PFL Europe 2024 Finals Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

PFL Europe Lightweight Showcase Bout:
Claudio Pacella (154.7) vs. Oscar Ownsworth (155.8)

Play-by-play unavailable due to technical issues

The Official Result

Oscar Ownsworth def. Claudio Pacella via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

PFL Europe Welterweight Showcase Bout:
Brice Belghazi (167.5) vs. Eoin Sheridan (170.8)

Round 1

Ireland’s towering Sheridan and Lyon hometown favorite Belghazi face off, with Dan Movahedi the third man in the cage. Belghazi rushes straight in, clinches and shoves Sheridan to the fence, where he launches a couple of knees up the middle. Sheridan reverses him, knees him and fights off a takedown attempt. Sheridan then uses a trip of his own, to deposit the Frenchman on the canvas at the base of the fence. Belghazi kicks him off and they return to the feet, still clinched against the cage. Two minutes down, and Sheridan turns Belghazi into the fence and hits him with a shoulder strike. They separate, Belghazi launches a long double-leg and Sheridan rolls through, landing on top in half guard. Belghazi works to regain full guard with a butterfly hook and succeeds. Under 90 seconds to go in the round and Sheridan is on top, in Belghazi’s full guard, shoving him into the fence. Belghazi throws his hips up for a possible armbar or triangle attempt, but is forced to give it up and goes back to full guard. Sheridan postures up and throws a couple of elbows before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan

Round 2

The welterweights touch gloves to start Round 2. Sheridan uses a trip and body lock to dump Belghazi to the floor, where Belghazi closes his guard. Sheridan scoots the Frenchman to the base of the fence, where Sheridan passes to half guard and tries to drop strikes from above. Belghazi kicks him off with a foot on the hips, and they return to their feet by the fence. Belghazi takes the inside position, but Sheridan reverses him and pushes him into the cage. Belghazi nails Sheridan with a knee to the groin, and Movahedi stops the action. After a break and a warning, the fighters go back to work. Belghazi scores first with a jab, then hauls Sheridan to the canvas, where he postures up and throws a couple of blows. Sheridan uses Belghazi’s momentum to reverse him, and lands on top on Belghazi’s guard. Sheridan keeps his posture high, and Belghazi closes his guard and throws a pair of punches from below. Sheridan is on top, but can’t get off many strikes before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan

Round 3

Belghazi comes forward behind a pair of punches, then changes levels for a takedown. He can’t get it, and ends up driving Sheridan all the way to the fence. Belghazi lands a knee up the middle that draws a protesting look from Sheridan, but referee Movahedi tells them to keep fighting. They separate a moment later, and Belghazi rushes in for another takedown attempt behind Sheridan’s next kick. Sheridan comes out on top of the ensuing scramble, and slides right into mount, where he pelts Belghazi with hammerfists. Belghazi bucks and squirms, and Movahedi halts them, resetting the fighters away from the fence, Sheridan still in full mount, apparently due to Belghazi putting his fingers or toes in the fence. Sheridan lands a couple of punches and Belghazi turns aside, with Sheridan taking back mount. Sheridan works for a rear-naked choke with a minute left. Belghazi works to his hands and knees, Sheridan still stuck to his back, then turns and gives up mount again. Sheridan slides up high and rains down punches until the horn. Dominant round for Eoin Sheridan.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan (30-27 Sheridan)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan (30-27 Sheridan)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Sheridan (30-27 Sheridan)

The Official Result

Eoin Sheridan def. Brice Belghazi via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

PFL Europe Women’s Flyweight Championship Bout:
Paulina Wisniewska (125) vs. Valentina Scatizzi (125)

Round 1

Scatizzi and Wisniewska square off for the PFL Europe flyweight title. Rich Mitchell is on referee duty. Both women are in orthodox stance, and Scatizzi dashes forward, swinging. Wisniewska tags her with a couple of glancing punches, then a brutal knee up the middle that lands on the chin, dropping Scatizzi in her tracks. Wisniewska swarms with punches as the dazed Scatizzi tries to survive. Mitchell jumps in for the stoppage as Scatizzi is stuck on her hands and knees, eating punches. It’s all over in just 20 seconds and Paulina Wisniewska is your 2024 PFL Europe flyweight champ.

