PFL 2021 #4: Regular Season Results

It was an exciting night of fights as the PFL Lightweights and Featherweights battled it out to secure playoff off berths. The card also featured the MMA debut of world champion boxer Claressa Shields. The card was dealt a blow in the days leading up, losing 4 fighters along the way, including big names Anthony Pettis and Lance Palmer.

Chris Wade def Arman Ospanov via KO/TKO (2nd Round Knee and two left hands)

Lightning quick and competitive first round with Ospanov edging it with more impactful shots. Ospanov hurt Wade early in the second and swarmed to finish, Wade recovered however. Shortly afterwards, Wade’s knee caught Ospanov’s chin on a kick attempt and stunned him. Wade followed up with two left hands that sent Ospanov into the land of wind and ghosts. The win secures Wade’s playoff spot.

Sheymon Moraes def Jesse Stirn via Submission (2nd Round Kimura)

Nice trip from Stirn near the start of the first, very little thrown by either man and not a lot of damage done. Moraes upped the volume and scored a knockdown in the second. It looked like we would get a third until Stirn scored a late takedown in the second. Moraes was able to reverse it into a kimura and secured a buzzer beating tap.

Loik Radzhabov def Akhmed Aliev via KO/TKO (1st Round (Right hand followed by ground and pound)

This was over in a hurry. Radzhabov landed a right hand on the temple that hurt Aliev. Ground and pound finished it.

Olivier Aubin-Mercier def Marcin Held via Unanimous Decision

Aubin-Mercier big right hand drops Held at the end of the first. Not a lot of impactful strikes before that. Mostly grappling on the cage. Aubin-Mercier had the better of second and third. Held threatened briefly with leg locks. Not a lot to write home about apart from the knockdown.

Natan Schulte def Alex Martinez via Split Decision

Schulte edged the first, although Martinez grew into the round. Martinez hurt Schulte with a calf kick early in the second but let himself get taken down too easily straight after. Back and forth for the rest of the round, Martinez’s striking got better as time went on. Schulte landed lots of takedowns but did little with them. Schulte edges the win on the cards.

Brendan Loughnane def Tyler Diamond via Majority Decision

Loughnane threw the kitchen sink at Diamond in this one. He put a beating on him for the first couple of rounds, Diamond showed incredible heart and courage to stay in the fight. Diamond had his best round in the third where he managed to land a few takedowns and dragged Loughnane into the deep waters. Loughnane wins it on the cards.

Bubba Jenkins def Bobby Moffett via Unanimous Decision

Bubba Jenkins doing Bubba Jenkins things. Immediately got the takedown by the cage and was on Moffett like a rash. He did similar in the second round, instant takedown. Moffett got up a little quicker this time and was competitive on the feet. Jenkins took him down again however later in the round. Third round started standing briefly, until Jenkins once again got a body lock and took him down. Moffett attempted up some chokes which allowed enough space to to get up. Jenkins looked tired from here on out and Moffett had some joy in the striking realms. Unfortunately it was too little too late. Jenkins wins the decision and moves on in the tournament.

Clay Collard def Joilton Lutterbach via Split Decision

This was a close one. Lutterbach almost secured a choke early in the first with Collard doing well to hang in there. Collard got his striking going in the second round, working in his kicks and punches. He defended the takedowns a lot better. It was similar in the third, with Lutterbach scoring a takedown with 2 minutes to go. He didn’t do much with it and Collard did attempt a knee bar off the back of it. Collard wins via split decision and advances. Lutterbach goes home on the back of two split decisions.

Claressa Shields def Brittney Elkin via KO/TKO (3rd Round Ground and Pound)

This was a real baptism of fire for Shields. We knew Elkins was going to be a tough opponent who would try to grapple coming into this. Elkins gave Shields a tough introduction to MMA and really tested her metal. She dominated the bout with her grappling. Shields kept in there and in the third she managed to get into a position to land some big ground and pound before the ref stepped in. Lots for Shields to work on in the grappling game, however the win is all that counts in the end.