PFL Playoffs 3 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Friday at The Anthem in Washington, and MMA Junkie will be providing live round-by-round coverage throughout the card.
The event features semifinal bouts in the featherweight and welterweight divisions.
In the main event, 2022 featherweight heavyweight champion Brendan Loughnane (29-5) takes on Kai Kamaka (14-5-1). In the other 145-pound semifinal bout, Gabriel Braga (14-1) faces undefeated Timur Khizriev (16-0).
The welterweight semifinal bouts fill out the main card. In the co-main event, unblemished Magomed Umalatov (16-0) fights Neiman Gracie (13-5). In the main card opener, unbeaten Shamil Musaev (18-0-1) takes on one-loss Murad Ramazanov (12-1).
Shamil Musaev vs. Murad Ramazanov
Round 1 –
Result:
Recap:
Records: Musaev (18-0-1), Ramazanov (12-1)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 3: Best photos from Washington
Full 2024 PFL Playoffs 2 lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)
- Brendan Loughnane vs. Kai Kamaka
- Neiman Gracie vs. Magomed Umalatov
- Gabriel Braga vs. Timur Khizriev
- Shamil Musaev vs. Murad Ramazanov
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET)
- Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Ray Cooper III via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Enrique Barzola def. Tyler Diamond via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jose Perez def. Jesse Stirn via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Kent Mafileo via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:50
- Shido Boris Esperanca def. Tyler Hill via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:31
Mukhamed Berkhamov vs. Ray Cooper III
Round 1 – Cooper pressures forward early, with Berkhamov circling on the outside. Berkhamov offers leg kicks and Cooper closes in for a takedown attempt. Berkhamov reverses and escapes. Now it’s Berkhamov with a level change. He gets Cooper down, but he immediately gets up. They reset in the center, and Cooper charges in and dumps Berkhamov to the mat. Cooper takes top position in half guard. Cooper looks for ground and pound, but Berkhamov scrambles free. Berkhamov gets a tight Thai clinch and drills a series of big knees to the head and body. Cooper somehow doesn’t seem phased on the separation. Berkhamov steps in with a knee, and that one hurt Cooper. They exchange punches, and Cooper cracks with a big one! Cooper gets a takedown right at the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Berkhamov.
Round 2 – Berkhamov works on the outside, pawing out right hands and leg kicks. Cooper looks to land a right hand as he feints level changes. Berkhamov goes for a takedown but is brushed away. Berkhamov side kicks to the knee. Cooper looks for a big overhand left. Berkhamov kicks to the body Berkhamov looks for another single leg, but Cooper isn’t having it. Berkhamov gets back to pumping out the right jab. Cooper lands an uppercut before the end of a slower-paced Round 2.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Berkhamov.
Round 3 – Berkhamov comes out looking to get a hold of Cooper immediately, but can’t control him. Berkhamov keeps his hands high as he stands in punching range and Cooper pops his head back with a big right hand. Berkhamov shoots in an gets a takedown. Cooper quickly gets up, but Berkhamov sticks with him and pulls him back down. Berkhamov tries to secure back mount as Cooper stands again. Berkhamov gets a leg wrapped up and pulls the fight back down to the mat. Cooper powers up, but is tripped again. Finally, Cooper fully gets up and separated with 20 seconds left. Berkhamov lands a few punches before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Berkhamov, giving him the fight 30-27.
Result: Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Ray Cooper III via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Records: Berkhamov (17-2), Cooper III (25-11-1)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Fernando Yamasaki
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 3: Best photos from Washington
Enrique Barzola vs. Tyler Diamond
Round 1 – Diamond gets things started working behind a repeated left jab. Woah! Diamond cracks Barzola with a big punch and Barzola goes down! Diamond rushes in to follow up as Barzola quickly gets back to his feet. Diamond stays steady with pressure, but Barzola recovers and lands a nice combination. Now Barzola starts mounting offense. Diamond responds with a nice right hand that catches Barzola off-balance. Barzola looks for a takedown but is sprawled. Diamond lands another big right hand before the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Diamond.
Round 2 – Diamond looks for an early takedown, getting Barzola down to a knee against the fence. Barzola escapes, but Diamond comes forward and gets back on the hips. He drops for a single leg but gets sprawled. Barzola looks for a Thai clinch and eats a right hand on the exit. Diamond looks to clinch again, but can’t get it. Now they’re trading punches in the center. Diamond in on the hips again, getting Barzola to a knee, but he scrambles up. Back to trading punches. It’s Barzola with a huge left hand! Diamond is wobbled badly and looks for the panic takedown! Barzola unloads punches on the ground while Diamond holds on to a single, but he survives to hear the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Barzola.
Round 3 – Barzola comes out firing and Diamond shoots in. It’s sprawled nicely, and Barzola threatens a choke. They’re back to standing and both are throwing punches. Barzola knocks out Diamond’s mouthpiece and the ref allow him to get it back. Another takedown from Diamond is stuffed. Barzola punches from the top while Diamond holds on to the single leg. He looks to the ref for a stoppage, but they’re not damaging enough. Diamond scrambles to get Barzola down for a second, but he quickly gets back to standing. A few punches, and now it’s Barzola shooting in. Diamond reverses, and they end up back on the feet. Barzola shoots again, this time getting Diamond down and punches from the top until the final horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Barzola, giving him the fight 29-28.
