The Samourai MMA 14 card was headlined by Michael Dufort and featured names like Tommy Morrisson and Louie Jourdain. Morrisson is a 26-year-old undefeated flyweight prospect and Jourdain is the younger brother of UFC fan-favourite Charles. After a loss in the PFL last summer to Gadzhi Rabadanov, who went on to win the PFL tournament, Dufort was looking to follow in Yohan Lainesse’s footsteps who got back on track at SamouraiMMA Chapter 12 last November.

Samourai MMA 14 Full Card Recap

Louie Sanoudakis (10-3) vs Tarcisio Romano (11-6-1) [BANTAMWEIGHT]

ROUND 1: Sanoudakis made Romano pay with body kicks every time he’d nakedly switch to southpaw. Romano let his hands go a bit more than Sanoudakis and landed some solid leg kicks. Competitive round, 10-9 Romano.

ROUND 2: After spending almost half the round in the clinch, Sanoudakis finally got the fight’s first takedown. Romano worked his way back to the feet and got a takedown of his own. Sanoudakis eventually got top control and finished the round with some punishing knees to the body. 10-9 Sanoudakis

ROUND 3: With Sanoudakis seemingly the fresher fighter of the two entering the final round, the Canadian fighter was able to outpoint Romano on the feet. He then shot a takedown, worked his way to the back and finished the round by landing ground-and-pound shots. Clear 10-9 Sanoudakis.

A hard-fought but deserved win for Sanoudakis who moved to 11-3.

Official Result: Louie Sanoudakis def. Tarcisio Romano by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Antoine Chaput (4-2) vs Kaecy Raddon (5-1) [LIGHTWEIGHT]

ROUND 1: Started with close striking exchanges in the first couple minutes until Chaput connected with a clean right cross on Raddon’s chin. Raddon then instinctively shot a takedown that Chaput stuffed. In the clinch, Chaput landed a good knee to the body. Raddon kept shooting takedowns, but Chaput did a good job of instantly getting back to his feet. 10-9 Chaput

ROUND 2: Raddon put on the pressure on Chaput to start the round, but a lead head kick partially landed and forced Raddon to go back to the grappling. Chaput reversed Raddon’s takedown attempt and used a front headlock to land two good knees to the head before breaking. A body kick drew a wince from Raddon, who shot another takedown. Chaput once again got right back up and used a throw of his own to get Raddon down. 10-9 Chaput

ROUND 3: Raddon was relentless with the grappling, not letting Chaput get an inch of space. Chaput was landing damage in the short windows where he could by throwing elbows to Raddon’s head when the American was on his hips. Chaput’s second reversal forced a scramble that saw him lock in a D’arce. Chaput refused to let go of the lock and Raddon was eventually forced to tap.

The finish got a roar from the crowd who was cheering on the hometown kid the entire fight.

Official Result: Antoine Chaput def. Kaecy Raddon by submission (D’arce) (Round 3, 3:34)

Dany Mallette (7-2) vs Mac Laursen (7-2) [SUPER WELTERWEIGHT]

ROUND 1: Laursen put on the pressure right away. He pushed Mallette to the fence and got him down on his second attempt. A slick transition to the back allowed him to immediately threaten the rear-naked choke. After working for the choke for about a minute, he finally forced the tap out of Mallette.

A nice bounce back win for Laursen who had dropped a unanimous decision to ex-UFC welterweight Yohan Lainesse back in November. With matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard in attendance, Laursen called for a UFC spot.

Official Result: Mac Laursen def. Dany Mallette by submission (rear-naked choke) (Round 1, 3:22)

Louis Jourdain (7-3) vs Danilo Adreani (12-3) [FLYWEIGHT]

ROUND 1: Adreani quickly got Jourdain to the ground. Jourdain used his leg to throw a triangle attempt that forced a scramble and allowed him to get back to his feet. On the feet, Jourdain appeared to land a good counter right straight that got Adreani down to a knee, but the Brazilian seemed to signal it was a slip and not a knockdown. A close round, but I had it 10-9 Adreani because I did believe it was a slip.

ROUND 2: Jourdain landed another nice counter that forced a takedown attempt from Adreani, but this time it was the crowd favourite who ended up on top. And Jourdain made the most out of it by immediately landing big ground-and-pound strikes. He then attacked a kimura but let it go to instead pound Adreani to a TKO finish.

The brother of the UFC fan-favourite got the biggest pop from the crowd after his finish. The fans then started chanting “UFC” to incite the matchmakers who were present to maybe sign the 8-3 fighter.

