Just moments after he captured the PFL heavyweight title and claimed a million dollars in prize money last season, Cappelozza’s joy turned to sorrow as his team informed him that his father had died three days prior. His family had held back the news, so as not to distract him from the task at hand. It worked — he won, and no doubt made his father proud — but the moment was one he called both the happiest and saddest of his life.

At PFL 2 on Thursday night, Cappelozza opened up his 2022 campaign against England’s Stuart Austin. Austin had campaigned for the fight, after a one-and-done appearance for the league last year.

Utilizing some low kicks early, it wasn’t long before Cappelozza had clinched up with Austin along the fence. Cappelozza changed levels, hunted for a single leg, but Austin displayed some solid balance. When he finally was taken down, the Brit was right back to his feet; he briefly looked for a guillotine, and Cappelozza backed up, resetting.

This time, when Cappelozza moved in, he landed a left hook; Austin shot for a takedown, but couldn’t land it. Cappelozza stayed heavy on him, looking for a body lock from the back as Austin went to a knee. Pressure was key for Cappelozza, but Austin would stay upright, and they’d move back to center. Austin, however, was cracked by a right hand moments later, and wound up dropped to the ground covering up!

Bruno lands a shot and drops Stuart in the 1st#2022PFL2 pic.twitter.com/eWpMqIIHM7

— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 29, 2022

Cappelozza moved into half guard; Austin looked to tie him up with an overhook, then fought the wrists, taking time off the clock. Cappelozza moved to mount, parallel to the fence, and Austin would up covering up as Cappelozza dropped bombs, which soon sent the ref in!

The big finish from Cappelozza was one of several stoppages by the heavyweights on the PFL 2 card. Ante Delija, Renan Ferreira, and Denis Goltsov also got the job done early, in what looks like a competitive heavyweight field.

6 Points and the 1st round finish for Bruno Cappelozza!#2022PFL2 pic.twitter.com/HcBajmTR8W

— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 29, 2022

Official Result: Bruno Cappelozza def. Stuart Austin by TKO (ground n’ pound), Round 1, 4:24

The post PFL 2 2022: Bruno Cappelozza Pounds Out Stuart Austin, Starts Journey Back to Championship appeared first on Cageside Press.

The Professional Fighters League returns Thursday night to the ESports Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with defending heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza in the main event. After winning the title and a million dollars last season, Cappelozza kicks off 2022 against England’s Stuart Austin, who appeared just once for the promotion last year.

While Cappelozza is back, the 2021 featherweight champion is not. An injury has left Movlid Kahybulaev outside of this year’s tournament, opening the door for returning fighters including Brendan Loughnane, Chris Wade, and Bubba Jenkins, in what should be a very competitive 145 pound division.

PFL 2 airs live on ESPN+ and ESPN2, with the preliminary card getting underway at 6:30PM ET, followed by the main card at 9PM. Full results from the event can be found below.

PFL 2 2022: Cappelozza vs. Austin Weigh-In Results

Main Card

Bruno Cappelozza def. Stuart Austin by TKO (ground n’ pound), Round 1, 4:24
Chris Wade def. Lance Palmer by unanimous (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Brendan Loughnane def. Ryoji Kudo by technical decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Renan Ferreira def. Jamelle Jones by knockout, Round 1, 0:25
Denis Goltsov def. Cody Goodale by TKO, Round 1, 3:20

Preliminary Card

Ante Delija def. Matheus Scheffel by TKO (strikes) Round 2, 0:59
Bubba Jenkins def. Kyle Bochniak by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Klidson Abreu def. Adam Keresh by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Sheymon Moraes def. Boston Salmon by unanimous decision  (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alejandro Flores def. Saba Bolagh by unanimous decision (30-37, 30-37, 29-28)

The post PFL 2 2022: Cappeloza vs. Austin Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

“To be honest, I’ve gotten way, way more technical. I feel like, back when I last saw y’all, I was good then, but I took on some different perspectives in my training, and my mind was blown open to new possibilities and things,” Austin (15-7) said during this week’s PFL 2 media day. “So I’ve gotten way, way more technical in my game.”

Austin admitted to struggling to find the right balance, at least initially. “I think almost at points that actually became a little bit of a hindrance, where I started overthinking stuff. And I feel like now I’ve reached a point where I’ve kind of refined it, so I’ve taken getting a thousand tools and not knowing how to using any of them, and refined them down into a real game. I’m much more aware of what I want to do and how I want to execute what my game plan is.”

A veteran of the fight game with over a decade’s worth of experience, Stuart Austin getting defending PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza out of the gate is a big opportunity. But perhaps surprisingly, a win over the champ won’t do anything in terms of boosting his confidence, Austin said on Tuesday.