Result: Enrique Barzola def. Tyler Diamond via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Records: Barzola (21-9-2), Diamond (14-4)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Vitor Shaolin
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 3: Best photos from Washington
Jose Perez vs. Jesse Stirn
Round 1 – Perez comes out pressuring forward as Stirn looks to land early leg kicks. Big overhand right from Perez is partially blocked. A hard kick to the body not far behind it. Stirn circles and offers front kicks to the body. He then catches a Perez kick and fires one of his own to the body. A stiff jab lands for Stirn. Perez steps in with a hard inside leg kick, and a brief clinch follows. Both find success with punches and kicks as they exchange, covering all sides of the cage. Perez puts together a nice 3-punch combo. In a clinch, Perez digs in a knee to the body, and gets a nice takedown right at the horn.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Perez.
Round 2 – We’re right back to the striking exchanges at a high pace as Perez controls from the center. Leg kicks are traded as Perez tries to close the distance. A big right hand connects for Perez, knocking Stirn off balance. Stirn pops right back up, and Perez turns up the pressure. Working behind a left jab, Perez offers fast strikes. Stirn lands with a stiff calf kick that causes Perez to stumble down. Perez gets up and shakes it off, and Stirn rushes in for a takedown. He doesn’t get it, and Perez gets back to controlling the center. The action is even faster now. Stirn push kicks to the body, but Perez still comes forward and lands a nice knee. Perez finds a clinch a clinch and jumps on a guillotine, then transitions to an arm triangle on the ground, but the horn sounds.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Perez.
Round 3 – Striking exchanges continue immediately. Both are landing punches and kicks, but nothing of real substance as they circle around the cage. There’s a big right hand from Perez. Stirn just misses with a jumping knee and Perez clinches into the cage. Stirn gets free, resets, and just misses again, this time with a big punch. Perez is on the clinch again and is successful with the takedown. He takes the back and threatens a submission, but Stirn turns to prevent it. Perez tries to posture up to land punches with Stirn’s wrist trapped behind his back. Perez finally gets some ground and punches in the final 10 seconds.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Perez, giving him the fight 30-27.
Result: Jose Perez def. Jesse Stirn via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Records: Perez (9-1), Stirn (16-7)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mario Yamasaki
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 3: Best photos from Washington
Kent Mafileo vs. Maxwell Djantou Nana
Round 1 – Djantou Nana comes out firing punches after a glove touch. Mafileo is game for the early exchanges and returns strikes of his own. Djantou Nana offers a few powerful, damaging leg kicks as he pressures forward. Mafileo puts together a nice combination of punches to the head. Another hard kick to the lead leg by Djantou Nana. Mafileo starts to move forward, but gets poked in the eye in an exchange. There’s a short pause, and Djantou Nana digs in more leg kicks on the restart. Mafileo lands another solid punching combo.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Djantou Nana.
Round 2 – Kicks fly early from Djantou Nana to the legs, but misses with a head attempt. Mafileo closes the distance with punches as Djantou Nana circles away. Djantou Nana rushes forward and just bulldozes Mafileo to the canvas. He swarms with ground and pound, causing the ref to step in close, but Mafileo escapes back to his feet. Djantou Nana immediately gets another takedown, but opts to let Mafileo back to his feet. Djantou Nana keeps with the forward pressure as Mafileo looks to land a left hook. Mafileo catches a kick, but Djantou Nana quickly gets his balance and resets. Fast 1-2 from Djantou Nana. Mafileo lands a solid left hand. Djantou Nana starts working the body with hard punches. BANG! A big right hand upstairs from Djantou Nana sends Mafileo timbering to the mat! It’s over!
Result: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Kent Mafileo via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:50
Recap: 2024 PFL Playoffs 3 video: Maxwell Djantou Nana lands hammerfist from the heavens for KO
Records: Djantou Nana (6-1), Mafileo (6-2)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 3: Best photos from Washington
Shido Boris Esperanca vs. Tyler Hill
Round 1 – Hill looks to find the range with leg kicks, but Esperanca just blitzes forward with hooks like a maniac! He’s swinging for the fences in this wild barrage. Hill manages to not get clipped, but Esperanca gets a takedown and clamps on an arm triangle choke. It’s not there, and he’s back to working from side control. Esperanca starts chaining submission attempts as Hill just tries to survive. Now Esperanca postures up from the back, raining down hard punches. Hill can’t improve his position, and there it is! Dominant first-round TKO stoppage for Esperanca.
The ref has seen enough! A Successful PFL debut for the "Machine"
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Result: Shido Boris Esperanca def. Tyler Hill via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:31
Records: Esperanca (9-1), Hill (12-9)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Fernando Yamasaki
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 3: Best photos from Washington
2024 PFL Playoffs 3 weigh-ins gallery
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 3.