Round 1

Welterweights kick off festivities in The Windy City, as Atsas
(9-1, 0-0 PFL) locks horns with Jennerman (18-6, 1-0 PFL) at 170
pounds. Mike Cimm oversees the action. No glove touch from the
welterweight hopefuls. Atsas opens with a series of leg kicks, then
follows up with a body kick. Jennerman operates from the center of
the cage. Atsas doubles up on his right hand, then gets his jab in
gear. Another strong leg kick from Atsas, who clinches and secures
a trip takedown. Jennerman reverses briefly with an attempted
guillotine, but Atsas scrambles into top position and into side
control. Jennerman stuck on bottom for now. Atsas moves to mount.
Jennerman recovers half guard after eating a few punches. Atsas
moves back to side control. Two minutes left on the clock. Atsas
steps into mount. Jennerman recovers half guard again. Atsas works
body-head punches, as his counterpart shrimps toward the fence.
Jennerman builds a base and gets to a kneeling position. Atsas
lands two illegal knees to the side of the head, both of them
partially blocked. The fouls result in a pause to the action. Cimm
issues the warning and waits for Jennerman to recover. They restart
standing with less than a minute to go. They ytrade punches in the
center. Atsas lands a body kick. They flurry with punches again,
with neither man gaining an advantage. Atsas moves to a body lock
but fails to get the takedown as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Atsas
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Atsas
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Atsas

Round 2

Back at it for the second round. They meet in the middle and
exchange left hooks. Atsas lands a kick below the belt, leading to
another unscheduled respite. Cimm gives Jennerman time to check the
jewels before he restarts them. Jennerman steps forward behind his
jab and hooks from both hands. Atsas lures him into the clinch and
presses him into the fence. They jockey for position while trading
knees. Atsas boxes the ears, and Jennerman returns the favor. Atsas
lands a left hook on the break, and drops his opponent with an
overhand right. He jumps into top position and connects with
hammerfists while defending against an armbar. Atsas settles in
full guard and stays busy with punches. Midway through the round.
Body-head punches from Atsas, who is well on his way to securing a
two-rounds-to-none-lead. Sneaky elbow to the body from Atsas,
followed by punches. Action slows. Atsas works to side control with
a little more than a minute to go, then to north-south. He floats
back to side control and delivers a series of elbows. Atsas works
from half guard and continues to pile up points with punches.
Jennerman gets to all fours and sets off a scramble before closing
the round on top.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Atsas
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Atsas
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Atsas

Round 3

Jennerman facing an uphill climb to start the third round.
Jennerman lands his jab and follows it with a right cross. Atsas
looks tired. Jennerman landing punches from both hands. Atsas
clinches along the fence, then breaks and punches. Back to the
clinch they go. Atsas whiffs on an elbow and wanders into a
standing arm-triangle. Jennerman uses it as part of a takedown.
Atsas gets back to his feet and clinches. They trade punches and
knees at close range. Atsas stays glued to his adversary. Both men
breathing heavily. Midway through the round. Atsas continues to
milk the clock. Jennerman lands and elbows and forces a break.
Atsas gets right back to the clinch and pins the Roufusport rep to
the cage. Ninety seconds to go. This has turned into a grind, with
both men visibly fatigued. Jennerman bites down on a late
guillotine attempt and transitions to a brabo choke. He readjusts
his grip with less than a half minute left on the clock. Atsas
escapes and drops in on an unsuccessful double-leg as time winds
down.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jennerman (29-28 Atsas)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Jennerman (29-28 Atsas)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Jennerman (29-28 Atsas)

The Official Result

Valanti Atsas def. Nate Jennerman—Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28,
29-28)

Round 1

Attention now shifts to the heavyweight division, where Nascimento
(12-4, 1-1 PFL) squares off with Romanov (21-4, 1-1 PFL) in a
three-round rematch at 265 pounds. Nick Cimmarusti steps in as the
third man in the cage. Nascimento steps to the center in a crouched
stance. He attacks the body with punches and resets. Romanov dives
on a single-leg and secures a takedown. The Brazilian gets to a
kneeling position and gets to his feet. Romanov drags him back to
the mat and starts to lean on his opponent. He lands knees to the
leg and glute. Nascimento struggling to find an answer for the
Moldovan’s approach. He stands and gets dragged back to the canvas
again. Romanov lands a series of punches to the side of the head
and scores with a slam takedown. More punches follow. He works on a
face crank and settles in side control. Romanov mounts, flirts with
a keylock and pounds away from the top. Nascimento escapes another
crank. Romanov moves to his back and hammers away with punches,
then shifts back to mount and lands more hammerfists, with a few
elbows mixed in. Thirty seconds to go. Romanov in side control and
moves to full mount while landing elbows in the waning seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Romanov
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-8 Romanov
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-8 Romanov

