Sherdog’s live
PFL Austin coverage will begin Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET.
A middleweight
title fight headlines PFL Austin: Tune on Saturday, July 18 at 8
p.m. ET on ESPN.
Round 1
A women’s flyweight affair kicks off PFL Austin festivities at the
Moody Center, where Alba (6-2, 0-0 PFL) confronts Tsertsvadze (6-1,
0-1 PFL) at 125 pounds. Jeff Rexroad adjudicates matters. A
customary glove touch gets them started. Tsertsvadze closes the
distance on an attempted takedown, which goes nowhere. Leg kick
from Alba. Tsertsvadze again crashes forward and clinches briefly
along the fence. They separate. Back in open space, Alba presses
forward behind punches from both hands and an inside leg kick.
Tsertsvadze answers with a right hand over the top. Alba the busier
of the two women on the feet thus far. More leg kicks from the
Mexican. Alba now targets the outside of the lead leg with kicks
and fires straight punches at the head. She greets Tsertsvadze with
a knee to the body and turns her into the fence. They separate once
more. Midway through the round. Another leg kick from Alba. Nice
one-two from Tsertsvadze, but she fails to follow up. Alba responds
with a low kick, resets and circles. They paw with their jabs.
Tsertsvadze hunts an overhand right, only to eat another leg kick.
Damage building on the Georgian’s lower extremities. Alba flurries
to cut off an attempted clinch, then turns up the heat further with
a knee up the middle. Not going well for Tsertsvadze here. Twenty
seconds left. More leg kicks from Alba, as the round concludes.
10-9 Alba.
Round 2
They tend to a cut on the bridge of Tsertsvadze’s nose during the
intermission. Off they go for the middle stanza. Alba picks up
where she left off. She circles on the outside, targets the lead
leg with kicks and fires straight punches upstairs, along with a
front kick to the body. Alba presses forward with more offense and
denies the Georgian’s bid for a takedown. Tsertsvadze not having
much success. They separate. Fatigue starting to set in on both
sides. Alba connects with a series of front kicks to the body, then
follows with an overhand right. Tsertsvadze absorbs more
punishment. She lands an overhand right after a failed takedown
attempt and then clinches along the fence. Two minutes to go in the
round. Alba’s breathing has grown labored. Tsertsvadze scores with
an overhand right but eats a front kick to the body for her
troubles. She shoots on a single-leg but makes no progress. Alba
steps forward and lands another leg kick, then another. Tsertsvadze
drives into the clinch and lands a few knees to the body. Alba
separates and dodges an attempted clinch. 10-9 Tsertsvadze
Round 3
Could be anyone’s fight with five minutes to go. They probe with
jabs. Tsertsvadze forces a clinch, only to get turned into the
fence. Alba separates and lands an inside leg kick. Front kick to
the body from the Mexican. Lack of output becoming more of an issue
for Tsertsvadze. Alba sprawls on a takedown attempt and continues
to target the lead leg with kicks. Tsertsvadze shoots on a
single-leg and trips Alba to the floor but fails to consolidate
those efforts with positional control. Alba gets back to her feet,
sprawls on a takedown attempt and lands a head kick on the break.
Halfway home in the third round. Tsertsvadze plows forward but
cannot corral her counterpart. Alba circles away from danger and
connects with a front kick to the body. More leg kicks from Alba.
Tsertsvadze’s thigh has turned a deep shade of purple.
Nevertheless, she presses forward behind punches. Front kick to the
body forces Tsertsvadze to retreat. Alba again attacks the leg. She
shuts down a weak takedown attempt and slams the lead leg with
another kick. Tsertsvadze almost stationary at this point. Nice
one-two from the Georgia.
Front kick doubles over Tsertsvadze. Alba follows with a vicious
punching combination and a head kick to force the late
finish.
