PFL 5 – Live Round-by-Round Coverage

Thiago Tavares vs Arthur Estrazulas (Lightweight Bout)

Round 1:

The two touch gloves to start the opening round. Tavares fires first with a leg kick. Estrázulas answers with two leg kicks of his own. Tavares pressures Estrázulas. Tavares steps in with a right hand and they clinch. Estrázulas cirlces free. Estrázulas lands a hard outside leg kick. Estrázulas lands another leg kick. He’s moving forward now. Estrázulas lands an outside leg kick. Tavares catches it and secures a takedown in the center of the cage. He delivers hammer fists. Estrázulas works to secure an armbar. Tavares gets his arm free and maintains top position. Estrázulas active on the bottom. The round ends with Tavares landing a right hand.

Round 2:

Estrázulas inches forward. Tavares looks for a takedown but Estrázulas stuffs the attempt. Estrázulas lands on the break. Tavares works hard for a takedown. Estrázulas delivers right hands but gets taken down. Tavares takes Estrázulas’ back. He applies a body triangle. Estrázulas rolls. Tavares tries to flatten him out but Estrázulas rolls again and gets to half guard. Tavares delivers short right hands. Estrázulas scrambles and works his way to full guard. Estrázulas isolates an arm. Tavares stands and escapes the submission attempt. Estrázulas works his way back to his feet but Tavares drags him back to the canvas. Estrázulas gains top position in the closing seconds of the frame. He lands a right hand and Tavares throws back from the bottom. The round ends.

Round 3:

Arthur Estrázulas presses forward. He lands a left kick to the body. Tavares changes levels and secures a takedown. He delivers punches to the body and head. Arthur Estrázulas works to control Tavares’ posture. The referee stands them up. Tavares looks for a takdown but Estrázulas sprawls. Tavares lands a combination. Tavares changes levels but Estrázulas gains top position. He stands and tells Tavares to get up. Estrázulas picks up the pace. They exchange. Estrázulas lands an uppercut. Tavares looks for a takedown and takes a knee. Estrázulas gains top position. He stands and tells Tavares to get up again. Estrázulas lands a right hand. Tavares pulls guard. Estrázulas lands right hands. He punches until the bell as Tavares fires back from the bottom.

Official result: Thiago Tavares def. Arthur Estrázulas by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Dan Spohn vs. Artur Alibulatov (Light Heavyweight Bout)

Round 1:

Spohn presses forward with a combination. He lands an inside leg kick. Alibulatov measuring the distance with his jab. Spohn lands another leg kick. Alibulatov goes to the body with a kick. They exchange leg kicks. Alibulatov goes high and lands a head kick. Spohn takes it and answers with a leg kick. Spohn steps in with a combination. Alibulatov delivers a hard leg kick. Spohn responds with an inside leg kick. Spohn lands a combination that ended in a sold left hand. Spohn catches a kick to the body and fires back a right hand. Alibulatov partially lands a spinning wheel kick. Alibulatov lands a leg kick and the round ends.

Round 2:

Alibulatov lands first in the second frame with a front kick to the body. Spohn lands a counter right hand. They exchange leg kicks. Spohn presses forward but Alibulatov moves just out of the way. Alibulatov lands a spinning back kick to the body. He goes low with a kick. Spohn closes the distance but Alibulatov circles away. Spohn is cut over his right eye. Alibulatov misses with a spinning back fist. Spohn inches forward. He lands a combination and secures a takedown. He immediately mounts Alibulatov. Spohn postures up and lands right hands. Alibulatov sweeps Spohn in the closing seconds of the round.

Round 3:

Alibulatov lands a leg kick and Spohn counters with a right hand. Alibulatov lands a kick to the groin of Spohn and Spohn falls to his knees. He stands and tries to walk it off. Spohn is given time to recover and the fight is restarted. Spohn steps in with a right hand. He paws with his jab as Alibulatov bounces on the outside. Alibulatov lands another kicks to the groin and Spohn crumbles to the canvas. A doctor is brought in to check Spohn and the referee takes a point away from Alibulatov. Spohn is unable to continue and the fight goes to the judges scorecards.

Official result: Dan Spohn def. Artur Alibulatov by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)

Chris Wade vs. Yuki Kawana (Lightweight Bout)

Round 1:

Wade rushes across the cage with a flying knee. Kawana falls and Wade quickly applies a front choke. Kawana defends the submission attempt. Wade applies a guillotine choke. Kawana defends it and stands. Kawana secures a takedown. Wade isolates an arm but lets it go. Wade stands and Kawana drags him back to the canvas. Wade works his way back to his feet. Kawana looks for another takedown. Wade applies a guillotine choke. It’s deep and Kawana taps out.

Official result: Chris Wade def. Yuki Kawana by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:24, Round 1

Rashid Magomedov vs. Luiz Firmino (Lightweight Bout)

Round 1:

The two touch gloves. Firmino paws with his hab. He lands an inside leg kick. Firmino secures a takedown and takes Magomedov’s back. He delivers short right hands while Magomedov controls one of Firmino’s hands. Magomedov delivers punches behind his head to Firmino. Magomedov spins and gains top position. Magomedov lands short left hands followed by a series of right hands to the body. The round ends with Magomedov on top.

Round 2:

Magomedov lands first in the second frame with an outside leg kick. Firmino responds with an inside leg kick. Magomedov steps in with a jab. Firmino lands a leg kick. Magomedov answers with a punch to the body. Firmino presses forward with a left hand to the body. Magomedov lands a counter left hand off a leg kick by Firmino. Magomedov lands his jab and lands a right hook. Firmino responds with a kick to the body. They exchange. Firmino takes an uppercut but lands a right hand over the top. They clinch before quickly separating. Magomedov doubles up on his jab. Firmino presses forward and looks for a takedown. Magomedov shakes off the attempt. Firmino having problems getting inside Magomedov’s jab. The pace picks up. Magomedov lands a combination and another one at the bell.