Round 2

Round 1

Next on the PFL Chicago docket: a women’s flyweight tilt pitting
Watanabe (13-4-1, 1-2 PFL) against Wisniewska (6-1, 4-1 PFL) at 125
pounds. Cimm officiates. Watanabe takes the center. Wisniewska
knocks the judoka off her feet with a hard inside leg kick. She
sprawls on an attempted takedown, snatches the neck and works on an
anaconda choke. Watanabe bleeding from the nose. The Japanese
veteran scrambles to her feet and scores with a beautiful throw.
Wisniewska was apparently unimpressed. She escapes to her feet and
executes a slam takedown before settling in full guard. Midway
through the first round. Wisniewska postures and lands a series of
ferocious standing-to-ground punches. Watanabe gets to all fours,
with the Pole clamped onto her neck. Wisniewska releases her, lands
more punches and gets back on the neck. A minute to go. Watanabe
scrambles to top position but eats an elbow for her troubles, then
several more. Wisniewska with a violent performance thus far.
Watanabe on top trying to regain her composure as the round
concludes.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Wisniewska
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Wisniewska
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Wisniewska

Round 2

Round 1

Featherweights get the ball rolling on the main card, as Braga
(16-3, 8-3 PFL) puts Leialoha (11-2, 0-0 PFL) to the test at 145
pounds. Cimmarusti administers the law and order. They trade kicks
at the start. Braga presses forward, eats a low kick and fires a
jab down the middle. Leialoha surprises him with a takedown. Braga
stands, only to get slammed to the mat forcefully. Leialoha works
his punches and makes life difficult for the Brazilian on the
ground. Leialoha lands a knee to the body. Braga stands and
concedes another slam. Midway through the round. Leialoha
smothering him along the fence. Braga stands, eats a few elbows and
secures a body lock. Ninety seconds to go. Braga shoots knees to
the inner thigh from the clinch. Leialoha denies a takedown
attempt. Crowd boos the perceived inaction. They separate and
return to the center. Strong low kick from Braga, followed by a
body kick and another leg kick. Leialoha connects with a sneaky
inside elbow and blocks the return fire.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Leialoha
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Leialoha
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Leialoha

Round 2

Back at it for the second round. Braga presses forward with punches
from both hands. Leialoha changes levels, lifts the Brazilian and
slams him to the canvas. Braga bleeding from a cut between the
eyes. The Brazilian gets back to his feet and engages Leialoha in
the clinch. They separate and trade kicks. Braga seems intent on
crowding his counterpart. He slams the body with hooks from both
hands. Powerful left hook to the liver from Braga. Leialoha far
less effective in this round. Braga continues to apply pressure
with occasional punches and leg kicks. He steps into an elbow and
once again targets the calf. They exchange along the fence. Braga
cuts off an attempted takedown and turns the promotional newcomer
into the cage. He separates, blocks a knee strike from Leialoha and
lands another low kick. Forty seconds to go in the period. Braga
scores with a jab and sprawls out of a takedown attempt. Serious
swelling on Leialoha’s lower lead leg. Braga lands three punches to
the body to close the round.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Braga
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Braga
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Braga

Round 3

Should be a round apiece here. Braga marches forward, blocks a high
kick, feints and fires off his jab. Leialoha cannot get off the
fence. Nevertheless, he lands a few leg kicks of his own. One-two
from Braga. The Brazilian connects with a left hick to the body and
targets the leg with another kick. Braga shuts down an attempted
takedown and engages the Hawaiian in the clinch. He trips Leialoha
to the floor. Three minutes to go. Elbow drops an elbow and chips
away with punches to the body from half guard. Midway through the
period. Another elbow from Braga, who seems to have taken all the
steam out of his opponent. Braga frames an arm-triangle, then
thinks better of it and resumes his ground-and-pound. More punches
and elbows from the Brazilian. Leialoha closes his guard with less
than a minute left. Braga lands an elbow to the head and another to
the body. He stands and drops a right hand. Leialoha bucks but
cannot free himself. More punches and hammerfists from Braga to end
the bout.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Braga (29-28 Braga)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Braga (29-28 Braga)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Braga (29-28 Braga)

The Official Result

Gabriel Braga def. Cheyden Leialoha—Unanimous Decision (29-28,
29-28, 29-28)