The Official Result
Victoria Alba def. Borena Tsertsvadze—TKO (Front Kick to the Body
and Punches)
Round 1
Women’s flyweights are next to the PFL Austin stage, as Thiner
(2-0, 0-0 PFL) toes the line against Grawe (3-0, 0-0 PFL) at 125
pounds. Rexroad officiates. They circle at the start. Thiner steps
into an inside leg kick. Sharp one-two from Grawe. Thiner settles
in the center of the cage, switches stances and fires punches from
both hands. Grawe powers into a body lock but eats a knee to the
body while engaged along the fence. Thiner separates and lands a
right hook. They trade elbows at close range. Front kick to the
body from Thiner. Grawe answers with a leg kick. Three minutes to
go. Grawe steps into a right hook, resets and counters with a right
cross. She secures a takedown and settles in half guard. Promising
start for the underdog. Action stalls. Thiner stands and braces
herself against the cage. Grawe clings to a rear waistlock and
drags her opponent to the floor. Thiner stands immediately,
separates and turns up the heat. She follows a barrage of punches
with a volley of knees. They clinch along the fence. Thirty seconds
to go. Thiner scores with knees to the body and an elbow on the
break. 10-9 Thiner
Round 2
Back at it for Round 2. Grawe crashes forward. Thiner sidesteps the
charge and counters. Grawe clinches and scores with foot stomps.
Thiner connects with a right hook on the break. Grawe struggling
the manage distance. Check hook from Thiner, who seems to be
picking her spots here. Grawe sneaks in an overhand right. She
follows with a straight right and a left over the top. Trip
takedown from Grawe with a little more than a minute to go. Thiner
stands and misses on a spinning elbow. Grawe lands on the break.
Front kick to the body from Thiner, who sweeps Grawe off her feet
with an inside leg kick. Slapping head kick from Grawe, who has
worked her way back into the fight. 10-9 Grawe
Round 3
Still up for grabs at the start of the third round. They probe for
openings in the center of the cage. Strong leg kick from Thiner,
who now targets the inside of the lead leg. Another stout inside
leg kick from Thiner. Grawe switches stances to shield her lower
extremities. Pace has slowed from both women. Overhand right from
Grawe. Thiner answers on the counter. Stabbing front kick from
Thiner connects to the body. Grawe steps forward but walks into an
elbow. Powerful front kick to the body from Thiner sits down her
opponent but only briefly. Two minutes to go. Thiner doubles up on
her jab and follows with a leg kick. Grawe not having much success
on the feet. Thiner lands with hooks from both hands and punctuates
those efforts with a low kick. Grawe running out of time here.
Another front kick to the body from Thiner, who invites Grawe into
the clinch and connects with an elbow. Head-and-arm throw goes
nowhere for Grawe. 10-9 Thiner (29-28 Thiner)
The Official Result
Ashley Thiner def. Mia Grawe—Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28,
29-28)
Round 1
Attention at PFL Austin stays on the women’s flyweight division,
where Vazquez (8-3, 0-1 PFL) squares off with Savicheva (7-2, 0-0
PFL) at 125 pounds. Don Turnage administers the law and order. They
forego touching gloves and get down to the business at hand. They
test the waters with jabs and leg kicks. Strong jab from Savicheva.
Vazquez works from both stances and lands a low kick. Savicheva
answers with a rapid-fire volley of punches. The Russian steps into
a one-two and follows with an inside leg kick. Vazquez biting on
feints and running into counters as she crashes forward. Nice
straight right from Savicheva, who resets and fires off a one-two.
She circles, pumps out a jab and mixes in a front kick. Vazquez
responds with a body kick. Hard leg kick from Savicheva, who
unleashes another one-two. Vazquez targeting the lead leg with
kicks. Savicheva sits down the Mexican with a one-two. Vazquez
smiles, acknowledges the shot and gets to her feet. They trade
hooks at close range. Savicheva circles out of a takedown attempt.
Vazquez rips power punches and crashes forward in the closing
seconds. 10-9 Savicheva
Round 2
Vazquez facing an uphill climb at the start of the middle stanza.
Savicheva opens with an inside leg kick. Vazquez answers with a
side kick just above the knee. Savicheva pumps out the jab and
kicks at the legs. Vazquez ducks into a multi-punch volley but
fails to land anything of consequence. More feints from Savicheva.
She follows a straight right with a front kick to the body.
Savicheva jabs to the body, then the head. Thudding body kick from
Vazquez. Savicheva looks undeterred and returns fire with an
overhand right. Two minutes to go. They trade again in the center
of the cage. Savicheva gets the best of it. Vazquez plods forward
with a body kick, only to run into a three-punch combo from her
opponent. Savicheva very much in control of this one. She
punctuates another combination with a low kick. Vazquez crashes
forward behind punches and clinches. Thirty seconds on the clock.
