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Welcome to PWInsiderXtra’s live coverage of PFL Challenger Series 2023, Week 4, which is taking place live from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida with Elvin Espinoza and Damir Ferhatbegovic headlining.
Here is the full card for the event:
The Contract Is Awarded To: Elvin Espinoza
Elvin Espinoza def. Damir Ferhatbegovic by submission via rear naked choke (1:53, R2)
Manoel Sousa def. Paulo Henrique Laia by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Anthony Romero def. Antonio Caruso by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Charles Decca def. Jose Aguayo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Round By Round Recap
Charles Decca vs. Jose Aguayo
Round One: The round begins with Aguayo attacking Decca with an overhand right, Aguayo avoids a swinging Decca before landing a two punch combination. Decca clinches with Aguayo before landing a knee strike, Aguayo responds by landing another two punch combo on Decca. Decca rocks Aguayo after landing a switch kick, Decca scores a takedown on Aguayo and he gets the half guard. Decca attacks Aguayo with some ground and pound, Decca briefly postures up before landing more strikes on Aguayo. Aguayo scrambles and Decca manages to keep top control, Decca postures up while Aguayo attempts some up kicks. Decca regains top control on Aguayo while landing some more strikes, Aguayo tries to roll for some submissions while on his back and Decca defends. Decca keeps top control on Aguayo as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-9 for Decca
Round Two: The round begins with Aguayo landing some shots on an incoming Decca, Decca starts landing leg kicks on Aguayo. Decca then nails Aguayo with a kick to the midsection, Aguayo nails Decca with a two punch combo. Decca clinches with Aguayo before landing a knee strike, the fighters clinch and exchange some strikes. Decca nails a swinging Aguayo with a counter right to the midsection, Decca then hits Aguayo with a step in knee strike to the body. Aguayo still lands some combinations on an incoming Decca, Aguayo nails a swinging Decca with a counter right. Decca attacks Aguayo with a variety of kicks, Aguayo takes some swings at Decca as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-9 for Decca (Overall Score: 20-18 for Decca)
Round Three: The round begins with Decca attacking Aguayo with some leg kicks, Aguayo looks for a head kick and Decca blocks it. Aguayo lands a counter left hook against a swinging Decca, Decca comes forward and Aguayo pops him with a left. Decca scores a takedown on Aguayo and he gets the half guard, Decca starts landing ground and pound on Aguayo. Decca postures up while landing more strikes on Aguayo, Decca catches Aguayo in a front headlock-like position while landing knee strikes to his midsection. Decca lands more ground and pound as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-9 for Decca (Final Score: 30-27 for Decca)
Official Result: Charles Decca def. Jose Aguayo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Antonio Caruso vs. Anthony Romero
Round One: The round begins with Caruso and Romero exchanging some leg kicks, Caruso backs up Romero while swinging away at him. Caruso and Romero also exchange plenty of jabs, Romero blocks a kick from Caruso before landing a combination. Romero grabs Caruso and he backs him into the fence, Caruso looks for a reversal and Romero gets him to the ground. Caruso scrambles to his feet and Romero briefly gets him back down, the fighters separate and swing away at each other. Caruso backs Romero into the fence after landing a right, Romero scores another takedown on Caruso and he gets back control as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-9 for Romero
Round Two: The round begins with the fighters taking some swings at each other, Caruso backs Romero into the fence before throwing a high kick. Romero responds by landing a right on Caruso, Romero cracks a swinging Caruso with a counter right. Romero also starts landing some leg kicks against Caruso, Caruso eats a few more shots before backing up Romero while throwing a right. Romero drops Caruso with a right and he gets top control on the ground, Romero attacks Caruso with a plethora of unanswered strikes. Romero goes for a rear naked choke and Caruso escapes before the referee halts the fight due to a fence grab from Caruso, the action resumes with Romero rocking Caruso again by landing a pair of left hooks. Caruso scores a takedown on Romero and Romero gets right back up, the fighters trade a few more shots as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-7 for Romero (Overall Score: 20-16 for Romero)
