PFL 8 Comes To A Close, Heavyweight and Welterweight Championships Set

Cardiff, Wales – Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena played host to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Welterweight and Heavyweight semifinals. Welterweights Sabidou Sy and Dilano Taylor will face each other in the Welterweight Championship. Heavyweights Ante Delija and Matheus Scheffel will clash in the Heavyweight Championship after both dispatched their opponents via TKO.

Dilano Taylor TKO’s Rory MacDonald on Short Notice to Advance to Welterweight Championship

Rory attempted a trip that Dilano reversed and got top position to start the round. Both fighters rose and looked to trade in the center cage. The action slowed as both fighters felt each other out until Dilano landed a massive right jab that dropped Rory. Dilano swarmed with ground and pound, and the referee called it.

Short notice replacement Dilano Taylor gets the TKO win and advances to the Welterweight Championship.

No. 2 Ante Delija TKO’s No. 3 Renan Ferreira, Advances to Heavyweight Championship

Both fighters swung away early as Ante pressured Renan against the cage. Renan got separation but succumbed to a takedown shortly after. Ante threw hammer fists and pinned Renan against the cage until he was forced onto his back. Ante continued to reign shots down as Ferriera absorbed shot after shot, forcing the referee to call it.

Ante gets the TKO win and will advance to the Heavyweight Championship.

No. 5 Matheus Scheffel brutalizes No. 6 Juan Adams in a TKO victory to Advance to Heavyweight Championship

Adams walked Scheffel down immediately as he attempted to shoot for a double leg. Matheus broke free and worked his jab but was again pressured back into the cage. Adams worked this position into a takedown and was met with jabs along the way. Scheffel is pinned against the cage as Adams leans all his weight on the body of Scheffel. Scheffel arose from the position and broke free but was met with yet another takedown that pinned him against the cage. Scheffel worked the hands away from his leg and got up slowly as both men then traded in the center of the cage. Adams ate a massive right hand, wobbling after another combination from Matheus as the first closed out.

Adams pressured forward immediately as he looked for a takedown, but Matheus evaded. Adams started to wear, and Scheffel moved forward and threw a combination that rocked Adams. Juan shot for a takedown out of desperation as he kept Scheffel pinned against the cage. Matheus broke free and cracked Adams with a jab to the nose that opened a cut that bothered Adams. Both fighters stalled the remaining minute, with Adams ultimately wavering until he landed a takedown to close the second.

Scheffel opened the third on fire as he landed an uppercut that stunned Adams. Both fighters traded blows in the center of the cage as Scheffel cracked Adams with a haymaker and a jab. Adams’s right eye looked swollen shut, and he struggled to evade the punches thrown by Scheffel. Scheffel closed out the fight after he landed a flurry against the cage that caused Juan Adams to stumble.

Matheus Scheffel will advance to the Heavyweight Championship.

No. 2 Sadibou Sy Claimes a 29-27 UD Victory over No. 3, Carlos Leal, to Advance to Welterweight Championship

Leal came out aggressive as he threw combinations immediately; he then pushed Sadibou against the cage. Sy looked to use his range and footwork to evade strikes as he circled the cage. Sy landed a sequence of jabs and threw kicks up high as Leal looked to pressure forward. Sy continued to evade the strikes thrown by Leal as he continued to pressure forward while getting tagged hard. Leal shot for a takedown against the cage as the first came to an end.

Leal came into the second and applied pressure quickly as he pushed Sy into the cage early. Sy circled out of the attacks thrown by Leal, but Leal pushed him back into the clinch and attempted to work a body triangle against the cage. Sy broke away, but Carlos returned with more pressure and landed a combination up high. Leal continued pressuring Sadibou into the cage, holding him for the remainder of the round.

Going into the third both fighters showed fatigue, but Leal’s pressure continued. Sadibou was pushed back into the cage until Leal threw a knee at Sy’s cup that paused the fight. A point is deducted from Leal as referee Gary Copeland resumed the fight. Leal shot against the cage again, leaving Sy pressed up against the cage. Sadibou broke free and threw a flurry of jabs that Carlos ate and immediately shot for a leg. Both men pressured forward, throwing combinations left and right as the final round closed out.

Sadibou Sy won by a unanimous decision after a low blow caused a point deduction from Leal and will advance to the Welterweight Championship.