The Official Result

Paulina Wisniewska def. Valentina Scatizzi R1 0:20 via TKO (Knee and Punches)

PFL Europe Welterweight Championship Bout:
Daniele Miceli (169.9) vs. Florim Zendeli (169.9)

Round 1

It’s Albania vs. Italy in the welterweight final, as Zendeli and Miceli go to work under the watchful eye of referee Mourad Benseghir. Miceli throws a heavy leg kick that nearly takes Zendeli off his feet. Another low kick has the Albanian contemplating a stance switch. Miceli intercepts a takedown attempt with a 10-finger guillotine attempt. Zendeli escapes and applies a front headlock of his own, cinching up an anaconda choke and snapping Miceli down to his knees. They roll through and Miceli extricates his neck. They return to the feet after a furious 90 seconds, and Zendeli surges forward, clinches and looks for the takedown. Miceli uses an overhook to fight it off, and they disengage. Zendeli moves back in with a double-leg and trips Miceli to the ground at the base of the fence. Miceli tries to use the fence to deny Zendeli back control, but Zendeli squeezes through and comes out in back control, where he locks up a body triangle, works for a rear-naked choke, and locks it up. Miceli taps in seconds, and Florim Zendeli is the 2024 PFL Europe welterweight champion.

The Official Result

Florim Zendeli def. Daniele Miceli R1 4:24 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)

PFL Europe ‘Doumbe Decides’ Catchweight Bout:
Salvo Giudice (176.8) vs. Atilla Kobas (176.8)

Round 1

The first of the “Doumbe Decides” special feature bouts kicks off with a 177-pound catchweight between Frenchmen Giudice and Kobas. Kobas walks Guidice to the fence and throws a big left hook that just grazes. Giudice slides out of the pocket but Kobas follows, and takes him down. Giudice pops back up and, in the scramble that ensues, comes out on top. Giudice throws short strikes from Kobas’ full guard, driving him to the base of the fence. Giudice passes to half guard as Kobas locks up a kimura from below. Kobas holds on to the arms even as Giudice threatens to pass to mount. Kobas uses a butterfly hook to regain guard, letting go of the kimura as he does so. Giudice passes to half guard again and Kobas fishes for another kimura. They end up in an awkward position with arms partly trapped underneath them, and Giudice pops up, grabbing a front headlock as he does. He drives Kobas back down to the canvas and moves to full mount. He moves around to the back and tries for a choke, but Kobas slides out the back, spins and ends up on top. Kobas stands out of Giudice’s guard and the round ends seconds later.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Giudice

Round 2

After a few feints, Kobas jumps in and tries a body lock takedown, but it’s Giudice who ends up on top. Kobas suddenly looks very tired, and Giudice spins to the back. Kobas stands up and Giudice stays stuck to him as they collide with the fence. Giudice is still on Kobas’ back and drags him to his knees at the base of the cage. Giudice ends up in half guard while Kobas uses a kimura to prevent him from making his way to the back. Giudice moves back to the front and works for a D’Arce choke. Kobas extricates his head from the grip, and goes to his back with Giudice in his full guard. Giudice advances to half guard, then to back mount. He gets both hooks in, flattens Koba and throws a flurry of punches. Koba tries to explode up, and manages to go to his back with Giudice in half guard, where they are when the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Giudice
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Giudice

