It was an unforgettable evening at Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England, this past Saturday as hometown hero Savannah Marshall (1-0) made a triumphant transition from boxing to MMA, securing a decisive victory over Mirela Vargas in a thrilling 4 minutes and 27 seconds of action.
Marshall, the reigning undisputed super-middleweight boxing champion, showcased her resilience against Vargas's takedowns and submission attempts, relying on her lightning-fast hand speed to prompt the referee's intervention amid a roaring crowd treated to a spectacle of mixed martial arts.
Post-fight, PFL athlete Claressa "The GWOAT" Shields entered the PFL SmartCage, hinting at a potential rematch with Marshall under MMA rules, stirring anticipation among fans.
In the co-main event, Dylan Tuke (8-4) secured a unanimous decision victory over Kane Mousah (14-7), utilizing his grappling prowess to control the bout and neutralize Mousah's potent offense.
Elsewhere on the main card, Jack Grant (20-8) stunned spectators with a dramatic slam that led to a first-round victory over Charlie Leary (17-14-1), earning him a spot in the PFL Europe Playoffs scheduled for September 28th at Glasgow's OVO Hydro.
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Lewis McGrillen (9-1) displayed a versatile MMA arsenal against Matiss Zaharovs (6-3), delivering a unanimous decision win to the delight of the Newcastle crowd.
Highlighting the evening's action, Shanelle Dyer (6-0) maintained her flawless record by dispatching Mariam Torchinava (9-3) in the first round with a series of devastating kicks, culminating in a fight-ending head kick.
Meanwhile, Ibragim Ibragimov (7-0), the promising UK talent from Dagestan, asserted his dominance with a swift victory over Josh Reed (13-9), securing an arm triangle submission in under a minute to reaffirm his rising status in the MMA ranks.
PFL Europe Newcastle Main Card Results:
- Savannah Marshall (1-0) defeated Mirela Vargas (1-3) via TKO at 4:27 of round one
- Dylan Tuke (8-4) defeated Kane Mousah (14-7) via unanimous decision (29-27 x2, 30-27)
- Jack Grant (20-8) defeated Charlie Leary (17-14-1) via KO at :41 of round one – with the win, Grant advances to the he 2024 PFL Europe Welterweight Playoffs
- Lewis McGrillen (9-1) defeated Matiss Zaharovs (6-3) via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- Shanelle Dyer (5-0) defeated Mariam Torchinava (9-3) via KO at 3:53 of round one - with the win, Dyer advances to the 2024 PFL Europe Women’s Flyweight Playoffs
Preliminary Card Results:
- Ibragim Ibragimov (7-0) defeated Josh Reed (13-9) via submission (head and arm triangle) at :50 of round one
- Julien Lopez (135.4 lbs) defeated Dominique Wooding (135.7 lbs) via technical submission (guillotine choke) at 3:10 of round one – with the win, Lopez advances to the 2024 PFL Europe Bantamweight Playoffs
- Karolina Wójcik (12-5) defeated Lizzy Gevers (3-2) via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3) – with the win, Wójcik advances to the 2024 PFL Europe Women’s Flyweight Playoffs
- Claudio Pacella (4-2) defeated Mark Ewen (5-1) via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
- Khurshed Kakhorov (13-1) defeated Tuomas Grönvall (12-7-1) via KO at 1:11 of round three - with the win, Kakhorov advances to the 2024 PFL Europe Bantamweight Playoffs
- Valentina Scatizzi (3-2) defeated Marie Loiseau (6-5) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) – with the win, Scatizzi advances to the 2024 PFL Europe Women’s Flyweight Playoffs
- Ben Woolliss (4-0) defeated Nikola Ivanovic (0-8) via TKO at 4:02 of round one
- Alexander Luster (8-1) defeated Alperen Karabulut (10-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:59 of round one – with the win, Luster advances to the 2024 PFL Europe Bantamweight Playoffs
- Paulina Wiśniewska (3-0) defeated Dee Begley (4-6) via TKO at 3:08 of round two – with the win, Wiśniewska qualifies for the 2024 PFL Europe Playoffs
What are your thoughts on the event? Let us know in the comments below.
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