GLOBAL FIGHT LEAGUE

[Shade]

GFL LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BRACKETOLOGY​

MG: Ladies and Gentleman now that we have revealed the full line up of the GFL Light Heavyweight Championship tournament. We are going to return to our very impressive guest panel who will unveil the light heavyweight championship tournament field. So please welcome our panel of my old friend and former colleague Kenny Florian, Former Strikeforce champion Josh Thompson, the greatest referee of all time "Big" John McCarthy, former ufc title challenger "The Outlaw" Dan Hardy, MMA veteran Julie Kedzie and reporters The Schmo and Helen Yee.

The Table: Kenny Florian, Josh Thompson, John McCarthy, Dan Hardy, The Schmo, Helen Yee and Julie Kedzie

KF: It is great to be back here tonight for our next GFL tournament unveiling. We've already kicked off in a big way with our heavyweight title tournament and I have a feeling we may top that tonight!

JT: The heavyweight tournament opening was insane! We saw a great representation for heavyweight MMA. Some big knockouts, nasty submissions and chock full of memorable moments.

DH: That continues with this tournament. I mean when you think about it many of MMA's pioneers all originated from the Light Heavyweight division. This is truly a tournament of historic proportions.

JM: I have been honored to be apart of many big fights in Light Heavyweight history. This is very much going to be some of those fights.

TS: We have top prospects, legends, former champions and specialists all vying for for the GFL Light Heavyweight Championship.

HY: This is what the GFL promised. Global combat. We fighters from across the world competing for this.

JK: I couldn't have put it better myself. The talent amassed here wouldn't normally cross one another's paths. But here they all converge in the hopes of becoming the first GFL Light Heavyweight Champion!

KF: Alright let's not keep anyone waiting any longer here. It's time to reveal the official matches for the GFL Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament. We have 8 groups of thirty two of the best 205 pounders on the planet. Let's begin with group A now!

GROUP A
Yoel Romero vs. Kelly Anundson
Luke Trainer vs. Vagab Vagabov

KF: Starting out big here in Group A. One of the tournament favorites Yoel Romero right out of the gates!

JT: That is a fight of two powerhouse wrestlers. Yoel Romero vs. Kelly Anundson. That is literally two bulls going head to head.

JM: Two physical and explosive individuals capable of bringing the fight to the mat in a second.

JK: Plus don't forget the other match on this group. A European battle between Luke Trainer and Vagab Vagabov!

TS: Vagabov is wild! That is a fight which promises chaos.

DH: Trainer is an unorthodox fighter himself at the best of times, that's a fight which is hard to breakdown or predict.

HY: This entire group is chaos in it's purest form! Whoever survives this will be battle tested!

GROUP B
Lyoto Machida vs. Shogun Rua
Rashad Evans vs. Wanderlei Silva

KF: If Group A brought the chaos.. Then Group B brought the legends. What a quartet of champions! This is pure history.

DH: Not to undersell the second match in this group. But what history we will see here. Machida and Shogun III!

JK: These two have had two memorable battles already with Shogun being the first man to ever defeat Machida. This fight is decades in the making.

JM: On top of that we have a first time clash between two former champions Rashad Evans and Wanderlei Silva!

TS: That is a dream match I didn't even know I wanted until now! Two vicious strikers collide.

JT: These are four men who know a few things about tournaments. Namely how to win them. This is a dangerous group.

HY: This group is as much about legacy as it is competition! It's about showing you still have what it takes to be the best!

GROUP C
Stephan Puetz vs. Karlos Vemola
Julius Anglickas vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky

KF: Now we come to Group C. This is a clash of Europe's finest as Stephan Puetz takes on Karlos Vemola while Julius Anglickas takes on Vyacheslav Vasilevsky.

JT: This group is both the combination of raw physicality and technical composure. We literally have a Terminator vs a T1800 in Vemola vs Puetz.

DH: I love that fight. Those are two dangerous men and that fight is an absolute coin toss.

TS: Those two men are tanks. There isn't enough terminator puns I can say here.

JK: Then we come to Anglickas and Vasilevsky which honestly could be my favorite fight of the tournament so far. Both these men are more than capable of going deep in a tournament like this.

HY: I couldn't agree more. That is a semi final even potential final.

JM: Two very well rounded fighters capable of winning anywhere. The winner of that fight will surely be a favorite.

GROUP D
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Karl Albrektsson vs. Ronny Markes

KF: Alex vs OSP. That is a fight which has long been on my personal wish list!

JK: Two long and rangy strikers who are also experienced grapplers. This is a fascinating fight.

HY: Both men have been on the cusp of world championships before. Now is their chance to shine.

JT: We then have Albrektsson and Markes. Two dangerous grapplers will collide.

TS: Also not to count our chickens but we have the potential storyline of a Swedish civil war in round two if both Karl and Alex advance.

DH: That would be a case of mentor vs. Pupil to say the least.

JM: That's definitely something to look to. As would the potential veteran clash between OSP and Ronny Markes!

GROUP E
Chael Sonnen vs. Tito Ortiz
Vitor Belfort vs. Tafon Nchukwi

TS: OH MY GOD. Chael Sonnen vs Tito Ortiz 2! The grudge match is being revisited.

JT: These two do not like each other. Even after that fight the bad blood has lingered.

DH: This fight is for more than just bad blood it's also for that step closer in the tournament. Which both men will delight in taking from the other.

HY: On top of that we have a clash between Tafon Nchukwi and Vitor Belfort. Two of the most explosive men in the tournament.

JM: That’s speed versus raw power. Experience versus explosion. Someone’s going out cold.

JK: That's a definite clash of youth vs experience. We will see if Vitor still has the explosiveness to keep up with a younger version of himself.

KF: This is an exciting group. One filled with drama and violent potential for sure!

GROUP F
Emiliano Sordi vs. Ivan Shtyrkov
Sam Alvey vs. Philipe Lins

KF: this is a group which we don't really have to go too much in detail for. You have 4 of the biggest hitters in the tournament.

DH: They may not have name value but Ivan and Emiliano are dangerous. Someone will sleep in that one

JT: It's a hard fight to call with their power both these men can alter outcomes in seconds.

HY: We then have a collision of veterans as Sam Alvey takes on Philipe Lins.

JM: These are two men who know how to win. Even in fights where it looks like they are on the outs they can claim it back.

JK: Both of these men have no issues in embracing the grind and making for an ugly fight either.

TS: This might be the sleeper group of the tournament. Expect some ugly, brutal fights here.

GROUP G
Daniel Spohn vs. Thiago Santos
Artem Vakhitov vs. Fabio Maldonado

KF: Santos vs Spohn.. What a fight that is! Two dangerous heavy hitting veterans!

DH: That fight is all about timing. Spohn as a counter striker is more than able to catch Santos. However at the same time the aggressive and hard changing Santos is more than able to shut down Spohn.

JK: Spohn has to mind his Ps and Qs here. Stay focused and keep composed so as not to be overwhelmed.

JT: We then go from that to a striker's delight as professional boxer and noted tough man Fabio Maldonado takes on Glory kickboxer Artem Vakhitov.

HY: That is a fascinating fight. To see Vakhitov commit to the crossover to MMA. He has the perfect opponent here as an introduction.

JM: However he can't be overconfident. One thing we know about Maldonado is his toughness. This man can wear you down.

TS: This is a fun and interesting group for sure. It's hard to predict a winner.

GROUP H
Vinny Magalhaes vs. Atilla Vegh
Alessio Sakara vs. Tomasz Narkun

KF: We are now at our final block and what a way to close things out. Jujitsu world champion Vinny Magalhaes vs former Bellator Champion Atilla Vegh!

DH: This block features grapplers and brawlers. It's hard to know what to expect.

JT: Vegh and Magalhaes is a fascinating fight for sure. It's really hard to predict exactly what will happen.

JK: Then we have Sakara and Narkun. Another clash of Europe's finest.

TS: Narkun and Sakara is a wild fight. Narkun is a former KSW Champ but Sakara has fight ending power.

JM: That is also a striker vs grappler bout. One which is very hard to call.

HY: This maybe the toughest bracket to predict yet!

KF: So there we have it, the brackets for the Light Heavyweight championship tournaments are official. Now let's take a look at the full cards of action for GFL 3 and 4!

GFL 3
Prelims
Enoc Solves Torres (29-11-1) vs. Antonio Gordillo (18-8-1)
Rusan Gabaraev (6-2) vs. Aleksa Camur (6-3)
Erko Jun (9-3) vs. Christian Ewards (7-4)
Ibragim Chuzhigaev (19-6) vs. Alex Nicholson (16-11)
Arlind Berisha (4-0) vs. Pedro Lay Jr (2-1)
Rafael Haratyk (21-5-2) vs. Maxim Grishin (34-10-2)
Darren Stewart (16-10) vs. Alain Van De Merckt (9-1)
Karl Moore (12-4) vs Joey Beltran (18-15)
Liam McGeary (13-4) vs. Rafael Cavalcante (13-7)
Main Card
Stephan Puetz (22-5) vs. Karlos Vemola (38-9)
Vinny Magalhaes (19-12) vs. Atilla Vegh (33-11-2)
Ronny Markes (25-11) vs. Karl Albrektsson (14-8)
Vagab Vagabov (30-1-1) vs. Luke Trainer (9-1)
Julius Anglickas (11-4) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (36-10)
Alessio Sakara (20-13) vs. Tomasz Narkun (21-6)
Alexander Gustafsson (18-8) vs. Ovince St Preux (27-18) - Co-main Event
Kelly Anundson (11-3) vs. Yoel Romero (16-7) - Main Event

GFL 4
Prelims
Da Woon Jung (15-6-1) vs. Felipe Franco (8-1)
Joe Taylor (6-2) vs. Muslim Magomedov (15-0)
Moustapha Diakhate (4-0-1) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (19-18)
Misha Cirkunov (15-9) vs. Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz (11-3)
Tae In Kim (5-1) vs. Mike Rodriguez (12-7)
John Martin Fraser (11-5) vs. Jeremy Kimball (20-12-1)
Emilio Quissua (7-0) vs. William Knight (11-6)
Lucas Fernando (12-3) vs. Rafael Tobias (14-1)
Chris Daukaus (12-8) vs. Shealor Ladd (3-0)
Matt Hamill (12-8) vs. Jeremy May (13-12)
Main Card
Artem Vakhitov (3-1) vs. Fabio Maldono (28-8)
Daniel Spohn (19-9-1) vs. Thiago Santos (22-13)
Sam Alvey (34-18-1) vs. Philipe Lins (18-5)
Ivan Shtyrkov (25-2-1) vs. Emiliano Sordi (25-13-1)
Vitor Belfort (26-14) vs. Tafon Nchukwi (7-4)
Rashad Evans (20-8-1) vs. Wanderlei Silva (35-14-1)
Lyoto Machida (26-12) vs. Shogun Rua (27-14-1) - Co Main
Chael Sonnen (30-18-1) vs. Tito Ortiz (21-12-1) - Main Event

 

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GFL 3

O2 ARENA | LONDON, ENGLAND​

MG: Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening and welcome to the Global Fight League! Tonight we are live from the sold-out O2 Arena in London, England! as we kick off the opening round of the GFL Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament!

