Outside Source
The four-time NCAA All-American wrestler held his place in the Professional Fighters League welterweight line with a unanimous decision over Florim Zendeli in the PFL Sioux Falls main event on Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in South Dakota. All three members of the assigned judiciary scored it 30-25 for Storley (19-4, 4-2 PFL).
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Zendeli (9-2-1, 4-1 PFL) was penalized two points for repeated fence grabs in the first round, as he dug a hole from which there was no escape. Storley completed takedowns in all three rounds, and while he accumulated little to no damage, he racked up plenty of control time. Zendeli opened small cuts around the South Dakotan’s right eye late in the second round and built some momentum in the standup exchanges early in the third, only to see his progress stymied by yet another takedown.
Meanwhile, former Gorilla Fighting Championships titleholder Gadzhi Rabadanov bounced back from an Aug. 15 defeat to Alfie Davis and captured a unanimous decision against Aleksandr Chizov in their three-round 160-pound catchweight co-headliner. Scores were 30-27, 29-28 and 30-27—all for Rabadanov (27-5-1, 7-1 PFL).
Chizov (13-4, 4-3 UFC) was tenacious from start to finish and leaned heavily on his jab, along with occasional combinations and counters. However, he could not keep the determined Rabadanov at bay. The Russian swooped in for multiple takedowns in all three rounds, utilized positional advances and incorporated ground-and-pound when the opportunities arose. All of it worked together to interrupt Chizov’s rhythm on the feet and ultimately blocked his path to a potential upset.
Rabadanov, 32, has rattled off 13 wins in his past 14 starts.
Further down the main card, Kill Cliff Fight Club and Great Britain Top Team standout Simeon Powell rallied to stop Emiliano Sordi with a knee strike and follow-up punches in the third round of their light heavyweight showcase. Sordi (27-14-1, 7-5-1 UFC), who entered the cage on a three-fight winning streak, clocked out 3:05 into Round 3.
The 27-year-old Powell (12-2, 7-2 UFC) fought through significant adversity. Sordi’s combination of aggression and experience proved problematic for the Brit, though he found a way to stay composed under considerable duress and focused on the task in front of him. Sordi spent much of the second round attached top his opponent’s back, where he secured his position with a body triangle and threatened with rear-naked chokes, cranks and a last-second armbar. None of it threw Powell of the scent. He emerged for Round 3 as the visibly fresher fighter, pressed the issue and eventually backed Sordi to the fence with a vicious left hook to the body. Powell sat down the Argentinian “He-Man” at the base of the cage with a knee up the middle, then mopped up what was left with punches.
Powell has nailed down nine of his 12 pro victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.
Elsewhere, Raty Team product Sergey Bilostenniy wiped out Renan Ferreira with punches in the third round of their heavyweight attraction. The toolsy but enigmatic Ferreira (13-6, 7-4 PFL) succumbed to blows 1:56 into Round 3, as he suffered his third setback in as many appearances.
Bilostenniy (15-4, 4-1 PFL) wore down the American Top Team-trained Brazilian with well-timed takedowns, a smothering top game and consistent ground-and-pound for much of the first two rounds. His efforts took their intended tool. Bilostenniy coaxed his weary 6-foot-8 counterpart into range early in Round 3 and connected with a sweeping right hook that folded “Problema” where he stood. He then hovered above the fallen Ferreira and let fly with a few more punches until the job was done.
The 30-year-old Bilostenniy has won five of his past six bouts.
Deeper into the main draw, ex-Absolute Championship Akhmat titleholder Magomed “Tiger” Magomedov rebounded from an Oct. 3 knockout loss to Sergio Pettis and did just enough to eke out a split decision against Leandro Higo in a competitive catchweight feature at 137 pounds. Judge Eric Colon saw it 29-28 for Higo, while Bryan Miner and Anthony Maness scored it 30-27 for Magomedov.
Higo (23-8, 0-2 PFL) made a pass at a tight guillotine choke in the second round but struggled to sustain meaningful offense. Magomedov (22-5, 2-1 PFL) lured the Brazilian into tie-ups and did his most effective work across the final five minutes, where he stepped into a close-range knee strike, snuck behind the Pitbull Brothers rep and executed a scary slam. Higo tucked his head before he struck the canvas and managed to avert disaster, but he never again threatened the Russian.
Magomedov has alternated between wins and losses in each of his past eight outings.
Finally, undefeated KHK MMA Team export Rasul Magomedov called upon repeated takedowns, suffocating top control and steady ground-and-pound ahead of a unanimous decision over Rafael Xavier in their featured light heavyweight prelim. All three cageside judges turned in 30-27 scorecards for Magomedov (9-0, 2-0 PFL).
Xavier (14-9, 1-1 PFL) was ineffective outside of a few powerful leg kicks. Magomedov secured takedowns in all three-rounds and operated efficiently from full guard, half guard and side control. The Bahrain-based Russian opened multiple cuts with slashing elbows, ignored boos from the crowd and neutralized Xavier’s three-inch height and five-inch reach advantages with his rinse-and-reach approach.
Magomedov, 31, has gone the distance in each of his past three assignments.
In other action, Sabrinna de Sousa (6-0, 3-0 PFL) outpointed Cheyanne Bowers (7-3, 0-1 PFL) to a unanimous decision in their three-round catchweight confrontation at 134 pounds, as she earned 29-28 marks from all three judges; Sang Won Kim (15-6-1, 1-0 PFL) disposed of Humberto Bandenay (27-10, 0-1 PFL) with elbows from the mount 2:56 into the second round of their featherweight scrap; Taila Santos (23-4, 4-1 PFL) dispatched Qihui Yan (25-6, 0-1 PFL) with a body kick and follow-up punches 2:02 into the first round of their women’s flyweight clash; Angel Alvarez (11-2, 1-0 PFL) laid claim to a unanimous decision—30-27, 29-28, 29-28—over Bryce Logan (13-10, 0-1 PFL) in their three-round lightweight tilt; Brett Bye (1-0, 1-0 PFL) put away Taylor Michels (1-1, 0-1 PFL) with punches 3:40 into the first round of their welterweight affair; and Maxwell Djantou Nana (8-2, 3-1 PFL) took a unanimous decision—29-28, 30-27, 30-27—from Karl Williams (10-6, 1-4 PFL) in their three-round heavyweight pairing.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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