<\/p>\n
Sherdog’s live A world class Welterweights kick off festivities in The Windy City, as Atsas Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Atsas Back at it for the second round. They meet in the middle and Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Atsas Jennerman facing an uphill climb to start the third round. Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jennerman (29-28 Atsas) Valanti Atsas def. Nate Jennerman\u2014Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, Attention now shifts to the heavyweight division, where Nascimento Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Romanov Nascimento could not have envisioned a poorer start, but he Alexander Romanov def. Rodrigo Nascimento\u2014Submission (Guillotine Next on the PFL Chicago docket: a women\u2019s flyweight tilt pitting Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Wisniewska Off the go for the second round. Watanabe shoots for a takedown. Paulina Wisniewska def. Kana Watanabe\u2014TKO (Elbows) 3:15 R2<\/p><\/div>\n Featherweights get the ball rolling on the main card, as Braga Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Leialoha Back at it for the second round. Braga presses forward with punches Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Braga Should be a round apiece here. Braga marches forward, blocks a high Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Braga (29-28 Braga) Gabriel Braga def. Cheyden Leialoha\u2014Unanimous Decision (29-28, Women\u2019s flyweights now step into the spotlight, as Araujo (13-7, Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Araujo Away they go for the second round. They trade punches. Young throws Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Araujo Young may be down on the scorecards entering the final five Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 (30-27 Araujo) Viviane Araujo def. Shanna Young\u2014Unanimous Decision (30-28, 30-27,
\nPFL Chicago<\/a> coverage will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n
\nbantamweight clash headlines PFL Chicago: Tune in LIVE, Saturday,
\nApril 11 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2<\/a>.<\/p>\nRound 1<\/h3>\n
\n(9-1, 0-0 PFL) locks horns with Jennerman (18-6, 1-0 PFL) at 170
\npounds. Mike Cimm oversees the action. No glove touch from the
\nwelterweight hopefuls. Atsas opens with a series of leg kicks, then
\nfollows up with a body kick. Jennerman operates from the center of
\nthe cage. Atsas doubles up on his right hand, then gets his jab in
\ngear. Another strong leg kick from Atsas, who clinches and secures
\na trip takedown. Jennerman reverses briefly with an attempted
\nguillotine, but Atsas scrambles into top position and into side
\ncontrol. Jennerman stuck on bottom for now. Atsas moves to mount.
\nJennerman recovers half guard after eating a few punches. Atsas
\nmoves back to side control. Two minutes left on the clock. Atsas
\nsteps into mount. Jennerman recovers half guard again. Atsas works
\nbody-head punches, as his counterpart shrimps toward the fence.
\nJennerman builds a base and gets to a kneeling position. Atsas
\nlands two illegal knees to the side of the head, both of them
\npartially blocked. The fouls result in a pause to the action. Cimm
\nissues the warning and waits for Jennerman to recover. They restart
\nstanding with less than a minute to go. They ytrade punches in the
\ncenter. Atsas lands a body kick. They flurry with punches again,
\nwith neither man gaining an advantage. Atsas moves to a body lock
\nbut fails to get the takedown as the round ends.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Atsas
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Atsas<\/p>\nRound 2<\/h3>\n
\nexchange left hooks. Atsas lands a kick below the belt, leading to
\nanother unscheduled respite. Cimm gives Jennerman time to check the
\njewels before he restarts them. Jennerman steps forward behind his
\njab and hooks from both hands. Atsas lures him into the clinch and
\npresses him into the fence. They jockey for position while trading
\nknees. Atsas boxes the ears, and Jennerman returns the favor. Atsas
\nlands a left hook on the break, and drops his opponent with an
\noverhand right. He jumps into top position and connects with
\nhammerfists while defending against an armbar. Atsas settles in
\nfull guard and stays busy with punches. Midway through the round.
