Five First Round Light Heavyweight Finishes Highlight PFL 2 – 2024 Season
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) returned with Global Season action featuring athletes from the Light Heavyweight and Lightweight divisions at PFL 2 from The Theater at Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas. The eleven-fight card delivered can’t miss action inside the PFL SmartCage with five electrifying 1st round finishes coming in the Light Heavyweight division.
Tonight’s main event saw 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion, Impa Kasanganay, face off against Alex Polizzi. Kasanganay overwhelmed Polizzi in the 1st round with a barrage of vicious strikes for a TKO victory and six points in the ultra competitive division.
In the co-main event of the evening, Rob Wilkinson, the 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion, confronted Tom Breese. Wilkinson turned in an impressive performance in his return to the PFL SmartCage, defeating Breese via 1st round TKO and earning six points in the division.
In a battle of strikers, Clay Collard faced Patricky Pitbull in an all out action matchup. The two Lightweights traded haymakers before Collard put together a series of punches in the 2nd round leading to a TKO. Collard’s victory was the 25th of his career and it earned him five points in the Lightweight standings.
In Lightweight division action, Mads Burnell and Michael Dufort battled valiantly, but it was Dufort who left the cage as the decisive winner after he choked out Burell in the 2nd round. Dufort was awarded five points for his dominating performance.
“The second event of the 2024 PFL Global Season delivered unmatched MMA excitement to fans around the globe with five first round finishes in the Light Heavyweight division,” said PFL CEO Petery Murray. “The PFL’s unique season format is a catalyst for action with elite athletes aware of the stakes and impact of each contest in the Global Season standings.”
“Tonight the Light Heavyweights and Lightweights showed the depth of the PFL Global Season roster with incredible action from start to finish,” said Ray Sefo, President of Fighter Operations at PFL. “We are proud of our athletes and cannot wait to step back into the PFL SmartCage April 19 in Chicago.”
Josh Silveira squared off with Sadibou Sy, who made his Light Heavyweight debut. The fight ended with a 1st round TKO for Silveira when Sy could not continue due to injury. The TKO gives Silveira six points in the PFL Light Heavyweight standings.
Action continued in the Light Heavyweight division with the return of 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Antônio Carlos Jr. Carlos Jr. wasted limited time in submitting Simon Biyong via rear naked choke in the 1st round. The submission earned Carlos Jr. six division points.
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov overwhelmed 2023 PFL Europe Light Heavyweight Champion Jakob Nedoh with a series of strikes leading to a first round knockout. The KO victory gave Yagshimuradov six points in the Light Heavyweight division.
Continued Lightweight action saw Bruno Miranda and Brent Primus step into the PFL SmartCage. Primus emerged victorious, submitting Miranda with a rear naked choke in the 2nd round, earning five points in the PFL Lightweight Division.
Lightweights clashed when Gadzhi Rabadanov, a combat sambo specialist, faced off against Solomon Renfro, a 2023 PFL Welterweight Semifinalist. After a back-and-forth contest, it was Rabadanov who defeated Renfro by unanimous decision, earning four points in the PFL Lightweight Division.
Elvin Espinoza stepped into the PFL SmartCage on a three day notice to take on Adam Piccolotti. Espinoza kept his undefeated record intact, knocking out Piccolotti in the 3rd round and earning four points in the Lightweight division.
In a PFL Heavyweight Showcase bout Marcelo Nunes defeated Jordan Heiderman by 1st round submission via armbar. Nunes notched his eleventh professional victory.
2024 PFL Global Season action returns Friday, April 19 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL with Welterweight and Featherweight action.
All 2024 PFL Global Season events are live across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and DAZN in Canada and Europe with additional international premium sports platform distribution reaching 150 countries globally.
COMPLETE PFL 2 RESULTS
PFL Las Vegas Main Card Results:
Impa Kasanganay (16-4) def. Alex Polizzi (10-4) 1st round TKO (3:29)
Rob Wilkinson (18-2, 1 NC) def. Tom Breese (18-5) 1st round TKO (1:10)
Clay Collard (25-12, 1 NC) def. Patricky Pitbull (25-13) 2nd round TKO (1:32)
Michael Dufort (13-4) def. Mads Burnell (18-6) 2nd round submission (1:03)
Josh Silveira (13-3) def. Sadibou Sy (17-8-2, 1 NC) 1st round TKO (injury 1:14)
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (22-7-1) def. Jakob Nedoh (8-2) 1st round TKO (2:54)
Antônio Carlos Júnior (16-5, 2 NC) def. Simon Biyong (9-4) 1st round submission (4:34)
Early Card Results:
Brent Primus (12-3, 1 NC) def. Bruno Miranda (16-4) 2nd round submission (1:49)
Gadzhi Rabadanov (21-4-2) def. Solomon Renfro (11-5) unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Elvin Espinoza (10-0) vs. Adam Piccolotti (14-6) 3rd round KO (2:23)
Marcelo Nunes (11-2) def. Jordan Heiderman (7-2) 1st round submission (2:40)