RB: Living up to that Global title, we’ve officially crossed the pond tonight and what a setting it is, Mike. The atmosphere here in London is electric! This crowd is packed with fight fans from across Europe, and they’re ready to see who steps up in the light heavyweight division.

BS: And let’s be honest, guys this tournament lineup is stacked. We’re talking legends, top prospects, and future champions all in one bracket. You’ve got names like Alexander Gustafsson, Yoel Romero, and Lyoto Machida that’s world championship pedigree right there!

MG: Absolutely, Brendan. But before we get to the main card and those opening-round matchups, we’ve got a huge set of preliminary fights tonight featuring top prospects, veterans, and some international standouts all looking to make their mark on the global stage.

RB: It’s the perfect showcase for sure Europe’s best meeting the world’s best. And we kick it off with a fight between two tried and tested veterans of the European MMA scene, both with a point to prove.

MG: Before we get to the tournament however, we have a cavalcade of fights on our prelims featuring top prospects, veterans, former champions and international stars. This begins with our fight between veterans Enoc Solves Torres and Antonio Gordillo.

BS: These are two warriors who’ve fought everywhere from regional circuits to international promotions. This should be an all-out war to set the tone for the night!

RB: Both these guys are grinders. You’re not gonna see much feeling-out process here expect fast hands, hard kicks, and some classic scrambles.

The Walkmen
Enoc Solves Torres: “Can’t Stop” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Antonio Gordillo: “Mi Gente” – J Balvin & Willy William

ENOC SOLVES TORRES (29-11-1) VS. ANTONIO GORDILLO (18-8-1)
From the opening bell both of these fighters would meet in the center of the cage and wasted little time in engaging with combinations thrown back and forth. Gordillo in particular would throw heavy punches and some winding hooks at Torres while Torres was cleaner and looked to counter. As the fight wore on we would see Torres begin to implement his game more as his punishing leg kicks reduced Gordillos' movement and allowed Torres to pick him off with his punching combinations on his way to a unanimous decision.
Result: Enoc Solves Torres (30-11-1) defeated Antonio Gordillo (18-9-1) by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

MG: What a performance there by Torres. You can see the veteran savvy from this man a mile off. He overcome some early adversity and implemented his game perfectly.

RB: That’s the story of experience, Mike. He didn’t rush, didn’t overextend. He picked his spots and broke his opponent down.

BS: You can tell this guy’s been in there with everyone. Smart, disciplined, and sharp. What a way to start the night!

MG: It is now time for our second fight of the night as ACA veteran Ruslan Gabarev takes on Aleksa Camur.

The Walkmen
Ruslan Gabarev - Remember the name by Fort Minor
Aleksa Camur - Heathens by Twenty One Pilots

RUSLAN GABAREV (6-2) VS. ALEKSA CAMUR (6-3)
The second bout of the night would get off to a quick start as Aleksa Camur looked to establish his faster hands and very much managed to clip Ruslan with a 1 2 combination. This would lead to Ruslan initiating the grappling and actually slamming Camur down to the canvas. From there it was clear that Gabarev had a game plan as he exploited the skill difference and repeatedly would take down Camur enroute to a frustrating decision.
Result: Ruslan Gabarec (7-2) defeated Aleksa Camur (6-4) by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

MG: That was a statement there by Gabarev. He exploited Camur's weakness perfectly.

RB: That was some frustrating savvy there for Ruslan. He knew where his bread was buttered.

BS: Far from flashy but super effective!

MG: It is now time for our third fight as Bellator veteran Christian Edwards takes on former Brave champion Erko Jun!

The Walkmen
Erko Jun - X gonna give it to ya by DMX
Christian Edwards - DNA by Kendrick Lamar

ERKO JUN (9-3) vs. CHRISTIAN EDWARDS (7-4)
The third fight of the night would start very measured as Christian Edwards looked to circle his opponent. Jun however woul press forward and start cutting off the cage as he landed thudding leg kicks. This would not only halt Edwards movement in the early going but also allow Jun to begin landing heavy punches in the pocket. This would include a big looping right hand which staggered Edwards and allowed Jun to follow with a left hook which slumped Edwards against the cage for a vicious knockout.
Result: Erko Jun (10-3) defeated Christian Edwards (7-5) by 1st round knockout (2:21)

MG: What a finish. Erko Jun just detonated a grenade on Christian Edwards!

BS: That's the kind of knockout which you won't forget in a long time. Jun has some power.

RB: Edwards had a great early game plan to stick and move but man.. Jun just walked him down.

MG: Up next we have our next fight of the night as Alex Nicholson takes on Ibragim Chuzhigaev.

The Walkmen
Ibragim Chuzhigaev – “Till I Collapse” by Eminem
Alex Nicholson – “Hate Me Now” by Nas

IBRAGIM CHUZHIGAEV (19-6) vs. ALEX NICHOLSON (16-11)
The next fight of the night would very much get off to a wild start as Alex Nicholson charged across the cage looking to make this fight ugly. This would include a big kick and wild punches. Ibragim however would maintain his composure and actually rock Nicholson with a slip right to the jaw. With Nicholson stunned, Ibragim began to walk him down and dropped him with a straight right hand. Standing over Nicholson, Ibragim then began unloading on him with ground and pound until the official called for the bell.
Result: Ibragim Chuzhigaev (20-6) defeated Alex Nicholson (16-12) by 1st round knockout (1:08)

MG: That was a missile. Those counter punches were perfect.

BS: Chuzhigaev has said all week he felt disrespected not to be in the tournament. He just made a statement here to show why.

RB: That was vicious. A real statement was made here!

MG: Next up we have Arlind Berisha going up against Pedro Lay Jr.

The Walkmen
Arlind Berisha - “Power” by Kanye West
Pedro Lay Jr - Can't be touched by Roy Jones Jr

Arlind Berisha (4-0) vs. Pedro Lay Jr (2-1)
This fight would get off to a quick start as Pedro Lay came out with some sharp calf kicks looking to stop Berisha's movement and forward pressure. Berisha however would not back up or flinch from this as he'd drop Lay early with a jab as Lay looked for another kick. Not longer after this we would see Arlind Berisha follow up with a left cross which wobbled Lay Jr and it wouldn't take long for a few more punches to follow which dropped Lay for a TKO finish.
Result: Arlind Berisha (5-0) defeated Pedro Lay (2-2) by 1st round TKO (2:01)

MG: What a finish here for Arlind Berisha. This was definitely a way for this prospect to put hi name out there!

RB: He's scary Mike. This is a violent and powerful man.

BS: Berisha is a future star man. This was a big showcase for him!

MG: We next will follow with a clash of European talents as Rafael Haratyk battles Maxim Grishin.

The Walkmen
Rafael Haratyk - “Till I Collapse” by Eminem
Maxim Grishin - "Unstoppable" by Sia

RAFAEL HARATYK (21-5-2) VS. MAXIM GRISHIN (34-10-2)
This fight would very much prove to be a chess match as we'd see a great contrast between the pair. Grishin would look to keep a distance and probe with his jab while Haratyk looked to close the distance. While Grishin would seem to land the more strikes it was Haratyk whose shots proved to be more powerful. On top of this Haratyk would have some success as he controlled and worked over Grishin in the clinch over the course of the three rounds to score a decision.
Result: Rafael Haratyk (22-5-2) defeated Maxim Grishin (34-11-2) by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

MG: Haratyk just will not go away! A classic grinder’s win from the Polish veteran!

RB: That’s the kind of fight that breaks your will if you’re not ready for it. Grishin was sharp early, but Haratyk’s pressure and toughness were too much.

BS: He’s got that old-school toughness, the type you can’t teach. Big win for Haratyk tonight in London.

MG: Our next fight of the night will see local fighter Darren Stewart take on Alain Van Der Meckt.

The Walkmen
Darren Stewart - “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin
Alain Van Der Meckt - “Believer” by Imagine Dragons

DARREN STEWART (16-10) VS. ALAIN VAN DER MECKT (9-1)
In a contrast from the previous fight which was a slow, composed affair. This contest was a fire fight from the off with both men throwing some heavy strikes. Stewart in particular would land some heavy combinations which stumbled Alain. With Alain reeling Darren looked to put Alain away but his over aggression allowed Alain to shoot in for a takedown. From here Der Meckt began to assert control with his top pressure and landed vicious ground and pound enroute to a TKO stoppage.
Result: Alain Van Der Meckt (10-1) defeated Darren Stewart (16-11) by TKO in Round One (3:15)

MG: A massive performance there by Alain Van Der Meckt. He just silenced the crowd here

RB: What composure under fire! He absorbed Darren’s pressure early, made the read, and when he found that opening he capitalized instantly.

BS: That’s how you make a name for yourself in the GFL. Calm, clinical, and ruthless when it matters.

MG: Up next we will have a clash of veterans as Karl Moore takes on Joey Beltran.

The Walkmen
Karl Moore - “Saw Theme”
Joey Beltran - "Still D.R.E.” by Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg

KARL MOORE (12-4) VS. JOEY BELTRAN (18-15)
Continuing on the theme from the last bout these two men came out swinging in this one. Beltran in particular in the early going looked to pressure Moore and take the fight to him. As the fight wore on however we would see the much more technical striking offense of Moore begin to make the difference. With his precision and timing he'd start to hurt Beltran on occasion before finally in the second round he'd land a big high kick which put Beltran down for a knockout!
Result: Karl Moore (13-4) defeated Joey Beltran (18-16) by 2nd round Knockout (1:42)

MG: The Irishman has arrived! What a knockout by Karl Moore!

