PFL Playoffs 1 live updates: Results, round-by-round coverage of every fight

PFL Playoffs 1 takes place Friday in Nashville. Join us for a live and official results at 6 p.m. ET.

PFL Playoffs 1 live updates: Results, round-by-round coverage of every fight (6 p.m. ET)

PFL Playoffs 1 (ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Friday at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., and you can join us for a live and official results beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT).

In the main event, top heavyweight seed Denis Goltsov (34-8) takes on Tim Johnson (18-9) in the playoff semifinals. In the co-feature, No. 1 women’s flyweight seed Dakota Ditcheva (12-0) is a heavy favorite against Jena Bishop (7-1).

On the other side of the brackets, Oleg Popov (18-1) meets Linton Vassell (24-9) in the first heavyweight semifinal and Bellator champion Liz Carmouche (22-7), who missed weight, takes on the favored Taila Santos (21-3).

Sergei Bilostenniy vs. Tyrell Fortune

Records: Bilostenniy (12-3), Fortune (14-2)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee:
Result:
Notes:
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos from Nashville

Full 2024 PFL Playoffs 1 lineup

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Denis Goltsov vs. Tim Johnson – heavyweight semifinal
  • Dakota Ditcheva vs. Jena Bishop – women’s flyweight semifinal
  • Oleg Popov vs. Linton Vassell – heavyweight semifinal
  • Taila Santos vs. Liz Carmouche – women’s flyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Sergey Bilostennyi vs. Tyrell Fortune
  • Alexei Pergande def. Daniel Boehle via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Cody Law def. Zachary Hicks via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:15
  • Dedrek Sanders def. Sergio Cossio via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:34
  • Anthony Ivy def. Jaleel Willis via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:49
  • Kevin Pease def. Nick Meck via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Daniel Boehle vs. Alexei Pergande

Round 1 – Boehle gets right into it, swinging a flurry of punches. Pergande fires back and then finds a clinch. On the exit, Pergande lands a stiff knee to the body that hurt Boehle. A jumping switch knee to the jaw right behind it! Pergande takes top position on the mat momentarily, but they get back to a standing position. Pergande then grazes with a head kick and a combo of punches. Boehle looks to grab a hold, but Pergande stuffs him. After a brief clinch, Pergande fires off a few more strikes before Boehle gets another tie up. Pergande lands another solid shot on the break. Pergande wins a final heated exchange before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Pergande.

Round 2 – The action picks right back up with intense striking exchanges. Boehle looks for a single leg takedown. Pergande backflips off his plant leg while also trying to land a kick to escape! That was wild! Pergande’s innovation works, and he takes control of the grappling. On the ground now, Pergande works from guard. Boehle throws up an armbar attempt, but there’s not enough time in the round and Pergande just waits for the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Pergande.

Round 3 – Boehle comes out swinging with relentless forward pressure. Pergande is forced to stay light and circle, picking his spots to counter. Pergande gets double under, and eventually hits a trip takedown. In the scramble, Pergande slaps on an anaconda choke, but it’s not there, and ends up back in guard. The action stalls and the referee stands them up. Pergande lands a question mark kick and stuffs another takedown. Boehle tries to roll for a submission, but Pergande defends well and ends the fight the back.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Pergande, giving him the fight 30-27.

Records: Featherweight (4-3), Pergande (5-0)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Eric McMahon
Result: Alexei Pergande def. Daniel Boehle via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos from Nashville

Zachary Hicks vs. Cody Law

Round 1 – Law takes the center and takes the lead in the initial striking exchanges. Hicks looks for a takedown but gets stuffed. Law scrambles to take the back and gets an arm under the chin, and wow! There’s a quick tap!

Records: Hicks (9-6), Law (10-2)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Blake Grice
Result: Cody Law def. Zachary Hicks via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:15
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos from Nashville

Sergio Cossio vs. Dedrek Sanders

Round 1 – Sanders leads the dance early by dictating the striking range, staying light on his feet, and picking his shots. A front kick from Sanders goes low, but Cossio is ready to resume. Sanders gets back to putting punches together well. Darting in and out, Sanders starts to light up Cossio! Sanders has Cossio in trouble. More punches land as Cossio’s back is against the cage. Bang! A hooking left mid-flurry floors Cossio, and it’s over!

Records: Cossio (27-10-1), Sanders (9-4)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Eric McMahon
Result: Dedrek Sanders def. Sergio Cossio via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:34
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos from Nashville

Anthony Ivy vs. Jaleel Willis

Round 1 – Willis quickly charges at Ivy, but his immediate look for a takedown doesn’t go his way. Ivy gets the fight to the ground and lands a few punches on the mat. Willis works his way back up, but Ivy stays stuck to him. A cage clinch gets reversed, but Ivy hits a beautiful toss to the mat, and scrambles his way to the back. Willis shows off some nice defense from the position and finds a way to reverse the position to get back up and land a nice kick before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Ivy.

Round 2 – The round starts off with a few even striking exchanges, but nothing too intense. Out of nowhere, Willis lands a sharp counter right hook that floors Ivy. Willis rushes in, but Ivy gets a hold of him to prevent a finish from follow-up strikes. Willis opts to jump on an arm-triangle choke, and it appears deep, but Ivy slips out. Now Ivy wrestles his way to top position. Punches from Ivy on top. Willis tries to scramble out of the position, but gives up his back in the process. Ivy has a rear-naked choke now! It’s locked in! There’s the tap! Wow. What a wild round for Ivy who was nearly knocked out, but finds a submission!

Records: Ivy (15-7), Willis (16-7)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Result: Anthony Ivy def. Jaleel Willis via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:49
Recap: 2024 PFL Playoffs 1 video: UFC vet Anthony Ivy continues career U-turn with comeback finish of Jaleel Willis
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos from Nashville

Nick Meck vs. Kevin Pease

Round 1 – Meck looks to set the tone with his wrestling game, getting the fight to the mat early. Pease does a good job getting back to his feet, and they exchange knees and punches in the clinch. As they separate, Meck lands a huge punch that drops Pease! Meck looks to capitalize but can’t get the finish. Pease eventually gets back to his feet and lands a few solid punches, but the round ends with Meck in on another takedown attempt.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Meck.

Round 2 – Pease flipped a switch between rounds. Now it’s Pease putting his punches together well and avoiding takedown attempts from Meck. It appears Meck may have expended too much energy in Round 1, while Pease is also benefiting from a second win. Pease is winning striking exchanges, putting together nice combinations. Now it’s Pease with the takedown on an exhausted Meck.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Pease.

Round 3 – After a few exchanges to begin the round, Meck returns to his wrestling game. But as a takedown attempt stalls, Pease starts raining down hammerfists. After a series of unanswered punches, Meck eventually moves and adjusts his entry, but Pease keeps the fight standing in the clinch. Pease lands knees to the body before changing position and looking for a takedown of his own.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Pease, giving him the fight 29-28.

Records: Meck (7-2), Pease (6-0)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Eric McMahon
Result: Kevin Pease def. Nick Meck via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: 2024 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos from Nashville

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 1.