Seven Fighters Wrap Up Playoff Spots At PFL7 In Atlantic City

Playoff Brackets Are Finalized After Seven Knockouts In Exciting Regular Season Finale

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Aug 31, 2018, 01:14 ET

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Aug. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Professional Fighters League (PFL) finished off their inaugural regular season schedule with a 10-bout card from Ocean Resort and Casino. With seven playoff seeds up for grabs the action did not disappoint. Of the seven fights with playoff implications, six ended in stoppages, propelling the victors into the post-season.

"The fighters continue to impress me every time they step into the cage," said PFL President of Fighting Operations Ray Sefo. "The fighters showed the kind of heart and determination we hoped they would when we came up with this league format. To watch them bring it the way they did with so much on the line was so exciting for me."

In the main event Smealinho Rama defied belief with his last second win over rugged challenger Jamie Abdallah. The two light heavyweights traded shots as momentum swung back-and-forth over the first two rounds. Rama squeaked into the playoffs as the 7^th seed when the cage-side physician called the contest before the start of the third frame.

Bozigit Ataev, fighting for just the third time in 12 years, turned back the clock on Sean O'Connell with a first round TKO that locked him into the 4^th seed in the light heavyweight bracket. Ataev battered O'Connell from the opening bell with strikes that left the part-time broadcaster wobbled and bloody. On the strength of the five points he earned in his first regular season fight, O'Connell will be the 6^th seed.

Brazilian newcomers Alexandre Bezerra and Handesson Ferreira made quite an impression in their first PFL bouts. Bezerra landed a high-light reel flying knee that ended Magomed Idrisov's 2018 PFL campaign while Ferreira decimated Paul Bradley just 20 seconds into their win-and-get-in welterweight bout. The two first round stoppages sent both alternate fighters into the playoffs in the 5^th seed. Bezerra in the featherweight bracket and Ferreira in the welterweight division.

Heavyweights Caio Alencar and Mike Kyle dueled for 15 minutes in their quest to secure a post-season berth but it wasn't to be. Fellow heavyweight Josh Copeland's only hope of remaining in the playoff picture was an Alencar decision win and his prayers were answered when the big Brazilian failed to finish off Kyle. Despite his decision win, Alencar is done for 2018.

Swedish striker Sadibou Sy made quick work of alternate Caio Magalhaes in their do-or-die middleweight scrap. Sy, who came up short against another Brazilian grappler in his first bout of the season was set on getting his striking game going early. It was a head-kick that started the finishing sequence but it was a flurry of pinpoint punches that ended Magalhaes night and dashed his post-season dreams. Sy will enter the playoffs as the 5^th seed.

Emiliano Sordi was a late addition to the light heavyweight division but he didn't take much time to establish himself as a playoff contender. The Argentinian blasted Jason Butcher with a series of punches that notched the TKO victory just 16 seconds into the match, the fastest knockout in PFL history. Sordi will enter the playoffs as the 5^th seed.

About Professional Fighters League™

The Professional Fighters League presents MMA for the first time in the sport format where individuals compete in a regular season, "win-or-go-home" post-season, and championship. Co-founded by Donn Davis, Russ Ramsey, and Mark Leschly, the Professional Fighters League is backed by an ownership group of sports, media, and business titans. The PFL 2018 Season has 72 fighters in six weight-classes, competing in the regular season on Thursday nights in June, July, and August. The top eight in each weight-class face off in single-elimination playoff fights on Saturday nights in October and the PFL season concludes December 31 with six championship bouts back-to-back with a $10 million prize pool. Watch the entire PFL season action beginning June 7 live on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), Facebook Watch, and www.PFLmma.com. For more visit www.PFLmma.com.

SOURCE Professional Fighters League