NEW YORK, NY – The 2022 PFL Championship took place at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden Friday night. Read below how it unfolded and how Larissa Pacheco was able to pull off an upset over Kayla Harrison and much more in the finale of the 2022 PFL season.
Main Event
Women’s Lightweight Championship
Larissa Pacheco defeated Kayla Harrison
via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Harrison had come in as one of the most dominant fighters heading into her PFL championship fight. She was unable to keep her undefeated going as she suffered her first loss from Pacheco Friday night.
Harrison got off to a strong start in the bout, scoring an early takedown and posing a threat of submitting Pacheco for the majority of the first round. However, Pacheco persevered through those challenging five minutes and mounted a comeback in the second round. She utilized her formidable strength to keep the fight on her feet to hit huge punches and her outstanding takedown defense to reverse the course of the fight.
It seemed as though the fight would end in a draw heading into the final round, and Pacheco was the combatant who appeared to have more energy at that time. Harrison took numerous heavy blows, and she ultimately took her down, but she was unable to take advantage of her opportunities.
Pacheco was victorious from the match with scores of 48-47 across the board from all three judges. Prior to this fight, Harrison had never been defeated in even a single round during her professional career.
When Pacheco was presented with the championship belt and $1 million check, she thanked Harrison for helping her reach this point in her career. Pacheco acknowledged that her opponent had a hand in bringing her to this point.
Co-Main Event
Featherweight Championship
Brendan Loughnane defeated Bubba Jenkins
via TKO (punches), Round 4, 2:38
It was no surprise Loughnane would use his leg kicks to keep Jenkins wobbly all night long. He would pick him apart Jenkins with clean punches as well while keeping him hobbled with the leg kicks.
Jenkins, the division one wrestling champion, tried to take Loughnane down many times during this fight, but he was able to withstand it all with his terrific defense. Jenkins did cut open Loughnane over the first three rounds, opening a cut on his nose.
In the third, the England native kept moving farther and further ahead, eventually tearing the back leg up as well. He became more hostile and caused more harm, despite the fact that Loughnane’s face was also cut and bruised. By the fourth round, Jenkins could hardly stand, leaving him open to a massive onslaught that finally caused the referee to make the call to stop the fight.
Following the fight, Loughnane said, “Forget the belt, forget the million; it’s about the performance. I’m trying to prove how good I am. It’s a grind. It’s the hardest competition in sports. I’m emotional. Just thank you to everybody.”
Heavyweight Championship
Ante Delija defeated Matheus Scheffel
via TKO (punches), Round 1, 2:50
Both Delija and Scheffel started off their 2022 PFL campaigns facing off against each other, in which Delija got the win. Delija ended the season just as he started with a win over Scheffel.
The fight came to an end when Delija pushed forward and pinned Scheffel against the cage. While Scheffel was pinned against the cage, Delija let loose with a volley of strikes. Scheffel’s resistance was steadily broken down with every punch until it finally collapsed, at which point the referee rushed in to put an end to the match.
Women’s Featherweight Bout
Aspen Ladd defeated Julia Budd
via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
The fight was neck and neck all throughout. Neither Ladd nor Budd was able to take over completely. They both had their moments.
When the fight had gone on for less than two minutes, Ladd had already gained early momentum with her grappling. Ladd was unable to pull away despite having an early lead and dominating the competition. Budd was able to effectively resist efforts to choke her out.
In the second round of the fight, Budd was able to find effectiveness with her clinch work and punching, which she had not been able to achieve in the first round. The second round was quite tight, but it seemed like Budd had the edge over Ladd.
As the combatants approached the third round of the fight, which was wide open for anybody to win, Ladd displayed her boxing skills. The physically more intimidating opponent, Ladd certainly pushed the play ahead in the final minute when she sliced away at Budd, securing Ladd the victory in one of the more entertaining fights of the night.
Lightweight Championship
Olivier Aubin-Mercier defeated Stevie Ray
via KO (right hook) Round 2, 2:40
The story of this fight obviously has to be the leg kicks by Aubin-Mercier. The leg kicker made Ray have to stand up, but gradually it was taking a toll on his legs, damaging the right calf of Ray.
Ray was sent to the ground twice by kicks from Aubin-Mercier. However, as Aubin-Mercier attempted a high kick, Ray brought him down to the canvas, grabbed back control, and attempted to apply a rear-naked choke. Ultimately, Aubin-Mercier was able to break free, and as the closing seconds of the second round ticked away on the clock, it seemed as if the fight would go into the third round knotted at one round each.
However, Aubin-Mercier did not let it reach the third round. At 4:40 of the second round, his right hook knocked out his opponent, putting a stop to the bout by delivering a huge right hook to end the fight.
Aubin-Mercier extended his winning streak to six, along with coming away with the Lightweight championship and a check for $1,000,000.
Welterweight Championship
Sadibou Sy defeated Dilano Taylor
via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
After being a part of the PFL for four seasons, Sy finally made his first appearance in the finals and was able to come away victorious.
The Swedish fighter, with his lengthy reach, kept Taylor at a distance while hitting mostly with kicks. He also delivered several heavy blows to Taylor’s body. Taylor continued to attack, but he failed to find any openings for his powerful strikes.
It seemed as if the most well-rounded fighter was the one who had the most experience. He was able to deliver a great methodical performance staying patient and calm throughout the fight and not letting Taylor dictate the tempo of the bout, which allowed him to come away with a win.
After the win, an emotional Sy said, “I’ve been working for all the years since 2002 for this moment, to be here with this belt, five-time world champion.”
He was able to make his dreams come true Friday night, coming away not just with the Welterweight championship along with the biggest check of his life
Light Heavyweight Championship
Robert Wilkinson defeated Omari Akhmedov
via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) Round 2, 5:00
Wilkinson came out from the beginning and never looked back. Wilkinson maintained command of the bout for its duration, following Akhmedov around the ring and inflicting damage on him with punches and uppercuts.
Even though Akhmedov possessed big hands and posed a threat, he was unable to stop Wilkinson from walking him down. Once, he started to take punches from the hands of Wilkinson. It was too much for him to overcome.
Following the second round, Akhmedov stayed on the ground. The doctor who examined Akhmedov decided that he should not continue the fight, which would give Wilkinson a lopsided victory in which he dominated from start to finish.
“The million dollars is awesome, but this belt is something I’ve been dreaming of,” said Wilkinson.
The Australian fighter finished his 2022 PFL campaign undefeated; since losing to Israel Adesanya in 2018, Wilkinson is 7-0
Prelim Results
- Biaggio Ali Walsh defeated Tom Grasesser via KO (punch) – Round 1, 0:45
- Dakota Ditcheva defeated Katherine Corogenes via KO – Round 1, 4:20.
- Magomed Magomedkerimov defeated Gleison Tibau via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Natan Schulte defeated Jeremy Stephens via submission (arm-triangle) – Round 2 – 1:32
- Sheymon Moraes defeated Marlon Moraes via TKO- Round 3, 0:58
