Abdoulaye Kane Shines with Dominant TKO
In an electrifying return to the cage, Abdoulaye Kane (6-2, 3-2 PFL) showcased his grappling prowess by effectively controlling Morocco's Badr Medkouri (9-4, 0-1 PFL) against the cage before executing a decisive takedown. Once on the canvas, the Senegalese fighter unleashed a barrage of punches as Medkouri attempted to escape. Kane's relentless assault culminated in a series of brutal elbows that compelled referee Paul Crossley to halt the bout, resulting in a technical knockout at 4:06 of the first round. This impressive performance marked Kane's rebound from a previous loss, improving his record to 3-1 over his last four fights.
In the featherweight co-main event, Yanis Ghemmouri (14-4, 2-1 PFL), a former Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor and 2025 PFL MENA finalist, effectively neutralized Taha Bendaoud's (5-3, 2-3 PFL) offense while waiting for his opponent to overcommit. Ghemmouri transitioned the fight to the ground multiple times during the second and third rounds, maintaining control with strikes from distance. Bendaoud struggled to assert his game plan, and the judges unanimously awarded the fight to Ghemmouri with scores of 30-27, solidifying his victory.
Thrilling Semifinals Highlight Tournament Action
The welterweight tournament semifinal featured Shido Boris Esperanca (13-2, 5-1 PFL), who secured a swift victory over Peace Nguphane (9-4, 1 NC; 1-1 PFL) just 63 seconds into the fight. Although Esperanca missed weight, he quickly established dominance by hurting Nguphane early and maintaining relentless pressure, leading to a technical knockout. Another welterweight semifinal saw David Samuel (5-0, 2-0 PFL) outgrapple Rivaldo Pereira (4-3, 1-1 PFL) to earn a unanimous decision victory, with all judges scoring the bout 30-27. This match was notable as Samuel went the distance for the first time in his professional career, setting up a final clash against Esperanca.
In the bantamweight division, Dwight Joseph (17-3, 1 NC; 3-1 PFL) narrowly edged Boule Godogo (5-3, 2-3 PFL) by split decision, with judges scoring it 29-28, 29-28, and 28-29. Joseph's grappling skills were on display, yet he was unable to secure a finish despite having multiple opportunities. He will now face Raphael Uchegbu in the final, following Uchegbu's planned semifinal against Alain Majorique being removed from the card.
The lightweight semifinals also delivered excitement, as Patrick Ocheme (10-1, 4-0 PFL) advanced to the final by knocking out Cornel Thompson (12-4, 2-1 PFL) with a devastating body kick at 2:46 of the first round. Thompson fell to the canvas immediately after the strike, prompting referee intervention. The other semifinal match between Demba Seck (11-3, 1 NC; 1-0, 1 NC PFL) and Hussain Al Kurdi (3-0, 1 NC; 1-0, 1 NC PFL) ended in a no contest due to an accidental knee strike, allowing Seck to advance under PFL tournament rules to face Ocheme.
In a welterweight bout, Mouhamed Ba (4-1, 1 NC; 1-0, 1 NC PFL) achieved his first decision victory, defeating Yabna N'Tchala (14-4-1, 3-2 PFL) by unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28. Ba's striking was effective, enabling him to dictate the pace throughout the fight. The event featured further excitement as Reda Abdellaoui (5-0, 1-0 PFL) remained unbeaten, forcing Salim Mhamdi (2-2, 0-1 PFL) to tap to a rear-naked choke in the first round. Additionally, Jane Osigwe (6-4, 1-1 PFL) claimed victory over Sanaa Mandar (3-3, 0-1 PFL) by unanimous decision in a catchweight bout, while Abderrahman Errachidy (6-2, 2-1 PFL) earned his first decision win against Oussama El Idrissi (3-1, 0-1 PFL) with scores of 29-28 across all judges.
As reported by sports.yahoo.com.