Round 3

Kobas once again comes forward to open the third frame, and Giudice gives ground. Kobas walks into the clinch and Giudice spins him into the fence, then trips him to the canvas seconds later. Giudice once again goes to work from half guard, dropping elbows. Giudice has Kobas’ far wrist tied up and is throwing unblocked punches to the face. Movahedi is looking on closely, but Kobas keeps moving and manages to survive. Giudice is on Kobas’ back with one hook in, then moves to top position as Kobas tries to scrape him off against the fence. Kobas has one of Giudice’s wrists trapped, but he’s still on bottom, where Giudice is kneeing him to the ribs. Giudice is on top with 90 seconds to go, in Kobas’ full guard. Kobas is doing a credible job stopping Giudice from really teeing off, but he has offered zero offense of his own since the first minute of the fight. Giudice stays busy on top, landing what strikes he can through Kobas’ defenses. Giudice postures up and drops punches until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Giudice (30-27 Giudice)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Giudice (30-27 Giudice)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Giudice (30-27 Giudice)

The Official Result

Salvo Giudice def. Attila Kobas via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)

PFL Europe ‘Doumbe Decides’ Bantamweight Bout:
Ezzoubair Bouarsa (135.8) vs. Mahio Campanella (136)

Round 1

Bantamweights Bouarsa and Campanella are the next to perform for French kickboxing star Cedric Doumbe, and Campanella is the first to land with a pair of body kicks, then a huge leg kick. Bouarsa takes a couple of calf kicks, then rushes in and shoves Campanella to the cage, where Campanella reverses him. Campanella throws a couple of knees to the body, and they disengage. Campanella spins with a back kick that lands on the guard, then another. Campanella drives a kick up the middle. Bouarsa grabs a guillotine and goes to his back. It looks tight for a moment, but Campanella finally pops his head out and sets up shop in top position. Bouarsa gets to his feet and moves to the fence with Campanella glued to him. Bouarsa grabs another guillotine and they go down, but Campanella ends up in top on the opposite side. Bouarsa is wide open for a Von Flue choke, but Campanella doesn’t press the issue. Bouarsa bucks and sits up, and Campanella adjusts, then applies a more conventional head-and-arm choke. Referee Mitchell recognizes that Bouarsa has gone to sleep and steps in for the stoppage.

The Official Result

Mahio Campanella def. Ezzoubair Bouarsa R1 4:45 via Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)

PFL Europe ‘Doumbe Decides’ Featherweight Bout:
Mathys Duragrin (145.9) vs. Yassin Chtatou (146)

Round 1

The final “Doumbe Decides” feature takes place at 145 pounds, with Duragrin and Chtatou set to try and entertain “The Best.” Mourad Bensghir is the referee. Chtatou inches forward as Duragrin circles out. Both men feint, and Duragrin intercepts the advancing Chtatou with a nicely timed level change, driving him to the canvas. Chtatou pops right back up, but Duragrin never lets him go, and hauls him right back down, landing in side control. Duragrin tries to pin an arm so that he can start throwing unblocked ground-and-pound, but Chtatou is wise to it and keeps Duragrin busy enough to forestall any real damage. Chtatou regains full guard, with Duragrin over him at the base of the cage. Duragrin stands up out of guard, evades an upkick and dives back in, landing in half guard. Duragrin is heavy on top, throwing short punches and passing to three-quarter guard. Chtatou squirms and works back to full guard. Under 90 seconds to go in the round and Duragrin is still working to pass the guard, while throwing elbows. Chtatou explodes to his feet and eats most of a knee to the face on his way up. Chtatou goes for a takedown and Duragrin uses a front headlock to force a stalemate against the cage. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin

Round 2

Chtatou flicks out a low kick, then tries to intercept the onrushing Duragrin with a knee. Duragrin runs Chtatou to the fence, where he drives some knees to the thigh. Chtatou executes a lightning-quick standing back take, but when he tries to drag his man down, Duragrin hits an inside switch and ends up on top. They pop back to their feet, but it’s Duragrin working for back control now. Chtatou is bent over, looking for a switch, and takes a knee to the face. Duragrin hauls Chtatou to the ground and ends up on top in half guard. Duragrin posture up, looking to drop punches and elbows, but Chtatou is again very effective at tying up the arms and avoiding the worst of the ground-and-pound. They move far enough from the fence for Duragrin to sit up in guard and drop a flurry of hard punches. Chtatou scoots back to the fence and tries to get his feet on Duragrin’s hips, but Duragrin is landing big shots. Duragrin stand up out of guard and walks away a second before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin

Round 3

Chtatou once again is the one advancing as Round 3 opens, and Duragrin jabs his way into range, changes levels and gets an ultra-easy takedown near the fence. Duragrin is on Chtatou’s back in a flash, sinks both hooks and tries to flatten his man out. Chtatou tucks his chin against the expected choke attempt, and refuses to let his hips be flattened. Duragrin rolls to his side, keeping the hooks, and works to get an arm under the chin. It’s all Duragrin through half the round, and Chtatou is surviving, but doing little else. Duragrin appears to have the choke locked up, but Chtatou fights off the hands. He gets a body triangle as he does so. Chtatou rolls over and Duragrin slides into full mount, flattening Chtatou out and throwing punches to the ribs. With 30 seconds to go, Duragrin steps on the gas a bit, posturing up and throwing a flurry of punches. Duragrin stands up with 10 seconds left, steps to the center of the cage and points to the ground. Chtatou is game, but time expires before any last-second heroics can take place. Dominant work by Mathys Duragrin.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Duragrin (30-26 Duragrin)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin (30-27 Duragrin)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Duragrin (30-27 Duragrin)

The Official Result

Mathys Duragrin def. Yassin Chtatou via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)

After deliberation, Cedric Doumbe awards Professional Fighters League contracts to Mahio Campanella and Mathys Duragrin.

PFL Europe Lightweight Championship Bout:
Jakub Kaszuba (154.5) vs. Connor Hughes (154.7)

Round 1

The parade of PFL Europe title fights resumes with Poland’s Kaszuba and Ireland’s Hughes set to dispute the lightweight championship. It would be a second straight for Kaszuba. Dan Movahedi sends the fighters into action, and both set up in orthodox stance. Kaszuba throws a leg kick that comes up short. Hughes’s hands are in motion, feinting. Kaszuba is content so far to hang out in boxing range, while Hughes is wary of the takedown attempt he knows is likely coming. A minute and a half in, neither man has landed any heavy blows, and the Lyon crowd grows restive. Hughes tags Kaszuba with a lead left uppercut. The tentative stalemate is broken when Hughes tags Kaszuba with a hard hook that definitely hurts. Under a minute to go in the round, and Kaszuba may not have landed a significant strike yet. Kaszuba shoots a quick single-leg, switches to a double and drives Hughes to the cage. Hughes defends with a guillotine and goes high-elbow for a second. Kaszuba extracts his head right before the horn. The crowd boos.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Hughes

Round 2

Hughes hits Kaszuba with a calf kick. Kaszuba steps forward and throws a head kick that grazes the high guard of Hughes. Hughes shows the lead uppercut again, perhaps to dissuade possible takedown attempts. Kaszuba grabs a body lock, but it’s Hughes that hoists him and walks him to the fence. Now it’s Hughes shoving Kaszuba into the chain-link, as Kaszuba tries to reverse the position. He does so, and tries to grab a leg as soon as Hughes’ back touches the cage. Hughes hauls him back up with an underhook and Movahedi has seen enough, resetting them in the center of the cage. Hughes backs Kaszuba up with a pair of hooks and a jabbing front kick. Kaszuba shoots for a takedown and runs right into the corkscrew uppercut that Hughes has been dialing in since the first seconds of the fight. Kasuba drops and Hughes swarms, throwing a flurry of punches. Movahedi is looking on, but Kaszuba regains his wits, reverses position and takes Hughes down. He sets up in the Irishman’s full guard against the cage. Kaszuba punches the ribs and grinds short elbows while Hughes controls his posture with closed guard and his arms. The round expires, and the Lyon crowd is much more positive.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Hughes

