PITTSBURGH: The Professional Fighters League made its debut Saturday in “The Steel City,” where those in attendance at UPMC Center saw two former champions record big wins.
In the main event, former Bellator world champion and No.1-ranked PFL middleweight Johnny Eblen bounced back from the first loss of his career with an emphatic first-round submission victory over No.9-ranked Bryan Battle, who was making his PFL debut. With the win, Eblen puts himself in prime position for a rematch with PFL Middleweight World Champion Costello van Steenis.
In the same weight division’s co-main event, Pennsylvania’s own No.4-ranked Dalton Rosta had the entire city of Pittsburgh behind him as he entered the PFL cage against No. 3-ranked and former champion Impa Kasanganay, but the support was not enough to propel “Hercules” to victory. The two men exchanged heavy shots, with each landing damaging blows, but in the end it was a pair from Kasanganay that left Rosta facedown, forcing the referee to step in and stop the action.
In her PFL debut, No.10-ranked flyweight Ariane Lipski da Silva took care of business against No.5-ranked Sumiko Inaba, getting the better of the standup exchanges and controlling the pace throughout. Showcasing her sharp striking and composure, Lipski consistently found her range while neutralizing Inaba’s offense, ultimately securing a convincing decision victory.
A battle between the No.8 and No.9-ranked PFL featherweights lived up to the hype, as Alexei Pergande and Julio Arce turned the canvas into a bloody battleground, trading shots on the feet and scrambles on the ground throughout. In the end, the surging Pergande earned a unanimous decision victory.
Proud Cuban and No.9-ranked bantamweight Lazaro Dayron remained undefeated with a unanimous decision victory over Jacob Thrall, showcasing his wrestling with seven takedowns across three rounds.