Official Result: Louis Jourdain def. Danilo Adreani by TKO (Round 2, 4:51)

Samourai MMA 14 CO-MAIN EVENT: Tommy Morrisson (8-0) vs Christopher Daniel (9-4-1) [FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP]

ROUND 1: The two fighters clinched almost immediately, but it was Morrisson who got Daniel down. Morrisson stayed on top for almost the entirety of the round, landing a couple ground-and-pound shots in the process. Daniel threatened a leg entanglement that forced Morrisson to disengage. They spent the last 30 seconds of the round exchanging kicks. 10-9 Morrisson

ROUND 2: Daniel landed a solid right hand early in the round, but Morrisson took it well and answered with a couple rights of his own. Remembering the clear grappling edge he had in the opening round, Morrisson wasted no time shooting a takedown and took the fight to the mat. “Rambo” systematically worked his way to the back and attacked Daniel’s neck. The American was wise to it and slid to his back, so Morrisson landed in full mount. The Canadian got close with a couple submission attempts but Daniel was able to survive to the next round. 10-9 Morrisson

ROUND 3: Using the threat of his grappling, Morrisson started to feel a lot more comfortable on the feet. He let his hands go and was pressuring Daniel back. Morrisson once again took the fight to the ground, but a flurry of upkicks from the American appeared to catch Morrisson and sent him stumbling back. However, the crowd favourite recovered well and got Daniel down again, this time in the open. He kept his top position for the rest of the round. Perhaps still a bit dazed from the upkicks, Morrisson didn’t land nearly as much ground-and-pound as he did in the previous round. Because I wasn’t convinced the upkicks connected cleanly, I still had the round 10-9 Morrisson.

ROUND 4: Entering the championship rounds, both fighters’ gas tanks were holding up. With neither having a clear speed advantage over the other, they both kept landing their combinations. But once again, one attempt is all it took for Morrisson to get this the ground and control Daniel.  The American temporarily got back up but wasn’t able to get Morrisson off of him. After getting him back down, Morrisson was able to get into side control and ended the round with big elbows to the head. 10-9 Morrisson

ROUND 5: Knowing he needed a finish, Daniel came out in the final round and put Morrisson on the backfoot. Morrisson’s first takedown attempt of the round was stuffed by Daniel, but the second one along the fence was successful. Sensing the urgency, Daniel was able to get back to his feet much quicker this time around. Due to Morrisson’s relentless takedown attempts, Daniel was ultimately unable to fend him off. Morrisson used his top position to kill the clock and win yet another round. 10-9 Morrisson

This was one of the most mature performances from the Firas Zahabi product yet. His striking looked cleaner and his grappling looked as dominant as ever against jiu-jitsu specialist. “Rambo” kept his undefeated record intact and successfully defended his flyweight title.

Official Result: Tommy Morrisson def. Christopher Daniel by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)

Samourai MMA 14 MAIN EVENT: Michael Dufort (13-6) vs Ariston França (12-9) [LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP]

ROUND 1: Feeling the energy from the crowd, Dufort put the pressure right away on França. Once França’s back was against the fence, Dufort let his hands go, mixing up his targets well between the body and the head. After getting a takedown, Dufort disengaged and let França up. In a wild exchange along the fence, França caught Dufort and dropped him. He then grabbed a guillotine, but Dufort fought his way out of it. After getting to França’s back, Dufort’s transition and slick rear-naked choke attack forced the tap.

A thoroughly entertaining one-round fight that ended with the crowd on its feet, applauding their own.

The former PFL fighter got back in the win column in spectacular fashion as he grabbed the vacant SamouraiMMA lightweight title.

Official Result: Michael Dufort def. Ariston França by submission (rear-naked choke) (Round 1, 3:31)

In the end, this could only be described as another successful night for SamouraiMMA. The production was great, the event was well-paced, and the crowd got to see their hometown favourites go 5-1.

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The lightweight semifinal, the second of the night, arrived after a yawn-inducing, three-round snoozer between Brent Primus and Clay Collard that saw Primus grapple his way to victory, then apologize for the low action fight. Rabadanov, however, woke the crowd up with a thunderous knockout of Dufort early in the second round.

A blistering left hand knocked the Canadian down, with follow-up strikes sealing the deal. Rabadanov now advances to November’s final, where the PFL’s lightweight championship and a million dollars in prize money awaits.

Gadzhi Rabadanov is headed to the #PFLChampionship with this EMPHATIC stop. #PFLHollywood #PFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/BszGn7qxc7

— Mike Pendleton (@MP2310) August 17, 2024

Rabadanov, a 31-year old from the Dagestan region of Russia, first appeared under the PFL banner in a one-off fight in 2019. He then made his way to Bellator MMA, winning five straight fights and making himself a contender prior to the promotion being scooped up by the PFL late last year.

