Fabian Edwards secured a powerful victory over 2023 league champion Impa Kasanganay in the main event of PFL 3 in Orlando on Friday. Despite the emphatic finish, Edwards remained focused on his path in the tournament.
In a highly anticipated striking battle, Edwards quickly established control, landing sharp inside elbows that troubled Kasanganay. One particularly damaging elbow opened a significant cut on Kasanganay`s face, causing blood to stream down.
Following the round, a ringside doctor assessed the deep gash, but deemed Kasanganay fit to continue the fight.
While Kasanganay had brief moments, including a punch landed after an accidental head clash, Edwards consistently found opportunities to connect with his best shots. The end came after a perfectly timed jab rocked Kasanganay, prompting Edwards to surge forward and unleash a flurry of punches that dropped his opponent. The referee stepped in to stop the contest at 2:14 of the second round.
After a brief moment celebrating with his brother Leon Edwards, Fabian turned his attention to his next opponent, Josh Silveira, who also earned a win earlier in the night.
“I feel good but the job`s not done,” Edwards commented on his performance. “One down, two more to go. I can`t get too happy. PFL you should have brought in elbows a long time ago.”
In the co-main event, 2024 PFL champion Gadzhi Rabadanov continued his dominant run, needing only 32 seconds to dispatch former UFC fighter Marc Diakiese in the lightweight division.
The fight was over almost immediately when Rabadanov caught a kick, took Diakiese down, and followed up with relentless ground strikes that rendered his opponent unconscious. It was another rapid and decisive win for Rabadanov, who advances to face Jay Jay Wilson in the next round.
Dalton Rosta made a statement in the middleweight tournament, dominating and finishing PFL veteran Sadibou Sy. Known for his striking, Sy was hurt by a punch from Rosta in the second round, leading to the fight going to the ground.
Rosta relentlessly attacked with strikes and submission attempts on the ground, eventually securing a tight D’arce choke. Sy had no escape and was choked unconscious, forcing the stoppage.
Jay Jay Wilson also secured his spot in the lightweight semifinals with a punishing performance against Mads Burnell. While initially on track for a decision victory, Wilson kept the pressure on, taking Burnell down and finishing the fight with ground and pound late in the third and final round.
Opening the main card, Alfie Davis surprised multi-time PFL veteran Clay Collard with a perfectly timed spinning back elbow that immediately wobbled him. Though Collard briefly survived, Davis continued his assault with punches until the referee halted the contest at 2:12 of the first round.
PFL 3 Official Results
Main Card
Fabian Edwards def. Impa Kasanganay via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 2:14
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Marc Diakiese via knockout (ground and pound) — Round 1, :32 seconds
Dalton Rosta def. Sadibou Sy via submission (D’Arce choke) — Round 2, 3:29
Jay Jay Wilson def. Mads Burnell via TKO (strikes on the ground) — Round 3, 4:42
Alfie Davis def. Clay Collard via TKO (spinning back elbow and punches) — Round 1, 2:12
Prelims
Josh Silveira def. Mike Shipman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Brent Primus def. Vinicius Cenci via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 3, 4:52
Aaron Jeffery def. Murad Ramazanov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Murray Blackwood