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’s first win in the promotion.
PFL Results and Highlights
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.
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.
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.
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’s MMA operations and roster are set to form the foundation of MVP MMA during the brand transition.
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.
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.
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.
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.