RB: That’s the statement he needed! Moore looked sharp, disciplined, and when the opportunity came he pulled the trigger perfectly.

BS: Moore again is someone who didn't like being excluded from the tournament. Putting away Joey Beltran like this. This guy is a dark horse in the division. Mark my words, he’s one to watch.

MG: We now come to our final fight on the prelims as former strikeforce champion Rafael Cavalcante takes on former Bellator champion Liam McGeary.

The Walkmen
Liam McGeary - “Jefe” by T.I.
Rafael Cavalcante - “Suite 14” by Henrique & Diego

LIAM MCGEARY (13-4) VS. RAFAEL CAVALCANTE (13-7)
The final fight on the prelims would see a clash of champions when Liam McGeary took on Rafael Cavalcante. This fight would get off to a brutal start as quickly Cavalcante pressed McGeary and landed a big right cross which snapped his head back. With McGeary reeling Cavalcante began to use the clinch and landed a series of short elbows and knees one of which landed to the body and crumpled McGeary for a an early finish.
Result: Rafael Cavalcante (14-7) defeated Liam McGeary (13-5) by 1st round knockout (0:57)

MG: Wow! Rafael Cavalcante turns back the clock!

RB: That’s vintage Feijão! Explosive, nasty, and when he touches you, it’s lights out.

BS: He’s dangerous, man and that right hand still has dynamite in it. McGeary just never got comfortable once Feijão started marching him down.

MG: We have now completed our prelims and will enter into the main card portion of the GFL.

The show opens with cinematic drone shots of London. The Tower Bridge glowing under the night sky, the Thames reflecting the city lights, and finally the O2 Arena bursting with anticipation. Cut to quick flashes of tonight’s stars. Alexander Gustafsson taping his hands, Yoel Romero shadowboxing backstage, Tomasz Narkun in prayer, Alessio Sakara stretching with his Italian flag draped over his shoulders. The GFL theme song would then play as the camera pans across a sea of flashing lights and roaring fans. Standing in the cage would be Dasha Gonzalez to welcome everyone for this event.

DG: Good evening, fight fans around the world. We are live from the sold-out O2 Arena in London, England! This is GFL 3: From London! From Stockholm to São Paulo. From Belfast to Belgrade the warriors of the world converge once more. Tonight the Global Fight League crowns its next legend. This is the GFL Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament.

Spotlights sweep the crowd as the GFL logo blazes across the big screen. The roar builds.

DG: Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the national anthem of the United Kingdom, performed tonight by singer and MMA fighter Chase Morton!

The crowd stands. The lights dim to a soft spotlight. Chase Morton steps forward in a tailored black suit, his voice smooth and powerful as he delivers an emotional rendition of ‘God Save the King.’ The crowd joins in on the final line, the arena echoing with unity and pride. As the last note fades, pyrotechnics burst from the stage. Red, white, and blue while fans erupt in applause.

DG: Thank you Chase! Now let's get ready to make some history!

MG: Thank you, Dasha. Thank you, Chase. What a start here in London!

RB: You can feel it — the atmosphere is electric! The Light Heavyweight Tournament begins tonight, and every fighter in this arena wants that world title.

BS: Legends, prospects, champions — it’s all here. Let’s waste no time and get straight to our first fight!

The Walkmen
Stephan Puetz - “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
Karlos Vemola - “Suite 14” by Henrique & Diego

STEPHAN PUETZ (22-5) VS. KARLOS VEMOLA (38-9)
The clash between the terminators would open with Vemola very much looking to press the action. Very much looking to bully his opponent against the fence, Vemola while successful in pressuring Puetz would eat several hard knees to the midsection in the opening round. In round two it seemed that Puetz had truly downloaded the data on his opponent. Every attempt by Vemola to press the action was met with elbows or knees from the clinch. While in the distance he punished a steadily more exhausted Karlos with combinations. A desperation shot by Vemola at the end of the round would see Puetz sprawl and punish Vemola with elbows to close out the round. Between rounds two and three an official would check on Vemola taking note of his swelling before calling a stop to the contest.
Result: Stephan Puetz (23-5) defeated Karlos Vemola (38-10) by Doctor Stoppage (between round 2 and 3)

MG: The T8000 does it! Puetz's methodical dismantling leads to the contest being called.

RB: That was composure under fire. Vemola came out to kill and Puetz read him and made adjustments.

BS: Machine precision. He is a dark horse in this field.

The Walkmen
Atilla Vegh - “ATTILA” by Rytmus
Vinny Magalhaes - “Tropa de Elite” by Tihuana

VINNY MAGALHAES (19-12) VS. ATILLA VEGH (33-11-2)
Unfortunately for the fans in attendance this next fight would be quite the frustrating affair. Vinny to his credit would circle his opponent and let loose the occasional kick while attempting a takedown or to dive for a leg at any opportunity. However Vegh would manage very much to keep himself pressed up tight in the fence with Vinny peppering him with short shots over the course of the three rounds. The crowd in attendance would voice their displeasure as following three rounds of this we went to a decision.
Result: Atilla Vegh (34-11-2) defeated Vinny Magalhaes (19-13) by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

MG: Not the prettiest or most exciting by any means but Atilla Vegh gets it done.

RB: A very smart and composed performance by Vegh. Vinny is a dangerous competitor and Vegh shut him down.

BS: This tournament is all about survival and Vegh did that here. He advances taking very little damage.

The Walkmen
Ronny Markes - “Muleque De Vila” by Projota
Karl Albrektsson - “Ly O Lay Ale Loya” by Indian Calling

RONNY MARKES (25-11) VS. KARL ALBREKTSSON (14-8)
Unfortunately for the fans in attendance following the previous bout. The next fight would very much be a very slow grappling based affair as Sweden's Karl Albrektsson clearly came in with a game plan to catch Markes at any opportunity with a double leg takedown. Markes would constantly try through the rounds to get to his feet and land big shots when he was upright but the grappling and top control was too much and allowed the Swede to ride out the win.
Result: Karl Albrektsson (15-8) defeated Ronny Markes (25-12) by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

MG: That was a wrestling clinic by Albrektsson here.

RB: Man, that was dominant. Ronny just couldn’t get any momentum going once Karl got on top of him.

BS: Karl is a threat in this tournament for sure. Controlled, composed and punishing.

The Walkmen
Vagab Vagabov - “Sandstorm” by Darude
Luke Trainer - “God’s Plan” by Drake

VAGAB VAGABOV (30-1-1) VS. LUKE TRAINER (9-1)
As this fight kicked off it was clear the crowd in attendance were pulling for their home country fighter. Unsurprisingly the wild man Vagabov would charge in early throwing wild looping hands at Trainer. This would be until Trainer managed to pivot and launch an uppercut to the chin of Vagabov. Vagabov would drop to a knee and Trainer quickly took his back and immeadiately locks in a rear naked choke. Vagabov would look to fight the grasp but eventually would be put to sleep.
Result: Luke Trainer (10-1) defeated Vagab Vagabov (30-2-1) by 1st round submission (1:12)

MG: What a performance by Luke Trainer! The hometown boy makes good!

BS: That's the performance you want! A perfectly timed uppercut and choke.

RB: A star is definitely born here tonight in London!

The Walkmen
Julius Anglickas - “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky - “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

JULIUS ANGLICKAS (11-4) VS. VYACHESLAV VASILEVSKY (36-10)
This fight would get off to a cautious start as we was midway through the main card. Both fighters in the opening round seemed content to keep the action in the clinch and land short strikes with neither picking up the advantage. During round two however we would see the Russian begin to take control of the stand up as he wobbled Anglickas on several occasions with strikes. The third round however would see Anglickas bounce back with a takedown of his own before he'd work over Vasilevsky with some ground and pound to ride out the round.
Result: Vyaceslav Vasilevsky (37-10) defeated Julius Anglickas (11-5) by split decision (29-28, 28-29 and 29-28)

MG: What a fight! It could have gone either way, but the veteran Vasilevsky just did a little more down the stretch.

RB: Super close! Anglickas had the control, but Vasilevsky’s striking and composure swayed the judges.

BS: A real chess match neither man broke, but Vasilevsky’s work in those scrambles made the difference.

The Walkmen
Alessio Sakara - “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas
Tomasz Narkun - “Enae Volare Mezzo” by ERA

ALESSIO SAKARA (20-13) VS. TOMASZ NARKUN (21-6)
This next fight of the night featuring two of European MMA's biggest names would get off to a stunning start as in the early going Alessio Sakara clipped and dropped Narkun with an overhand. Narkun would survive actually manage to secure a takedown on Sakara. While Sakara fought to get to his feet Narkun would take side control before securing an arm triangle choke to pick up the submission victory.
Result: Tomasz Narkun (22-6) defeated Alessio Sakara (20-14) by submission (Arm Triangle) in round one (2:01)

MG: What a win for Narkun! Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

BS: You do not want to go to the ground with this man.

RB: Sakara started well, but once Narkun got that takedown, it was over. Classic grappler’s patience.

The Walkmen
Alexander Gustafsson - “Training Montage” by Vince DiCola
Ovince Saint Preux - “Rocky Top Tennessee” by University of Tennessee Marching Band

ALEXANDER GUSTAFSSON (18-8) VS. OVINCE SAINT PREUX (27-18)
The co-main event of the night would very much be contested on the feet. As from the opening bell it seemed Ovince Saint Preux had designs to chip away at Gustafsson with leg kicks while Alex looked to have this more in boxing range. Following an even opening round, the second round would see Alex wobble OSP with an uppercut and defend a takedown to keep the fight standing. The final round would see Alex have his moments and manage to pick apart OSP enroute to a decision.
Result: Alexander Gustafsson (19-8) defeated Ovince Saint Preux (27-19) by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

MG: The Mauler is back! Alexander Gustafsson grinds out a clinical win to advance in the GFL Light Heavyweight Tournament!

RB: That was a masterclass in composure. He used his range, his boxing, and that veteran savvy.

BS: OSP had moments, but Gustafsson’s consistency and cardio won the day. He looked sharp.