Round Three: The round begins with Caruso swinging wildly at Romero, Romero scores a takedown on Caruso and he gets the open guard. Caruso scrambles to his feet and he nails Romero with a multiple punch combination, Caruso swings away at Romero before Romero nails him with a knee strike. The fighters clinch and Caruso backs Romero into the fence, Romero scores a takedown on Caruso and he gets back control. Caruso scrambles and he manages to get top control on Romero, Romero sweeps Caruso and he backs him towards the fence while landing a few shots. Romero manages to regain back control against Caruso, Caruso scrambles at the right time and he gets top control on Romero as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-9 for Romero (Final Score: 30-25 for Romero)
Official Result: Anthony Romero def. Antonio Caruso by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Manoel Sousa vs. Paulo Henrique Laia
Round One: The round begins with Laia attacking Sousa with multiple front kicks, Laia also starts landing leg kicks on Sousa. Sousa backs up Laia while swinging away at him, Laia scores a takedown on Sousa and Sousa immediately rolls for his arm. Laia scrambles to his feet and he backs Sousa into the fence, the fighters clinch and exchange some strikes. Sousa scores another takedown on Laia and he immediately rolls for a kimura, Sousa transitions into an arm bar attempt and Laia defends to get top control. Laia attacks Sousa with some ground and pound, Sousa rolls for a heel hook and he transitions to a knee bar attempt. Laia defends and Sousa gets top control on the ground, Laia scrambles to his feet and Sousa gets him back down as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-9 for Sousa
Round Two: The round begins with Sousa backing Laia into the fence after landing a right, Sousa scores a takedown on Laia and he gets the half guard. Laia scrambles and he gets back to his feet while backing Sousa into the fence, Sousa drags Laia back to the ground while looking for a kimura. Sousa transitions to an arm bar attempt and Laia defends to get top control on the ground, Laia attacks Sousa with some ground and pound. Laia gans the half guard on Sousa while landing more strikes, Sousa sweeps Laia and he attempts a kimura. Sousa transitions to an arm bar attempt and Laia defends as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-9 for Sousa (Overall Score: 20-18 for Sousa)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters taking a few swings at each other, Sousa backs up Laia after landing a left hook. Sousa rocks Laia after landing an overhand right, Sousa hits Laia with another combo before scoring a takedown. Sousa gains the full mount while landing ground and pound on Laia, Sousa goes for the arm triangle choke and Laia defends to get the fight standing again. Laia scores a takedown and Sousa quickly sweeps him before looking for an arm bar, Laia defends and Sousa transitions to a kimura attempt to regain top control. The referee briefly halts the fight so some loose tape can be removed from Sousa’s glove, the action resumes with Sousa landing a few strikes on Laia. Sousa again goes for an arm triangle choke and Laia defends, Sousa attacks Laia with more ground and pound as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-9 for Sousa (Final Score: 30-27 for Sousa)
Official Result: Manoel Sousa def. Paulo Henrique Laia by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Elvin Espinoza vs. Damir Ferhatbegovic
Round One: The round begins with Ferhatbegovic attacking Espinoza with leg kicks, Espinoza starts landing jabs on Ferhatbegovic. Espinoza grabs Ferhatbegovic and he backs him into the fence, Espinoza scores a takedown on Ferhatbegovic and he gets side control. Ferhatbegovic scrambles to his feet and Espinoza keeps him against the fence, the fighters separate and Espinoza again backs Ferhatbegovic into the fence. Espinoza scores another takedown on Ferhatbegovic and he gets the half guard, Espinoza attacks Ferhatbegovic with some ground and pound. Ferhatbegovic scrambles and he gets back to his feet, Ferhatbegovic and Espinoza exchange some rights. Ferhatbegovic attempts a spinning back fist as the round ends.
PWInsiderXtra scores the round 10-9 for Espinoza
Round Two: The round begins with Ferhatbegovic popping Espinoza with a right, Ferhatbegovic also nails Espinoza with leg kicks. Ferhatbegovic looks for a takedown and Espinoza winds up in top control, Espinoza advances to the half guard against Ferhatbegovic. Espinoza then gains back control on a scrambling Ferhatbegovic, Espinoza locks in a rear naked choke and a tap out follows from Ferhatbegovic.
Official Result: Elvin Espinoza def. Damir Ferhatbegovic by submission via rear naked choke (1:53, R2)
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