL) seeks his second straight 170-pound title in the $1 million welterweight final, where a rematch with Magomedkerimov (33-6, 15-1 PFL) awaits. The 36-year-old Sy has won seven bouts in a row since his unanimous decision defeat to Magomedkerimov in August 2021. Valel provides the law and order for the five-round showdown. They embrace briefly in the center and get to work. Sy connects with a heavy kick to the body, as Magomedkerimov closes the distance with pressure and punches. They clinch in the middle of the cage. Magomedkerimov slams home a few knees to the thigh, but nothing much of consequence unfolds. The Russian digs a few punches to the body, while Sy answers with knees. The crowd boos at the inaction. Magomedkerimov secures a body lock and turns it into a takedown. Sy gets to his feet and goes chest-to-chest with his opponent. They once again jockey for position in the clinch. Magomedkerimov trips the Swede to the canvas, but Sy scrambles to his feet and cracks his counterpart with a left hook. Anybody’s round with 90 seconds to go. Sy paws with a right hook. Magomedkerimov backs up Sy with punches, then engages him in the clinch as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedkerimov
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Magomedkerimov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedkerimov

Round 2

Back at it, they trade punches and kicks in the center of the cage. Sy slips while throwing a kick but scrambles back to his feet. They settle back in the clinch. Sy pounds away with knees to the body at close range and avoids a body lock takedown. Magomedkerimov catches a kick and briefly lands a takedown. Sy scrambles back to his feet with surprising ease. They return to exchanging pleasantries in the clinch. Sy beats the Russian to the punch with a left hook, then lands a body kick. Magomedkerimov answers with a chopping left hook. Sy lands a body kick but fails to follow up. Magomedkerimov delivers a side kick to the legs, continues to control the cage and dodges return fire in the closing seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedkerimov
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Magomedkerimov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedkerimov

Round 3

Sy stays active with his kicks, using his length to his advantage. Magomedkerimov connects with a sharp straight right to the body, rushes in and catches a defensive Sy ducking in. Before the Swede can counter, Magomedkerimov bites down on a guillotine choke, jumps to guard and activates his hips. Sy does all he can to free himself but has no choice but to tap. Magomedkerimov clinches his second PFL championship.

The Official Result

Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Sadibou Sy—Submission (Guillotine Choke) 1:17 R3

PFL 2023 Women’s Featherweight Championship
Larissa Pacheco (145) vs. Marina Mokhnatkina (144)

Round 1

Pacheco (22-4, 11-2 PFL) eyes her second consecutive PFL championship, albeit in a different weight class, as she faces Mokhnatkina (11-3, 6-1 PFL) in the $1 million women’s featherweight final. Mulhall answers the call to referee. They touch gloves and get down to business. Pacheco stalks from the center as Mokhnatkina circles on the outside. Pacheco steps into a right hook, but Mokhnatkina answers with an overhand right that gets the Brazilian’s attention. Pacheco flurries along the fence, shuts down a takedown with a sprawl and forces the Russian into a state of retreat with power punches and a narrowly missed head kick. Another takedown fails for Mokhnatkina. Pacheco connects with another right hand. Might be only a matter of time here. Pacheco denies a takedown and threatens a guillotine while pressed into the fence. She tightens her squeeze. Mokhnatkina escapes, slips behind the Brazilian and locks in a kneebar. Pacheco escapes the harrowing exchange, takes top position and batters her counterpart with a volley of right hands. She moves from a standing position to a kneeling position and drives home hammerfists.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco

Round 2

Pacheco steps to the center of the cage. Mokhnatkina looks exhausted, and understandably so. She completes a takedown but cannot corral the Brazilian on the canvas. Back on the feet, Pacheco resumes stalking. She connects with a one-two, then sprawls on a labored takedown. Both women appear depleted. Pacheco picking her spots with right hands. Mokhnatkina clips her with a right hook. She ducks into a double-leg takedown, then sheds a guillotine from Pacheco. Mokhnatkina works in full guard. With a minute to go, it looks like the Russian has an avenue to win the round but Mulhall elects to restart them on the feet. Pacheco delivers a one-two and sprawls on a takedown attempt. She presses forward and sprawls on another takedown, making Mokhnatkina pay with hammerfists.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco

Round 3

Mokhnatkina circles on the outside. Pacheco looks to cut off the cage, fires one of those patented right hands and dodges a spinning backfist on the counter. The Brazilian seems to have refueled between rounds. Mokhnatkina in a constant state of retreat. Pacheco gives chase with occasional right hands and one-twos, forces her to exchange and then takes top position by threatening the Russian with a guillotine. She batters the body with punches and climbs to full mount. Punches and hammerfists fall. Pacheco moves to the back, with both hooks in and begins to work toward a rear-naked choke. Mokhnatkina refuses to go away quietly, denying repeated submission attempts. She manages to survive another round with the heavy favorite.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco

Round 4

Pacheco again commands the center of the cage as Mokhnatkina circles on the outside. The Brazilian connects with a clubbing right hand over the top but struggles to cut off Mokhnatkina’s incessant lateral movement. Pacheco mixes in a leg kick. Mokhnatkina dives in on a takedown and scrambles into top position. Pacheco makes a pass at a triangle choke. Mokhnatkina attacks the legs with a heel hook. Pacheco rolls out of danger, then frees the leg entirely. Back on the feet, they trade jabs. Pacheco resumes stalking on the outside, trying to draw the Russian into a firefight. She checks Mokhnatkina’s chin with a right hand, then scrambles out of an attempted takedown. Pacheco pins her to the fence and cracks her with a thudding right hand. The tough underdog absorbs the impact and circles away from further danger.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pacheco

Round 5

They open the final round and resume their dance, Pacheco controlling the center and Mokhnatkina circling on the outside. Pacheco sprawls on a takedown, lands a few hammerfists and forces a break. Pacheco lands a kick to the lower leg, a weapon that would have served her well earlier in the fight. The Brazilian lands a one-two, then a head kick. Mokhnatkina completes a takedown with three minutes left in the bout. She feeds Pacheco punches, wades through a few up kicks and settles in full guard. Mokhnatkina struggles to get off any offense, as her counterparts considers a triangle. Mokhnatkina postures in full guard, applies her ground-and-pound and neutralizes the Brazilian from the top. Pacheco appears content to stay safe on the bottom in full guard, knowing she is almost certainly way ahead on the scorecards. Mokhnatkina scores with punches, but they lack oomph and offer no danger in terms of a finish. Pacheco holds off the late rally and becomes a two-division champion in the PFL, banking another $1 million for her efforts.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mokhnatkina (49-46 Pacheco)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Mokhnatkina (49-46 Pacheco)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Mokhnatkina (49-46 Pacheco)

The Official Result

Larissa Pacheco def. Marina Mokhnatkina—Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

PFL 2023 Heavyweight Championship
Denis Goltsov (244.6) vs. Renan Ferreira (261.2)

Round 1

Goltsov (32-7, 10-2 PFL) targets the 6-foot-8 Ferreira (11-3, 5-1 PFL)—he of the eye-popping 85-inch reach—in the $1 million heavyweight final. The two men have combined for 36 finishes between them. Fernando Yamasaki serves as the third man in the cage for the co-main event. They touch gloves to get us started. Ferreira cracks the Russian with a leg kick, then another. He cuts off an attempted takedown and connects with a right cross. Goltsov clinches, pushes the Brazilian off-balance and secures a takedown. He moves immediately to half guard, applies heavy shoulder pressure and frames a kimura. Goltsov bleeding from the nose. He bails on the submission, moves to a kneeling position and gets busy with ground-and-pound before threatening an Ezekiel choke. Goltsov settles in full guard, pesters the Brazilian with punches and makes passes at multiple Ezekiel chokes. Ferreira defends but eats a few hammerfists. With 30 seconds to go, Goltsov climbs to full mount and lets the punches go. If nothing else, he salted away the round and gave the Brazilian something the worry about moving forward.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Goltsov
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Goltsov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Goltsov

Round 2

Ferreira greets the Russian in the middle of the cage and cracks him with a right hand over the top. He slams home another right behind the ear and fells Goltsov where he stands. He pounces with hammerfists, prompts the stoppage and nails down a life-changing $1 million payday. What a turnaround.

