The Professional Fighters League (PFL) playoffs roll on tonight (Thurs., Aug. 19, 2021) with the women’s Lightweight and Heavyweight semifinals, including a headlining clash between heretofore unstoppable judo ace Kayla Harrison and knockout artist Genah Fabian.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE coverage of the PFL 8 main card below, which begins at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. We’ll also provide quick results for the “Prelims” undercard on ESPN+, which will start streaming at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The other 155-pound semifinal sees Mariana Morais step in for Larissa Pacheco, who missed weight, against Invicta veteran Taylor Guardado, while the two Heavyweight fights on the main card see the favored Bruno Cappelozza and Denis Goltsov lock horns with Jamelle Jones and Ante Delija, respectively.
PFL 8 QUICK RESULTS:
Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian — Harrison def. Fabian by TKO (punches) at 4:01 of Round One
Bruno Cappelozza vs. Jamelle Jones — Cappelozza def. Jones by TKO (punches) at 1:33 of Round Two
Mariana Morais vs. Taylor Guardado — Guardado def. Morais by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
Denis Goltsov vs. Ante Delija — Delija def. Goltsov by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Renan Ferreira vs. Stuart Austin — Ferreira def. Austin by KO (punch) at 0:31 of Round One
Kaitlin Young vs. Marina Mokhnatkina — Mokhnatkina def. Young by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Carl Seumanutafa vs. Muhammed DeReese —- DeReese def. Seumanutafa by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Miranda Barber vs. Amanda Leve — Leve def. Barber by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:18 of Round One
Christian Lohsen vs. Jonas Flok — Lohsen def. Flok by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
PFL 8 ROUND-BY-ROUND COVERAGE:
155 lbs.: Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian
Round one: Fabian circling. Harrison rushes her way into the clinch against the fence. One minute in. She drags Fabian down into side control a minute. Right to mount. Good punches, briefly considers an armbar. Two minutes to go.
More ground-and-pound from Harrison. Unloading as Fabian covers up. She flattens Fabian out and pounds until the ref steps in.
Final result: Harrison def. Fabian by TKO (punches)
265 lbs.: Bruno Cappelozza vs. Jamelle Jones
Round one: Jones shoots early, then knees Cappelozza in the unmentionables. They restart in the center, where Cappelozza stings him with a leg kick. To the inside this time. Body kick. One minute in. Right cross connects for Cappelozza. Jones catches a leg kick, lands a knee downstairs before they separate. Cappelozza stalking, not throwing much. Hard leg kick and Jones is very slow to stand back up. Two minutes to go.
Jones fires a counter left. Cappelozza staying patient. Jones leg kick, can’t capitalize on a slip. One minute to go. Jones tries a head kick. Low kick from Cappelozza. He tries a lead right. Two more low kicks. 10-9 Cappelozza.
Round two: Jones not offering much besides the occasional overhand left at this point. Cappelozza treis a pair of jabs, then stuffs a takedown. Jones it again very slow to stand a minute in. Cappelozza looks for right hands, slams home another low kick. Stiff jab buckles Jones and Cappelozza pounds away until the ref intervenes.
Final result: Cappelozza def. Jones by TKO (punches)
155 lbs.: Mariana Morais vs. Taylor Guardado
Round one: Trading punches early, good right hand from Guardado. Body kick lands. Morais tries to blitz and gets caught in a front headlock, which Guardado uses to toss her to the mat a minute in. Morais scrambles up and throws her down into side control. Back to half guard. Guardado works her way back up and puts her on the fence once again, avoiding another throw. Two minutes to go.
Continuing to press Morais against the fence. Knees downstairs. One minute to go. They separate. Low kick from Morais, counter right by Guardado. Morais with a lead uppercut. 10-9 Guardado.
Round two: Low kick from Morais. Guardado advancing, lands a body kick. Well-timed double-leg puts Guardado on top in half guard. Morais regains guard a minute in. Guardado staying tight, landing the occasional punch. Two minutes in. Ref stands them up with two minutes to go.
Morais tries a flurry. Right hand by Guardado. Low kick connects. Counter right. One minute to go. Guardado tries a head kick. Right hand from Morais, who walks into another counter. Right hand behind a whiffed front kick. Low kick by Guardado. 10-9 Guardado.
Round three: Slow first minute. Low kick from Guardado. Some slow-mo exchanges, then Guardado puts her on the fence. They separate two minutes in. Morais tries to rush. Looping overhand lands. Guardado threatens a single-leg, ties up, and gets thrown into half guard with two minutes to go.
Morais chipping away with short punches. One minute to go. Guardado content to simply hold her down and make no effort to stand. 10-9 Morais.
Final result: Guardado def. Morais by split decision
265 lbs.: Denis Goltsov vs. Ante Delija
Round one: Delija meets Goltsov in the center and hunts for a takedown in the first few seconds, hauling him to the fence. Knees to the thigh. One minute in. Goltsov reverses. He tries a takedown, can’t get it, lands a knee before they separate. Delija waves him on. Sharp left hand from Delija and they return to the clinch two minutes in. Goltsov presses him against the fence. Outside trips puts him on top in half guard. Slick move to full mount with two minutes to go.
Delija bridges and sweeps his way into guard. Goltsov holding onto his wrists. One minute to go. Goltsov tries to make space, can’t do so. 10-9 Delija.
Round two: Low kick and jabs land for Goltsov. Head kick attempt is blocked. One minute in. Goltsov continuing to land his jab. Delija lands a 1-2 and tries an awkward shot that doesn’t work out. Goltsov pressing him against the fence, kicks his foot out from under him and moves to turtle position with some hard punches two minutes in. Heavy blows from Goltsov as Delija struggles to stand. Knee to the body once Delija makes it to his feet. Two minutes to go.
More knees. Delija manages to drag him down into guard. One minute to go. Periodic short punches from the Croat. 10-9 Goltsov.
Round three: Nice long-range double leg from Delija puts him back on top in guard. One minute in. Goltsov tries to throw up a triangle, doesn’t get anywhere. Delija not doing much from the top. Two minutes in. Goltsov tries to sit up, can’t. Now Goltsov finally scrambles to his feet with just over two minutes to go.
Delija in on his hips as Goltsov briefly considers a kimura. Still driving with a minute to go. Knee by Goltsov. He reverses on the fence. Brief separation, punches, clinch again. Another separation before the bell. 10-9 Delija.
Final result: Delija def. Goltsov by unanimous decision
For more on PFL and its ongoing playoffs, click here.