PFL 3: Shields vs. Cooper Results

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PFL 3 Nurmagomedov
Nurmagomedov vs. Kusch Credit: PFL

The Professional Fighters League kicked off its middleweight and welterweight tournaments in Washington Thursday with PFL 3, featuring Jake Shields and Rick Story among others.

The Professional Fighters league continued its regular season in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, opening the welterweight and middleweight tournaments at PFL 3. There were plenty of familiar names atop the card, starting with former Strikeforce champion and UFC/WSOF title challenger Jake Shields taking on Ray Cooper III. In an interesting twist, Shields has a 1-1 career record against Cooper’s father, Ray Cooper Jr.

Also appearing on the card, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib. And the PFL debut of former UFC regular Rick Story, considered by many to be a top threat in the welterweight tournament, along with Shields.

Eddie ‘Truck’ Gordon, a former Ultimate Fighter winner, was also making his PFL debut on the right.

In early action, after two straight stoppages, Rex Harrison and Andre Lobato fought to a decision. And though Lobato was announced the winner, a scoring error resulted in the results being re-read, with Harrison proclaimed the winner! Incredibly, Lobato was already mid-interview with Bas Rutten following the fight when the change was announced.

The very next fight, Luis Taylor put on a show, finishing Anderson Goncalves in a sequence that began with a leaping left hook. After that, blow after blow connected, with Goncalves unable to escape of defend intelligently. Taylor even managed to set the PFL record for fastest punch, at 28.5MPH.

Joao Zeferino, meanwhile, scored a bloody good — and just plain bloody — standing knockout of Paul Bradley in their welterweight scrap.

The final preliminary bout, meanwhile, saw Magomed Kerimov choke out Harman Terrado just seconds before the end of the first round.

John Howard vs. Gasan Umalatov

Opening up the PFL 3 main card, former UFC combatant John “Doomsday” Howard met Gasan Umalatov in a middleweight battle. The pair clinched early with Howard firing off a knee. At rangle, Umalatov led with his jab. Again, Howard moved to a Thai clinch but wasn’t able to connect with much. That changed in the next exchange. First a right hand opened up a cut by the eye. Then, another blow sent Umalatov reeling, more off balance than hurt, but it allowed Doomsday to pounce nonetheless. He drove Umalatov into the fence, tying him up. When Umalatov did break free, however, he connected with a solid uppercut. With seconds to go with the round, the pair would decide to swing away, with Howard connecting cleaner and adding a takedown right at the buzzer.

Round two saw John Howard taking the back early. He put both hooks in, and began to work for a rear-naked choke. It would take a few punches, some repositioning, and a bit of time, but Howard would force the tap!

John Howard def. Gasan Umalatov by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 2:59

Shamil Gamzatov vs. Eddie Gordon

Eddie ‘Truck’ Gordon, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 19 at middleweight, continued the 185lb action in the second fight of the PFL 3 main card. Gamzatov opened on the outside with a jab, while Gordon looked to close the distance. He’d connect with a leg kick moments later, only for Gordon to connect with a heavy counter right. ‘Truck’ was swinging for the fence in the early going, while Gamzatov took a more measured approach. Gamzatov would change levels for the first takedown attempt, but Gordon easily pushed him back, stuffing it. Gamzatov’s inside leg kicks were having an impact, but Gordon caught one heading into the final minute, landing a punch over the top. Gordon inadvertently landed an eye poke, however, killing any momentum. It was Gamzatov then getting Gordon to the ground; Truck, however, scrambled right back up.

The second round opened with a low blow by Gordon, but the pair went right back to work. Gamzatov began to change things up, going to the body as well as the head, as well as continuing his leg kick attacks. The pair would clinch, with Gordon eventually reversing, and scoring a takedown on his opponent, though it was short-lived. Gamzatov would begin landing standing knees in the clinch at the end of the round, and they would head to a third.

Gordon very likely needed a finish in the third round. Yet as the round wore on that became less and less likely. And it was Gamzatov who connected with the cleaner, crisper shots. The inside leg kicks continued. Punches landed on the dome of Gordon. ‘Truck’ came on strong in the final seconds, but that was too little too late.