Round 3

Kaszuba stalks forward behind some long straight jabs. Hughes backs up and returns fire with a jab of his own. They clinch in the center of the cage and go careening toward the fence. Kaszuba changes levels and Hughes counters with an overhook, but can’t step over and Kaszuba secures the takedown. Kaszuba is in full guard, then passes to half, dropping a couple of nice elbows. Hughes shrimps and uses an underhook to stand up. Kaszuba stands with him, keeps the body lock, and drags the action back to the floor. Kaszuba is on top in half guard, chipping away with short strikes. Hughes again sits up and tries to use an underhook to stand, but Kaszuba is heavy on top and forces him back down. Hughes gets butterfly guard, but can’t elevate Kaszuba off of him and starts landing elbows in earnest, taking advantage of Hughes’s right arm being partially trapped beneath him. Kaszuba pins the arms with a leg and continues racking up ground-and-pound. The round expires with Kaszuba on top and the momentum having definitely shifted.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Kaszuba
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Kaszuba
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Kaszuba

Round 4

Round 4 kicks off with Kaszuba matching forward behind a couple of jabs. He shoots a double-leg and gets an easy takedown next to the cage, aided by Hughes grabbing a guillotine and falling to his back. Kaszuba pulls his head out of the choke and punches the ribs. Kaszuba is in half guard, where he lands a pair of heavy elbows. Hughes is bleeding, apparently from the forehead. Kaszuba is dropping elbows while Hughes scoots to the fence and tries to use it to sit up. Kaszuba drags him away from the cage and tries to create space to drop more ground strikes. Hughes locks his arms around Kaszuba’s body, trying to control posture. Kaszuba is nearly in side control, landing a steady stream of elbows to the face and head. Hughes tries to wall-walk, but Kaszuba pulls him off of the fence and uses shoulder pressure to slide into mount. Hughes quickly regains half guard, but Kaszuba is in full control, keeping Hughes on the defensive positionally, while never letting up on the ground-and-pound onslaught. Movahedi pleads with Hughes to work. Hughes keeps moving, squirming, but after another 10-15 seconds of action in which he fails to materially improve his situation, Movahedi calls off the fight, awarding the technical knockout to now two-time PFL Europe lightweight champion, Jakub Kaszuba.

The Official Result

Jakub Kaszuba def. Connor Hughes R4 3:40 via TKO (Elbows)

PFL Europe Bantamweight Championship Bout:
Lewis McGrillen-Evans (134.9) vs. Alexander Luster (134.9)

Round 1

The PFL Europe bantamweight final features two young fighters in England’s McGrillen-Evans and Germany’s Luster who may well be vying for a spot in next year’s global season. The third man in the cage is Rich Mitchell. Luster is orthodox, McGrillen southpaw, keeping his trademark left hand cocked. Luster slides around the outside, flicking out his jab and looking for a body kick to the open side. McGrillen stalks forward and fires off a right hook that clatters off the guard. Luster tries another body kick and just barely slips the left counter coming back his way. Luster kicks again, and McGrillen once again returns fire with the left, which glances. Luster tries a single-leg but McGrillen fights it off, returns to his feet and drops Luster with a clean left. McGrillen swarms, looking for the finish, but when Luster recovers, McGrillen let him up. Luster is bloodied as they go back to work on the feet. McGrillen throws a left high kick that is mostly blocked. Luster shoots a long single-leg from outside, runs McGrillen to the fence and drills him with a couple of knees to the head. They disengage, and McGrillen walks Luster to the cage, measuring him for another big left hand. Luster fires back with a good right hand, and both bantamweights flurry. Luster slips on a kick at the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 McGrillen
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 McGrillen
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 McGrillen

Round 2

McGrillen surges forward again to open Round 2 and quickly lands a left hand. Luster drives for a takedown, but McGrillen sprawls and Luster is forced to let it go. Luster times another McGrillen entry, gets a deep single-leg, but it’s McGrillen who ends up on top at the base of the fence. McGrillen lets him up and they go back to striking. Luster catches McGrillen with a knee to the head. McGrillen backs Luster up to the fence; Luster is breathing with his mouth wide open thanks to his nose, which has been busted badly by McGrillen’s work. McGrillen is relentless, cutting off Luster’s escape routes and keeping him corralled against the cage. Luster is giving back as well, but McGrillen crushes him with a left hand. Luster drops and the Englishman dives in, swarming with elbows and punches from both hands until Mitchell is forced to interpose himself for the stoppage. Great work by Lewis McGrillen-Evans.