That opened the door for Rabadanov to appear in the PFL season. It’s now two Bellator alums, one in Primus a former champ, who will face off in the 2024 lightweight finale.

Official Result: Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Michael Dufort by KO, Round 2, 1:51

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Lightweights and light heavyweights were in action, with Impa Kasanganay, the 2023 PFL light heavyweight champion, headlining the show in a rematch with Josh Silveira. American Top Team’s Silveira was the man Kasanganay had defeated last year to win the title and million dollars in prize money; the rematch would either reaffirm Kasaganany’s dominance, or give Silveira his revenge.

2022 champ Rob Wilkinson could be found in the other 205lb semifinal, taking on Bellator alum Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov. Wilkinson had failed a drug test in 2023 that cost him the entirety of the season.

At lightweight, former Bellator champ Brent Primus faced PFL mainstay Clay Collard in one semifinal, while Canada’s Michael Dufort was paired up with Gadzhi Rabadanov in the other.

Where to Watch PFL Hollywood

Friday’s 2024 PFL 8 sees the playoffs continue at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. The card airs live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the U.S., and DAZN in Canada and Europe. Full results can be found below. The preliminary card goes live at 6:30PM ET.

PFL Hollywood: Kasanganay vs. Silveira 2 Results

Main card

Impa Kasanganay def. Josh Silveira by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) — light heavyweight semifinal
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Rob Wilkinson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) — light heavyweight semifinal
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Michael Dufort by KO, Round 2, 1:51 — lightweight semifinal
Brent Primus def. Clay Collard by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) — lightweight semifinal
Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Brian Stapleton by KO (punch), Round 1, 0:55

Preliminary card

Danny Sabatello vs. Lazaro Dayron ends in a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Mads Burnell def. Elvin Espinoza by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Thad Jean def. Chris Brown by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Jordan Oliver def. Braydon Akeo by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Michelle Montague def. Marilia Morais by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:44

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For Dufort (13-5), who knocked out Mads Burnell in his first fight in the season before losing a split decision to Adam Piccolotti, the journey through the PFL has been a learning experience. After watching teammate and training partner Olivier Aubin-Mercier win back-to-back PFL championships, fellow Quebecor Dufort got to find out how hard it was first hand.

He’s adapted his training in part due to it. “I just want my body to be good for the big day,” Dufort told Cageside Press recently. “I’m just being technically good. I don’t need to spar like crazy, I just need to be technically ready. Move with the guys, have fun with the guys, and just enjoy the ride.”

When it comes to the PFL billing itself as the toughest challenge in fighting, Dufort is in agreement.

“What PFL is trying to say is, it’s the hardest thing to accomplish in MMA. And I think it’s true. Not a lot of guys can fight like four times in seven months. It’s not a year, it’s seven months. UFC fighters fight what, twice a year, three times a year? A year. 12 months. I fight four times in seven months. That is big, that is something hard. That’s why the PFL, it’s totally different from the UFC because of the activity. It’s so hard, but I like it. I like to be active.”

Heading into the fight with Rabadanov, Michael Dufort intends to get back to taking risks, and move away from playing it safe. That, he believes, may have cost him against Piccolotti.

“My last fight, I didn’t do enough I think. I should have lit the switch, go for the kill like I used to,” Dufort admitted. “What I’m going to do to Rabadanov is that, I’m going to go for the kill. Every punch is going to have intention in it, every time he’s going to shoot I’m going to stop that shot and try to finish him. I’m going to be dangerous, I’m going ot be dangerous from everywhere. That’s the plan. I don’t want to be that safe fighter. He’s a safe fighter, I’m not. I’m a guy that likes to take risks, and that’s it, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to finish that fight.”

Watch our full interview with PFL Hollywood’s Michael Dufort above.

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On paper, thanks to five first round finishes in the 205lb division in April, light heavyweight looked ready to explode. Only four fighters could move to the post season, meaning someone with six points was set to be left on the outside, looking in. In the running to move forward were 2023 champ Impa Kasanganay, that year’s runner up in Josh Silveira, ex-champ Antonio Carlos Junior, ex-champ Rob Wilkinson, and Bellator import Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.

On the lightweight side of things, Clay Collard headlined the show opposite Mads Burnell in a possible banger, while Patricky Pitbull looked to get on the board, and 155lb leader Michael Dufort looked to carry the torch for Canada in the PFL, after taking over for retired teammate Olivier Aubin-Mercier.