\nBody-head punches from Atsas, who is well on his way to securing a
\ntwo-rounds-to-none-lead. Sneaky elbow to the body from Atsas,
\nfollowed by punches. Action slows. Atsas works to side control with
\na little more than a minute to go, then to north-south. He floats
\nback to side control and delivers a series of elbows. Atsas works
\nfrom half guard and continues to pile up points with punches.
\nJennerman gets to all fours and sets off a scramble before closing
\nthe round on top.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Atsas
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Atsas<\/p>\nRound 3<\/h3>\n
\nJennerman lands his jab and follows it with a right cross. Atsas
\nlooks tired. Jennerman landing punches from both hands. Atsas
\nclinches along the fence, then breaks and punches. Back to the
\nclinch they go. Atsas whiffs on an elbow and wanders into a
\nstanding arm-triangle. Jennerman uses it as part of a takedown.
\nAtsas gets back to his feet and clinches. They trade punches and
\nknees at close range. Atsas stays glued to his adversary. Both men
\nbreathing heavily. Midway through the round. Atsas continues to
\nmilk the clock. Jennerman lands and elbows and forces a break.
\nAtsas gets right back to the clinch and pins the Roufusport rep to
\nthe cage. Ninety seconds to go. This has turned into a grind, with
\nboth men visibly fatigued. Jennerman bites down on a late
\nguillotine attempt and transitions to a brabo choke. He readjusts
\nhis grip with less than a half minute left on the clock. Atsas
\nescapes and drops in on an unsuccessful double-leg as time winds
\ndown.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Jennerman (29-28 Atsas)
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Jennerman (29-28 Atsas)<\/p>\nThe Official Result<\/h3>\n
\n29-28)<\/p><\/div>\nRound 1<\/h3>\n
\n(12-4, 1-1 PFL) squares off with Romanov (21-4, 1-1 PFL) in a
\nthree-round rematch at 265 pounds. Nick Cimmarusti steps in as the
\nthird man in the cage. Nascimento steps to the center in a crouched
\nstance. He attacks the body with punches and resets. Romanov dives
\non a single-leg and secures a takedown. The Brazilian gets to a
\nkneeling position and gets to his feet. Romanov drags him back to
\nthe mat and starts to lean on his opponent. He lands knees to the
\nleg and glute. Nascimento struggling to find an answer for the
\nMoldovan\u2019s approach. He stands and gets dragged back to the canvas
\nagain. Romanov lands a series of punches to the side of the head
\nand scores with a slam takedown. More punches follow. He works on a
\nface crank and settles in side control. Romanov mounts, flirts with
\na keylock and pounds away from the top. Nascimento escapes another
\ncrank. Romanov moves to his back and hammers away with punches,
\nthen shifts back to mount and lands more hammerfists, with a few
\nelbows mixed in. Thirty seconds to go. Romanov in side control and
\nmoves to full mount while landing elbows in the waning seconds.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-8 Romanov
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-8 Romanov<\/p>\nRound 2<\/h3>\n
\nnevertheless comes out for the middle stanza. The Brazilian pumps
\nout a jab. Romanov answers with a left hook, secures a body lock
\nand scores with a trip takedown. Romanov moves behind him, then to
\nside control and full mount\u2014a gooch-to-face mount, no less. He
\ntransitions to the back, sets his hooks and threatens the neck.
\nBack to mount, where he drops punches and Donkey Kong hammerfists.
\nMidway through the period.
\nRomanov subtly positions himself for a guillotine, secures his grip
\nand tightens the squeeze for the tap. Game over<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe Official Result<\/h3>\n
\nChoke) 3:10 R2<\/p><\/div>\nRound 1<\/h3>\n
\nWatanabe (13-4-1, 1-2 PFL) against Wisniewska (6-1, 4-1 PFL) at 125
\npounds. Cimm officiates. Watanabe takes the center. Wisniewska
\nknocks the judoka off her feet with a hard inside leg kick. She
\nsprawls on an attempted takedown, snatches the neck and works on an
\nanaconda choke. Watanabe bleeding from the nose. The Japanese
\nveteran scrambles to her feet and scores with a beautiful throw.