The Official Result

Lewis McGrillen-Evans def. Alexander Luster R2 3:53 via TKO (Punches and Elbows)

PFL Europe Heavyweight Showcase Bout:
Mickael Groguhe (263.6) vs. Mamadou Lamine Sene (255.2)

Round 1

Big men take to the cage, as PFL heavyweight prospects Groguhe and Sene face off in a featured attraction. Mourad Bensaghir set to oversee the proceedings. Both heavyweights are in orthodox stances. They exchange a flurry of punches, and Sene clinches and drives Groguhe to the fence, where he promptly puts a knee on Groguhe’s cup. After a moment to recover, they resume work and Sene immediately shoves Groguhe back to the fence. Sene fires another knee to the midsection, this time legal. Bensaghir tells them to work, and Sene obliges with a couple of punches, but it isn’t enough, and the ref resets them in the center of the cage. Groguhe flicks out a nice jab that snaps the shorter man’s head back. Groguhe with a low kick that Sene does not like. Sene tries to clinch, but Groguh sidesteps nimbly. Sene gets it on a second effort, and shoves the taller man to the cage again. Sene’s pressure and head position keep Groguhe stuck to the chain link, but Sene is not landing much, if any damaging offense. Sene with a short elbow upstairs that gets Groguhe’s attention, and staves off intervention by the referee. Sene controls a wrist, stomps the foot and knees the thigh. A change in camera angles reveals Sene’s hand blatantly grabbing the fence. They break away and Groguhe lands a glancing head kick before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe

Round 2

Groguhe takes the center of the cage, then gives ground as Sene advances. Groguhe looks to meet the advances of Sene with his jab, then throws a heavy kick to the thigh. Groguhe with another hard leg kick. Groguhe catches Sene with a left straight and a right hook. Sene looks bewildered in space against Groguh, but isn’t trying for the clinch as he did in Round 1. Two minutes down and the pace has slowed, but Groguhe lands another leg kick and Sene is favoring the left leg visibly. Groguh meets a Sene charge with a glancing combination of punches. Sene gets his hands on Groguh and drives him to the cage. Sene lands a knee up the middle that lands on the cup. Bensaghir breaks them up, gives Groguh a moment to recover and remonstrates in French to Sene. He waves them back into action and Groguh looks tired. He’s fresh enough to catch the onrushing Sene with a punch that rocks him, however. Sene clinches and recovers his wits. Under 90 seconds to go and Sene is pushing Groguh into the fence, landing mugging uppercuts with his right hand. Groguhe shows no particular urgency to get off the fence, as Sene strikes his thighs with knees. Bensaghir tells the heavyweights to get busy, and they do not obey. He separates them with seconds to go, and nothing of consequence happens before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe

Round 3

The final round kicks off and considering the low level of effective offense and the wild judges’ scorecards so far, it is probably still anyone’s fight. Groguhe goes back to work with kicks to the left thigh of Sene, which have been the most effective technique so far by either man. Both fighters are clearly tired, and the workrate has plummeted. The crowd lets out a few jeers when neither man moves for several seconds. They take another mutual breather slash cease-fire, and Bensaghir tells them to get to work. Groguh, to his credit, is the one moving forward and throwing nearly all of the strikes. Groguhe’s jab is still quick and snappy, and he lands another big leg kick. Half of the round is gone, and the Lyon crowd sounds close to throwing gourmet food at the cage. Groguhe stalks forward and sticks out his jab again. Sene gives ground, then surges forward and points to the floor in the center of the cage, as if challenging Groguh to stand and fight. Groguhe laughs it off and continues to use his superior footwork to win the fight. Sene clinches and shoves Groguh to the fence, where Groguh once again makes no particular move to get away, instead trusting to the referee’s quick trigger finger. Seconds later, his faith is rewarded as Bensaghir breaks them up. The final horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe (30-27 Groguhe)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe (30-27 Groguhe)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Groguhe (30-27 Groguhe)

