PFL vs. Bellator Results, Bellator Excels but Renan Ferreira is the Biggest Winner
The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Aradia hosts PFL vs. Bellator Champs. The eleven-fight card features four matchups pitting past or current champs from each organization against each other.
The head-to-head competition wasn’t much of one as Bellator beat the PFL 5-1 but the PFL got the last laugh. Down five to nothing heading into the nights main event, PFL Heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira landed a right hand that sat down Bellator Heavyweight champion Ryan Bader. The follow up ground strikes secure the PFL it only victory of the competition and earns “Pronlema” a 2-million-dollar contract to face Francis N’Gannou.
Bellator Middleweight champion Johnny Elben was tested by PFL Light-Heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay in ways he had never been before. Kasanganay a powerful puncher, had Eblen hurt badly in the second round but Eblen survived and just like the first round his pressure and wrestling would control the last five minutes to squeeze out a split decision win.
The move up a weight class looks to suited Vadim Nemkov like a custom fit. Nemokov’s speed advantage over Bruno Cappelozza was apparent from the get-go as jabs and head kicks kept Cappelozza on his back foot. Cappelozza uncorked a massive right hand, but Nemkov found the takedown, advanced to mount putting his foe to sleep with arm-triangle. The former Bellator Light-Heavyweight champion is a serious threat to take the crown in whichever company he fights for an would make an interesting option to face former UFC Heavyweight champion Francis N’Gannou who’s rumored to return to the sport this summer.
Ageless wonder Yoel Romero out pointed Thaigo Santos for a decision win. A slowed paced methodical fight between monster strikers was dictated by Romero moving forward keeping Santos off balance.
AJ McKee started the PFL against Bellator action by submitting Clay Collard. McKee found his takedown after a big body kick. McKee transitioned from and armbar to a triangle and getting the tap from armbar on the arm isolated in the triangle.
Aaron Pico didn’t head into this week looking to avenge a loss but that’s what he did. A late change to the card matched Pico with Henry Corrales who beat Pico in 2019 by first round knockout. Pico even the score stopping Corrales in the first round. Pico took down Corrales several times unloading punches to find the finish in the final seconds of the first frame.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Boxer Claressa Shields defeated relatively unknown fighter Kelsey Desantis by split decision. Sheilds showed growth in her MMA game fighting off a couple takedowns, miraculously surviving an armbar in the first round, and remaining claim while mount the second half of the third round. Sheilds was mixing up her boxing beautifully to the body an head in the second round and first half of the third.
Full Card
- Heavyweight: Renan Ferreira (13-3) def. Ryan Bader (31-8) by TKO (Right Hand & Ground Strikes) 0:21 R1
- Middleweight: Johnny Eblen (15-0) def. Impa Kasanganay (15-4) by (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Split Decision
- Catchweight 182 lbs.: Jason Jackson (18-4) def. Ray Cooper III (25-10-1) by TKO (Leg Kicks & Ground Strikes) 0:23 R2
- Heavyweight: Vadim Nemkov (18-2) def. Bruno Cappelozza (15-7) by Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) 2:13 R2
- Light-Heavyweight: Yoel Romero (16-7) def. Thiago Santos (22-12) by (29-28, 30-27 x2) Unanimous Decision
- Lightweight: AJ McKee (22-1) def. Clay Collard (24-12) by Submission (Armbar) 1:10 R1
Prelims
- Featherweight: Aaron Pico (13-4) def. Henry Corrales (21-8) by TKO (Ground Strikes) 4:53 R1
- Lightweight: Balaggio Ali Walsh (1-0) def. Emmanuel Palacio (1-1) by (30-27 x3) Unanimous Decision
- Women’s Catchweight 165 lbs.: Claressa Shields (2-1) def. Kelsey Desantis (1-3) by (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Split Decision
- Featherweight: Abdullah Al-Qahtani (8-1) def. Edukondal Rao (4-2) by Standing TKO (Strikes) 0:23 R3
- Amateur Flyweight: Malik Basahel (18-2-1) def. Vinicius Pereira (5-1) by (29-28, 30-27 x3) Unanimous Decision
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