Shamil Gamzatov def. Eddie Gordon by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Rick Story vs. Yuri Villefort

Rick Story made his PFL debut in Washington, D.C. on Thursday at PFL 3. Opposite him in a welterweight tournament scrap was former UFC and Strikeforce fighter Yuri Villefort, whose brother Danillo had lost earlier in the evening. Villefort scored a big takedown early, and while Story scrambled Yuri Villefort tried to latch on a body lock from the back. No dice. Back on their feet, Story pressed forward, connecting with a combination then looking for a takedown. Villefort defended with a guillotine, but Story popped free. They’d scramble back up again. At the end of the round it was Story with an arm-in guillotine attempt, but Villefort rode out the clock.

Story opened round two with his hands landing, backing Villefort up. They were trading in a phone booth, but it was Story connecting again and again. Villefort finally got his back off the fence, but he was losing the brawl. They continued to trade in the pocket, but both men were exhausted. Story then landed an easy single leg takedown  Not the greatest idea, as Villefort almost caught him in a leg lock. Story broke free and made it back up. Villefort then tried a knee attack, taking Story down in the process. Again they scrambled back up, and Story ended the round with a flurry of strikes, Villefort again trapped along the cage.

Going to the body in round three, Rick Story was once again the aggressor. Going to the ground after a minute or so, Story looked for a kimura. The pair were slick with sweat however, and a submission would be difficult. Story took the back but was high, with Villefort popping out the back door. Story would score a takedown later in the round, again looking for a submission, but they’d go to the judges, with Story the clear victor.

Rick Story def. Yuri Villefort by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. Pavlo Kusch

Cousin of UFC lightweight champ Khabib, Abubakar Nurmagomedov took to the cage next. A number of lefts and a knee connected for Nurmagomedov, and Kusch looked to be outmatched early. To nullify Nurmagomedov’s attack, Kusch simply held on in the clinch, forcing the ref to restart the action. They’d ride out the round.

Yet in round two, a huge upset. Pavlo Kusch began pressing forward, taking the fight to his opponent. He changed levels with his strikes. Then, Kusch caught Nurmagomedov with an uppercut! Nurmagomedov went down. Kushch managed to take the back, and soon had a rear-naked choke in!

Pavlo Kusch def. Abubakar Nurmagomedov by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 1:23

Jake Shields vs. Ray Cooper III

With Ray Cooper III coming out looking to swing away, Shields seemed to pull guard after the first taste of Cooper’s power. Shields was bleeding and on bottom, but always a threat with his jiu-jitsu. Back on the feet, another punch clipped Shields; he dove for a leg, then tried to draw Cooper into a ground war. Cooper was having none of that, and forced Shields to stand back up. Shields then worked to tie Cooper up in a grappling exchange, but a low blow paused the action. Back underway, Cooper took a big swing and a miss. Shields then went back to forcing grappling exchanges, with his left eye bloodied badly.

Shields shot for a double leg early in the second, but Cooper sprawled, stuffing it, then caught Shields with a left while Shields was still scrambling. Shields once again tried to draw Cooper into his guard. Once more, no dice. Shields would eventually be forced up, and was almost immediately dropped with a left hook! Shields started covering up, and Cooper was dropping bombs! Bloodied, spent, Shields was done. The ref waved it off, and Ray Cooper III had his revenge on the man who defeated his father for a title over a decade ago!

Ray Cooper III def. Jake Shields by TKO, Round 2, 2:09

Check back throughout the evening for highlights and full results from PFL 3: Shields vs. Cooper III! Full results for the card are below.

PFL 3 Main Card Results:

Ray Cooper III def. Jake Shields by TKO, Round 2, 2:09
Pavlo Kusch def. Abubakar Nurmagomedov by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 1:23
Rick Story def. Yuri Villefort by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Shamil Gamzatov def. Eddie Gordon by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
John Howard def. Gasan Umalatov by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 2:59

Preliminary Card Results:

Magomed Kerimov def. Herman Terrado by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:54
Joao Zeferino def. Paul Bradley by knockout, Round 1, 1:58
Bruno Santos def. Sadibou Sy by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Louis Taylor def. Anderson Goncalves by TKO, Round 3, 0:58
Rex Harris def. Andre Lobato by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Abus Magomedov def. Danillo Villefort by TKO, Round 1, 3:37
Bojan Velickovic def. Jonatan Westin by TKO, Round 3, 2:50

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