Despite being one of the promotion’s biggest signings ever, Shane Burgos entered the final regular season bout of the 2023 PFL season likely needing a finish to get a playoff spot after his loss to Olivier Aubin-Mercier in his promotional debut.
Burgos technically could have made the post-season with a three point decision win and a lot of help the five fighters ahead of him in the standings (all had three points already), while someone who also had no points yet could leapfrog him with a finish of their own.
Regardless, a finish was key as Burgos faced Yamato Nishikawa, a twenty year old with already thirty-one fights to his name who lost to Clay Collard by decision in a violent battle in his own promotional debut earlier this year. Shane Burgos perhaps represented an even tougher test, but Nishikawa showed he refuses to quit in that Collard fight, almost finishing the former pro boxer with leg kicks despite being beaten up for three rounds.
The fight started with both fighters in orthodox stance. Burgos tentatively had the better of the striking and pressed forward, but Nishikawa remained active. Ninety seconds in he changed things up with a rare takedown, a double leg with which he established with relative ease a strong control from the card of the smaller man. Burgos was unable to posture up for about a minute, at which point he landed some good strikes. Nishikawa stayed active with much weaker strikes from his back and was again able to keep Shane from posturing up until one minute left. At that point, Burgos got the Japanese fighter to the fence and postured up to land big strikes, though not necessarily clean ones through the guard, to put a stamp on the round, leaving no doubt. However, he did not get the six-point first round finish he needed.
Round two began with an immediate body lock slam by Burgos when Nishikawa entered over-aggressively. He established top half and was able to land some short strikes while maintaining tight control on Nishikawa. Yamato eventually re-guarded but still ate strikes from Shane Burgos, albeit no massive ones and he stayed active off his back, fighting for grips and throwing up strikes. He did not, however, open up his guard, mainly using his leg for heel kicks on his opponent and so remained on bottom until the bell.
Burgos did not open with a takedown in round 3, but he landed good strikes on the feet including a sharp left hook. He buckled the leg of Nishikawa later on and followed with a big right. He forced his opponent backwards and then did shoot and land a takedown against the fence. Burgos landed in side control but Nishikawa immediately regained full guard again. Burgos tried to pass but was denied, though again he could do more damage from top than Yamato Nishikawa could from the bottom, as one would expect. Burgos stayed strong on top but did not approach a finish, which would really help in case of tiebreaker with Olivier-Aubin Mercier. He exploded and landed his biggest ground and pound strikes of the fight, ripping body hooks, Nishikawa made it to the final bell with plenty of fight left in him.
With this, Burgos was knocked from PFL playoff contention, but the decision still awaited. When it was read Burgos awarded all three rounds, with a dominant 10-8 round in one of those rounds, from each judge.
Official Result: Shane Burgos def. Yamato Nishikawa by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
