Tag: 2021 PFL 3

Commission overturns Fabricio Werdum’s KO loss to Renan Ferreira at 2021 PFL 3

Fabricio Werdum wanted justice for his controversial PFL debut, and now he’s got it.

[autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] wanted justice for his controversial PFL debut, and now he’s got it.

The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board has overturned Werdum’s (24-9-1) knockout loss to [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] at 2021 PFL 3 this past Thursday to a no contest after reviewing the tape and concluding that the referee missed what should’ve been a fight-ending tap out by Ferreira (6-2).

ESPN first reported the change in result on Monday, and Werdum’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz of Dominance MMA, subsequently expressed his pleasure with a successful appeal in a statement on Twitter.

I want to thank the New Jersey Athletic Commission, Mr. Nick Lembo who worked all weekend on over turning Fabricio Werdum’s decision to a NO Contest from his last week at PFL. I also want to thank PFL for quickly providing all of the necessary evidence.

Werdum, a former UFC heavyweight champion, headlined 2021 PFL 3 at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlanta City, N.J., as part of the regular season kickoff event for the heavyweight division. He quickly took Ferreira down in the opening round of their matchup, then put his world-class ground game to use.

After transitioning into a triangle choke/armbar combination on bottom, Ferreira appeared to tap out. Referee Keith Peterson missed it, though, according to Werdum’s retelling of his experience, he released part of the pressure in expectation the fight would be stopped.

It wasn’t, however, and moments later Ferreira escaped the choke, postured up and reigned down massive hammerfists on Werdum to put his lights out and end the fight in a knockout.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COjjfFlHoLg

Werdum immediately protested the result, and vowed he felt a tap. Instant replay did reveal a tapping motion by Ferreira, but an argument can be made it’s not definitive. The commission apparently felt it was, though, and opted to change the result.

PFL has yet to comment on how the result change will impact its season standing. Ferreira was awarded six points for the first-round finish, but that has now been wiped from his record.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3156: Guests Lorenz Larkin and Neil Magny, plus UFC, Bellator, PFL recaps (noon ET)

Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here and will be live on SportsCastr at noon ET.

Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here and will be live on SportsCastr at noon ET.

On Episode 3,156, the fellas will bring on guests Lorenz Larkin and Neil Magny. Larkin beat former champ Rafael Carvalho this past Friday at Bellator 258. Magny upset Geoff Neal at UFC on ESPN 24 on Saturday. Plus, they’ll look back at those events and the PFL’s third card of the season.

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

5 biggest takeaways from UFC, Bellator, PFL: ‘Rumble’ return, Cerrone’s skid, ‘MVP’ hate

Thoughts and analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of UFC on ESPN 24, Bellator 258 and 2021 PFL 3.

What mattered most in a loaded MMA weekend that included UFC on ESPN 24 in Las Vegas; Bellator 258 in Uncasville, Conn.; and 2021 PFL 3 in Atlantic City, N.J.? Here are a few post-fight musings …

Kayla Harrison admits she’s chasing Amanda Nunes: ‘My goal is to be the greatest of all-time’

PFL women’s lightweight champ Kayla Harrison knows to be the best you have to beat the best, and she says that’s what she’s willing to do.

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] knows to be the best you have to beat the best, and she says that’s what she’s willing to do.

2019 PFL women’s lightweight champion Harrison (9-0) continued to run through competition when she made quick work of Mariana Morais (16-11) with an 83-second TKO at 2021 PFL 3 on Thursday.

As she continues to dominate her competition, questions of a potential fight with UFC dual-champ [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (21-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) keep surfacing. Harrison is currently focused on her PFL season, but the two-time Olympic gold medalist eventually wants to lock horns with the consensus greatest female fighter of all-time.

“My goal is to be the greatest of all-time,” Harrison following her win. “She is currently the greatest of all-time. The biggest compliment I could give to Amanda is I hope to fight her one day. That’s the best compliment I could give her because that means she’s the GOAT. She’s what we’re all chasing.

