Mads Burnell can claim bragging rights over Clay Collard at least.
The former Bellator and Cage Warriors standout won a hard-fought decision over Collard in Friday’s PFL Salt Lake City main event to score his first victory since joining the league this season. It was a tough pill for Collard to swallow in front of his fellow Utahans, but the lightweight veteran can be consoled by the fact that his April stoppage win of Patricky Pitbull earned him enough points in the standings to advance him to the postseason.
Despite having his hand raised, Burnell only earns three regular season points for a decision win. He lost in his debut this past April and thus falls short of the playoffs and a shot at the league’s $1 million prize.
Burnell can take pride in the fact that he beat one of the PFL’s established stars and in his home state, no less. Collard kicked off the bout in typically aggressive fashion, using his sharp boxing to close the distance and pressure Burnell. The Dane fired back on the feet, but knew his smartest path to victory was to utilize his expert grappling.
After Round 1, Burnell scored multiple takedowns on Collard to neutralize his striking advantage. Collard battled hard to get back to his feet, but Burnell refused to give him room to operate. Amid jeers from the Salt Lake City crowd, Burnell stuck to his wrestling and held on for the win with 29-28 scores across the board.
In the co-main event, 2023 PFL light heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay came out on top of a Fight of the Year candidate against Jakob Nedoh. The two slugged it out from the start and Nedoh drew first blood, rocking Kasanganay in Round 1. Kasanganay made it out of the opening five minutes, then took the fight to Nedoh in Round 2 before finding the finish with a flurry of punches at the very end of the frame.
Kasanganay now heads into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed with his second finish of the season. See the semifinal matchups for the light heavyweight and lightweight divisions below:
The Light Heavyweight bouts are set for the #PFLPlayoffs! pic.twitter.com/AMvKmC58GE
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 22, 2024
Light Heavyweight Semifinals
No. 1 Impa Kasanganay vs. No. 4 Josh Silveira
No. 2 Rob Wilkinson vs. No. 3 Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
Your #PFLPlayoffs Lightweight Match ups are official! pic.twitter.com/l9zXNexV3O
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 22, 2024
Lightweight Semifinals
No. 1 Brent Primus vs. No. 4 Clay Collard
No. 2 Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. No. 3 Michael Dufort
Also on the main card, Bruno Miranda scored a gutsy split decision win over former Bellator lightweight champion Patricky Pitbull, Rob Wilkinson and Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov clinched their spots in the light heavyweight playoffs with decision wins over Josh Silveira and Simon Biyong, respectively, and Alex Polizzi outpointed 2021 light heavyweight champion Antonio Carlos Junior.
See full PFL Salt Lake City results below.
Mads Burnell def. Clay Collard* via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Impa Kasanganay* def. Jakob Nedoh via TKO (strikes) (R2, 5:00)
Bruno Miranda def. Patricky Pitbull via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Rob Wilkinson* def. Josh Silveira* via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov* def. Simon Biyong via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Alex Polizzi def. Antonio Carlos Junior via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Brent Primus* def. Solomon Renfro via submission (rear-naked choke) (R3, 3:21)
Sadibou Sy def. Andrew Sanchez via TKO (strikes) (R3, 4:02)
Gadzhi Rabadanov* def. Elvin Espinoza via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Adam Piccolotti def. Michael Dufort* via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Sergio Cossio def. Anthony Romero via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Brahyan Zurcher def. Julian Ruiz via KO (punch) (R2, 1:26) | Watch finish
*Qualified for playoffs
