PFL 1: Harrison vs. Tuerxun Results and Recap

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PFL 1 Andre Harrison
Andre Harrison (left) poses beside Juma Tuerxun Credit: PFL

PFL 1 featured a host of featherweight and heavyweight action, including the return of Andre Harrison, Josh Copeland, and others.

The Professional Fighters League kicked off its first full season Thursday night, live from the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. While the PFL 1 card underwent a late shake-up when heavyweight Shawn Jordan missed weight, the promotion still had an impressive slate of fights to open its inaugural season. Those included names like Andre Harrison, Lance Palmer, Alex Nicholson, Josh Copeland, and others.

PFL 1 featured exclusively featherweights and heavyweights from the promotion’s million dollar tournament (the winner of each weight class was looking a million dollars in prize money). In the main event, featherweight favorite Andre Harrison headlined opposite Jumabieke Tuerxun; the former WSOF featherweight champ was a favorite to win the 145lb tournament.

Check back throughout the night for results and a recap of the night’s action!

Preliminary Card Recap

Kicking off the card, Francimar Barroso and Daniel Gallemore went right to work in the heavyweight division. While Gallemore came out strong, Barroso soon turned the tables on American. He began to connect with uppercuts and hooks as Gallemore retreated. By the time the Brazilian had Gallemore trapped against the fence, the American’s eye was leaking blood and swollen shut. As the ref broke up the two men, he called in the doctor, and it was all over, as Gallemore was deemed unable to continue.

The evening’s second bout was over even quicker, as Brazil’s Alexandre Almeida threw just four strikes (the same number as opponent Lee Coville) before scoring a takedown, locking on an arm-bar and forcing the tap. All that in under ninety seconds.

Former UFC fighter Steven Siler returned next, taking on Magomed Idrisov. Russia’s Idrisov was a perfect 8-0 heading into the fight, but taking on a much more experienced Siler. Still, it was Idrisov dropping Siler in the first round with a left, and smashing him with ground and pound — only for the ref to allow the beating to continue. Possibly while checking his texts, wondering if he left the oven on, or people watching in the crowd. Easily a non-call/non-stoppage, but somehow, Siler recovered, and got himself back in the fight. A takedown attempt by Siler led to a scramble, and Siler wound up on bottom, throwing up a triangle. That would earn Steven Siler the finish!

The heavyweight tilt between Caio Alencar and Kelvin Tiller was up next. Alencar opened with some heavy leg kicks, which Tiller answered. The two then exchanged, and Alencar would later take the fight to the canvas. Unable to make any progress, the ref stood the pair up — where Kelvin Tiller unleashed thunderous counter right that landed right on the button and put Alencar down! One-punch knockout for Tiller.

The first fight to escape round one at PFL 1 saw former Bellator champ Marcos Galvao go the distance with Nazareno Malegarie. By the end, both featherweights were bloodied, but it was Argentina’s ‘El Tigre’ getting his hand raised via decision.

Next would come another decision, as former UFC heavyweight Jared Rosholt faced Valdrin Istrefi. In a fight very familiar to anyone who has watched Rosholt work, he dominated with his grappling, and ended the final round taking the back and landing some leather until the final bell. In the end, he’d pick up the unanimous decision.

Alex Nicholson vs. Jake Heun

Kicking off the main card at PFL 1, heavyweights Alex Nicholson and Jake Heun threw down. Heun went to work chopping at the lead leg of ‘The Spartan,’ while Nicholson at times threw wildly, including a spinning back fist that nearly took him off his feet. Heun continued to show patience, while Nicholson went head hunting, and tried to answer back with kicks of his own. Heun would change levels late in the round as Nicholson charged forward, looking for a takedown, but was stuffed. Nicholson connected with a couple of strikes late in the round, but Heun finished by shoving his opponent to the ground as Nicholson again sailed off balance following another spinning back fist attempt.

Heun went right back to his leg kicks to open round two, but Nicholson’s wild ways finally paid off. Launching a rarely seen (at heavyweight) flying knee, he connected with Heun’s skull just as Heun ducked down, anticipating a punch. Heun crashed back to the canvas, and Alex Nicholson had the win!