Vazquez works hard for a takedown but cannot get the Russian to the
ground and stalls along the fence. 10-9 Savicheva
Round 3
Vazquez likely needs a finish as the third round gets underway.
Savicheva paws with her jab and forces the Mexican onto her back
foot. Vazquez lands a low kick. Savicheva follows a jab to the body
with two punches upstairs and a body kick. Vazquez connects with an
overhand left. She lands a counter right over the top. Savicheva
still the aggressor. She sticks the jab and a body kick, then
another. Vazquez comes up short on a volley. Savicheva catches a
kick, dumps her opponent to the mat and scores with some
ground-and-pound before backing out and getting to her feet.
Another takedown from Savicheva surprises Vazquez. Vazquez powers
into a takedown, works behind the Russian and gets to the backpack
position while working on a rear-naked choke. She alternates
between punches and the choke. Vazquez drags Savicheva to the mat
and nearly finishes the choke. The Russian turns into the guard and
avoids catastrophe. She works from top position. Vazquez threatens
with an armbar as the horn sounds. Savicheva survives. 10-9 Vazquez
(29-28 Savicheva)
The Official Result
Aleksandra Savicheva def. Andrea Vazquez—Split Decision (29-28,
28-29, 29-28)
Round 1
Featherweights get the ball rolling on the PFL Austin main card,
where Pinedo (25-8-1, 5-3 PFL) puts Ruquet (11-4, 0-0 PFL) to the
test at 145 pounds. Montalvo adjudicates matters. No glove touch.
They circle each other in the center of the cage, Pinedo in the
southpaw stance, Ruquet in orthodox. Side kick to the lead leg from
Pinedo. Ruquet answers with a leg kick. Lots of feints from the
American. Sharp inside leg kick from Ruquet. Pinedo presses forward
behind a jab and a penetrating straight left. Ruquet lands another
low kick. Pinedo stalks, waiting for openings to present
themselves. Crowd boos the relative inaction. Pinedo gets busy with
both hands. He lands a left over the top and flurries but mostly
comes up empty. Midway through the round. Pinedo throws out a head
kick. Ninety seconds to go, as restlessness builds among the fans.
Leg kick from Ruquet, followed by another. Pinedo flicks out his
jab. Ruquet doubles up on his own. Another low kick from Ruquet.
Pinedo backs up the American with a left hand, pins him to the
fence and flurries. Ruquet collapses to a seated position and
turtles in a defensive shell. Pinedo senses the blood in the water
and continues to pound away with punches, hammerfists and elbows
until Montalvo has seen enough.
The Official Result
Jesus Pinedo def. Joey Ruquet—TKO (Punches and Elbows) 4:50
R1
Round 1
Action at PFL Austin remains in the featherweight division, as
Loughran (11-3, 0-1 PFL) takes on Arce (21-7, 0-1 PFL) at 145
pounds. Turnage serves as the third man in the cage. They get right
to it. Loughran closes the distance and forces his opponent onto
his back foot. Arce probes with his jab. Hard body kick from the
American. Loughran catches it, presses him to the fence and works
on a takedown. The Irishman clings to a single-leg, releases it and
lands a right hand over the top on the break. Arce gets back to his
jab. Loughran works kicks to the leg and body. Arce sticks his jab.
Loughran whiffs on a sweeping left hook, then resets. He ducks into
another single-leg and settles for a body lock. They jockey for
position along the fence. Two minutes left in the round. Loughran
punches the body and eats a knee in response. Stellar takedown from
Arce making life difficult for the former Cage Warriors champion.
Shoulder strike from Loughran. Arce snatches the Thai clinch and
lands a knee to the body. They separate. Loughran closes the
distance again behind hooks from both hands. Arce turns back to his
knees. Loughran secures a takedown. Arce scrambles to his feet.