Round 1

Women’s flyweights now step into the spotlight, as Araujo (13-7,
0-0 PFL) confronts Young (11-8, 1-2 PFL) at 125 pounds. Grice
oversees the action. No glove touch. Young throws kicks at the
start. Araujo catches one and knocks her off-balance with an
overhand right. The Brazilian advances to the back and threatens
the neck but allows Young to build a base and get to her feet.
Araujo stays glued to her counterpart with a body lock. She drags
Young back to the mat and moves to the back, with only one hook in.
Araujo repositions herself. Young returns to her feet but cannot
shake free. They eventually separate. Young gets busy with low
kicks and straight punches. Araujo counters with left hooks. Young
marches through it and lands with a couple of overhands. Araujo
connects with a right hook, dodges the return fire and drops the
American with a crushing right. She swarms with punches. Young gets
back to her feet and answers, albeit wildly. Twenty seconds to go.
Araujo steps into another overhand right and denies an attempted
takedown.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Araujo
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Araujo
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Araujo

Round 2

Away they go for the second round. They trade punches. Young throws
a few leg kicks, only to get countered with power punches. Araujo
landing her right hand almost at will. Weak takedown attempt from
Young goes nowhere. Grice warns her for grabbing Araujo’s hair. She
continues to intercept Young with right hands. Young pressures
forward behind punches and drives into the clinch. Nice dirty
boxing from the American. Araujo lands a right uppercut. Young
plows forward with hooks from both hands. She eats a one-two and
flicks out a kick. Araujo rolls through a takedown and gets to a
body lock as the two women return to their feet. One-two from
Young, followed by an awkward side kick to the breadbasket. Araujo
changes levels and completes a double-leg takedown. One minute to
go in the round. Araujo clings to a body lock, controls the wrist
and works toward a more dominant position. Young builds a base and
gets back to her feet. They separate and trade left hooks. Nice
left hook from Araujo to end the round.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Araujo
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Araujo
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Araujo

Round 3

Young may be down on the scorecards entering the final five
minutes. She steps forward with a front kick to the body and eats a
one-two. Young wobbles the Brazilian with a stout right hand. She
recovers quickly. Left hook from Young. Araujo counters with a
right cross and a left hook. She connects with a jab and switches
stances. One-two from Young, who refuses to go away. Arajuo snaps
back her opponent’s head with a sharp right. Young steps forward
behind a multi-punch volley. Arajuo picking her shots and doing
what she can to conserve her energy. Young not making it easy for
her. Arajuo lands a left hook. Young ducks in on a takedown
attempt. No luck. They return to the center of the cage. Nice
one-two from Young. Araujo counters with a right hook. She ducks a
right hand, changes levels and secures a takedown. Significant
bleeding from Young’s nose and mouth. Araujo moves to the back and
bleeds valuable time off the clock. The Brazilian lands punches as
Young gets to her feet, then closes the fight with a takedown.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 (30-27 Araujo)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 (30-27 Araujo)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 (30-27 Araujo)

The Official Result

Viviane Araujo def. Shanna Young—Unanimous Decision (30-28, 30-27,
30-27)

Round 1

PFL Chicago has arrived at its bantamweight co-main event, where
Stots (21-3, 1-1 PFL) sets his sights on the unbeaten Khavalov
(11-0, 3-0 PFL) at 135 pounds. Madrigal officiates. They touch
gloves and trade immediately. Khavalov lands an inside low kick,
then goes to the outside. Stots fires off a jab. They exchange
right hooks. Khavalov lands another leg kicks. Stots answers with
an overhand left. Khavalov crashes forward with punches. Nothing
much lands. Stots responds with probing jabs, maximizing his
eight-inch reach advantage. Khavalov closes in clinches and lands
punches to the body. He follows with a knee to the midsection. They
separate. More jabs from Stots. Khavalov catches a kick and trips
the American to the mat. He settles in full guard. Stots gets to
his knees and stands. They exchanges punches and knees in the
clinch. Stots presses him into the fence and nearly completes a
takedown. One minute to go. Khavalov circles off the fence and
shoots punches to the body. Stots answers with a jab. Check right
hook from Stots drops the off-balance Russian to a knee. They end
the round in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Stots
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov

