Alexei Pergande Arm-Triangle Nets Professional Fighters League Contract at PFL Challenger Series 7

Alexei Pergande submitted Joe Hamm with an arm-triangle choke in the second round of their PFL Challenger Series 7 lightweight attraction and in doing so netted a Professional Fighters League contract on Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Pergande (1-0), who has spent time at the powerhouse Sanford MMA camp, brought it to a close 4:42 into Round 2.

Hamm (0-1) was largely ineffective. Pergande managed distance, controlled the clinch and shifted momentum with takedowns. He grounded Hamm with 90 seconds left in the second round, climbed to full mount and zeroed in with punches. From there, Pergande progressed to the back, transitioned to the choke and let his squeeze do the rest.

Meanwhile, Sanford MMA prospect Andrija Stankovic pieced together educated striking combinations, surprising takedowns and suffocating top control, as he banked a unanimous decision over Louis Brewington in a three-round welterweight feature. Stankovic (1-0) swept the scorecards with 30-27 nods from the judiciary.

Brewington (0-1) had his moments. He stung the Serb with straight left hands on more than one occasion and nearly caught him in a triangle choke in the second round. However, those efforts failed to lead to anything meaningful, and Stankovic seized the reins in Round 3. There, he swooped into top position twice, piled up control time and did just enough to get his hand raised.

Finally, Christian Turner overcame a slow start, made the necessary adjustments and laid claim to a unanimous decision over Chayanne Serrano in a three-round lightweight showcase. All three judges struck 29-28 scorecards for Turner (1-0).

Serrano (0-1) overwhelmed his 20-year-old counterpart with a multi-faceted approach in the first round, where he connected with punching volleys, a spinning back kick to the body and a partially blocked head kick, all while mixing in takedowns. Turner did not retreat. He found another gear in Round 2, as he leaned on airtight wrestling defense, a potent jab and a tide-turning takedown. Serrano looked lost in the third round. Turner executed multiple takedowns, paired them with ground-and-pound and tied the bow on his comeback with some standing-to-ground punches.

In other action, Daeri Alderman (1-0) took a unanimous decision from Jaylon McDaniel (0-1) in a three-round featherweight affair, and Rakim Tally (1-0) was awarded a unanimous verdict over Santino Zurita (0-1) in a three-round heavyweight tilt.