The Walkmen
Yoel Romero - “Soldado” by Juan Luis Guerra
Kelly Anundson - “I Stand Alone” by Godsmack

YOEL ROMERO (16-7) VS. KELLY ANUNDSON (11-3)
For the main event of the evening Kelly Anundson wasted little time looking to bring this fight down as he attempted a takedown on his opponent. Romero however would sprawl and stand up looking to keep this fight on the feet. Soon it was apparent what Yoel was aiming for as he landed a big flying knee which crumpled Anundson. As Kelly hit the canvas Yoel pounced on him with a few punches before the referee called a stop to the contest.
Result: Yoel Romero (17-7) defeated Kelly Anundson (11-4) by 1st round knockout (1:22)

MG: OH MY GOD! What a win for the soldier of god.

RB: Anundson never saw it coming. Romero's timing is superhuman!

BS: He is one of the tournament favorites for a reason. What a showing by YOEL Romero!

MG: Ladies and gentlemen, that brings an incredible night to a close here in London, England. Eight men advance and sixteen remain. The road to the GFL Light Heavyweight Title continues!

 

[Shade]

GFL 4

MIAMI, FLORIDA​

As lights pulse through the arena turquoise, orange, and electric pink streak across the crowd. Latin rhythms blend into heavy bass. The Miami skyline glows on the big screen while waves crash, neon lights flicker, and the GFL logo cuts through the noise.

MG: Good evening, everyone! I’m Mike Goldberg alongside Brendan Schaub and Robin Black and tonight, we are LIVE from the Magic City! This is GFL 4!
BS: Mike, the Global Fight League brought the chaos to London but tonight. Miami is bringing the heat! This card is stacked from top to bottom legends, prospects, and a few wildcards looking to make history.

RB: that’s what’s so special about this, Mike this isn’t just fighting. This is global artistry. We’ve got strikers, wrestlers, brawlers, all chasing the same thing.. Immortality as the first GFL Light Heavyweight Champion.

“Welcome to Miami” by Will Smith begins to play as we cue up our first fight.

The Walkmen
Da Woon Jung – “Butter-Fly (Perfect Final Version)” by Kōji Wada
Felipe Franco – “HUMBLE.” by Kendrick Lamar

Da Woon Jung (15-6-1) vs. Felipe Franco (8-1)
The opening fight of the night would see UFC veteran Da Woon Jong take on Brazil's Felipe Franco. While a tough competitor in his own right, Jung was dominated in the opening round by the explosive striking of Franco. This included vicious leg kicks, elbows and punches. The second round would continue this story with Franco targeting the legs of Jung with his kicks. After several punishing kicks to the legs and the calf, Jung would hit the canvas leading the ref to call a stop to the contest.
Result: Felipe Franco (9-1) defeated Da Woon Jung (15-7-1) by TKO in the 2nd round (3:07)
MG: Felipe Franco just put the division on notice with that win!
RB: Man he destroyed the legs of Jung. That was nasty.

BS: Jung is as tough as they come but Franco is a problem. Leg kicks like that are game changers!

The Walkmen
Joe Taylor - Centuries by Fall Out Boy
Muslim Magomedov - “Warrior of Heaven” – Dagestani Lezginka Intro + Orchestral Mix

Joe Taylor (6-2) vs. Muslim Magomedov (15-0)
The contest would open with Joe Taylor looking to open up the bout in striking range with his opponent. Looking to press his unbeaten opponent and make him uncomfortable, Magomedov in response would be a body lock takedown. The remainder of the opening round would see Magomedov control Joe Taylor. The second round once again would see Magomedov execute a trip from the clinch and very much control Taylor to ride out the round. With the crowd voicing their chagrin, the third round would continue this trend all the way until the final bell.
Result: Muslim Magomedov by unanimous decision (30x27 x3)

MG: Far from flashy, but extremely effective.
BS: Taylor never even got the chance to open up. Magomedov shut down the entire fight.

RB: A showcase for Magomedov and his grappling here. That was a masterclass.

The Walkmen
Moustapha Diakhate - Icon by Jaden Smith
Rameau Sokoudjou - “Reveille What You Got”

Moustapha Diakhate (4-0-1) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (19-18)
Undefeated prospect Moustapha Diakhate would look for his biggest win to date in the next contest as he took on Pride and UFC veteran Sokoudjou. Diakhate clearly had a game plan in the early going as he circled his opponent and looked to outwork him with his pace. This would be until in a shocking counter on a low leg kick, Sokoudjou would detonate a big overhand right. Diakhate would hit the canvas in a heap in a stunning result.
Result: Rameu Thierry Sokoudjou (20-18) defeated Moustapha Diakhate (4-1-1) by 1st round knockout (1:06)
MG: This is vintage Sokoudjou! PRIDE era power. What a moment!
BS: What a statement here. Sokoudjou just showed he still has that fight ending power.

RB: What an upset! Diakhate had a lot of hype about him and Sokoudjou put him away!

The Walkmen
Alik Lorenz - Monsters by All Time Low
Frederic Vosgrone - Indestructible by Disturbed

Frederic Vosgrone (5-0) vs. Alik Lorenz (6-2)
Unfortunately for the fans in attendance, the next bout of the night would be a highly dull affair. As we'd see quickly on in what was the story for the bout Frederic Vosgrone would wade forward and constantly dive for takedowns on his opponent. In turn this meant that Alik Lorenz would strictly be forced to fight on the defensive as he was constantly brought down to the canvas and controlled by Vosgrone for a decision.
Result: Frederic Vosgrone (6-0) defeated Alik Lorenz (6-3) by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

MG: Vosgrone did very typical Vosgrone things. An impressive display of grappling pressure.

RB: Not a thrilling fight by any means but an effective one.

BS: If you can force a fight like that on someone you are an absolute nightmare. Pace and grappling like that is uncomfortable.

The Walkmen
Misha Cirkunov - "Mortal Kombat Theme" – The Immortals
Marius Ksiazkiewicz - “Believer” – Imagine Dragons
Misha Cirkunov (15-9) vs. Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz (11-3)
This fight would get off to a very aggressive start as Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz would begin throwing heavy strikes at his opponent from the off. However it would be the wild striking of Mariusz which backfired as Cirkunov found an opening and shot in for a takedown. From top position Cirkunov wasted little time in softening up Mariusz before clamping on an arm triangle submission for a first round finish.
Result: Misha Cirkunov (16-9) defeated Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz by submission (arm triangle) in the 1st round (3:09)
MG: One of the strongest grapplers at 205 lives up to that billing once more. Misha Cirkunov!
BS: Cirkunov is the kind of guy that once he has you in his clutches it's over. That was definitely the case here.
RB: That was a statement maker. Cirkunov is a threat in this division.

The Walkmen
Tae In Kim – “Warriors” – Ailee
Mike Rodriguez – “Lucky You” – Eminem ft. Joyner Lucas

Tae In Kim (5-1) vs. Mike Rodriguez (12-7)
The fight would get to a quick start as Tae In Kim looked to take the center of the cage and establish his striking. Mike Rodriguez would circle cautiously but Kim would continue to press forward and walk him down. A jab by Mike was slipped and countered with heavy left hook. This had Rodriguez stumbling backwards and Kim continued to walk forward as he followed with a straight right which dropped Rodriguez against the cage for a TKO finish. As Kim celebrated his win, we would see Rodriguez begin to protest the stoppage to the official.
Result: Tae In Kim (6-1) defeated Mike Rodriguez (12-8) by TKO in the 1st round (2:30)

MG: What a showing by Tae In Kim. This is a dangerous, hard hitting opponent.

BS: I know Rodriguez is protesting and things may have ended a little prematurely but we can't deny the power on display.

RB: Very impressed with this young man. A dangerous powerful striker.

The Walkmen
John Martin Fraser - Run This Town” – JAY-Z (feat. Rihanna & Kanye West)
Jeremy Kimball - Let’s Go” – Nat Anglin

John Martin Fraser (11-5) vs. Jeremy Kimball (20-12-1)
To say this fight got off to a furious pace would be an understatement as JMF rushed forward and looked to press the action. To his credit Jeremy Kimball was willing to engage in the pocket and hurt Fraser early on with several well timed counters. Recognizing he was in a fire fight Fraser would throw back at Kimball and actually hurt him in the second round with a well timed elbow. By the third round both men would be bleeding heavily in a back and forth battle of wills when in the final seconds they slugged it out to the crowd's delight.
Result: John Martin Fraser (12-5) defeated Jeremy Kimball (20-13-1) by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
MG: WHAT A FIGHT! That was three full rounds of pure grit!
BS: A phenomenal fight. That’s one people are going to remember for both men.
RB: Both men took damage and both gave damage, but Fraser proved tonight he can thrive in deep waters.

The Walkmen
Emilio Quissua - “All the Way Up” – Fat Joe & Remy Ma
William Knight - “Lose My Mind” – Jeezy

Emilio Quissua (7-0) vs. William Knight (11-6)
From the very start of this fight it was notable how relaxed and comfortable on the feet Emilio Quissua looked. William Knight meanwhile would wade in aggressively looking to out muscle his opponent in the clinch. This however would prove costly for Knight as he ran right into a straight left followed by a right uppercut which put Knight down on the canvas. Several hammerfists followed for an early knockout.
Result: Emilio Quissua (8-0) defeated William Knight (11-7) by 1st round knockout (0:34)

MG: That was a nasty uppercut by Emilio Quissua.

BS: That is world-class composure from a young undefeated fighter. A big guy like Night charging in can be imposing but Quissua instead made the read and made the land.

RB: Quissua is for real. That was clinical, that was violent, and that was absolutely spectacular.

The Walkmen
Lucas Fernando - “Lá Vem a Torcida” – MC GW
Rafael Tobias - “Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei das Flores” – Geraldo Vandré

Lucas Fernando (12-3) vs. Rafael Tobias (14-1)
The next fight of the night was hyped in the previews as a fight between two talents more than capable of winning the GFL Light Heavyweight title. We would see in this fight a very technical showcase from both combatants as we'd see a very methodical, kickboxing match on the feet while the ground battles would be back and forth with several exchanges. After three rounds of action it would be Tobias who was awarded a split decision.
Result: Rafael Tobias (15-1) defeated Lucas Fernando (12-4) by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

MG: What a fight that was. More a chess match than a brawl but a true display of skills from both men.

