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Bryan Battle gave Charlotte a hometown result to cheer on Friday, edging Dalton Rosta by split decision in the PFL Charlotte main event at Bojangles Coliseum. The former UFC fighter took two 29-28 scorecards, while Rosta received the third, for Battle\u2019s first win in the promotion.<\/p>\n
Rosta had success early with pressure, clinch work and takedown attempts, but Battle adjusted over the final two rounds. He defended more effectively, landed the cleaner shots, and survived a close fight that went the full 15 minutes. Battle moved to 13-3, while Rosta fell to 11-4.<\/p>\n
Simeon Powell delivered the other key result on the ESPN main card, defeating former PFL light heavyweight champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov via split decision. One judge had it 28-29 for Yagshimuradov, but the other two scored it 30-27 for Powell, who improved to 13-2.<\/p>\n
Aaron Jeffery controlled Josh Silveira for three rounds to earn a unanimous decision, with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26. Lewis McGrillen then beat Brandon Lewis by unanimous decision in the bantamweight bout, while Josh Fremd stopped Jhony Gregory with punches at 1:44 of Round 2.<\/p>\n
The event arrived eight days after MVP and PFL announced their merger. The combined company will operate under the MVP banner, with Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian serving as co-founders and board members, and John Martin continuing as CEO and a board member. PFL\u2019s MMA operations and roster are set to form the foundation of MVP MMA during the brand transition.<\/p>\n
Denis Goltsov delivered the fastest finish of the night, knocking out Hasan Mezhiev with a head kick and follow-up punches 52 seconds into the opening round. Cheyden Leialoha swept the scorecards against Robbie Ring, while Cheyanne Bowers submitted Elora Dana with a rear-naked choke at 3:26 of Round 1.<\/p>\n
Landry Ward took a split decision over Michael Boylan, Bruno Cappelozza beat Valentin Moldavsky by unanimous decision, and Jonathan Martin won all three cards against Wilson Lopshire at their 160-pound catchweight. Maxwell Djantou Nana finished Eduardo Neves with a body punch in Round 3, before Trey Waters closed the prelims by stopping Trukon Carson with punches at 4:37 of the first round.<\/p>\n
PFL Charlotte results: Bryan Battle def. Dalton Rosta via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28); Simeon Powell def. Dovlet Yagshimuradov via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27); Aaron Jeffery def. Josh Silveira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26); Lewis McGrillen def. Brandon Lewis via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28); Josh Fremd def. Jhony Gregory via TKO, punches, Round 2, 1:44.<\/p>\n
On the preliminary card, Denis Goltsov def. Hasan Mezhiev via KO\/TKO, Round 1, 0:52; Cheyden Leialoha def. Robbie Ring via unanimous decision (30-27 x3); Cheyanne Bowers def. Elora Dana via rear-naked choke, Round 1, 3:26; Landry Ward def. Michael Boylan via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27); Bruno Cappelozza def. Valentin Moldavsky via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28); Jonathan Martin def. Wilson Lopshire via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-27); Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Eduardo Neves via TKO, body punch, Round 3, 2:01; and Trey Waters def. Trukon Carson via TKO, punches, Round 1, 4:37.<\/p>\n