Playoffs: 2023 PFL 8 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Kaytlin Neil (125.8) vs. Maira Mazar (125.6)

Round 1

Tommy Santana is the referee for tonight's first fight. Mazar comes out swinging but comes up short. Neil throws a kick that is caught, and the two clinch against the cage. They separate, with not much happening besides a few knees. Neil lands a nice right hand that rocks Mazar. Neil is staying on the outside and using her range, forcing Mazar to try to swing to close the distance. Neil works the jab, although she's mostly punching air rather than connecting. Mazar lands a leg kick. Neil catches Mazar as she comes in and once again stumbles her opponent. Neil puts together her offense, connecting with a right hand after throwing a left high kick. Mazar clinches against the cage and the round expires after Neil lands a solid knee in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

The second round begins with Neil taking the center. Mazar is more aggressive, coming out and throwing push kicks. A high kick from Mazar is blocked. Mazar continues to kick, and Neil isn't throwing much back at her. Neil backs away when Mazar rushes in. Neil is hesitant to throw, and Mazar is working well from the outside by leading with calf kicks. Another low kick lands for Mazar, and Neil is moving much slower.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Both women come out throwing leg kicks. Mazar is the more active fighter, throwing leg kicks and staying busy. Neil starts working her jab and finds some success. Neither woman finds their target much, often coming up short. Neil throws an axe kick. Mazar is outpointing Neil but isn't doing any damage. Two minutes are left, and it is anyone's fight. Mazar continues to land leg kicks and the occasional 1-2. They briefly clinch, and Neil lands a big knee. Neil follows Mazar and scores another knee to the face that bloodied up Mazar. Neil stuffs a takedown attempt and ends the fight by throwing a series of punches. A big momentum shift for Neil.

Sherdog Scores

Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Neil (29-28 Neil)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Neil (29-28 Neil)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Neil (29-28 Neil)

The Official Result

Maira Mazar def. Kaytlin Neil via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28); R3, 5:00.

Danilo Marques (248) vs. Satoshi Ishii (240.2)

Round 1

Marc Goddard will oversee this heavyweight contest. Marques throws a right head kick and is looking to use his range against Ishii. Very slow first round. Marques lands two leg kicks. Ishii walks into a right hand from Marques. Two solid body kicks land for Marques, who is landing all the superior strikes. Ishii charges in with a left hook. Marques throws a thudding high kick that is blocked and tries a spinning kick that misses. Ishii clinches for a takedown, but Marques is able to separate with 90 seconds left. A right hand from Marques drops Ishii, but he pops back up. Marques is in full control as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Ishii lands a right hand in a quick start to the round. Marques throws a knee as Ishii comes in. Marques is staying on the outside and throwing kicks. Marques does a great job of keeping away from the grappling of Ishii and lands a solid knee. They clinch, but Marques is able to shuck Ishii off. Ishii tries again but can't get a takedown. Marques continues landing solid kicks and isn't taking any damage. Marques paws with a jab and occasionally throws his right hand as well. One minute left. Marques throws an overhand right and is met with an overhand left from Ishii that lands. Ishii's body is now red from the kicks. Ishii lands several lefts and tries to clinch but doesn't get it.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

Ishii is very aggressive to begin the final round. Ishii lands a left hand and goes for a double leg. Marques defends well and stays on his feet. However, Ishii keeps his opponent against the cage and lands short punches. Marques gets out of the position after 90 seconds. Now on the feet, Marques starts landing punches and is able to throw a knee. Marques goes for a choreographed takedown that goes nowhere, and Ishii then clinches against the cage. Ishii is more active and throws lots of punches, although Marques is occasionally slipping in a solid knee. They separate with a minute left. Ishii is wildly throwing, and the two clinch again. Looks like it will be too little, too late for Ishii. The fight ends with Ishii throwing against the cage while Marques throws back.

Sherdog Scores

Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ishii (29-28 Marques)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Ishii (29-28 Marques)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ishii (29-28 Marques)

The Official Result

Danilo Marques def. Satoshi Ishii via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28); R3, 5:00.