BS: That lowkey could have been a tournament final. Both these fighters are so highly skilled it was a toss up.

RB: It was a shame one of them had to lose. But honestly I don't think either man is truly hurt by the result of this fight!

The Walkmen
Chris Daukaus - “Flex Ooh Oh” – Rich Homie Quan
Shealor Ladd - “Black Sheep” – Metric (Brie Larson Version)

Chris Daukaus (12-8) vs. Shealor Ladd (3-0)
Undefeated standout Shealor Ladd would face his toughest opponent to date in the next fight of the night as he took on veteran Chris Daukaus. This would be a very one sided contest as Ladd found his rhythm early and began to pick his opponent apart with his striking. After a very one sided first round, in the second round Ladd finally began to dial up the damage including a nasty hook to the body which crumpled Daukaus and several punches on the canvas followed for a TKO finish.
Result: Shealor Ladd (4-0) defeated Chris Daukaus (12-9) by TKO in the second round (3:12)

MG: What a showing by Shealor Ladd! That was a star making performance.

BS: Daukaus is as tough as they come and Shealor made it look easy!

RB: Very impressed with this young man! What a talent we have here!

The Walkmen
Matt Hamill - “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?” – The Rolling Stones
Jeremy May - “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark” – Fall Out Boy

Matt Hamill (12-8) vs. Jeremy May (13-12)
For the final bout of the prelims, Matt Hamill would look to make a return to MMA against journeyman Jeremy May. This unfortunately would be an ugly, sloppy fight as on the feet Hamill pressed forward with crude yet effective striking while on the ground he controlled May for lengthy periods of time with his wrestling. After three rounds Hamill would score a dominant decision victory!
Result: Matt Hamill (13-8) defeated Jeremy May (13-13) by unanimous decision (30x27 x3)

MG: Far from pretty but an impressive return for Matt Hamill.

BS: This is a standard Hamill showing. A powerful wrestling clinic and some strong ground and pound.

RB: He won't win style points but Hamill is as tough, powerful and gritty as they come. This was a good return for him.

MG: We have now completed the preliminary card and will head to our colleague Dasha who will open the main card.

We start out with a wide aerial shot over Miami Beach at night including neon lights, water reflections and the nightlife. After this we cut to a packed Kaseya Center trembling with energy. Pyro bursts along the stage as the GFL theme hits.

DG: Ladies and gentlemen, buenas noches! Welcome to the Kaseya Center in beautiful Miami, Florida and welcome to the Global Fight League! Tonight, America takes center stage as we continue our world tournament to crown the first-ever GFL Light Heavyweight Champion!

While the Crowd erupts, a Camera pans over the crowd waving flags including USA, Brazil, Korea, Cameroon, Russia, and more.

DG: Tonight, the Global Fight League returns to the United States with a stacked lineup of world-class Light Heavyweight contenders, legends, prospects and international superstars. All competing in the opening round of the GFL Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament!

There is thunderous applause from the crowd in attendance before Dasha continues.

DG: To officially begin this main card. Please rise for the singing of our National Anthem performed tonight by Grammy-nominated global superstar DEMI LOVATO!

Lights dim except for a single spotlight on a small stage by the fighters’ tunnel. Demi Lovato appears and the Miami crowd erupts. Her voice echoes through the Kaseya Center powerful, crisp, emotional. Cameras pan across fighters warming up backstage. This includes Machida breathing deeply, Sonnen shadowboxing, Vitor Belfort bowing his head and Thiago Santos laser focused as he paces back and forth.
DG: Thank you Demi Lovato! Miami, the atmosphere is electric. The fighters are ready! the tournament continues and destiny awaits inside this cage tonight. So with that in mind let's head to our commentary table as we get this tournament underway!

MG: Thank you Dasha and once again welcome to the GFL. We open tonight's Light Heavyweight open round with with a classic striker’s delight as former Glory Kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov making his GFL debut against Brazilian ironman Fabio Maldonado.
BS: Vakhitov is one of the best pure strikers on the planet. World-class technique, insane composure, and he uses leg kicks like a surgeon uses a scalpel. But Fabio Maldonado? This dude is TOUGH. Not tough like normal fighters but tough like legendary, mythological tough.
RB: Yeah, Maldonado has taken shots from Glover Teixeira, Stipe Miocic and smiled at them! If he can drag Vakhitov into a brawl, he can make this very interesting. But if this stays clean and technical? Vakhitov is gonna paint a masterpiece on him

The Walkmen
Fabio Maldonado - “O que é o que é” – Gonzaguinha
Artem Vakhitov - “Legends Never Die” – League of Legends

Artem Vakhitov (3-1) vs. Fabio Maldonado (28-8)
From the very beginning of this fight Artem Vakhitov would immediately begin to establish his range and keep a distance from Maldonado. Every time in the opening round where Maldonado tried to wade in, Artem would chip away at his leg with leg kicks. As the round wore on Maldonado would continue to eat more and more strikes from Artem while unfortunately being able to offer little in return. The second round would see Maldonado look to initiate a brawl to little success as Artem would manage to pivot, move and counter and even drop Maldonado in the second with a big standing elbow. The third round would continue this performance as Artem Vakhitov picked Fabio apart with Maldonado unable to offer little in return on the way to a decision.
Result: Artem Vakhitov (4-1) defeated Fabio Maldonado (28-9) by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

MG: Artem Vakhitov advances to the second round with a brilliant performance. Pure technical dominance.

RB: This is why people feared drawing him early. Striking wise, he’s championship level right now. As for Fabio Maldonado, Props to him the guy ate shots that would’ve knocked out a steakhouse freezer.

BS: Vakhitov didn’t overextend, didn’t get dragged into a firefight, just stayed patient and surgical. That’s how you survive Maldonado and move deep into the tournament.

MG: Up next on our main card from Miami, Florida. We have a matchup of absolute contrasts. In one corner we have Daniel Spohn: calm, composed, smart, patient. A veteran who reads fights like a chess board. And across from him, one of the scariest knockout artists the sport has ever seen.. Thiago ‘Marreta’ Santos

RB: Santos is chaos wrapped in muscle. Explosive, unpredictable, and dangerous from buzzer to buzzer. But Spohn has made a career out of shutting down chaos. If he can weather that early storm, he absolutely has a path to victory.

BS: That’s the big question: can Spohn keep Santos honest? If Santos starts feeling himself, those kicks come, then the flying knees come and then someone goes out

The Walkmen
Daniel Spohn - Stuck in the Middle” – Tai Verdes
Thiago Santos - “O Fortuna (Carmina Burana)” – Carl Orff

Daniel Spohn (19-9-1) vs. Thiago Santos (22-13)
This fight would get off to a cautious start as Daniel Spohn looked to keep his distance and take a measured approach. Santos meanwhile also remained patient as every time he looked to bridge the distance, Spohn would catch him with a jab or a leg kick. The most telling shot of the opening round was a body kick by Santos which did briefly double Spohn over. The second round would continue this patient approach with Spohn continuing his probing style until Santos connected with a big headkick. This would drop Spohn and Santos quickly followed up with a few punches before the referee pulled him off.
Result: Thiago Santos (23-13) defeated Daniel Spohn (19-10-1) by TKO in the second round (2:46)

MG: GOOD NIGHT! THIAGO SANTOS JUST SWITCHED THE LIGHTS OFF! That left high kick came out of nowhere!

BS: Vintage Marreta. Explosiveness, deception, and a perfect kill shot. You give Thiago Santos an inch, he takes your consciousness.
RB: All credit to Daniel Spohn also. He had a solid game plan, he stayed disciplined and he didn’t panic. But Santos is just a different kind of problem. He’s the kind of fighter who can end a bout even when losing the round.

MG: Next up on the card here in Miami, we’ve got a clash between two veterans with very different energies. Philipe Lins.. Sharp, powerful, and very quietly putting together some of the best form of his career. And across from him, the man who always fights with a grin... Sam ‘Smilin’ Alvey.

BS: Alvey is unpredictable. He’ll lose four rounds and knock you out with the fifth punch he throws. But Lins has that clean, tight, technical boxing, and when he commits to combinations, the power is absolutely there.

RB: The key thing here: Alvey’s tendency to lean back with his chin up. Against a hitter like Lins, that’s one of the worst habits you can have.

The Walkmen
Sam Alvey - “Hey, Soul Sister” – Train
Philipe Lins - “The Dawning” – Days Like These

Sam Alvey (34-18-1) vs. Philipe Lins (18-5)
As this fight began we would see both men hanging back and remaining patient. Alvey looked to counter on a mistake by Lins while Lins clearly respectful of Alvey's power kept his distance and threw some calf kicks. This would be until Lins blasted Alvey with a three punch combination which had Alvey reeling. With Alvey stumbling backwards Lins would follow up with a straight right hand for a knockout victory.
Result: Philipe Lins (19-5) defeated Sam Alvey (34-19-1) by 1st round knockout (2:27)

MG: LIGHTS OUT! PHILIPE LINS just shut down Sam Alvey with a picture-perfect right hand!

RB: Lins handled this perfectly. No rushing into Sam’s traps, no reckless charges. He broke him down piece by piece, then found the exact moment to detonate.

BS: Sam Alvey’s always a fan favorite, but tonight is Philipe Lins’ moment. Incredible knockout.

MG: Next up, we’ve got a matchup between two incredibly dangerous men at 205. Ivan Shtyrkov aka ‘The Ural Hulk’, a powerhouse with absurd durability and a pressure-heavy style. Across from him, Emiliano Sordi. A former world champion, explosive, fast and absolutely lethal when he finds a rhythm.

RB: Shtyrkov loves to bully his opponents with forward pressure and big hooks. But Sordi? He’s at his best when he can create angles and counter. If Shtyrkov marches in too straight tonight he might walk right into a bomb.

BS: Both men can shut the lights off at ANY moment. This one probably won’t need the judges.

