There were a number of upsets at tonight’s PFL 1, with the main event between Clay Collard and former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis being the biggest one of all.
Collard was persistent in his control of the fight from the beginning, with Pettis, who was making his promotional debut, focusing on counters. A creative kick attempt from Pettis ultimately left him falling on his back.
Round two looked for a while like it might be the end for Pettis, as he was first sent to the ground by a strong right hand from Collard. Pettis stayed there in defensive mode and managed to survive, but he was then knocked down again and forced to defend himself as Collard battered him until the end of the round.
Clay Collard drops Pettis in the 2nd round!!!!#2021PFL1
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🌎 https://t.co/T11Ogp2ycR pic.twitter.com/nFULFBsPBT— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 24, 2021
Pettis had a more impressive round three, sending his opponent stumbling with a head kick and following it up with a flying knee. Though Collard wasn’t able to do much with Pettis on top, he was able to grab Pettis’ leg and hold him in guard until the fight finished.
HEAD KICK FOLLOWED BY A FLYING KNEE FROM PETTIS!!!#2021PFL1
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🌎 https://t.co/T11Ogp2ycR pic.twitter.com/jW9FDCUKFK— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 24, 2021
Collard won the judges’ decision, taking home his third consecutive victory.
In another big upset on the card, Polaris and Quintet veteran Marcin Held won a unanimous decision victory against two-time lightweight PFL champ Natan Schulte in a fight that stayed on the feet and focused on strikes.
The third big upset of the night came when two-time featherweight champ Lance Palmer was defeated via decision by Bubba Jenkins.
PFL 1 FULL RESULTS:
Prelims:
- Brendan Loughnane def. Sheymon Moraes via knockout (Round 1), earns 6 points
- Raush Manfio def. Joilton Lutterbach via split decision, earns 3 points
- Akhmed Aliev def. Mikhail Odintsov via unanimous decision, earns 3 points
- Chris Wade def. Anthony Dizy via unanimous decision, earns 3 points
- Tyler Diamond def. Sung Bin Jo via unanimous decision, earns 3 points
- Alex Martinez def. Loik Radzhabov via split decision, earns 3 points
Main Card
- Clay Collard def. Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision, earns 3 points
- Marcin Held def. Natan Schulte via unanimous decision, earns 3 points
- Movlid Khaybulaev def. Lazar Stojadinovic via unanimous decision, earns 3 points
- Bubba Jenkins def. Lance Palmer via unanimous decision, earns 3 points