Due to a late withdrawal by Tom Breese, Andrew Sanchez was moved up the card into a fight with Sadibou Sy, with the announcement made just hours prior to showtime. That left Karl Albrektsson as the odd man out.

Where to Watch PFL 5

Friday, June 21, 2024 sees lightweights and light heavyweights in action at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The main card airs live on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. following prelims found exclusively on ESPN+, while Canadian and European viewers can catch the action on DAZN. Full results from the event can be found below.

2024 PFL 5: Collard vs. Burnell Results

The post 2024 PFL 5: Collard vs. Burnell Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

“CM Punk called me the ‘Canadian Badass,’ and I liked it honestly. So I’m the ‘Canadian Badass’ right now,” Dufort (13-4) told Cageside Press in an exclusive interview ahead of his return to action at PFL 5 this Friday. Punk, who serves as an analyst for Cage Fury FC, where Dufort previously fought, may have unintentionally struck gold with the name. It pairs well with a very high-profile training partner of Dufort, two-time PFL champ Olivier Aubin-Mercier, rather amusingly known as “The Canadian Gangster.”

Switching nicknames is far from unheard of in MMA, though perhaps we shouldn’t read too much into that 0-2 start to Michael Dufort’s career. To put the Quebec native’s early-career stumbles in perspective, one of those two losses was to current UFC star Kyle Nelson. It’s been a different story since, with Dufort appearing on the PFL Challenger Series in 2022, then being brought in for the 2024 season.

A lot of that has to do with who Dufort was beating, he believes. That includes wins over UFC vet Luis Pena, a.k.a. “Violent Bob Ross,” and Joe Giannetti, a TUF 27 alum.

“Luis Pena was a pretty huge name in the UFC, I beat him in less than a minute thirty. Then I fought Joe Giannetti, who has never been finished, I finished him in a minute thirty. So I think people looked at this and they were like ‘okay, he’s good, he might be something.'”

Dufort got the attention of the PFL once again from there. “I guess PFL liked us, the energy, they liked what I did on my side too, and now we’ve matched together. I think I have the perfect style to compete the PFL.”

The 30-year old Canadian now leads the PFL’s lightweight division, thanks to an upset win over Bellator vet Mads Burnell that was another quick one: a guillotine choke submission that came just over a minute into the opening round. That win, against a much higher-profile opponent than himself, landed him on the radar.

“They don’t need to Google me and try to find my fight on Youtube or something like this,” Dufort said of the response from fans. “Now they know, they know I’m a serious contender. They know how serious I am.”

Which means that, more than likely, 2024 PFL 5 opponent Adam Piccolotti knows how serious he is as well.

“I don’t think Adam is taking me for an easy fight. That’s fine, because I want the best challenge there is, and I know Adam is a pretty good challenge for me,” stated Dufort. Later, he’d add that he likes the pairing, calling himself a “nightmare match-up for everybody.

“I’m a cardio machine, I’ll be in your face for, if there’s three rounds, I’ll be in your face for three rounds. If there’s five rounds, I’ll be there for five rounds.” Beyond that, Dufort continued by saying that “I have a will that no one has, so I’ll show them, and I’ll make them regret every mistake they do.”

All that will, if things go Michael Dufort’s way, take him to another big finish. That’s always what he’s looking for at the end of the day. “If you bet on me, bet on the finish, guys. Don’t bet on the decision. I don’t like decisions, I don’t like judges, and judges don’t like me. So bet on finishes.”

Watch our full interview with PFL 5’s Michael Dufort above. His 2024 PFL 5 media day appearance can be found below.

The post PFL 5’s Michael Dufort: “Canadian Badass” Doesn’t Like Judges, So Bet on a Finish appeared first on Cageside Press.

Kicking off this edition of TTP is our interview with UFC featherweight, Chepe Mariscal. Mariscal discusses the quick start to his UFC career, but also how things haven’t always been this fast moving in his career. Owner of one of the longer and more impressive regional resumes out there, he shares his thoughts on how those tough fights helped make him who he is today. This new version of himself is ready to show it to fans at UFC Vegas 90 this weekend, as he takes on Frenchman Morgan Charriere. He breaks down his thoughts on that fight as well.