The Walkmen
Ivan Shtrykov - “Warrior’s Song” – Russian State Symphony
Emiliano Sordi - “Zombie” – Bad Wolves

Ivan Shtyrkov (25-2-1) vs. Emiliano Sordi (25-13-1)
As expected this fight got off to a very aggressive fight as Ivan Shtyrkov rushed forward looking to bully Emiliano Sordi as he drove this fight up into the cage. Sordi would manage to struggle and break free but Ivan was undaunted and continued to wade forward. As Ivan aggressively rushed in however once more, Emiliano Sordi would manage to connect with a big overhand right. This would drop Ivan to the canvas and Sordi would dive into his guard with several more punches and elbows until the official called a stop to the contest.
Result: Emiliano Sordi (26-13-1) defeated Ivan Shtyrkov (25-3-1) by TKO in the first round (3:05)

MG: EMILIANO SORDI WITH A BRUTAL STOPPAGE! Precision, timing, and absolute venom in every shot!

RB: That was Sordi at his absolute best. Calm under pressure, waiting for Shtyrkov to overcommit, and then landing the perfect counter.

BS: What a statement. Emiliano Sordi advances and he just announced himself as one of the favorites to win this entire thing.

MG: Alright folks this next one is fascinating. A legend of the sport meets a rising powerhouse. Vitor Belfort, one of MMA’s most iconic knockout artists, takes on Tafon ‘Da Don’ Nchukwi, a man built like a tank with frightening explosiveness.

RB: Nchukwi is used to being the most powerful athlete in the cage, but Belfort’s speed and experience make this matchup dangerous for him. Vitor may be older, but when he’s sharp? He’s still lightning.

BS: And remember: Belfort has a very underrated submission game. People forget how good his grappling is because of his knockouts.

The Walkmen
Tafon Nchukwi - “Mr. Morale” – Kendrick Lamar
Vitor Belfort - “300 Violins Orchestra” – Jorge Quintero

Vitor Belfort (26-14) vs. Tafon Nchukwi (7-4)
This fight gets off to an aggressive start as Tafon comes out swinging. Looking to take out the legend quickly, Tafon would throw wild looping hooks looking to take Vitor's head off. Big leg kicks would soon follow with one actually taking Vitor off of balance but as Tafon charged in Vitor Belfort would secure a takedown. Quickly during the scramble we would see Tafon's inexperience as he gave up his back and Vitor soon flattened him out for a rear naked choke submission.
Result: Vitor Belfort (27-14) defeated Tafon Nchukwi (7-5) by submission (rear naked choke) in the first round (2:56)

MG: That right there is a reminder of how dangerous Vitor truly is. Everyone talks about his striking, but the man’s ground game is slick and underrated.

RB: He didn’t force anything. He let Tafon pressure, used it against him, hit a beautiful takedown, and locked up a technically perfect rear naked choke. That’s veteran mastery.

BS: Belfort advances in the tournament and suddenly in showing he isn't afraid to use his grappling. He just became one of the biggest threats to go all the way.

MG: This next fight is a matchup between two absolute legends of MMA. Rashad Evans; a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and Wanderlei Silva, one of the most feared knockout artists in the history of the sport.

RB: These two bring completely different energies. Rashad is smooth, explosive, tactical. Silva is chaos incarnate. He wants to plant his feet and throw leather until someone drops.

BS: Stylistically... Rashad’s speed, footwork, and wrestling could be a nightmare for Wanderlei. But if ‘The Axe Murderer’ lands one clean shot everything can change.

The Walkmen
Rashad Evans - Express Yourself by NWA
Wanderlei Silva - Sandstorm by Darude

Rashad Evans (20-8-1) vs. Wanderlei Silva (35-14-1)
From the early going we would see Wanderlei Silva look to press the action and take the fight to Rashad Evans. Throwing out some aggressive hooks and trying for some knees in the clinch. Wanderlei's aggression would play in Rashad's hands as he was soon able to secure a big double leg takedown. Once the fight hit the canvas and he took side control, Rashad would punish Wanderlei with punches and elbows to the head as well as some crushing knees to the body until the referee called a stop to the bout.
Result: Rashad Evans (21-8-1) defeated Wanderlei Silva (35-15-1) by TKO in the 1st round (1:51)

MG: Rashad Evans gets the TKO! That is vintage Suga Rashad!

RB: Wanderlei came out aggressive but once this fight hit the canvas. This was a masterclass. Rashad used his power and pressure to punish Silva.

BS: You can tell Rashad felt great tonight. Calm. Confident. In the zone. This is a huge win in the tournament, and Evans suddenly looks like a true contender to win the whole thing.

MG: We now come to our co-main event of the evening and one of MMA's greatest rivalries which finally has it's trilogy. Tonight, we get Machida vs. Shogun III.

BS: Machida the master of distance, timing, and precision. Shogun meanwhile is all pressure, violence, durability and heart. They’re complete opposites stylistically, which is why their fights are legendary.

RB: And let’s be honest this version of both men is older, wiser, more strategic. This may not be the wild brawl of youth, but it WILL be a chess match with explosions

The Walkmen
Lyoto Machida - “Bleed It Out” – Linkin Park
Shoguna Rua - "Sail" - Awolnation

Lyoto Machida (26-12) vs. Shogun Rua (27-14-1)
This fight would very much be reminiscent of the two previous fights these two had. As Lyoto Machida looked to stay light on his feet and stick and move while Shogun attempts to press the action. Machida in the first round would find some success with body kicks while Shogun in response managed to do damage with leg kicks. In the second round we would see Shogun begin to have some more success with his punches which in turn caused Machida to fire back with some hits of his own. Machida would close the second round with a trip. Going into the third round we would see Shogun continue to force the action and actually wobble Machida briefly with a big left cross. The final moments of the third round would see Machida on the offense until Shogun managed a trip.
Result: Shogun Rua (28-14-1) defeated Lyoto Machida (26-13) by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)
MG: What a fight. What a rivalry. What a moment. Shogun Rua takes the trilogy by the thinnest of margins.

RB: Machida had the sharper technique, but Shogun’s pressure the aggression, the kicks, the hooks that’s what sealed it. This was heart vs. precision, and tonight heart won.

BS: And Shogun advances in the tournament. What an incredible chapter added to an already legendary rivalry.

MG: Gentlemen let’s not sugarcoat it. Their first fight was controversial, strange, and ended way too fast. Tonight, Chael Sonnen vs. Tito Ortiz II gives us the closure fans have wanted in tonight's main event.

RB: Tito Ortiz the original bad boy of MMA. Chael Sonnen the greatest talker ever to put on gloves. And tonight the rivalry becomes real!

BS: It’s wrestler vs. wrestler. Pride vs. ego. This one is personal!

The Walkmen
Chael Sonnen - “Too Much Fun” by Daryle Singletary
Tito Ortiz - "Mosh" by Eminem

Chael Sonnen (30-18-1) vs. Tito Ortiz (21-12-1)
With emotions high, this fight got off to a fast start with Tito looking to bully his opponent only for Chael to execute a takedown in the clinch. From top position Chael Sonnen would punish Tito with ground and pound while looking to stifle Tito's attempts to scramble. Tito's attempts to get to his feet would be stopped as Chael rode out the round. The second round would see Tito look to engage more in stand up and he actually wobbled Chael with a straight. Seeking to drive in for a takedown however Tito would soon make a big mistake as Chael secured a front headlock and clamped in a tight guillotine choke. Tito would try and force his way out to no avail and would eventually tap to the choke.
Result: Chael Sonnen (31-18-1) defeated Tito Ortiz (21-13-1) by submission (Guillotine Choke) in the second round (1:36)
MG: Chael Sonnen gets redemption! The rivalry ends tonight!
RB: that guillotine was LOCKED IN. Tito shot with his head down, and Chael’s grappling IQ took over instantly.

BS: Chael Sonnen moves on in the GFL Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament. Clean, decisive and undeniable.

MG: This is all we have time for tonight but next time we see you will be for the Middleweight Bracketology!

 

[Shade]

MIDDLEWEIGHT BRACKETOLOGY

Hosted by Mike Goldberg, Brendan Schaub, Robin Black and Alex Wildling.​

MG: Ladies and Gentleman good evening and welcome to the Global Fight League. I am Mike Goldberg and I am here with my colleagues today Brendan Schaub, Robin Black and Alex Wilding to present to you a special Bracketology event for the Global Fight League Middleweight Championship tournament. We are of course fresh off the opening round of our Light Heavyweight championship tournament which was a star studded affair filled with moments we will look back on in the years to come.

RB: I totally agree. Sometimes things can't live up to the hype but so far the GFL Light Heavyweight championship tournament is off to a rousing start. Now I'm sure that the Middleweight championship tournament will do the very same!

BS: Middleweight is a division which is constantly evolving. We have seen over the decades some of the most feared strikes and renowned grapplers make their case in this division. I cannot wait to see the field of 32 we have.

MG: So with that said, let's go with Alex Wilding for the reveal of our Middleweight Championship tournament.

-------------------------------------------- ENTRANT #1 --------------------------------------------

AW: Thank you Mike, it is great to be here as always! For this tournament we are going to start things in the biggest of ways, so please at this time welcome a man who is no stranger to the GFL... Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida.

(As Machida appears on the big screen he is met with some applause from our hosts.)

MG: Lyoto.. My friend! Welcome back to the GFL and can I be the first to say while the result may not have gone your way... What a fantastic fight you and Shogun had!

LM: Thank you Mike. You know I knew going into the fight Shogun was going to be tough and honestly it was his night. Any other time it may have been mine. But be rest assured this isn't it for me.... I will fight again in the GFL! However that is enough about myself as I have been given the honor to introduce the first man to compete in the GFL Middleweight Championship tournament. This is a man who I don't just consider a friend but more so a brother. He is one of the greatest champions and martial artists the sport has ever seen.. Anderson "The Spider" Silva!

MG: WOW! Anderson Silva in the GFL that is something I did not expect! I can't believe I get to call another one of his fights

RB: He maybe a little older but as we've seen from his crossover into boxing, this man still has his famed reflexes. He is someone I can't wait to see fight!

BS: This tournament is off to a huge start! Anderson is one of the greatest fighters of all time. His striking is scary! This is not a man to mess around with as he can end a fight in moments.

-------------------------------------------- ENTRANT #2 --------------------------------------------

AW: Following that huge announcement. It is now time for our second confirmed participant in this tournament and once again we journey to Brazil for a feared striker and a former world champion in his own right. He holds wins over the likes of Michael Page, Rory Macdonald, Lorenz Larkin and Paul Daley.. He is a former three time Bellator Welterweight champion. Douglas "The Phenom" Lima!