“To be honest it’s not going to do anything for my confidence. I know I can beat him already. I know I’m ready, I’m not here to make up numbers,” he stated. “My last performance, it is what it is, it happened, it completely sucks, but if I didn’t believe I can beat everyone in this division, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be here showing up. I’m not here for a paycheck, if I want that, I could just go back home, start a business, make some real money. I’m here for the championship. That’s what I’m here for. I want to take it home to my missus, let her see, try and pretend I’m a big cool guy.”

Watch the full PFL 2 2022 media day appearance from Stuart Austin above. The event takes place on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at the ESports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The post PFL 2 2022: Stuart Austin Says He’s Gotten “Way More Technical In My Game” appeared first on Cageside Press.

The Professional Fighters League posted the full card on social media Tuesday, with 2021 heavyweight champ Bruno Cappelozza headlining the show against Stuart Austin.

#2022PFL2 Featherweight & Heavyweight Matchups are SET for April 28th! pic.twitter.com/aAvDfNs73r

— PFL (@PFLMMA) March 29, 2022

While featherweights are also on the card, last year’s 145lb champion, Movlid Khaybulaev, will not be. Due to injury, Khaybulaev will not take part in the 2022 season, per a statement by the PFL on social media.

2022’s PFL 2 card will take place on April 28 at the ESports Stadium in Arlington, TX. In addition to Cappelozza vs. Austin, popular featherweight and DWCS alum Brendan Loughnane will face Japan’s Ryoji Kudo in the co-main event. Earlier on the card, Lance Palmer will meet Chris Wade, while UFC vets Sheymon Moraes and Boston Salmon will collide.

Salmon won his way into the regular season at featherweight as part of the PFL Challenger Series.

The full PFL 2 card breaks down as follows:

ESPN2 Card

• Bruno Cappelozza vs. Stuart Austin
• Brendan Loughnane vs. Ryoji Kudo
• Ante Delija vs. Matheus Scheffel
• Renan Ferreira vs. Jamelle Jones

ESPN+ Card

• Lance Palmer vs. Chris Wade
• Bubba Jenkins vs. Jo Sungbin
• Denis Goltsov vs. Sam Kei
• Ali Isaev vs. Klidson Abreu
• Sheymon Moraes vs. Boston Salmon
• Alejandro Flores vs. Saba Bolaghi

The post PFL 2 2022 Line-Up Announced, Featuring Featherweights and Heavyweights appeared first on Cageside Press.

Ishii met with the U.K.’s Stuart Austin in the main event of EMC 5 on Saturday, with the promotion’s heavyweight title on the line. Although the result was a unanimous decision win for Austin, the outcome was anything but clear.

Ishii immediately pursued a takedown off the opening bell, staying on the attempt until he finally took Austin down. The British fighter would make it make up, but be taken down again, with Ishii spending most of the round on top. In the second, Ishii kept Austin pinned against the cage, eating a number of elbows but controlling the grappling while working for a takedown again. Nearly the entire round played out in this fashion. The third saw Austin work from distance initially, finding a little more room than in the opening two frames. But when he closed the distance, Ishii again tied him up. The Judoka trapped Austin against the cage until the pair were separated late in the third.

Heading into the championship rounds there was an argument that Ishii was winning the fight based on his control and dominant positions. Later in the fight he’d employ a trip to secure a takedown; Ishii appeared to be in the driver’s seat again. The story of the fight, essentially, was that Austin had the advantage at range, but he spent the bulk of the fight either taken down, or being pressed into the cage, answering with elbows and and punches, but mostly being controlled.

Yet when the scores were read, all three judges awarded the fight to Austin, 48-47.

Ishii (23-12-1) is appealing the decision. Per EMC officials in a press release Monday, “an independent panel will review the decision.”

Full results from the event are below.

Main Event
Inaugural EMC Heavyweight Title
Stuart Austin def. Satoshi Ishii by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)*
*Decision being reviewed by an independent panel

Co-Main Event
Welterweight Grand Prix Semi Final 2
Ismail Naurdiev def. Tymoteusz Lopaczyk by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Heavyweight
Damian Olszewski def. Erko Jun by KO (punch), Round 1, 0:36

Welterweight Grand Prix Semi Final 1
Amiran Gogoladze def. Pavel Kusch by TKO (knee and punches), Round 1, 0:54

Heavyweight
Kasim Aras def. Sasa Milinkovic by via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Welterweight
Konrad Dyrschka def. Walter Pugliesi by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Women’s Bantamweight
Sara Luzar Smajic def. Kaylee Vos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Featherweight
Pascal Hintzen def. Said Eidi by submission (guillotine), Round 1, 0:56

Lightweight
Tobias Eylitz def. Ibrahim Cholo by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

The post Satoshi Ishii to Appeal Decision Loss in EMC 5 Main Event appeared first on Cageside Press.