PFL Playoffs 2 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Friday at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., and MMA Junkie provided live round-by-round coverage throughout the card.
In the main event, 2023 light heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay (17-4) takes on Josh Silveira (13-3). The co-main event also takes place in the 205-pound division, pitting Rob Wilkinson (19-2) against Dovlet Yagshimuradov (23-7-1).
Rounding out the main card is a trio of lightweight bouts, including semifinal tournament bouts Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Michael Dufort and Brent Primus vs. Clay Collard.
Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Brian Stapleton
Round 1 – Ali Walsh comes out working behind a left jab. A sharp right connects as well. Stapleton kicks and takes Ali Walsh off balance, but he gets up quickly. Ali Walsh drops Stapleton with a right, but doesn’t rush in. Stapleton gets up and they continue to exchange. BANG! A right hand from Ali Walsh folds Stapleton, and it’s over after two follow-up punches that weren’t really needed!
Biaggio Ali Walsh delivers a rocket straight to the dome and gets a quick 1st round stoppage!
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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 17, 2024
Result: Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Brian Stapleton via knockout (punch) – Round 1,
Records: Walsh (2-0), Stapleton (0-1)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast:Â ESPN+
Referee: Marcos Perez
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 2: Best photos from Florida
Full 2024 PFL Playoffs 2 lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
- Impa Kasanganay vs. Josh Silveira
- Rob Wilkinson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
- Michael Dufort vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
- Clay Collard vs. Brent Primus
- Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Brian Stapleton
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)
- Danny Sabatello vs. Lazaro Dayron ruled a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
- Mads Burnell def. Elvin Espinoza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Thad Jean def. Chris Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jordan Oliver def. Braydon Akeo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Michelle Montague def. Marilia Morais via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:44
Danny Sabatello vs. Lazaro Dayron
Round 1 – Both fighter run across the cage at each other and collide mid-air! They were both looking for an opening flying knee. Sabatello scrambles into a takedown attempt and the wrestling game is on. Knees to the body for Sabatello in the clinch. They separate and Dayron lands a nice punch. He keeps moving forward with punches. BANG! A huge right hand from Dayron drops Sabatello! It looked as if Sabatello was out, but he defended himself when Dayron rushed in. Dayron can’t get the finish, and they’re back to the feet in the center. Dayron lands another clean 1-2. Sabatello shoots for a double and gets him down in the center. One minute to go, and Dayron explodes to his feet. Sabatello is back in on a single leg and gets the fight on the ground. Dayron gets up and lands another big punch after catching a kick.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Dayron.
Round 2 – Sabatello changes levels and scrambles to Dayron’s back. He adjusts again to a single leg against the cage. Dayron keeps it standing and gives Sabatello a couple of knees to the body on the exit. Another sharp 1-2 for Dayron connects. Dayron shoots now, but gets sprawled and Sabatello scrambles to the back. Dayron gets to his feet and they return to the middle. A spinning backfist from Dayron gets ducked under, and Sabatello is in on another takedown. Sabatello hits a nice slam on Dayron. Sabatello is relentless with takedown attempts as Dayron continues to offer resistance. Back in striking range now, Dayron lands a leg kick. He then shoots and gets sprawled.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Sabatello.
Round 3 – Sabatello offers punches and kicks before shooting in. Dayron sprawls nicely. Sabatello comes right back in and is denied again. Dayron gets back to his right hand, and connects. Sabatello looks for another takedown but is stuffed and pops back up, throwing punches. Dayron connects with a pair of big punches. Another right from Dayron and a takedown sprawl. The pace is crazy, and we’re just to the midpoint of the round. Dayron shoots now and he’s denied. Sabatello punches and evades the counter into a takedown attempt. Sabatello scrambles to the back and gets the standing body triangle. Dayron attempts to shake Sabatello off, and grabs the fence in the process. The referee takes a point! Back in action now, and Sabatello immediately shoots in and gets the back. Dayron gets back up and lets his hands go before the horn, but can’t land anything solid.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Sabatello, but the point deduction makes it a 10-8. The overall score goes to Sabatello, 29-27.