MG: Our field of champions continues.. Douglas Lima! While perhaps better known for his success at Welterweight. He is a skilled and dangerous striker for anyone!

RB: Lima is an elite muay thai striker who has deceptive skills on the ground. He is a front runner in this tournament!

BS: First Silva and now Lima. We have started this tournament in a big way. I can't wait to see who we have next!

-------------------------------------------- ENTRANT #3 --------------------------------------------

AW: As we come to our third pick of the night. We have another special guest to make the introduction. Again this is a man who is no stranger to the GFL.. Please welcome Tito Ortiz!

(Tito Ortiz appears from inside his office to cheers from our hosts.)

MG: Tito.. Welcome! Can I be the first to say I am sorry for your loss to Chael at the last show.

Tito: I got caught. It happens to all fighters. A fighter who hasn't lost hasn't fought anyone in my book. Yet that's enough about me as I am here to introduce someone who I once coached and mentored who later went from a student to one of my closest friends. Entrant three in the GFL tournament will be Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove!

MG: Kendall Grove! A true veteran of the game who has fought in every promotion against anyone and everyone!

BS: Man I am really rooting for Kendall. He has a long frame, slick submissions and a surprising amount of power. He is a dangerous opponent.

RB: I have seen many Kendall Grove fights. This is a guy who it feels like always has a chance to shock the world!

-------------------------------------------- ENTRANT #4 --------------------------------------------

AW: Following our announcements from Brazil and Hawaii. We head to the UK for one of Middleweight's top prospects. He is a Cage Warriors standout and has 6 submission wins to his credit. Will "Drago" Currie!

MG: Now this is a surprise. We have gone from champions and veterans to a top prospect. Will Currie is someone who will look to make his name here!

BS: Currie is a talented fighter with a big upside. On top of that he is a big personality who is without a doubt his own biggest fan.

RB: Curry is brash but don't let his trash talk fool you. This is a steadily improving fighter with the capability of winning this tournament.

-------------------------------------------- ENTRANT #5 --------------------------------------------

AW: Our next fighter fights out of America and he is a highly decorated NCAA wrestler. On top of this he is a former Bellator Middleweight Champion. He is Brandon "Bull" Halsey!

MG: Our third former world champion in the field! This tournament only grows more star studded.

RB: Halsey is a dark horse. This is a man who if he can get going with his wrestling. He can bully anyone.

BS: Halsey is a stud. He is going to look to take you down and beat you up and with his credentials there isn't many who can stop him.

-------------------------------------------- ENTRANT #6 --------------------------------------------

AW: For our next selection, we have a very special guest to announce them. Please welcome an all time great. He is "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko.

(Fedor appears on the screen to a large round of applause.)

MG: Fedor.. It is an honor to have you here!

FE: It is great to be here. I have been apart of many tournaments in my career and this really is giving me a nostalgic feeling of those days of old. Which is why I am glad to be here and announce the following man. A fellow countryman of mine who is a fellow master of Sambo. Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko!

MG: Shlemenko is entrant number 6. That's our fourth former champion.

BS: This is a game changer. One of the most dynamic and feared strikers. Alex is definitely someone to watch in the field.

RB: Between Anderson, Lima and Shlemenko we have three of the most revered and feared strikers in the game.

-------------------------------------------- ENTRANT #7 --------------------------------------------

AW: To announce our seventh pick. I'd like to introduce one of our all star panel of analysts.. Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy!

(As the cameras cut to Dan Hardy in the studio with the rest of his panel, he is greeted with some applause.)

MG: Well this is unexpected. Who are you here to announce Dan?

DH: When I was asked to introduce this man. I felt a sense of pride to be asked to introduce a man who is truly one of the UK's top fighters of all time. I truly believe this man has took over the reigns of myself and Michael Bisping and he is to his credit a former title contender with wins over the likes of Stephen Thompson, Donald Cerrone and Kelvin Gastelum. He is "The Gorilla" Darren Till.

MG: Till! The strikers in this tournament only continue to get more impressive.

RB: I am a big fan of Darren Till. While he has had some downs. This is a talented top star and when switched on he is dangerous.

BS: Till brings a perfect blend of precision and power. He is dangerous to anyone who stands across from him.

-------------------------------------------- ENTRANT #8 --------------------------------------------

AW: For our 8th pick of the night we bring a highly decorated amateur wrestler and MMA veteran. Holding wins over individuals such as Darren Till, Lyoto Machida, Lorenz Larkin, Uriah Hall and Chris Leben. He is "The One" Derek Brunson!

MG: Brunson! One of the best athletes and most explosive fighters in middleweight history has come to the GFL.

BS: Brunson is a elite fighter who when switched on is capable of accomplishing greatness. He is someone who must be considered a favorite in this tournament.

RB: As mentioned when switched on we have an elite wrestler with powerful striking and slick grappling. Brunson is a big threat and nightmare match up for many.

MG: Now we are 8 participants in. Let's take a look at the fighters confirmed so far.

GFL MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS
1. Anderson "The Spider" Silva (34-11)
2. Douglas "The Phenom" Lima (33-12)
3. Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove (24-19)
4. Will "Drago" Currie (13-4)
5. Brandon "Bull" Halsey (12-5)
6. Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko (68-17-1)
7. "The Gorilla" Darren Till (18-5-1)
8. "The One" Derek Brunson (24-9)

 

[Shade]

MIDDLEWEIGHT BRACKETOLOGY​

MG: Ladies and Gentleman... Welcome back to the GFL Middleweight Bracketology event. We are already eight names into this field and can I be the first to say, by a line up alone this promises to an excellent tournament.

BS: In the first 8 announcements alone we have 4 former world champions and so far have entrants from England, Brazil, Russia, Hawaii and America. The expansion will definitely continue tonight with more names announced.

RB: We have legends, veterans, former champions and top prospects announced so far. I can't wait to see what comes next.
MG: So with that said let's go to our colleague Alex for the next announcements in the GFL Middleweight title tournament.

---------------------------------- ENTRANT #9 ----------------------------------

AW: For our ninth announcement in the GFL. We have a man who has competed across three divisions in his career as he has fought at Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight and Middleweight. He is a two time all American wrestler and a former RFA Light Heavyweight Champion.. He is Devin "The Brown Bear" Clark!

MG: What an athlete this man is. He may not be the biggest name and he may have had some tough losses. But this is as explosive of an athlete as they come.
RB: This is a big moment for Devin Clark. As mentioned his career maybe one of ups and downs but he has a lot tools which make him a big threat in this tournament.
BS: Clark is explosive and athletic. He has a lot of pressure in his style and honestly he has the potential to upset the field.
---------------------------------- ENTRANT #10 ----------------------------------

AW: For our tenth entrant of the GFL Middleweight Championship tournament. We have our fourth former Bellator champion. He is "The Blessed" Rafael Carvalho!

MG: This tournament continues to truly be a field of champions with Rafael Carvalho!
RB: On top of that we have another vicious striker. This man has 12 knockout wins to his credit.
BS: He is a monster on the feet. So precise and so powerful. His kicks in particular are nasty!
---------------------------------- ENTRANT #11 ----------------------------------

AW: To announce our next entrant, we have a very special guest joining us. He is a former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion and one of the most feared and dominant grapplers that the sport has ever seen... Jake Shields!

(Jake Shields appears live on the GFL stream from the set of his own podcast.)
MG: Jake! What an honor it is to have you here. Welcome to the GFL.

JS: It is great to be here Mike. I'm honestly a little disappointed that when I was competing there wasn't an option like this out here. However it is my pleasure to announce the next entrant to the GFL Middleweight title tournament. This is a man who I am proud to say is not just my training partner but also my friend and my brother. He has stepped in their with the best the world has ever seen and shown no fear... Nick Diaz!

MG: Nick Diaz is in the GFL! The Hall of Champions continues to grow!

RB: This is a game changer! You have an elite submission specialist with slick boxing and never ending cardio!

BS: I can't believe we are getting to see Nick Diaz

---------------------------------- ENTRANT #12 ----------------------------------

AW: For our next entrant we have a true journeyman of the sport. A man who has shown willing to fight the very best on very little notice at all. A veteran of the UFC, BKFC and Glory who is a former BKFC Cruiserweight champion... Chris Camozzi!

Chris Camozzi
MG: A true veteran of the game. One of the most gritty veterans in the game.
RB: This is a man who is always game and always in shape. He will literally fight anyone!
BS: I am very excited to see what Camozzi can do here. He's always felt like someone capable of producing that one big moment when the time comes!
---------------------------------- ENTRANT #13 ----------------------------------

AW: For our thirteenth entrant to the GFL tournament, we have a special guest who has already wowed fans with his own GFL tournament appearance.. "The Soldier of God" Yoel Romero!
(Yoel Romero appears on the screen to applause.)
MG: Yoel.. Welcome and congratulations on your recent win.
YR: (subtitled) It is great to be here! And it is my honor to introduce my training partner and fellow countryman. Like myself he has represented Cuba on the grandest stages including the Olympics... Hector "Lightning" Lombard!

MG: One of the most intimidating men the sport has seen. Someone with such power that honestly fighters are so intimidated beforehand you feel he's won the fight before it's started.
RB: We again have another former champion. This is our fifth in fact Bellator champion alone in what has been a real parade of champions!
BS: One of the most explosive competitors the sport has ever seen. This is a dangerous man!
---------------------------------- ENTRANT #14 ----------------------------------

AW: Our next entrant comes out of England and he is a former Cage Warriors Middleweight Champion as well as the current Light Heavyweight Champion. He is James Webb!

MG: Now this is an interesting addition. This is a tough British Powerhouse if there ever was one.
RB: Webb is far from flashy but he is well rounded. He is the workman of this tournament for sure.
BS: He may not standout but he is arguably one of the most skilled fighters all around so far.
---------------------------------- ENTRANT #15 ----------------------------------

AW: For our next participant we have another special guest to introduce our fighter. Please welcome a true veteran of the game. Alan "The Talent" Belcher!

(Alan Belcher appears from inside a boxing ring on the screen.)

MG: Alan.. It's good to see you here!

AB: It's my pleasure to be here Mike. I'm sad I missed the memo for the Heavyweight tournament as this is something I'd have loved to be apart of. However tonight I am here to introduce a man who gave me one of the greatest and toughest fights I have ever had. He is a true legend of the game and one of the most talented Judokas to ever do it. Yoshihiro Akiyama!

