PFL Challenger Series 7 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Monte Morrison (202.4) vs. Roland Dunlap (205.8)

Round 1

Kicking off the PFL Challenger's Card for light heavyweights, we have two undefeated fighters with identical records, as Monte Morrison (3-0) meets Roland Dunlap (3-0). Interestingly, Morrison came in well under the 206 limit, at just 202.4 pounds. Referee Josh Rutgers will oversee the action. Dunlap tries a side kick to the head to begin the bout, but Morrison easily evades. Morrison touches Dunlap with a leg kick. Dunlap throws a series of spinning roundhouse kicks but none land clean. Morrison is definitely being patient as Dunlap switches between Orthodox and southpaw and uses a very unorthodox bladed stance in either one. Dunlap touches Morrison with a leg kick now but misses with a right hook upstairs. There is a lot of probing and grabbing going on here. Dunlap comes forward and lands a little of his body kick. Morrison paws with a jab but none land. BOth men are still very cautious halfway through the opening stanza. Dunlap misses on another spinning back roundhouse kick but then lands a solid leg kick, the best connection of the fight so far. Dunlap soon lands another leg kick. Dunlap finally opens up with a series of punches but Morrison ties him up. In the clinch, it's Dunlap landing a knee to the body. As they disengage, Dunlap lands a gorgeous trip and quickly takes side control against Morrison. He has absolutely no problems stepping over into full mount and begins raining down hammerfists, but Morrison grabs him and gets to half-guard. Dunlap finally gets separation and lands a series of hard hammerfists. He stands up and then tries to jump off the cage to hit Morrison. It doesn't work, but he lands a series of hard right hands to Morrison as the round winds down. He pounds away as the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Dunlap
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Dunlap
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Dunlap

Round 2

Dunlap begins the second stanza with another side kick attempt to the face, and this one is closer, but Morrison still avoids it. Morrison touches Dunlap again with another leg kick, but there is little to the blow. Morrison tries a right cross but Dunlap twitches out of its course. Dunlap fires a few punches but Morrison retreats out of range quickly. Dunlap misses a roundhouse to the head. Morrison scores with another leg kick, this one a little harder. Dunlap tries another side kick, this one to the body, and Morrison springs away instantly. Dunlap lands a body kick and this one hurts, with Morrison clutching his stomach. Dunlap adds a second for good measure, but it's not as effective. Both men try to jab now, but none score much. Sensing a weakness, Dunlap scores another nice body kick. Morrison fires a right cross and Dunlap neatly ducks underneath, also dodging the second one. Morrison throws a right hand coming forward and Dunlap only just barely avoids that one. There is a lot of hand-fighting at distance initiated at distance. Now Dunlap tries to shoot but it's very telegraphed and Morrison easily gets away. Now Dunlap tries to clinch and looks to be having success, but Morrison spins away at a crucial moment. Undeterred, Dunlap tries again, pushing Morrison into the cage. While he doesn't get him down, he lands two nice knees to the head. Dazed, Morrison succumbs to a takedown. Morrison is sitting up against the cage, but Dunlap mounts him anways, though he only has about 25 seconds with which to work. He lands a few right hands upstairs to win another clear round.

Sherdog Scores

Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Dunlap
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Dunlap
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Dunlap

Round 3

Dunlap begins the final stanza with a front kick to the body, which lands, but without doing much damage. He then shoots soon after, but it's a telegraphed attempt and Morrison stuffs it. Dunlap tries again and is unsuccessful, though he pushes Morrison against the cage. They trade knees to the body. Dunlap soon separates. Morrison tries a right hook to the head and Dunlap simply ducks under and tries another double-leg. Morrison angles off well, but Dunlap again pushes him to the cage. Dunlap grinds for a single-leg and gets Morrison to his knees. Then, Dunlap delivers a knee to Morrison's head, who is clearly down on one knee. The referee correctly halts the action and takes a point off. Finally, after a long spell to recover, they resume action. Not long after, Morrison lands a nice head kick against Dunlap, though Dunlap immediately grabs on and tries to wrestle. Morrison defends and not long after, Dunlap goes for another double-leg, turning into a pure wrestler now. He pushes Morrison against the cage and Morrison lands a few punches to the body. They grapple off the cage, with each man landing knees to the body. Finally Dunlap pushes off and misses a spinning backfist. Morrison misses a series of right hands and then Dunlap throws a very tired body kick that does little damage. They clinch against the cage again and Dunlap lands a few knees upstairs. A close round, and with the point deduction, this ends up a draw on my card.

