Brendan Loughnane defeats Kai Kamaka by split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) in the Semifinals, earning a spot in the 2024 #PFLWorldChampionship#PFLPlayoffs #PFLDC pic.twitter.com/xzRppzUtIo
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The Professional Fighters League determined its welterweight and featherweight finals during its PFL DC card.
The main event of the nine-fight card saw 2022 featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane take on Kai Kamaka III for a shot at a second PFL finals appearance. Loughnane (29-5) wasted little time to make a statement, using pinpoint punches and some well-placed knees to knock down Kamaka (14-6-1) late in Round 1. “The Fighting Hawaiian” lived up to his nickname, though, not just surviving the barrage but finding plenty of success in the second round. The final frame would see Loughnane outpoint his opponent to secure a split-decision victory with scores of 29-28, 28-29 and 30-27.
Loughnane will look to earn another million dollars by going up against Timur Khizriev in the featherweight final.
Umalatov Outstrikes Gracie
Magomed Umalatov booked his way to the welterweight finals by defeating Neiman Gracie.
It took mere seconds for fans to realize that Gracie (13-6) was outgunned on the feet. Umalatov (17-0) used a stiff jab to control the distance and fired off hard right hands that stung the Brazilian over three rounds. The Russian would knock Gracie down in the final round but had to settle for a unanimous decision win with scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28 in his favor.
The welterweight final will be a battle of unbeaten fighters as Umalatov will go up against Shamil Musaev.
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Khizriev Stays Undefeated
The first featherweight semifinal saw Khizriev stay undefeated against his toughest test yet in Gabriel Braga.
Khizriev (17-0) came out controlling the distance and outstriking his Brazilian opponent early on. Braga (14-2) struggled to get inside, instead eating jabs and straight punches repeatedly in the first two rounds. The third round would be closer, as Braga finally began to find a home for his hard punches, but it proved to be too little, too late.
After 15 minutes, Khizriev received a split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-28) win.
Musaev Strikes Twice
The main card opened with a rematch between Shamil Musaev and Murad Ramazanov for a spot in the welterweight finals.
The opening round saw a motivated Ramazanov (12-2) come out aggressively, looking to take down Musaev (17-0-1) and get revenge. However, Ramazanov couldn’t get the “Silent Assassin” to the floor and was exhausted as a result. Musaev would easily control the rest of the fight, taking his fellow Russian down and outstriking him on the feet.
Having earned a unanimous decision win with scores of 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27, Musaev is now 2-0 against Ramazanov.
PFL 9 2024 Prelim Results:
In preliminary action, Mukhamed Berkhamov (16-1) dominated Ray Cooper III (25-11-1) at welterweight to earn what wound up being a perplexing split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28); Enrique Barzola (21-9-2) landed a fight-changing uppercut that shifted the tides and led to three 29-28 scorecards over featherweight foe Tyler Diamond (14-4); Jose Perez (9-1) outworked Jesse Stirn (16-7) over 15 minutes to earn a unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) win and show that he’s a featherweight to watch; Maxwell Djantou Nana (6-1) gave fellow heavyweight Kent Mafileo (6-2) his second defeat via a brutal knockout at 4:50 of the second round; and in the first fight of the night, welterweight Shido Boris (9-1) overwhelmed Tyler Hill (13-11) with punches en route to a TKO victory at 3:31 of the first frame.