“Having said that, my goal is to be PFL champion right now. I have very tough opponents in front of me. It’s no easy feat to complete a season. It’s a lot of fights back-to-back, quick turnarounds. It’s hard on your body. It’s hard on your mind. So I’m mentally preparing for that, and I take it one fight at a time. But the goal is to be the greatest of all-time, so whoever I have to fight to do that, that’s what I want to do.”

Harrison was a massive betting favorite, so it was no surprise that she was able to make her latest win look easy. But Harrison explains that Morais’ surprising strategy lent right into her world, which allowed her to get such a quick finish.

“I actually was surprised she kind of tried to throw me,” Harrison said. “It was a short fight, but in the first 90 seconds, she went for a head-and-arm toss or something, and I was like, ‘Unbelievable.’ I was in shock, so that’s when I had to take her down.”

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Twitter reacts to Fabricio Werdum’s controversial KO loss, Kayla Harrison’s quick win at 2021 PFL 3

Check out the top Twitter reactions to Fabricio Werdum’s controversial loss an Kayla Harrison’s one-sided win at 2021 PFL 3.

The top of Thursday’s 2021 PFL 3 event saw notables [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] and [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] compete in the main and co-main event fight. The bouts produced different results.

Werdum (24-10-1), a former UFC heavyweight champion, succumbed to a first-round knockout loss against Renan Ferreira (7-2) in the event headliner on ESPN from Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. However, there was much controversy afterward, because Werdum claimed his opponent tapped out.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist Harrison (9-0), meanwhile, smashed Mariana Morais (16-11) in just 83 seconds for the TKO to remain defeated in her women’s featherweight season opener.

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to both fights.

Kayla Harrison

2021 PFL 3 video: Renan Ferreira upsets Fabricio Werdum after appearing to tap

Renan Ferreira became the latest underdog to take out a highly touted PFL free agent signing. But there may be some controversy looming.

[autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] on Thursday became the latest underdog to take out a highly touted PFL free agent signing. But there may be some controversy looming.

Replays showed Ferreira may have given two quick taps while in a [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] triangle choke – but they weren’t seen by referee Keith Peterson. When Werdum loosened the choke, Ferreira got back to work – and got an eventual TKO finish.

Ferreira (7-2) officially has a first-round knockout win over former UFC heavyweight champion Werdum (24-10-1). The win came at the 2:32 mark of the first round and gave Ferreira a crucial 6 points in the 2021 PFL heavyweight season.

Just 12 seconds into the fight, Werdum got the fight to the canvas and into his wheelhouse. Ferreira, also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, tried to work his way back to his feet. But Werdum kept the pressure on and tried to work his way to mount.

That gave Ferreira an opportunity to roll out of trouble and Werdum was on his back. But he quickly found himself in a triangle choke. That’s when he appeared to have tapped, but the fight wasn’t stopped. Then he had to deal with a brief armbar attempt.

Ferreira managed to wriggle out, though, and on top he dropped some big punches on Werdum to stun him. And when Werdum couldn’t work his way out from underneath, Ferreira dropped hammerfists on him until he got the finish.

“I think everyone saw the fight. He tapped,” Werdum said in his post-fight interview. “I have to respect my opponent. … I stopped because he tapped. I’ve fought for 23 years. When he taps with an open hand, I have to stop. In my mind, it was over because I felt him tap my shoulder.”

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2021 PFL 3 video: Massive favorite Kayla Harrison dominates for quick TKO

It was a businesslike performance for Kayla Harrison on Thursday in her quest for a second $1 million title.

It was a businesslike performance for [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] on Thursday.

Harrison (9-0), the 2019 PFL women’s lightweight season winner needed only 83 seconds to take out [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-11) with a TKO. The quick win earned Harrison 6 points to open up her 2021 regular season in a quest to win a second $1 million crown.