Nathan Kelly (145.4) vs. Damion Nelson (145.8)

Round 1

The final prelim will be refereed by Tommy Santana. Kelly is quite aggressive and comes out firing punches and leg kicks. A solid right hand lands for Kelly, and Nelson is all on the defensive. Nelson is able to slow down the pace and lands a few leg kicks of his own. Kelly is looking to go over the top and is throwing some big overhand punches. Nelson is avoiding any huge damage but isn't able to get his own offense off. Nelson lands a nice leg kick with two minutes left. Kelly misses two punches but follows up with a third that lands and a solid leg kick of his own. Kelly is much more active. The fight is paused after an eye poke occurs to Kelly. The fight is restarted. Both men end the round swinging wildly, with Kelly getting the better of the exchange.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 2

Nelson is starting to find his range to start Round 2 and is landing some solid kicks of his own. Kelly strikes back with a few of his own but is getting outlanded. Kelly goes for a single-leg takedown, but Nelson defends it well. The two clinch against the cage before Nelson escapes. Nelson works his jab and Kelly can't find many openings. Kelly lands a right hand that wobbles Nelson and goes for another takedown. Kelly can't get the takedown. Nelson lands some solid body punches and leg kick to finish the round.

Sherdog Scores

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

Round 3

The final round sees both men start a bit hesitant. Nelson starts swinging with wild hooks, and Kelly lands a solid counter. A leg kick from Nelson forces Kelly to switch his stance. A right hand lands for Kelly, which stumbles an off-balanced Nelson. Kelly goes for a takedown attempt and gets Nelson against the cage. Kelly lands some solid knees. They break with less than two minutes left. A left hook lands for Nelson, who then goes to the body. A head kick from Nelson misses. Kelly looks tired, but Nelson isn't putting on enough pressure to capitalize. Kelly starts pressuring Nelson instead and goes for a takedown. They clinch against the cage and the fight ends shortly afterward.

Sherdog Scores

Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kelly (29-28 Kelly)
Lev Pisarsky scores the round: 10-9 Kelly (29-28 Kelly)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kelly (29-28 Kelly)

The Official Result

Nathan Kelly def. Daimon Nelson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28); R3, 5:00.

2023 PFL Playoffs Women’s Featherweight Semifinal:
Marina Mokhnatkina (145) vs. Amber Leibrock (145.8)

Round 1

Bryan Miner will oversee the first women's featherweight semifinal. Mokhnatkina secures a takedown to start the fight and moves to side control. Leibrock is trying to keep her arm, but Mokhnatkina is close to securing an armbar. Leibrock is moving and trying to get her opponent off. Mokhnatkina secures the armbar, but Leibrock gets her legs around her opponent's head. Mokhnatkina cranks on the arm, and the tap comes. A dominant performance by Mokhnatkina.

The Official Result

Marina Mokhnatkina def. Amber Leibrock via Submission (Armbar): R1, 1:45.

2023 PFL Playoffs Heavyweight Semifinal:
Denis Goltsov (243) vs. Jordan Heiderman (247.2)

Round 1

Marc Goddard is the referee for this heavyweight semifinal. Both men come out throwing leg kicks and looking to counter with punches. Heiderman is landing solid kicks, while Goltsov lands with the jab. Goltsov clinches and trips Heiderman. Goltsov gets into side control with ease. Goltsov lands some really solid punches that bust open the nose of Heiderman, who recovers guard. Goltsov keeps the pressure on and gets into half-guard. An arm triangle is secured by Goltsov, and Heiderman taps to end the fight. A very one-sided fight in favor of Goltsov.

The Official Result

Denis Goltsov def. Jordan Heiderman via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke); R1, 4:16.

2023 PFL Playoffs Women’s Featherweight Semifinal:
Larissa Pacheco (146) vs. Olena Kolesnyk (147.8: Missed Weight)

Round 1

Bryan Miner will oversee the co-main event. Pacheco lands three right hands to start the fight, and Kolesnyk folds! Kolesnyk is turtled up, and the fight ends. A complete obliteration in mere seconds.

The Official Result

Larissa Pacheco def. Olena Kolesnyk via TKO (Punches); R1, 0:14.

2023 PFL Playoffs Heavyweight Semifinal:
Renan Ferreira (259.6) vs. Maurice Greene (261.8)

Round 1

Veteran referee Marc Goddard will officiate the main event. Ferreira comes out aggressive and connects with a 1-2 combination. A heavy leg kick lands for the Brazilian. Greene is eating punches up against the fence and then circles out. Greene scores with a leg kick. Ferreira connects to the body and follows up with a leg kick. Greene looks outmatched. Ferreira keeps on pressuring but isn't getting reckless. Ferreira is patient in the middle of the cage. 30 seconds left. Ferreira lands a heavy right hand as Greene comes forward. Greene is totally out. Ferreira lands a few punches on Greene before the referee can step in. Total destruction.

The Official Result

Renan Ferreira def. Maurice Greene via KO (Punches); R1, 4:46.