The Official Result

Renan Ferreira def. Denis Goltsov—TKO (Punches) 0:26 R2

PFL 2023 Lightweight Championship
Clay Collard (154.8) vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier (154.8)

Round 1

Aubin-Mercier (20-5, 9-0 PFL) tries to repeat as 155-pound champion when he confronts Collard (24-10, 6-2 PFL) in the $1 million lightweight final. Tristar Gym’s Aubin-Mercier has won all nine of his fights since parting ways with the UFC in 2019. Mario Yamasaki draws the officiating assignment for the five-round headliner. No glove touch. Collard opens with a low leg kick. Aubin-Mercier takes the center of the cage and gets off a few left hands. They trade leg kicks. Aubin-Mercier buries a kick to the midsection and sticks the American with an overhand left. Collard connects in combination. Aubin-Mercier again sends his shin crashing into the body before securing his first takedown. Collard gets to his feet. Aubin-Mercier dumps him back to the mat, slides to the back and secures his position with a body triangle. With two minutes left, the Tristar Gym standout remains attached to Collard’s back. Collard sets off a scramble and manages to free himself from danger. Aubin-Mercier tries to sneak behind the Idaho-based fighter again, only to be met with an attempted leg lock. However, his persistence pays off. He scrambles behind Collard with 30 seconds left and secures his position with a body triangle.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier

Round 2

The relentless Aubin-Mercier marches forward and slaps Collard with a head kick. Collard turns up the heat with a nice body-head combination. Aubin-Mercier presses into the clinch. Collard denies the initial takedown attempt, but the Canadian resets, closes the distance and dumps him to the mat. Aubin-Mercier settles in full guard, then climbs to a kneeling mount and works behind the American again. He cinches the body triangle once more. Aubin-Mercier threatens the neck and forced Collard to hold off on trying to get to his feet. Aubin-Mercier drags him backward, the body triangle still in place. Short punches to the head follow. Aubin-Mercier continues to hunt the choke, but Collard keeps his chin tucked and well-defended. Another strong round for Aubin-Mercier.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier

Round 3

Collard presses the issue out of the gate and cuts loose with punches. Aubin-Mercier stays calm and ducks into a double-leg takedown. He lands in side control and steps over into mount. Collard escapes to his feet, but Aubin-Mercier stays attached. The Canadian dumps Collard to the mat once more. Aubin-Mercier works from a kneeling position, with Collard attempting to extricate himself. A brief stalemate ensues. Collard sets off a scramble, works back to his feet and gets busy in close quarters. He attacks with foot stomps and knees. Aubin-Mercier appears to be having issues with his right leg as they jockey for position in the clinch. Collard rips hooks to the body and forces his way into open space. Punches flow from the American at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Collard
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier

Round 4

Collard continues to assault the body with punches, then shoots a right hand upstairs. Aubin-Mercier ducks in for a takedown. Collard shuts it down and pushes the Canadian away. He hammers away with punches, knees and foot stomps from the clinch. Collard rips punches to the body. Aubin-Mercier answers with a knee. Collard presses forward undeterred, punches in combination and backs into the fence while attempting to deny a takedown. Collard frees himself and blasts the body with more punches. Aubin-Mercier, likely exhausted, clings to a single-leg but goes nowhere. Yamasaki warns Collard for grabbing the fence. Yamasaki separates them, just as Aubin-Mercier was completing a takedown. Collard closes with a leg kick.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Collard
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Collard
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Collard

Round 5

A grueling fight boils down to this. Collard greets the Canadian with a multi-punch burst. Aubin-Mercier responds with a takedown inside the first 20 seconds and jumps to the back, securing his position with a body triangle. Valuable time bleeding off the clock, with no progress made by either man. Aubin-Mercier connects with left hands to the side of the head. Collard struggling to find an avenue for escape. Aubin-Mercier drags him to the canvas and nearly threads his arms in place for the choke. Collard fights the hands and frees himself from the choke but cannot shake the Canadian off his back. Aubin-Mercier drags him back to the mat and starts the hunt for the rear-naked choke all over again. With a minute to go, this one appears to be slipping away from Collard, who had no luck getting Aubin-Mercier off his back when it mattered most.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier (48-47 Aubin-Mercier)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier (49-46 Aubin-Mercier)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Aubin-Mercier (49-46 Aubin-Mercier)

The Official Result

Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Clay Collard—Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)