Where’s the time gone? We’re six weeks into the 2023 PFL Challenger Series and now it’s time for the Featherweights to take center stage in Orlando!  Beginning the action tonight, Vikas Singh Ruhil will become the first Indian fighter to compete under the PFL banner. Ruhil has won seven of his last ten coming into tonight, including five finishes, and has competed at Heavyweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight, where he believes he’s settled in. Across from Ruhil stands late replacement James Gonzalez. Gonzalez, a SerraLongo product and former CFFC and Ring of Combat champion took this fight on less than one week's notice and enters the bout off a win over Cody Law in Bellator. Gonzalez was a +550 underdog in the bout and dominated en route to a unanimous decision that earned him a spot on MMAJunkie’s top 10 upsets of the year.


Round 1 

 


The bell rings and week six is underway as Gonzalez opens with a teep to the body of Singh. Gonzalez follows it up with an inside low kick and a rear roundhouse, giving Singh a lot of different looks with legs early including a nice knee.

 


Neither fighter is having a ton of success with hands so far as the kicks of Gonzalez continue to be the most effective strikes of the fight before Gonzalez blitzes forward and lands a nice left hand with about three minutes remaining in the round.

 


Singh questionably shoots on the crafty jiu jitsu artist in Gonzalez and is quickly reversed and punished with a flurry of punches by Gonzalez before they reset and Gonzalez lands another kick.

 


Singh lands his best shot of the fight so far, briefly staggering Gonzalez with two minutes to go but Gonzalez returns fire and drops Singh, chasing him straight into the mount with 90 seconds to go!  Singh is attempting to work toward the cage but Gonzalez is controlling him steadily and now postures up and lands a BIG right hand! Singh is hurt as Gonzalez pours it on and the ref has seen enough! Gonzalez wins via TKO! 

 

 

 


OFFICIAL RESULT 

 


James Gonzalez opens the night with a dominant first round TKO where he flashed both the striking and grappling en route to a big finish.

 


James Gonzalez def. Vikas Singh Ruhill via 1st round TKO  (4:26, punches)