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2023 PFL Playoffs 3 took place Wednesday and MMA Junkie provided live and official results throughout the entire card.
The event featured welterweight and lightweight playoff bouts at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card aired live on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
In the featured contest, Clay Collard (25-10) took on Shane Burgos (16-6) in a Fight of the Year contender lightweight semifinal bout. It was a brutal contest with high-volume striking, but in the end, Collard earned unanimous 29-28 scores from the official judges.
Fists were flying early and often in the first round, living up to the expectation of an exciting matchup. Collard’s volume was higher, mixing up punches to the body and head with sharp combinations. Burgos landed well early and added some nice kicks, but as the round wore on, Collard put a stamp on the round by hurting Burgos with shots to the chin.
Delivering just as advertised… Round 2 up now!!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/7jEHWZt23m— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
Collard continued to march forward with accurate punches early in the second, causing blood to flow from Burgos’ face. Keeping his opponent honest, Burgos fired back with damaging inside leg kicks. Collard continued to pepper out jabs, but was knocked off his feet by a hard leg kick from Burgos. The momentum only lasted seconds, as Collard returned to his feet and landed a hard left hook to send Burgos to the mat. Collard followed him to the ground for more strikes, but the finish wouldn’t come as Burgos worked his way back up. The round closed with more striking exchanges on the feet.
Dropped him like a bad habit!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/pbTUfHQvIp— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
The striking exchanges continued at a high clip in the final round. Burgos added punches to the body along with kicks, as Collard worked fast punches and showed excellent head movement. A hard inside leg kick prompted Collard to shoot for a takedown, but Burgos stuffed it and shook his fingers at his opponent. They returned to the center to trade more strikes, but the inside kicks from Burgos really bothered Collard. After a clinch against the cage, it was back to fighting in the phone booth in the center of the cage. More inside leg kicks affected Collard’s movement, but he kept firing as they traded blows until the final horn.
AND YOUR WINNER VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION… "Cassius" Clay Collard!!!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/9VbU8b6uMy— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
The judges saw the fight unanimously for Collard, earning his first PFL finals appearance.
Collard entered the lightweight playoffs as the No. 1 seed after picking up a unanimous decision win over Yamato Nishikawa and a second-round stoppage of Stevie Ray in his regular season bouts. He now advances to the finals where he will face Olivier Aubin-Mercier, who recorded a second-round TKO stoppage against Bruno Miranda in the co-main event.
In the welterweight semifinal bouts, Sadibou Sy defeated Carlos Leal by split decision, and Magomed Magomedkerimov turned away Solomon Renfro to advance to the finals.
Check out the official results, details and highlight clips from each bout below.
Full 2023 PFL Playoffs 3 results
MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
- Clay Collard def. Shane Burgos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – lightweight semifinal
- Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Bruno Miranda via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:41 – lightweight semifinal
- Sadibou Sy def. Carlos Leal via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) – welterweight semifinal
- Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Solomon Renfro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – welterweight semifinal
- Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Ed Davis via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:23 – amateur bout
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)
- Alexei Pergande def. Shawn Stefanelli via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Mostafa Rashed Neda def. Korey Kuppe via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:55
- Michelle Montague def. Abigail Montes via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:38
- Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. David Zelner via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
- John Caldone def. Nathaniel Grimard via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:32
John Caldone vs. Nathaniel Grimard
Records: John Caldone (5-1), Nathaniel Grimard (4-3)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Result: John Caldone def. Nathaniel Grimard via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:32
JOHN CALDONE! "The Don" GETS THE FINISH IN THE FIRST FIGHT OF THE NIGHT!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/OfzWUT2yQo— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 23, 2023
Abdullah Al-Qahtani vs. David Zelner
Records: Abdullah Al-Qahtani (7-1), David Zelner (4-3)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mike Walter
Result: Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. David Zelner via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
Abdullah Al-Qahtani puts up another good round. David Zelner tougher than a $2 Steak. We go to 3rd round…#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/mWrjVKgbVx— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 23, 2023
Abigail Montes vs. Michelle Montague
Records: Abigail Montes (4-3), Michelle Montague (4-0)
Division: Women’s Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Result: Michelle Montague def. Abigail Montes via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:38
"THE WILD ONE!" Michelle Montague gets the submission in the 2nd Round!!!!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/bLJPynp4kM— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 23, 2023
Mostafa Rashed Neda vs. Korey Kuppe
Records: Mostafa Rashed Neda (8-3), Korey Kuppe (11-6)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mike Walter
Result: Mostafa Rashed Neda def. Korey Kuppe via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:55
Nada Hurts Kuppe early!!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/kGQ20AQOJD— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
Alexei Pergande vs. Shawn Stefanelli
Records: Alexei Pergande (4-0), Shawn Stefanelli (4-3)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Keith Peterson
Result: Alexei Pergande def. Shawn Stefanelli via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2nd Round looking to be going Pergande's way…#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/JSrGSdDESG— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
💣💣#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/5eZuc9ca4P— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Ed Davis
Records: Biaggio Ali Walsh (0-0), Ed Davis (0-0)
Division: Lightweight – amateur bout
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Mike Walter
Result: Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Ed Davis via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:23
IT'S OVER! Biaggio Ali Walsh throws missiles to secure the finish! 🚀🚀#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/o7OTYGC4MI— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Solomon Renfro
Records: Magomed Magomedkerimov (33-6), Solomon Renfro (11-4)
Division: Welterweight semifinal
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Result: Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Solomon Renfro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Solomon Renfro gets back up!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/qj8flNX2my— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
Woahhhh no one does that to Magomedkerimov#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/521FcnQnA3— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
Sadibou Sy vs. Carlos Leal
Records: Sadibou Sy (16-6-2), Carlos Leal (19-5)
Division: Welterweight semifinal
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Keith Peterson
Result: Sadibou Sy def. Carlos Leal via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Sadibou Sy has leveled up in 2023#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/PztUq84AFA— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
Congratulations Sadibou Sy! "The Swedish Denzel" is heading back to the 2023 #PFLWorldChampionship!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/qyPPeOoeLX— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Bruno Miranda
Records: Olivier Aubin-Mercier (20-5), Bruno Miranda (16-4)
Division: Lightweight semifinal
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Dan Miragliotta
Result: Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Bruno Miranda via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:41
Recap: 2023 PFL Playoffs 3 results: Olivier Aubin-Mercier TKOs Bruno Miranda for second-straight finals berth
OLIVER AUBIN-MERCIER IS GOING BACK TO THE #PFLWorldChampionship!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/wBgNOmCbRF— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
Clay Collard vs. Shane Burgos
Records: Clay Collard (23-10), Shane Burgos (16-4)
Division: Lightweight semifinal
Broadcast: ESPN
Referee: Keith Peterson
Result: Clay Collard def. Shane Burgos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Pettis ✅
Stephens ✅
Burgos ✅FINAL BOSS: Olivier Aubin-Mercier#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/qSnmr7prFv— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 24, 2023
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Playoffs 3.