Round 2

Off they go for the second round after a highly competitive first
five minutes. Stots fires a jab, then a one-two. Leg kick from
Khavalov, then another. He follows up with a two-punch combo
upstairs. Another leg kick from Khavalov. Action slows. One-two
from Stots. They trade right hooks. Stots sneaks in a left hand
over the top. Khavalov returns fire with one of his own. Stots
slips while landing a body kick. Khavalov sprawls and traps him on
all fours. He lands punches to the ribs, then a few to the head. He
has Stots completely neutralized for the moment. Khavalov works on
a guillotine, but Stots scrambles to his feet. Ninety seconds left.
Lead right hook from Khavalov, followed by a jab. Beautiful
straight left from the Russian stuns Stots. Khavalov lands a leg
kick and ducks into a takedown with less than a minute left on the
clock. Almost certainly salts away the round. Khavalov lands
punches from half guard and smothers the American from top position
to close the frame.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov

Round 3

They meet in the middle for the third round. Body kick from
Khavalov. Stots answers with a volley of punches, then denies a
single-leg takedown attempt. More punches exchanged at close range.
Stots lands a knee up the middle and presses his opponent into the
fence. Khavalov bleeding from a cut under his damaged left eye.
They separate and engage in the center of the cage. They clinch
again. Dirty boxing from both men. They trade knees to the body, as
well. Nice left hook on the break from Khavalov. Sharp jab from the
Russian. Stots lands a one-two, then lures his counterpart into the
clinch and turns him into the fence. Khavalov breaks free and
throws punches with both hands. Body-head combo from Khavalov.
Ninety seconds left. Khavalov connects with a left hook to the
body. Stots drops Khavalov with a close-range knee. Khavalov gets
to the clinch. Less than a minute to go. Stots presses his opponent
into the fence. Khavalov bleeding heavily from the face and now
sporting damage to both eyes. They separate with 30 seconds to go.
Khavalov lands an overhand right. They exchange at close range to
end it.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stots (29-28 Khavalov)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Stots (29-28 Stots)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 Stots (29-28 Khavalov)

The Official Result

Renat Khavalov def. Raufeon Stots—Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28,
29-28)

Round 1

Bantamweights close the show in the three-round headliner, as
Pettis (25-7, 2-0 PFL) zeroes in on the undefeated McKee (10-0, 0-0
PFL) at 135 pounds. McCarthy adjudicates matters. They touch gloves
and get started. McKee feints early from a crouched stance. Leg
kick from Pettis, followed by a few jabs. McKee drives into a
double-leg takedown. The onetime NCAA All-American wrestler sets up
in side control. Pettis gets to his knees and threatens with a
guillotine. McKee scrambles behind the former Bellator champ and
lands punches. Midway through the round. McKee now attached to
Pettis’ back near the base of the fence. Crowd boos. McKee works a
face crank but releases it and goes to a farside cradle. More boos.
McKee sets both hooks and flattens out Pettis. Punches ensue, along
with a few elbows. He flattens out Pettis again. Massive hematoma
swelling behind Pettis’ right ear. More punches from McKee, who
threatens the neck in the waning seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 McKee
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 McKee
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 McKee

Round 2

McKee enters the middle stanza with a lead. Pettis lands a straight
left and a leg kick. McKee shoots and secures a takedown. Pettis
finds himself on his back less than a minute into the round. He
lures McKee into a triangle. The wrestler muscles through the
attempt and works behind Pettis. McKee lands a few punches. Pettis
stands but gets taken down again. McKee sets up in half guard.
Pettis recovers full guard and traps McKee in another triangle.
This one looks much tighter. Ninety seconds to go. McKee breaks
free by lifting Pettis off the ground. He moves behind a kneeling
Pettis and lands punches. He takes the back and lands elbows to the
torso. McKee closes in the scarfhold position.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 McKee
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 McKee
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 McKee

Round 3

Outcome still up in the air at the start of the third round. Sharp
jab from Pettis, then another. He connects with a one-two, though
his movements look labored. Both men clearly tired. Pettis lands in
combination, punctuates it with an uppercut and floats into open
space. Thudding left hand to the body from Pettis. McKee changes
levels and secures the takedown. He snatches a farside cradle and
takes top position. Crowd may not like it, but the approach is
undeniably effective. McKee moves to the back and gets his
ground-and-pound in gear again. Both hooks now in for the Kill
Cliff Fight Club prospect. McKee flattens out Pettis and scores
with punches. Ninety seconds left. Action slows to a crawl, but
McKee maintains a dominant position. Time running out for Pettis,
the top-ranked bantamweight in the PFL. McKee flattens out Pettis
again and lands punches to the side of the head. Pettis stuck on
the bottom here in the waning moments. More punches from McKee to
end it.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 McKee (30-27 McKee)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-8 McKee (30-26 McKee)
Mike Pendleton scores the round: 10-9 McKee (30-27 McKee)

The Official Result

Mitchell McKee def. Sergio Pettis—Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28,
29-28)