Week three of the Professional Fighters League is underway and the action is ready to ramp up in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After two incredible weeks of exciting finishes and major upsets, the PFL season moves forward with the regular-season debut for two of the league’s most well-known fighters, Kayla Harrison and Fabricio Werdum. Having accomplished nearly everything there is to accomplish in mixed martial arts, Werdum looks to add a PFL title to his resume. However, he’ll have his hands full with the much larger and younger Rennan Ferriera. Meanwhile, Kayla Harrison will look to get off to a fast start and defend her title against Brazilian veteran Mariana Morais. Not to mention, the Usman family will be in attendance. Week three is action-packed!
Kaitlyn Young vs. Cindy Dandois
Division: Lightweight
Betting Odds: Young (+170) | Dandois (-210)
Result: Young def. Dandois (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Kaitlyn Young entered the fight as the favorite and she performed as if she was throughout the first two rounds of the fight. While there was not a wide disparity in strikes landed, Young was able to control the distance and punish Dandois whenever she attempted to come inside. However, things tilted in Dandois’s favor during the third and final round. She was extremely active and able to get inside with ease for much of the round. With about two minutes left in the fight, it appeared that Dandois had Young in a hold and was headed for a submission. However, Young was able to maneuver out of the hold and finish the fight. Her patience and defense in that moment more than likely won her the fight.
Bruno Cappelozza vs. Ante Delija
Division: Heavyweight
Betting Odds: Cappelozza (+590) | Delija (+400)
Result: Cappelozza def. Ante Delija (Knockout, 1st Round)
Cappelozza entered the fight as the heavy favorite, but he proved to be the favorite early in this fight. As soon as the bell rang, Delija came out and showed his speed with a kick and a few strikes. Unfortunately, he would not last long. Less than 90 seconds into the fight, Cappeloozza caught Delija with a right hand and then unloaded on his opponent. He walks away with six quick points.
Julia Pajic vs. Larissa Pacheco
Division: Lightweight
Betting Odds: Pacheco (-500) | Pahic (+350)
Result: Pacheco def. Pajic (Knockout, 1st Round)
Within the first minute of the fight, Pacheco knocked Pajic down with a clean left hook. From there, Pacheco secured top position and left her hands go. At that point, it was only a matter of time before the referee called it off. With that performance, Pacheco earns the second straight six-point finish of the main event.
Mohammed Usman vs. Brandon Sayles
Division: Heavyweight
Betting Odds: Usman (-150) | Sayles (+130)
Result: Sayles def. Usman (Submission, 2nd Round)
The last three fights have all ended early, but the scrap Mohammed Usman and Brandon Sayles just engaged in was probably the most entertaining of the trio. Throughout the first round, it appeared as if the two were going to spend the fifteen-minute fight throwing heavy blows. Then, things switched up in the second round. Sayles caught Usman with a right hand and dropped him. From there, he was able to secure the slippery Usman and gain top position. The submission followed shortly thereafter and Sayles ended his three year layoff with a second-round win and five points.
Moriana Morais vs. Kayla Harrison
Division: Lightweight
Betting Odds: Harrison (-2000) | Morias (+850)
Result: Harrison def. Morias (Stoppage, 1st Round)
Kayla Harrison entered the fight as the biggest favorite of the night and she proved why she is favored to win the title in 2021 just as she did in 2019. In less descriptive terms, she walked across the ring, threw Morias down, secured the top position and started wailing on her. From there, it was just on the referee to stop the fight.
Renan Ferreira vs. Fabricio Werdum
Division: Heavyweight
Betting Odds: Werdum (-300) | Ferreira (+240)
Result: Ferreira def. Werdum (Stoppage, 1st Round)
