9:30 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Taila Santos vs. Sabrinna de Sousa
The main card rolls on with a women’s flyweight bout between Taila Santos and Sabrinna de Sousa. (We’re on big ESPN now, if you were wondering.)
De Sousa controlled the center of the cage as Santos circled on the outside, offering a selection of strikes. She switched things up with a level change, but couldn’t get a takedown. De Sousa kept hunting for a big right hand and landed it a few times, keeping Santos on high alert.
Round 2 starting…
9:29 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa result: Luke Trainer def. Roland Dunlap
Result: Luke Trainer def. Roland Dunlap via TKO (front kick, punches) – Round 2, 2:52Records: Dunlap (7-1), Trainer (11-1)Division: Light heavyweightReferee: David Baggett
9:10 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Luke Trainer vs. Roland Dunlap
The main card begins with a light heavyweight bout between Luke Trainer and Roland Dunlap.
If you’re wondering where to watch this, the Little League World Series is running long on big ESPN, so flip to ESPNews. If you’re trying to watch on ESPN+, your only option right now is in Spanish, since the English broadcast wasn’t scheduled properly. That PFL-ESPN relationship keeps getting stronger, doesn’t it?
After the initial exchanges, Dunlap tested Trainer’s takedown defense. Trainer kept the fight standing and began pressing forward with strikes. Dunlap fired his fair share first as they traded in the center. Dunlap also landed a spinning kick to the head, which Trainer ate without issue. In the closing seconds, Trainer buckled Dunlap with a hard right hand, but then Dunlap did the same to Trainer before the bell!
Dunlap kept his hands low as the exchanges unfolded early in Round 2. Dunlap remained aggressive, offering spinning strikes to keep Trainer guessing. Midway through the round, Dunlap began feeling himself a little too much. He kept his hands at his waist, and then put his foot on the cage, as if he was going to use it to jump off, but Trainer sent a front kick to his jaw, flooring him instantly!
Trainer swarmed for the finish with hammerfists, and got it!
Maybe Dunlap will be a little more careful with his showmanship next time.
8:58 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa result: Marcirley Alves vs. Nkosi Ndebele
Result: Nkosi Ndebele def. Marcirley Alves via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)Records: Alves (15-6), Ndebele (14-3)Division: Catchweight (142 lbs.)Referee: Blake Grice
8:31 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Marcirley Alves vs. Nkosi Ndebele
The size difference in this matchup looked comical, as Ndebele towered over Alves. However, that didn’t stop Alves from moving forward, swinging big power punches to keep Ndebele on the back foot. While he was the aggressor, Alves got tagged by accurate counter shots from Ndebele.
Alves continued a similar approach in Round 2, but Ndebele stood his ground a little more as he offered a variety of kicks. The crowd felt both fighters could do more, as a few boo birds chirped. A hard kick from Alves was blocked, and Ndebele immediately reacted as if his forearm might have broken on impact. Regardless, he quickly gathered himself and put on a poker face, continuing to fight with what appeared to be a compromised right arm.
Ndebele began Round 3 without issue and didn’t appear to favor the potentially injured arm. Ndebele was cautious in exchanges as he circled on the outside for most of the round. Alves came forward and tried to change things up with a takedown, but not much of significance unfolded aside from a heated exchange in the closing seconds.
8:29 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Daniel Marcos def. Magomed Magomedov
Result: Daniel Marcos def. Magomed Magomedov via TKO (referee stoppage) – Round 3, 0:11Records: Magomedov (22-6), Marcos (19-1)Division: BantamweightReferee: Bryan Miner
8:07 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Magomed Magomedov vs. Daniel Marcos
Magomedov and Marcos were chatting to each other as the first round action got going. Magomedov looked to get the fight to the ground, but Marcos remained upright as he landed hard calf kicks throughout the round, compromising Magomedov’s movement.
The wrestling game from Magomedov led to an early takedown and back take, but Marcos quickly scrambled his way out of the bad position and got back to his feet. After the clinch battle continued against the fence, Marcos blased Magomedov with a huge knee, but couldn’t really capitalize as Magomedov quickly got a hold of him.