Fights, Dogs and Parlays: UFC Vegas 90 (17:03)

After UFC Atlantic City, we roll back into the Apex for another fight night show. This one is headlined by a rematch between Brendan Allen and Chris Curtis. Curtis won their first fight by knockout, but each fighter has been on different trajectories since then. We break down whether that’ll lead to a different result on Saturday. Plus, we give you some of our other favorite fights for UFC Vegas 90 – including one involving our guest for this week. In addition to that, we also have our favorite underdog and parlay to play for this one. For this segment, all odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Michael Dufort Interview (24:47)

Closing out this edition of TTP is our interview with PFL lightweight, Michael Dufort. Dufort discusses his choice to take a fight in Plymouth, Massachusetts against local Joe Giannetti. Playing the villian role worked perfectly as he took heat and scored a big victory. Now he’ll look to build on that big win as he enters the PFL’s 2024 lightweight season. His first fight will come the week after UFC Vegas 90 at PFL 2. He discusses hsi fight with Mads Burnell as well as what it’l like to try to fill Olivier Aubin-Mercier’s shoes.

The post TTP Ep. 423 with Chepe Mariscal, Michael Dufort, and UFC Vegas 90 appeared first on Cageside Press.

The four-fight card is topped by Brazilian standout Bruno Miranda, a proven finisher riding a four-fight win streak into Friday night. The only question mark for Miranda: the bout will be his first since 2019, which brings up the age-old question of ring rust.

Opposite Miranda will be Carson Frei, looking to make it two wins in a row — and like Miranda hoping to earn a spot in the PFL’s regular season.

Also on the card, Canadian Michael Dufort will look to bounce back from a loss to countryman and former UFC fighter Kyle Prepolec when he takes on “Prime Time” Arust Pogosjan. The Armenian has won his last three outings, and most recently appeared for Fury FC during the filming of Dana White’s Lookin’ for a Fight — though he was not signed to a UFC deal.

The PFL Challenger Series 5 card does down live on Friday, March 18, 2022 at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Full results from the event, which streams on Fubo TV, can be found below.

PFL Challenger Series 5 Results

Bruno Miranda def. Carson Fre via TKO (punches) Round 3, 3:40

ITS ALL OVER!! Bruno Miranda gets it done in the 3rd round!#PFLonFuboTV pic.twitter.com/0A5vYVPUJt

— PFL (@PFLMMA) March 19, 2022

Damir Ferhatbegovic def. B.J. Bland via knockout (punch) Round 1, 2:41

.@OfficiallyDamir GETS IT DONE IN THE FIRST ROUND!!! 🖊️#PFLonFuboTV LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 https://t.co/R67yD8VVFQ
🌍 https://t.co/StPf5kcxnW pic.twitter.com/iPYOqsTIp9

— PFL (@PFLMMA) March 19, 2022

Michael Dufort def. Arut Pogosjan via submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 4:02

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 LFG!!! MICHAEL DUFORT!! THE CANADIAN BADA$$!#PFLonFuboTV LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 https://t.co/R67yD8VVFQ
🌍 https://t.co/StPf5kcxnW pic.twitter.com/IrlQvrAhC7

— PFL (@PFLMMA) March 19, 2022

Yanal Ashmoz def. Dennis Hughes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

The post PFL Challenger Series 5 Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

On Tuesday, promotion officials announced the full line-up for their PFL Challenger Series 5 card on March 18. The event has been built around the lightweight division, which recently saw the addition of former UFC star Jeremy Stephens.

Airing on Fubo TV, PFL Challenger Series 5 will consist of the following match-ups:

• Bruno Miranda vs. Carson Frei
• Damir Ferhatbegovic vs. BJ Bland
• Michael Dufort vs. Arut Pogosian
• Yanal Ashmoz vs. Dennis Hughes

Miranda (13-3) will ride a four-fight win streak into the PFL cage when he faces Frei (9-4). The Brazilian was a regular in South Korea’s ROAD FC, but has not competed since 2019. Frei most recently competed as a featherweight, under the Fierce FC banner last year. An April win over Westin Wilson marked his first fight since 2019.

Bosnian Damir Ferhatbegovic (5-2-1) is the Valor FC lightweight champion, who has previously fought for Bellator MMA as well. Ferhatbegovic shared the cage early in his career with UFC alum Luis Pena, a.k.a. “Violent Bob Ross,” and has not lost a fight in his last four appearances. Opponent BJ Bland (16-10), meanwhile, has a fair bit more experience, despite his uneven record. He trains alongside Israel Adesanya at City Kickboxing.

Michael Dufort (8-4) may be best known as a training partner of UFC alum Olivier Aubin-Mercier. The Canadian will look to make a name for himself against Armenian Arut Pogosian (9-3). And Israeli Yanal Ashmoz (6-0) will put his perfect record on the line against Dennis Hughes (7-3), who has won three straight.

PFL Challenger Series 5 takes place on March 18, 2022 at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The card airs live on Fubo Sports Network.

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