Harrison was the highest betting favorite by far at 2021 PFL 3 in Atlantic City, N.J. She could be found as high as -5000 just before the start of the fight.

Harrison kicked high in the first couple seconds. Morais threw a jab. But 10 seconds in, Harrison had Morais clinched up and backed to the fence. And just 45 seconds in, Harrison tripped Morais to the canvas.

Morais covered up and rolled over with Harrison drilling her with punches from full mount. Morais had nothing to offer up defensively, and it didn’t take long for referee Gary Copeland to shut things down.

“This isn’t a tournament. It’s a coronation, and I’m the queen, OK?” Harrison said in her post-fight interview. “I’m not one to talk a lot of crap. But it seems like everyone from boxers to YouTube idiots seem like they can get in there. … But from now on, I’m the baddest woman in this room, or any room.”

Check out video of Harrison’s easy win over Morais below.

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Video: Watch today’s 2021 PFL 3 post-fight press conference (11:15 p.m. ET)

The PFL’s 2021 season continues today with 2021 PFL 3 in New Jersey, and you can catch the post-event press conference on MMA Junkie.

The PFL’s 2021 season continues today with 2021 PFL 3 at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

Following the event, you can watch the night’s post-event press conference here on MMA Junkie beginning at approximately 11:15 p.m. ET (8:15 p.m. PT).

Expected to take part in the press conference are PFL president Ray Sefo, as well as key winners from a card that includes former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag], as well as 2019 PFL women’s lightweight champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag].

The 2021 PFL 3 main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

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2021 PFL 3 video: Brandon Sayles chokes Mohammed Usman out cold in upset

From a betting perspective, Brandon Sayles wasn’t expected to be in the game against Mohammed Usman.

From a betting perspective, [autotag]Brandon Sayles[/autotag] wasn’t expected to be in the game against [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag].

But after a competitive first round against the UFC welterweight champion’s brother, Sayles (6-1) choked Usman (7-2) unconscious after a second knockdown in the second at 2021 PFL 3 in Atlantic City, N.J. Usman was as much as a 6-1 favorite in the fight.

Sayles and Usman beat on each other for the first five minutes, trading punches and kicks, and neither fighter seemed to really stun the other.

Midway through the second, Sayles dropped Usman and tried to put him away on the canvas. Somehow, Usman got back to his feet, only to find himself in a standing guillotine choke. Usman got out of that and tried to regain his composure on the feet. But once again, Sayles put him on the canvas with a punch.

There, Sayles went after ground-and-pound a second time, then locked in a rear-naked choke. Usman tried to fight it, but it wasn’t long before he was out cold.

“You shouldn’t just assume something just because of a last name,” Sayles said. “I’m here to show what hard work over skill will sometimes get you.”

Check out Sayles’ finish of Usman below.

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2021 PFL 3 video: Larissa Pacheco finishes Julija Pajic in 51 seconds

There was no feeling-out process needed for Larissa Pacheco on Thursday.

There was no feeling-out process needed for [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] on Thursday.

Pacheco (14-4) made quick and easy work of [autotag]Julija Pajic[/autotag] (3-1) for a 6-point TKO win to open the main card at 2021 PFL 3 in Atlantic City, N.J.

They touched gloves, and after a couple quick left jabs, Pacheco landed a left hand that put Pajic on the canvas. Pacheco pounced on her immediately and rained down punches while Pajic covered up. She gave Pajic no room to do anything but take the punishment, and ultimately Pajic’s corner threw in the towel.

The finish came in just 51 seconds, which is the fastest stoppage in PFL women’s lightweight history. The win has Pacheco in good position with a 6-point stoppage to be on pace for a shot to avenge her runner-up status to 2019 women’s lightweight winner Kayla Harrison, who beat her twice in 2019.

Check out Pacheco’s quick finish of Pajic below:

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