\nWisniewska was apparently unimpressed. She escapes to her feet and
\nexecutes a slam takedown before settling in full guard. Midway
\nthrough the first round. Wisniewska postures and lands a series of
\nferocious standing-to-ground punches. Watanabe gets to all fours,
\nwith the Pole clamped onto her neck. Wisniewska releases her, lands
\nmore punches and gets back on the neck. A minute to go. Watanabe
\nscrambles to top position but eats an elbow for her troubles, then
\nseveral more. Wisniewska with a violent performance thus far.
\nWatanabe on top trying to regain her composure as the round
\nconcludes.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Wisniewska
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Wisniewska<\/p>\nRound 2<\/h3>\n
\nWisniewska blocks it, moves into top position and advances to the
\nback. She traps Watanabe in an inverted triangle. The judoka frees
\nherself, sets off a scramble and forces a standup.
\nWatanabe crashes forward, right into a sprawl. Wisniewska back on
\ntop and driving elbows into her opponent\u2019s face. Brutal stuff.
\nWatanabe fishes for an armbar but continues to eat punches, with
\nblood streaming into her eyes. More elbows from Wisniewska, and
\nCimm elects to stop it<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe Official Result<\/h3>\n
Round 1<\/h3>\n
\n(16-3, 8-3 PFL) puts Leialoha (11-2, 0-0 PFL) to the test at 145
\npounds. Cimmarusti administers the law and order. They trade kicks
\nat the start. Braga presses forward, eats a low kick and fires a
\njab down the middle. Leialoha surprises him with a takedown. Braga
\nstands, only to get slammed to the mat forcefully. Leialoha works
\nhis punches and makes life difficult for the Brazilian on the
\nground. Leialoha lands a knee to the body. Braga stands and
\nconcedes another slam. Midway through the round. Leialoha
\nsmothering him along the fence. Braga stands, eats a few elbows and
\nsecures a body lock. Ninety seconds to go. Braga shoots knees to
\nthe inner thigh from the clinch. Leialoha denies a takedown
\nattempt. Crowd boos the perceived inaction. They separate and
\nreturn to the center. Strong low kick from Braga, followed by a
\nbody kick and another leg kick. Leialoha connects with a sneaky
\ninside elbow and blocks the return fire.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Leialoha
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Leialoha<\/p>\nRound 2<\/h3>\n
\nfrom both hands. Leialoha changes levels, lifts the Brazilian and
\nslams him to the canvas. Braga bleeding from a cut between the
\neyes. The Brazilian gets back to his feet and engages Leialoha in
\nthe clinch. They separate and trade kicks. Braga seems intent on
\ncrowding his counterpart. He slams the body with hooks from both
\nhands. Powerful left hook to the liver from Braga. Leialoha far
\nless effective in this round. Braga continues to apply pressure
\nwith occasional punches and leg kicks. He steps into an elbow and
\nonce again targets the calf. They exchange along the fence. Braga
\ncuts off an attempted takedown and turns the promotional newcomer
\ninto the cage. He separates, blocks a knee strike from Leialoha and
\nlands another low kick. Forty seconds to go in the period. Braga
\nscores with a jab and sprawls out of a takedown attempt. Serious
\nswelling on Leialoha\u2019s lower lead leg. Braga lands three punches to
\nthe body to close the round.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Braga
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Braga<\/p>\nRound 3<\/h3>\n
\nkick, feints and fires off his jab. Leialoha cannot get off the
\nfence. Nevertheless, he lands a few leg kicks of his own. One-two
\nfrom Braga. The Brazilian connects with a left hick to the body and
\ntargets the leg with another kick. Braga shuts down an attempted
\ntakedown and engages the Hawaiian in the clinch. He trips Leialoha
\nto the floor. Three minutes to go. Elbow drops an elbow and chips
\naway with punches to the body from half guard. Midway through the
\nperiod. Another elbow from Braga, who seems to have taken all the
\nsteam out of his opponent. Braga frames an arm-triangle, then
\nthinks better of it and resumes his ground-and-pound. More punches
\nand elbows from the Brazilian. Leialoha closes his guard with less
\nthan a minute left. Braga lands an elbow to the head and another to
\nthe body. He stands and drops a right hand. Leialoha bucks but
\ncannot free himself. More punches and hammerfists from Braga to end
\nthe bout.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Braga (29-28 Braga)
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Braga (29-28 Braga)<\/p>\nThe Official Result<\/h3>\n
\n29-28, 29-28)<\/p><\/div>\nRound 1<\/h3>\n
\n0-0 PFL) confronts Young (11-8, 1-2 PFL) at 125 pounds. Grice
\noversees the action. No glove touch. Young throws kicks at the
\nstart. Araujo catches one and knocks her off-balance with an
\noverhand right. The Brazilian advances to the back and threatens
\nthe neck but allows Young to build a base and get to her feet.