Sherdog Scores

Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-8 Morrison (28-28 Draw)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-8 Morrison (28-28 Draw)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 9-9 (29-27 Dunlap)

The Official Result

Roland Dunlap def. Monte Morrison via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

Tristan Overvig (205.2) vs. Billy Elekana (205.8)

Round 1

Up next, 23 year-old prospect Tristan Overvig (5-1), who only turned pro in 2022, battles fellow LFA veteran Billy Elekana, who is a venerable 27 years old. Referee Josh Rutgers again gets the assignment. Overvig throws some wild, reaching punches but Elekana gets out of the way. Elekanana lands a nice straight punch that jerks Overvig's head back. Elekana partially lands a body kickb but Overvig instantly grabs it and then sweeps out Elekana's other leg. However, Elekana gets back up as Overvig locks onto Elekana's leg, not letting it go. Elekana eventually gets his leg down, but Overvig continues tracking him and grappling against the cage. Elekana finally gets an underhook and lifts him up. Overvig tries an uchi mata, but Elekana defends well. Elekana now turns Overvig around into the fence, landing a few small knees to the body. Overvig bizarrely decides to jump guard, with Elekana in his guard. No clue why he did that, as he is probably giving away the first round. Elekana postures up but it's Overvig who scores with upkicks. Elekana does score with a few punches from the top. However, Overvig tries submissions to get back up. Once at range, Elekana lands a huge jumping knee and then a few more that clearly hurt Overvig. He clinches, but Elekana scores with a big right hook there. The action-packed round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Elekana

Round 2

Overvig almost immediately begins the round by grappling. He pushes Elekana against the cage but is able to do little more. Overvig lands a few knees to the thighs, but doesn't do much, and Elekana again uses an underhook to turn Overvig around, with him being the one pushing his opponent into the cage. Elekana lands a couple of nice knees to the head. Yet again, Overvig tries to jump guard, but this time, Elekana doesn't let him, as he is pushing him too much into the cage. Halfway through the stanza, sensing a lack of action, the referee restarts them in the center of the cage. Overvig misses a jab and leg kick. Elekana, meanwhile lands another laser-like right hand that snaps Overvig's head back. Overvig misses on another takedown attempt. Overvig does, however, land a couple of punches to the head, perhaps his first ones in the striking, but there is little on them. Soon after, Overvig clinches with Elekana again. Elekana again manages to turn him around. Not long after, Overvig is the one turning him around. Overvig summons all his energy to pick up Elekana and tries to slam him, but Elekana escapes the majority of the blow. Instead, he quickly gets up and belts Overvig with several hard punches as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Elekana

Round 3

Elekana tries a head kick to start the round, which Overvig ducks under and of course, tries a double-leg. Elekana defends and Overvig switches his grip to try another single-leg in a position we saw extensively in round 1. Elekana finally breaks free and we are back at range with 3:30 left in the fight. Elekana misses a jab but then he smashes Overvig with a huge jumping knee. Overvig's head is jerked back horribly, but he manages to stay awake, though he crumples to his back, with Elekana in his guard. Elekana lands a few small right hands to the head, but doesn't want to give Overvig too much space to try submissions. Finally, he postures up and lands a few hammerfists followed by another right hand. Overvig is trying for armbars and triangles, but they're loose and he is out of position. Elekana lands a few more clean right hands. Overvig spins for a leg with a minute left, with Elekana blatantly grabbing onto the cage. Elekana gets out of trouble and pounds away with several powerful right hands to an exposed Overvig. Elekana completely escapes with 15 secondes left and he lands several vicious punches to Overvig, and then adds several more for good measure as the bell sounds. A very convincing victory for Elekana.