As he walked back to the stool, Magomedov’s shoulder was clearly dislocated. His team attempted to yank it back in place during the break, but was unsuccessful. The doctor was called in, and strangely allowed the fight to continue.
OK. Well, the round began, but thankfully Islam Makhachev, who was in Magomedov’s corner, threw in the towel a few seconds into the round as he saw his fighter wasn’t able to properly defend himself.
Shame on that doctor for allowing the fight to even continue in the first place.
8:00 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa results: Javid Basharat def. Movsar Ibragimov
Result: Javid Basharat def. Movsar Ibragimov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Records: Basharat (16-2), Ibragimov (8-2)Division: BantamweightReferee: Andrew Glenn
7:33 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Javid Basharat vs. Movsar Ibragimov
The first round of this one was a steady dose of back-and-forth striking. Both had their turns applying forward pressure as they covered all areas of the cage. In the final minute, Ibragimov floored Basharat with a huge overhand right, but Basharat somehow managed to quickly recover and get back to his feet to see Round 2, while looking like he wasn’t nearly knocked out.
Basharat looked fully recovered in Round 2, as he worked behind his left jab. Ibragimov was the fighter moving forward more often as they exchanged strikes throughout the frame. Basharat landed a spinning elbow in the closing seconds, but Ibragimov signaled he wasn’t hurt.
Ibragimov went to his wrestling game early in Round 3, but was met with good scrambling from Basharat. As the round continued, Basharat picked his punches well as he consistently landed the left jab. Ibragimov looked for more explosive strikes, which Basharat mostly evaded. They both threw down in the final seconds, but the judges will determine this one.
7:25 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa result: Dakota Bush vs. Morquez Forest
Result: Dakota Bush def. Morquez Forest via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Records: Bush (17-4), Forest (8-2)
Division: Lightweight
Referee: David Baggett
6:56 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Dakota Bush vs. Morquez Forest
In the first round, Bush sought to keep the fight on his terms by closing the distance and looking to get the fight to the mat. He was successful with a late takedown and maintained top control, landing some heavy strikes before the bell. In Round 2, Bush turned up the volume more with an onslaught of strikes in the first minute. Forest weathered that storm and came back with a vengeance, landing a series of strikes while Bush covered up along the fence. Bush made it back to his feet to keep the battle alive going into the final round. The action continued in back-and-forth fashion in Round 3. This one was gritty, as they ground out the final moments.
6:53 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa result: Natan Schulte def. Artur Zaynukov
Result: Natan Schulte def. Artur Zaynukov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)Records: Schulte (26-6-1), Zaynukov (19-5)Division: LightweightReferee: Blake Grice
6:25 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Natan Schulte vs. Artur Zaynukov
Schulte came forward with heavy pressure early in the fight, keeping Zaynukov near the fence while looking to land power shots. Zaynukov did well to circle out as they traded strikes, but Schulte still found home for a few hard punches. The second round was much like the first, with Schulte steadily moving forward, working punches and kicks as Zaynukov was on the back foot. However, Zaynukov did land a damaging shot to the body in the closing seconds. Schulte turned up a little in Round 3, keeping Zaynukov from mounting a comeback. The pressure was simply too much for Zaynukov to deal with. This one went the distance, with Schulte celebrating after the final bell.
6:20 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa result: Gino van Steenis def. Robert Watley
Result: Gino Van Steenis def. Robert Watley via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)Records: Van Steenis (8-2), Watley (16-4)Division: LightweightReferee: Bryan Miner
5:54 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Gino van Steenis vs. Robert Watley
Van Steenis and Watley picked their shots from range, circling around each other as they darted in and out. Van Steenis’ left jab was the difference-maker as he scored with it repeatedly, adding to the swelling on Watley’s face. Watley appeared to enjoy the action of the fight, but through two rounds, he was down on the cards. There would be no major changes in the final round, as the same pace of striking exchanges continued until the final bell, with Van Steenis ahead of the action.
5:51 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa result: Eoin Sheridan def. James Vake
5:41 pm ETShare this update
PFL Tampa: Eoin Sheridan vs. James Vake
Sheridan’s size and accurate striking was a problem very early on for Vake.
An absolutely brutal knee to the face of Vake cause a violent ragdoll knockout in the opening round! That’ll be on MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month list for sure. Wow!