Alex Nicholson def. Jake Heun by knockout (flying knee), Round 2, 0:58

Timur Valiev vs. Max Coga

Featherweight Timur Valiev got going early against Max Coga, chasing his opponent down and cornering him. Coga stayed active and escaped, but Valiev would later shoot for and land a takedown. Driving his opponent all the way to the fence in the process, he went to work, looking to pass guard. Coga would slowly try to work his way up, but Valiev took his feet out from under him and was practically stuck to his opponent. By the time Coga finally fought his way free, the round was nearly up. He looked to find his range as they engaged on the feet, but the bell sounded soon after.

If round two started a little more competitively for Max Coga, it didn’t last long. By two minutes in, Timur Valiev had him on the ground once again off a caught kick, stacked up along the fence. This time, Valiev stayed very active on top. Coga would eventually make it back up, with ninety seconds to so to go in the round. Coga looked to land a jab, but Valiev was the quicker fighter, landing an uppercut and using lateral movement to stay out of harm’s way.

Round three had Valiev clearly ahead on the scorecards, and Coga pressed the action early. He no doubt was aware he needed a finish, but Taliev once again getting the fight to the ground made it that much harder. Coga was up relatively quickly, and backed Valiev up to the fence, just missing with an uppercut. Coga never would find the finish, however, and on the scorecard, it was no surprise when Valiev had his hand raised.

Timur Valiev def. Max Coga by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Lance Palmer vs. Bekbulat Magomedov

A former WSOF champion, Lance Palmer cornered Bekbulat Magomedov early in their featherweight bout. Magomedov would escape, but Palmer stayed on him, shooting for takedowns, switching from doubles to singles, and walking through the offense of his opponent. Magomedov displayed great takedown defense however, utilizing a whizzer showing impressive balance. Eventually, Palmer would dump him on his back, but there wasn’t enough time left in the opening round for him to make much happen.

Round two saw Palmer and Magomedov heavy on the grappling again. Palmer looked to have tired somewhat, and Magomedov was able to tie him up against the fence. Palmer worked the body with short punches. Exploding, he nearly had Magomedov down, but the Russian bounced back up. Palmer controlled the back, trapping his opponent’s arm. He then climbed the back and sunk in a rear-naked choke, working to flatten Magomedov out. It took some time, but Palmer stayed on it, and forced the tap!

Lance Palmer def. Bekbulat Magomedov by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 3:21

Andre Harrison vs. Jumabieke Tuerxun

Former featherweight champ Andre Harrison wasted no time getting going against Jumabieke Tuerxun in the PFL 1 main event. Tagging his opponent early, he soon had him in a front headlock, and dragged him down, with a D’Arce a possibility. Instead, he allowed Tuerxun back up, re-engaging on the feet. Eventually he’d take it back to the mat, however, working from half guard, with Tuerxun trapped underneath, unable to escape. Easily Harrison’s round, and they went to a second.

Round two saw Harrison go high with a kick early, blocked but it clearly made an impact nonetheless. Tuerxun shot for a takedown; Harrison easily trapped him in a headlock, muscled him down and briefly added a few ground strikes. Allowing him back up, they went back at it on the feet. Yet the next time they went back down, Harrison put some serious pressure on, again with a D’Arce and other chokes a very real possibility. Tuerxun scrambled to escape but gave up the back; he’d take more damage along the fence, but survive to see the third.

It was all Harrison again in round three, as he once again took Tuerxun down, worked from half-guard, and thoroughly dominated him. Tuerxun would try to press for a something, anything, a Hail Mary finish back on the feet at the end of the round, but there was no hope. Harrison had a one-sided decision in the bag.

Andre Harrison def. Jumabieke Tuerxun by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Professional Fighters League 1 Results:

Andre Harrison def. Jumabieke Tuerxun by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Lance Palmer def. Bekbulat Magomedov by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 3:21
Timur Valiev def. Max Coga by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Alex Nicholson def. Jake Heun by knockout (flying knee), Round 2, 0:58

Preliminary Card (Facebook) Results:

Jared Rosholt def. Valdrin Istrefi by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 29-28)
Nazareno Malegarie def. Marcos Galvao by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Kelvin Tiller def. Caio Alencar by knockout, Round 1, 3:34
Steven Siler  def, Magomed Idrisov by submission (triangle), Round 1, 4:19
Alexandre Almeida def. Lee Coville by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 1:22
Francimar Barroso def. Daniel Gallemore by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 1, 3:57

Post-Liminary Card (Facebook) Results:

Jack May def. Josh Copeland by TKO (body kick and punches), Round 1, 4:30

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