\nAraujo stays glued to her counterpart with a body lock. She drags
\nYoung back to the mat and moves to the back, with only one hook in.
\nAraujo repositions herself. Young returns to her feet but cannot
\nshake free. They eventually separate. Young gets busy with low
\nkicks and straight punches. Araujo counters with left hooks. Young
\nmarches through it and lands with a couple of overhands. Araujo
\nconnects with a right hook, dodges the return fire and drops the
\nAmerican with a crushing right. She swarms with punches. Young gets
\nback to her feet and answers, albeit wildly. Twenty seconds to go.
\nAraujo steps into another overhand right and denies an attempted
\ntakedown.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Araujo
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Araujo<\/p>\nRound 2<\/h3>\n
\na few leg kicks, only to get countered with power punches. Araujo
\nlanding her right hand almost at will. Weak takedown attempt from
\nYoung goes nowhere. Grice warns her for grabbing Araujo\u2019s hair. She
\ncontinues to intercept Young with right hands. Young pressures
\nforward behind punches and drives into the clinch. Nice dirty
\nboxing from the American. Araujo lands a right uppercut. Young
\nplows forward with hooks from both hands. She eats a one-two and
\nflicks out a kick. Araujo rolls through a takedown and gets to a
\nbody lock as the two women return to their feet. One-two from
\nYoung, followed by an awkward side kick to the breadbasket. Araujo
\nchanges levels and completes a double-leg takedown. One minute to
\ngo in the round. Araujo clings to a body lock, controls the wrist
\nand works toward a more dominant position. Young builds a base and
\ngets back to her feet. They separate and trade left hooks. Nice
\nleft hook from Araujo to end the round.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Araujo
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Araujo<\/p>\nRound 3<\/h3>\n
\nminutes. She steps forward with a front kick to the body and eats a
\none-two. Young wobbles the Brazilian with a stout right hand. She
\nrecovers quickly. Left hook from Young. Araujo counters with a
\nright cross and a left hook. She connects with a jab and switches
\nstances. One-two from Young, who refuses to go away. Arajuo snaps
\nback her opponent\u2019s head with a sharp right. Young steps forward
\nbehind a multi-punch volley. Arajuo picking her shots and doing
\nwhat she can to conserve her energy. Young not making it easy for
\nher. Arajuo lands a left hook. Young ducks in on a takedown
\nattempt. No luck. They return to the center of the cage. Nice
\none-two from Young. Araujo counters with a right hook. She ducks a
\nright hand, changes levels and secures a takedown. Significant
\nbleeding from Young\u2019s nose and mouth. Araujo moves to the back and
\nbleeds valuable time off the clock. The Brazilian lands punches as
\nYoung gets to her feet, then closes the fight with a takedown.<\/p>\nSherdog Scores<\/h4>\n
\nJ.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 (30-27 Araujo)
\nMike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 (30-27 Araujo)<\/p>\nThe Official Result<\/h3>\n
\n30-27)<\/p><\/div>\n