Round 3:

They come out swinging in the second frame. Firmino presses forward and lands a right hand. Magomedov digs to the body with a left. Magomedov continues to land his jab. Firmino responds with a jab of his own. Magomedov steps in with a combination. Firmino plods forward and lands a right hand. Firmino lands a combination. Magomedov responds with a combination. Firmino steps in with a left hook. Both fighters have found their range. They exchange jabs. Firmino presses forward with punches and looks for a takedown. They battle for position along the cage and the referee separates them. Magomedov goes back to landing his jab. Firmino lands a right hook. Magomodov doubles up o his jab and lands a right hand. The round ends with a flurry by both fighters.

Official result: Rashid Magomedov def. Luiz Firmino by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Maxim Grishin vs. Rakim Cleveland (Light Heavyweight Bout)

Round 1:

Cleveland takes the center of the cage. Grishin lands first with an outside leg kick. He lands another one. Clevelands paws with his jab. Clevelands lands an inside leg kick. Grishin changes levels and takes Cleveland down. Clevelands applies a guillotine choke and stands. He delivers a knee to the body as they work along the cage. Cleveland lands an accidental knee to the groin. Grishin falls to his knees. Grishin is given time to recover and the action is restarted. Grishin lands an inside leg kick and presses forward. He goes to the body with a right hand. Grishin lands two kicks to the lead leg of Cleveland. Grishin lands to the body with a right hand. Cleveland presses forward and they clinch. Grishin separates and misses with a spinning back fist. Grishin targets the body with a left hand. Clevelands closes the distance and lands a left hand. Grishin lands a right hand to the body. They clinch and Grishin delivers shoulder strikes against the cage. The round ends.

Round 2:

Grishin lands a jab. Cleveland responds with a right hand. Grishin lands a right hand and Cleveland answers with a kick. Cleveland lands another kick and Grishin opts to tie him up. Grishin secures a takedown and Cleveland applies a guillotine choke. Grishin pops his head out and works from the half guard position. Grishin delivers left hands to the body. Cleveland gets to his knees and tries to stand but Grishin takes his back. Grishin flattens Cleveland out. He applies a rear-naked choke and Cleveland is forced to tap out.

Official result: Maxim Grishin def. Rakim Cleveland by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:03, Round 2

Will Brooks vs. Robert Watley (Lightweight Bout)

Round 1:

Brooks takes the center of the cage. He lands first with an inside leg kick. Watley responds with an outside leg kick. Watley presses forward and Brooks tosses him to the ground. Watley immediately gets back to his feet. Brooks presses Watley against the cage delivers knees to Watley’s legs. Brooks secures a body lock takedown. Watley uses the cage to stand. Brooks trips Watley back to the canvas but Watley quickly gets back to his feet and nearly lands a knee. Brooks keeps the pressure on. The referee separates them. Brooks lands an inside leg kick and looks for a takedown. Watley shakes off the attempt and changes levels and takes Brooks down. Brooks stands and the round ends.

Round 2:

Watley explodes forward and lands a left hand. Brooks clinches and looks for a takedown. Brooks delivers knees to the thighs of Watley. Watley proving to be tough to take down. Brooks trips Watley to the ground, but Watley immediately bounces back to his feet. Brooks secures another trip takedown but can’t keep Watley grounded. Brooks again trips Watley to the canvas. He takes Watley’s back and delivers right hands. Brooks continues to soften up Watley. He applies a body triangle. Brooks applies a rear-naked choke. Watley defends the submission attempt. The round ends with Watley trying to scramble to a better position.

Round 3:

Watley presses forward and misses with a right hand. Brooks ducks under and looks to get the fight to the ground. They work for position along the cage. Brooks delivers knees to the thighs of Watley. He trips Watley to the ground and takes his back. Watley trying to fight the hands of Brooks. Brooks applies a body triangle and fishes for a rear-naked choke. Brooks delivers punches. Watley scrambles free and lands a knee to the body. Brooks initiates the clinch and looks for a takedown. Watley shakes off the attempt and lands a knee to the body. The round ends.

Official result: Will Brooks def. Robert Watley by unanimous decision (30-37, 30-37, 30-37)

Vinny Magalhaes vs. Brandon Halsey (Light Heavyweight Bout)

Round 1:

Magalhaes lands first with an outside leg kick. He steps in with a kick and Halsey secures a takedown. He stands and lets Magalhaes up. They clinch but quickly separate. Halsey pressing forward. Magalhaes lands a left hand and a left high kick. Halsey goes down. Magalhaes follows him to the canvas and lands a series of right hands. The referee looks on closely and steps in to stop it.

Official result: Vinny Magalhaes vs. Brandon Halsey by TKO (strikes) at 1:34, Round 1

Jason High vs. Natan Schulte (Lightweight Bout)

Round 1:

High lands to the body with a right hand. Schulte lands an outside leg kick. No feeling out process in this one. High lands a front kick to the body. Schulte pressing forward. They clinch. High tosses him but Schulte remains standing. Schulte secures a takedown and Highly quickly gets back to his feet. They battle for position along the cage. Schulte trips High to the ground but High immediately gets to his feet. They work in the clinch. Schulte lands a knee to the body and they separate. Schulte delivers a leg kick that sweeps High off his feet. Schulte follows High to the canvas. High tries to scramble to his feet. Schulte takes his back and applies a rear-naked choke. High goes out without tapping.

Official result: Natan Schulte def. Jason High by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:18, Round 1