Result: Danny Sabatello vs. Lazaro Dayron ruled a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Records: Sabatello (14-4-1), Dayron (8-0-1)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast:Â ESPN+
Referee: Christopher Mignocchi
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 2: Best photos from Florida
Elvin Espinoza vs. Mads Burnell
Round 1 – They meet in the center and immediately trade punches. Burnell adds a leg kick, but Espinoza charges forward for a takedown attempt. They result is a clinch along the fence, and the wrestle clinch is on. They separate and get back to trading punches. Espinoza lands a nice right after just missing with a step-in knee. They clinch again and trade short strikes. Espionza’s strikes get through cleanly as Burnell eats them and fires back. Espinoza digs in with a couple of hard body kicks. Burnell changes levels and gets a takedown, but can’t keep Espinoza down for long. They exchange more strikes before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Espinoza.
Round 2 – Espinoza opens with a front kick. Burnell presses forward as they exchange fast punches upstairs. Burnell with the clinch against the fence now, and lands a nice left on the exit. Back in the center, Espinoza fires off a hard combination. Burnell rolls with the punches and clinches again. Espinoza breaks free and comes forward with strikes. Burnell’s nose is bloodied now. Espinoza looks for the takedown, but Burnell isn’t having it. Bang! A big right hand from Burnell lands and Espinoza is hurt! Burnell takes control on the ground, looking for a choke. Espinoza scrambles to his feet. Burnell is still on the hunt for a finish. More punches land. Espinoza gets a clinch to slow things down. They jockey for position for a bit, and Burnell lands a hard knee to the beltline. Espinoza lets his guard down, and Burnell follows up with punches as the referee steps in to call a pause for a low blow. The fight resumes and Espionza rips a fast combination. A body kick lands before Burnell comes forward with a few punches.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Burnell.
Burnell drops Espinoza but ELVIN SURVIVES! 2 minutes to go in round 2!
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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 17, 2024
Round 3 – They quickly meet in the center and trade punches in close. Burnell pushes a clinch into the cage. Short strikes against the cage for both. They separate for a moment, and Espinoza sneaks in a body kick before another clinch by Burnell. This time Burnell changes levels and nearly gets the fight to the mat, but the standing clinch resumes. Espinoza eventually punches his way out, and they meet in the middle to resume trading. Burnell shoots in and completes a nice takedown, and controls on the mat until the fight concludes.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Burnell, giving him the fight 29-28.
Result: Mads Burnell def. Elvin Espinoza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Records: Espinoza (10-2), Burnell (20-6)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast:Â ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 2: Best photos from Florida
Thad Jean vs. Chris Brown
Round 1 – Heavy punches and kicks are offered early from both as Jean moves forward. Jean knocks Brown off balance with a kick and lets him return to his feet. Brown charges forward with a front kick followed by a head kick. Jean fires off a 1-2, and Brown responds with a crescent kick. Brown continues to mix up his strikes with awkward kick-punch combinations. Jean keeps his guard up and looks to land punches as Brown kicks to keep him away. Jean lands a solid left hand and a body kick not far behind it. Brown kicks to the body as well. Jean lands a sharp 1-2. A big right hand from Jean now! Brown is rocked badly! Jean leaps with a flying knee and Brown gets a takedown sprawled. Jean on top now, but Brown quickly scrambles up. Another right hand for Jean before the round ends.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Jean.
Round 2 – The action picks up at a fast pace to start. Both fighters unleash strikes as Jean presses forward. Brown’s offense continues to be varied, and a little reckless, as he attempts a jumping spinning kick in close range. Jean stays poised defensively and evades well. A hard kick from Brown goes low, and Jean folds over in pain. The replay shows Brown’s knee hit the groin area. After a short pause, they get back into it, with Brown firing a series of kicks. Jean closes in and gets clipped with a right hand. Jean resets and Brown pumps out front kicks. The wild offensive exchanges continue at a high pace as Jean controls the center. Brown appears tired now, but keeps throwing any technique that comes to mind.