The Official Result

Mickael Groguhe def. Mamadou Lamine Sene via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

PFL Europe Catchweight Showcase Bout:
Patrick Habirora (165.3) vs. Catalin Safta (165.1)

Round 1

The co-main event is a 165-pound catchweight attraction between hungry prospects Habirora and Safta, with the crowd audibly behind the undefeated Belgian Habirora. Dan Movahedi gets his final referee assignment of the night. Habirora launches a fast head kick that glances. Safta marches forward, trying to get inside the taller man’s kicking range, but Habirora is too slick, sliding laterally and flicking out his jab. Safta finally corrals Habirora against the fence and lands a pair of flush hooks that hurt. Habirora grabs Safta and dumps him to the floor, but they bounce back up immediately. Habirora pushes Safta into the chain-link, but Safta takes underhooks and reverses them. Movahedi steps in to break them up and admonishes Safta for throwing a knee after the break. They resume working and quickly end up back on the fence. This time they break it up themselves, and when they go back to work in space, it’s once again Habirora moving around the outside as Safta gives chase. Safta works on the front leg of Habirora with low kicks. The horn sounds on a tense, tentative five minutes.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Habirora

Round 2

Safta goes right back to kicking the legs of Habirora, which have been more effective for him than just about anything else he’s tried on the feet so far. Safta throws a front kick to the midsection. They clinch and go careening towards the fence again, with Movahedi giving chase, warning them about head clashes. Safta takes the outside position, but disengages and lets Habirora off the fence. Habirora lances Safta with a beautiful long jab. Habirora lands a kick and eats a sharp counter, then lands a body kick unanswered. Habirora drops levels for a takedown and gets a great penetration step, but Safta ends up against the fence, where he stands Habirora back up. Safta tries for a takedown of his own, and Habirora punishes him with elbows to the head, forcing him to bail on the attempt. They’re back in the center of the cage with 90 second left. Habirora catches a kick one-handed and tosses Safta back, off balance. Habirora with another left kick to the ribs. Habirora is being forced to choose his poison on that side, as Habirora switches between kicking the body and head. Habirora walks Safta to the fence and flurries with punches. Safta slips out the side. Habirora tries a spinning backfist right before the horn, which glances.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Habirora
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Habirora

Round 3

Safta goes right back to kicking the legs of Habirora, which have been more effective for him than just about anything else he’s tried on the feet so far. Safta throws a front kick to the midsection. They clinch and go careening towards the fence again, with Movahedi giving chase, warning them about head clashes. Safta takes the outside position, but disengages and lets Habirora off the fence. Habirora lances Safta with a beautiful long jab. Habirora lands a kick and eats a sharp counter, then lands a body kick unanswered. Habirora drops levels for a takedown and gets a great penetration step, but Safta ends up against the fence, where he stands Habirora back up. Safta tries for a takedown of his own, and Habirora punishes him with elbows to the head, forcing him to bail on the attempt. They’re back in the center of the cage with 90 second left. Habirora catches a kick one-handed and tosses Safta back, off balance. Habirora with another left kick to the ribs. Habirora is being forced to choose his poison on that side, as Habirora switches between kicking the body and head. Habirora walks Safta to the fence and flurries with punches. Safta slips out the side. Habirora tries a spinning backfist right before the horn, which glances. The final round kicks off with Safta advancing, feinting punches and trying to corral Habirora against the cage. Safta throws a right body kick which Habirora catches, then lets go. Habirora tags Safta with a sharp jab. Habirora essays another spinning backfist, this one at half speed. Safta continues to move forward, but is having all kinds of trouble with the reach, speed and footwork of Habirora. Habirora jabs and is countered with a low kick. Habirora jabs the body. Safta lands another solid low kick. Habirora catches Safta walking right into a beautifully timed right hook to the jaw. Safta drops as if he’s been shot, already unconscious, and Movahedi is already diving for the save as Habirora lands one glancing hammerfist. Nasty knockout by Patrick Habirora, who launches himself over the cage wall and into the adoring arms of his cheering section.

