After having their bout rebooked due to last month’s PFL Paris cancellation, the anticipated lightweight showdown between Archie Colgan and Mansour Barnaoui finally took place tonight on the main card of PFL Wichita in Kansas.
Round one started very fast with Barnaoui coming out very active. He engaged in the clinch and worked to pepper the head and body of Colgan a few times in the opening round, but Colgan was the one to land the more damaging shots. A great striking battle took place in the opening round, but the power and precision of Colgan’s right hand, whether it was from southpaw or orthodox, seemed to be the difference maker. It was landing very effectively. Barnoui had undoubtedly thrown more shots, but the accuracy from Colgan was there. Late into round one, Colgan hit a high single leg and landed a successful takedown to finish the round on top, landing heavy elbows.
In the opening minute of round two, Barnoui once again looked to take the center of the cage but Colgan wasted no time securing an early takedown. A short time later, Barnoui drove himself back up and on his way, threatened a standing guillotine, forcing Colgan to use his submission defense. After breaking free, Colgan hit Barnaoui with a big shot, forcing the mouthpiece out. Barnaoui tried to grab it quickly and put it back in his mouth, but was punished with a big combination and a takedown. Colgan then threatened a deep submission of his own (arm-in triangle) but the experience and toughness of Barnaoui assisted him in escaping it. At the end of the second round, Barnaoui trapped the arm of Colgan in between his knees and attempted an Americana/arm-bar which got tight for a short period of time. After escaping another submission threat, Colgan returned to his feet before the bell rang for the end of round two.
In the final round, Barnaoui came out hot, firing off shots from all angles. He landed some clean shots and even dropped Colgan at one point before looking for yet another submission. After escaping the submission and eating a few shots from his back, Colgan hit a huge reversal and ended up in mount where he spent the last few minutes of the round controlling and beating up on Barnaoui with damaging ground and pound shots.
No question remained come the scorecards, as Archie Colgan had the clean sweep.
Official Result: Archie Colgan def. Mansour Barnaoui by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