Chris Brown's style is fun to watch!
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MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Jean.
Round 3 – Jean presses forward and Brown offers a spinning kick to push kick combo to keep his opponent away. Jean lands a clean left hook. Brown’s kick is caught, prompting a wild exchange. Jean narrowly evades Brown’s attempts, and keeps moving ahead. Now Brown catches a kick and lands a nice right hook. Jean closes in, lands a right hand and ducks under for back control. Brown easily gets away and fires punches. Jean kicks the body and shoots for a takedown. Brown keeps things standing and they separate with 90 seconds to go. They trade punches in the center. Brown charges forward with a punching combination. The wild, high-volume exchanges continue. Brown lands a clean left, sending Jean stumbling off balance. More spinning stuff from Brown before the wild round, and fight ends.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Brown, but the fight goes to Jean, 29-28.
Result: Thad Jean def. Chris Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Records: Jean (8-0), Brown (10-5)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast:Â ESPN+
Referee: Marcos Perez
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 2: Best photos from Florida
Jordan Oliver vs. Braydon Akeo
Round 1 – Oliver comes out quickly to control the center. A kick is caught, and Akeo fires a right hand down the pipe. Oliver resets and misses with a pair of hooks. Akeo lands a calf kick, and a right hand over the top. Oliver kicks high to the head. Both miss with punches in an exchange, and they trade leg kicks. Oliver lands a solid inside leg kick. Akeo responds with a right hand. Oliver unloads a few hooks, landing nicely in a combo. Oliver fires off a few more punches, and Akeo responds with a leg kick and a punch upstairs.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Akeo.
Round 2 – Akeo punches to the body, and Oliver answers with a kick to the midsection as he controls the center. Oliver lands a few hooks as Akeo comes forward. They clinch up for a moment, but Akeo gets out and lands a leg kick. Punches are exchanged as they circle the cage. Oliver steps in with a big right hand, landing clean in a combination. A sharp left jab from Oliver connects as Akeo kicks to the leg. Another big right hand for Oliver. Single strikes are offered from both as they travel the cage. A hard left kick from Oliver goes low. The fight resumes after a brief pause. Akeo offers a left jab but gets countered with a right.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Oliver.
Round 3 – Oliver stalks forward and shoots for a single leg. Akeo defends and the clinch battle against the fence is on. After working the position for a while, Oliver lifts and dumps Akeo to the ground, but the fight immediately returns to a standing clinch. Oliver keeps working for the single leg as time ticks away. With 90 seconds to go, Oliver releases the attempt and Akeo gets on the forward hunt. He spins with a kick, but doesn’t get much of it. Akeo fires off a combo, and Oliver counters. Oliver changes levels and completes a double leg with 30 seconds to go. From the back, Oliver looks to land punches until the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Oliver, giving him the fight 29-28.
Result: Jordan Oliver def. Braydon Akeo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Records: Oliver (2-0), Akeo (5-4)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast:Â ESPN+
Referee: Christopher Mignocchi
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 2: Best photos from Florida
Michelle Montague vs. Marilia Morais
Round 1 – Montague wastes no time getting across the cage and right into a clinch. She gets a quick takedown and begins working from side control. Montague isolates an arm, looking for a kimura. She gets the arm fully extended and switches to an armbar. Somehow Morais doesn’t tap! Montague lets it go and transitions to the back. The rear-naked choke is in, and it’s deep! There’s the tap! Flawless victory for Montague, who entered as a massive favorite.
Michelle Montague switches to the choke and this is over! Another W for the "Wild One"
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Result: Michelle Montague def. Marilia Morais via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:44
Records: Montague (6-0), Morais (3-2)
Division: Women’s featherweight
Broadcast:Â ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 2: Best photos from Florida
2024 PFL Playoffs 2 weigh-ins gallery
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 2.