The Official Result

Patrick Habirora def. Catalin Safta R3 2:16 via KO (Punch)

PFL Europe Welterweight Showcase Bout:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (170.6) vs. Laureano Staropoli (170.8)

Round 1

The final PFL Europe bout of 2024 features Abdouraguimov and Staropoli at welterweight, with Rich Mitchell drawing the final referee assignment. Staropoli is orthodox, Abdouraguimov southpaw in the early going, but Abdouraguimov switches stances quickly. Staropoli gives ground, circling out as Abdouaguimov advances. Abdouraguimov switches back to southpaw, then back. Neither man has landed anything of import in the first 90 seconds. Staropoli connects with a good leg kick. Abdouraguimov continues to inch forward patiently, cutting off the cage and trying to corner the Argentinian. Staropoli using a lot of lateral movement, and ducks a high kick. Abdouraguimov still stalking, throws a left hook and right body kick, perhaps trying to get his foe to back straight up, but Staropoli refuses. Staropoli catches Abdouraguimov with a punch that knocks him down off balance, but Abdouraguimov pops back up shoots for a takedown and gets Staropoli down, looking to take the back. Staropoli gets to his knees and Abdouraguimov slaps on a D’Arce choke. He adjusts the position and rolls to mount, but can’t finish before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Abdouraguimov
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Abdouraguimov
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Abdouraguimov

Round 2

Abdouraguimov is again on the front foot to open Round 2, and Staropoli back to his stick-and-move strategy. Staropoli plants and throws an overhand right that comes up just short. Abdouraguimov lands a right low kick, and is forced to duck and cover in the face of Staropoli’s counter punches. Abdouraguimov with another good low kick, then a fast double-leg entry. Staropoli counters with an inside switch in space, and gets shoved to the cage, where he avoids the takedown by staying in motion. They end up standing against the fence, with Abdouraguimov holding onto a rear waistlock. He hoists Staropoli for a big slam, but Staropoli manages to land on his feet. Abdouraguimov traps one arm in the waistlock and dumps his man back to the mat, where he sets up an arm-triangle choke immediately. Staropoli defends well, pulling on his own leg to create some space. Abdouraguimov steps into full mount, where he has Staropoli completely stuck, but doesn’t have a great angle on the neck. Thirty seconds to go, and Abdouraguimov gives up on the choke, but remains in mount until the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Abdouraguimov
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Abdouraguimov
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Abdouraguimov

Round 3

Abdouraguimov wastes no time in closing the distance and driving Staropoli to the fence to open the final round. He changes levels for a takedown but cannot secure it, and they break up. Abdouraguimov tries a single-leg and Staropoli turns and hops away. Staropoli walks Abdouraguimov to the fence and connects with an uppercut. Abdouraguimov circles off the fence, and Staropoli counters a kick with a hard jab. Staropoli looks more alive than at any other point of the fight right now, as he backs Abdouraguimov up with a pair of punches. Abdouraguimov lands a right low kick. Staropoli comes forward and hits with a leg kick and a pair of punches. Abdouraguimov lands a low kick of his own and leans back just out of reach of a couple of vicious-looking counter punches. Abdouraguimov drops levels for a takedown but Staropoli hits another switch. Abdouraguimov re-shoots, takes Staropoli’s back and slaps on a rear-naked choke with less than 20 seconds left. Staropoli fights it off and survives to the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Staropoli (29-28 Abdouraguimov)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Abdouraguimov (30-27 Abdouraguimov)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Abdouraguimov (30-27 Abdouraguimov)

The Official Result

Abdoul Abdouraguimov def. Laureano Staropoli via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)