Sherdog Scores

Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Elekana (30-27 Elekana)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Elekana (30-27 Elekana)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Elekana (30-27 Elekana)

The Official Result

Billy Elekana def. Tristan Overvig via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Taylor Johnson (205.6) vs. Trey Williams (204.8)

Round 1

The experienced Taylor Johnson (8-3), meets Trey Williams (6-3) in a showdown of 32 year-olds. Johnson appeared on Dana White's Contender Series, losing to recent UFC main eventer Andre Muniz, and had a few fights in Bellator, being dominated by current middleweight king Johnny Eblen, but attaining a notable submission win over Ed Ruth. He also won last year on PFL Challengers against fellow DWTNCS alum Alexander Poppeck, with Poppeck's own loss on that show coming against current UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill. Keeping them honest will be referee Larry Folsom. Johnson lands a hard left jab to start the fight. He lands a hard leg kick soon after for good measure. Williams catches a Johnson kick but Johnson defends with ease. Johnson throws a left hand that Williams misses but follows up with a right hook that lands flush, clearly hurting Williams. Not long after, Johnson splatters Williams with a huge overhand right that has Williams turned around, reeling and rocking, and then blasts him with several more hooks. As Williams is on the canvas, eating more big shots, the referee steps in to save him. A very impressive victory for Johnson!

The Official Result

Taylor Johnson def. Trey Williams via KO (Punches) at 1:20 of Round 1

Impa Kasanganay (203.4) vs. Osama ElSeady (205)

Round 1

In the main event, UFC veteran Impa Kansanganay (10-3), likely in his prime now at 29, meets Egyptian Osama ElSeady (8-2). Kansananganay went 2-2 in the UFC but is best known for being on the receiving end of one of the greatest knockouts ever, a spinning back kick by Joaquin Buckley. Kansanganay has gone 1-1 since leaving the promotion, coming in massively overweight for middleweight against Raimond Magomedaliev, losing a split decision, and then moving up to 205 pounds, where he knocked out fellow UFC veteran Jared Gooden in the first round. Curiously, it's Gooden who will again be fighting in the UFC this weekend, while Kansanganay is on a PFL Challenger card. Larry Folsom will referee the final bout of the night. Kansanganay starts the fight bouncing around the cage very nicely and quickly. ElSeady misses a few kicks as Kansanganay is too fast for him. He clinches and pushes Kansanganay against the cage. Kansanganay tries to wrench his leg out but in the process, loses his balance and ElSeady is on top. However, Kansanganay soon hip-escapes back up. However, ElSeady continues grappling and at one point simply muscles Kansanganay up and over his head. Kansanganay continues scrambling, but ElSeady takes his back and lands several hard punches to the head. Kansanganay gets tot he cage and wall-walks back up, though ElSeady is still draped all over him. Finally, Kansanganay pushes ElSeady up and then lands a hard series of punches. Elsaidy shoots but Kansanganay defends, hits him with several punches to the head, and when the Egyptian bails out, nails him with a head kick. Elsaidy throws further kicks but they miss and Kansanganay gets away from his takedown attempts. ElSeady touches Kansanganay with a sneaky uppercut, though it does little damage. Kansanganay comes forward with straight punches but ElSeady defends. ElSeady changes levels for another double-leg attempt but Kansanganay stuffs it. ElSeady holds on, but Kansanganay eventually gets to ElSeady's back. ElSeady is looking very tired already. Kansanganay gets up and lands a few punches to the downed ElSeady. ElSeady throws a head kick which is blocked. Not long after, Impa Kansanganay crushes ElSeady with a 1-2, who flops to his stomach, knocked out. A sudden and vicious ending to the night!

The Official Result

Impa Kansanganay def. Osama ElSeady via KO (Punches) at 4:15 of Round 1