More pressure along the fence from Loughran. They trade at the
horn. 10-9 Loughran
Round 2
A competitive first round now gives way to the second. Arce greets
the Irishman with a one-two. Loughran bleeding heavily from a cut
on his forehead, courtesy of an earlier knee strike. Inside leg
kick from the Irishman. Arce rips punches in combination,
highlighted by a left uppercut. Loughran punches into a takedown
attempt. No luck. Arce forces him to clinch and fires away with
knees. Loughran lands an elbow at close range. They trade punches,
and both land. Front kick to the body from Loughran. Arce connects
with a jab, then defends a takedown and scores with knees to the
body. Crowd boos for some reason. No lack of action here. More
knees from Arce. He now scores with punches to the head. Arce
beating the Irishman to the punch in this round. Less than a minute
to go. Arce doubles up on his jab, lands a leg kick and follows
with another jab. 10-9 Arce
Round 3
The outcome still very much in doubt at the start of the third
round. Arce greets Loughran with a jab, a straight left, another
jab and a left uppercut. Check hook from Arce. Loughran punches
into a takedown attempt but goes nowhere. He lands an elbow but
absorbs another knee for his troubles. Arce strings together a
beautiful combination. Blood again flowing from the Loughran cut.
They exchange jabs. Arce connects with hooks from both hands and
continues throwing. Loughran lands a body kick. Arce answers with
one of his own. More jabs from Arce. Loughran steps into a right
hook, then lashes out with a one-two. Ninety seconds to go. Arce
lands a body kick. Loughran catches it and drags him to the mat.
Arce tries to free himself with a few reverse elbows. He reverses
into closed guard and drops punches. Loughran scrambles to his feet
and separates. Arce lands two left hands over the top. Loughran
looks to be out of answers here. Arce lands a counter right hook
and backs up Loughran with a one-two to end it. 10-9 Arce (29-28
Arce)
The Official Result
Julio Arce def. Caolan Loughran—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27,
29-28)
Round 1
PFL Austin has arrived at its bantamweight co-main event, where do
Nascimento (12-3, 0-0 PFL) collides with McGrillen-Evans (12-1, 6-1
PFL) at 135 pounds. Rexroad handles the officiating duties.
McGrillen charges out and feints with his lead hand. Nascimento
opens with a leg kick. McGrillen lands to the body. Nascimento paws
with his lead hand. McGrillen throws out his jab. Nascimento
secures a takedown and bites down on an ankle lock. McGrillen
escapes to his feet and beckons the Brazilian forward. Body kick
from McGrillen. Midway through the first round. Chaotic exchange
ensues after a failed takedown from Nascimento. They settle back in
the center of the cage. Leg kick from Nascimento. McGrillen stalks.
Nascimento secures another takedown and makes a pass at a calf
slicer. McGrillen frees himself and sets off a scramble but winds
up on the bottom. Nascimento drops elbows and punches before he
allows the Englishman to get to his feet. Nascimento attacks the
leg after a spinning attack throws him off-balance. (10-9 do
Nascimento)
Round 2
Off they go for the second round. McGrillen misses a flying knee
but connects with an overhand left that follows. Nascimento looks
somewhat winded. McGrillen presses forward behind another left and
an elbow. Nascimento struggling with the pressure.
Nevertheless, he completes a takedown and jumps to McGrillen’s neck
with a body lock as the Irishman stands. Nascimento lands 12-to-6
elbows to the shoulder, drags McGrillen down to the canvas and
secures the choke. His squeeze does the rest, and McGrillen
taps.
The Official Result
Rafael do Nascimento def. Lewis McGrillen-Evans—Submission
(Rear-Naked Choke) 2:07 R2
Interim PFL Middleweight Title Fight:
Johnny
Eblen (184.2) vs. Impa
Kasanganay (183)
Round 1
A middleweight rematch closes the show at PFL Austin, as Eblen
(17-1, 3-1 PFL) does battle with Kasanganay (20-6, 10-3 PFL) for
the interim PFL championship at 185 pounds. Montalvo administers
the law and order. Kasanganay breaks the ice with a left hook-right
cross combo. Eblen answers with a low kick, then another. Strong
jab from Eblen. Hard leg kick from Kasanganay. Eblen steps into a
one-two, then closes the distance. They trade at close range and
separate. Eblen doubles up on his jab. The American Top Team star
pours on the offense with punches and backs Kasanganay to the
fence. Kasanganay bleeding from a significant cut near one of his
eyes. Eblen hangs out in the clinch and forces his opponent to
carry his weight. Ninety seconds to go. Eblen separates long enough
to land elbows and clinches. He lands a left hook on the break. Leg
kick from Eblen. Kasanganay responds with a jab. Eblen plods
forward behind his jab and resets. He sits down an off-balance
Kasanganay with a left hook in the final 10 seconds. 10-9 Eblen
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
The Official Result