MG: Sexayama! One of the most exciting fighters I've ever had the priveledge to watch.
BS: This is a man who knows how to put on a show. I cannot wait to see him here!
RB: He has elite grappling and wild striking. This is an exciting tournament addition.
---------------------------------- ENTRANT #16 ----------------------------------

AW: For our sixteenth entrant, we also have a very special guest. He is a former fighter turned celebrated actor.... Krzysztof Soszynski!

(As Krzysztof Soszynski appears on the screen he is met with applause.)

MG: It has been a long, long time. It is great to see you in the GFL.

KS: It is an honor to be here. Especially to introduce this man. In my country of Poland he is not just a fighter or a celebrity. He is a national pride and hero. He is Mamed Khalidov!

MG: WOW! This is huge! The Cannibal has come to the GFL. This has been a long wish of mine to see him fight!
BS: One of the most skilled and complete fighters I've ever seen. There is nothing this man can't do.

RB: Elite grappling, technical striking and power. This is a dangerous fighter!

MG: As we now enter the Halfway point of this tournament announcements. Let's see the list of GFL Middleweight tournament participants so far!

TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS
1.Anderson "The Spider" Silva (34-11)
2. Douglas "The Phenom" Lima (33-12)
3. Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove (24-19)
4. Will "Drago" Currie (13-4)
5. Brandon "Bull" Halsey (12-5)
6. Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko (68-17-1)
7. "The Gorilla" Darren Till (18-5-1)
8. "The One" Derek Brunson (24-9)
9. Devin "The Brown Bear" Clark (14-10)
10. "The Blessed" Rafael Carvalho (17-9)
11. Nick Diaz (26-10)
12. Chris Camozzi (27-15)
13. Hector "Lightning" Lombard (34-10-1)
14. James Webb (12-5-1)
15. Yoshihiro "Sexayama" Akiyama (16-7)
16. "The Cannibal" Mamed Khalidov (38-8-2)

 

[Shade]

GFL MIDDLEWEIGHT BRACKETOLOGY​

MG: We are back as we will continue to announce the fighters competing in the GFL Middleweight Championship tournament.

BS: As we've said several times over this is an absolutely stacked field so far. The talent just keeps coming.

RB: It almost seems a flex at this stage as we are just halfway through. Let's head to Alex for the next batch of participants.

------------------------------- Entrant #17 -------------------------------

AW: For our 17th entrant into the GFL Middleweight tournament. We have a very special guest who just recently advanced in the GFL Light Heavyweight title tournament.. He is the Bad Guy Chael Sonnen!

(Chael Sonnen appears on the screen from the set of his podcast.)

MG: Chael! Welcome to the panel and congratulations on your win!

CS: It was only a matter of time Mike! The Bad Guy is back and he is on the journey for gold. I am not the only bad guy on this journey however as I'm thrilled to announce one of the most explosive, athletic, intimidating and talented fighters I have ever worked with is coming to the GFL. I once told this man he will be a champion and this is his chance.. Uriah Hall!

MG: Uriah Hall! One of the most feared knockout artists the sport has seen!
BS: Uriah Hall is vicious! He is a devastating striker! His knockouts are the stuff of highlight reels.

RB: Kicks, punches, knees and elbows. This man brings it all with him to the cage!

------------------------------- Entrant #18 -------------------------------

AW: Entrant 18 of the tournament will be Oktagon MMA's Middleweight Champion... Makhmud Muradov!

MG: Two back to back fearsome strikers. Makhmud Muradov is the next entrant to the GFL tournament.
BS: This is a man who was personally recruited by Floyd Mayweather and his team. That should say enough about his potential
RB: An underrated fighter who will fly under the radar for a lot of people. He is a true sniper and vicious counter striker.
------------------------------- Entrant #19 -------------------------------

AW: For our next entrant into the tournament, we have a very special guest to handle the introduction. One of the finest coaches in MMA today who has coached 4 world champions in his time.. Ray Longo!

(As Ray Longo appears on the screen, he is met with applause from our hosts.)

MG: Ray! It's been a long time. Welcome to the GFL.

RL: It is my pleasure to be here tonight. My introduction tonight is a man who is very much close to my heart. He is someone myself and Matt Serra saw championship potential in from day one and now he is looking to reach that potential once more... Chris Weidman!

MG: Our field of champions only continues to grow!

RB: Elite wrestling and slick grappling with knockout power. Weidman is still dangerous anywhere a fight goes.
BS: He's shocked the world before and he's more than ready to do it once again.
------------------------------- Entrant #20 -------------------------------

AW: Our next entrant is one of the most accomplished amateur wrestling standouts to enter the sport... Romero Cotton!

MG: A true blend of athleticism and explosion. What this man lacks in experience he makes up for in potential.

BS: This is a sleeper pick in the tournament. A high level multi time champion wrestler.
RB: The best thing with Cotton is, with every passing day he gets better. This is a dangerous entry to the field.
------------------------------- Entrant #21 -------------------------------

AW: For our next entry, please welcome our guest at this time... Vitor Belfort!
(Vitor Belfort appears on the screen to applause from the panel.)
MG: Vitor! My old friend.. Welcome to the guest panel and congratulations on the victory!
VB: Thank you Mike. I appreciate that! It is my pleasure to be here tonight to introduce a man who I consider a brother to me. A man who has all the potential in the world to take what is his.. Cezar Ferreira!

MG: The Ultimate fighter winner heads to the GFL. What an announcement!
BS: He truly is the protege of Vitor. A skilled grappler with explosive striking.
RB: A well rounded threat capable of winning the fight wherever it takes place!
------------------------------- Entrant #22 -------------------------------

AW: Our next entrant is a Bellator veteran.. Grant Neal!

MG: What a powerful pick this is. A high level wrestler more than capable of grinding out his opponents.
RB: He's strong and he's disciplined. This is a fighter who can upset the field.
BS: One of the most physically strong fighters in the tournament. This is a man who many would dread to face in the field.
------------------------------- Entrant #23 -------------------------------

AW: Our next entrant is a proven finisher with ten of his eleven victories all by stoppage. Anvarbek Daniyalbekov.

MG: What a pick up this is. We have a new danger in the field for sure!
RB: This man thrives on chaos. He can grapple but he chooses instead to battle it out on the feet.
BS: A dangerous man for sure! I cannot wait to see Anvarbek in the GFL!
------------------------------- Entrant #24 -------------------------------

AW: For our 24th pick we couldn't think of anyone better than the following man to make the introduction. Please welcome.. Kazushi Sakuraba!
(Kazushi Sakuraba appears on the screen to applause)
MG: Sakuraba San! It is an honor to have you here!

KS: (Subtitled) I am very honored to be here tonight. I have competed in tournaments like this and I know the strength and discipline it takes. This man is the personification of that! A true martial artist.. Yushin Okami!

MG: YUSHIN! An absolute legend of the game returns!
RB: This is a crafty veteran more than capable of upsetting the field.
BS: He is a dominant grappler. Capable of controlling anyone and riding out a win!
MG: Now with 24 entrants confirmed lets take a look at the tournament standings.

TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS
1. Anderson "The Spider" Silva (34-11)
2. Douglas "The Phenom" Lima (33-12)
3. Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove (24-19)
4. Will "Drago" Currie (13-4)
5. Brandon "Bull" Halsey (12-5)
6. Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko (68-17-1)
7. "The Gorilla" Darren Till (18-5-1)
8. "The One" Derek Brunson (24-9)
9. Devin "The Brown Bear" Clark (14-10)
10. "The Blessed" Rafael Carvalho (17-9)
11. Nick Diaz (26-10)
12. Chris Camozzi (27-15)
13. Hector "Lightning" Lombard (34-10-1)
14. James Webb (12-5-1)
15. Yoshihiro "Sexayama" Akiyama (16-7)
16. "The Cannibal" Mamed Khalidov (38-8-2)
17. Uriah "Prime Time" Hall (17-11)
18. Makhmud "Mach" Murado (29-8)
19. "The All American" Chris Weidman (16-8)
20. Romero "Bad News" Cotton (7-2)
21. Cezar "Mutante" Ferreira (14-11)
22. Grant "The Truth" Neal (10-3)
23. Anvarbek Daniyalbekov (11-1)
24. Yushin "Thunder" Okami (39-15)

 

[Shade]

GFL Middleweight title tournament Bracketology​

MG: We are now set to continue our Middleweight Bracketology event as we now will reveal the final eight participants in the tournament.

RB: It has been a stellar cast of talent so far and I cannot wait to see how we round out this field.

BS: I couldn't agree more! This is a tournament of champions. So lets head to Alex now for the final eight.

-------------------------------- Entrant #25 --------------------------------
AW: For our 25th entrant into the GFL tournament, we have a special guest to handle the introduction. He is a former Strikeforce Middleweight champion and one of the most famed submission specialists in the sport.. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza.

(Jacare appears on the screen to applause from our hosts.)

MG: Jacare! Welcome to the GFL!

JS: (Subtitled) It's a pleasure to be here Mike. I have been keeping eyes on this tournament and I cannot wait to see it unfold. The man I am introducing tonight is an old rival of mine who has cemented himself as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Gegard Mousasi!

MG: WOW what an addition to add this late in the field!

BS: Man this is a big name to add in the field. One of the most well rounded fighters we've seen added in as well
RB: Mousasi is a game changer. In a field of champions this man very much sits at the top.

-------------------------------- Entrant #26 --------------------------------
AW: Our next entrant is a veteran of M1 and ACA. He has ten knockout wins on his record. Valery Myasnikov.

MG: Now this man is a bruiser. He may not win style points but he can hurt you.

RB: He maybe unrefined but he makes up for that in sheer brute force.

BS: A heavy clinch fighter with heavy hands. He's here to break people!
-------------------------------- Entrant #27 --------------------------------
AW: Our next pick is a man who has fighting in his legacy. He is a Bellator veteran. Norbert Novenyi Jr.

MG: This is an exciting addition to the field. The son of a legend.. Norbert Novenyi Jr.

RB: There is a pressure on this young man's head to live up to his father. However let me be the first to say this kid is a prodigy.
BS: He's so well rounded. Completely fearless in that cage. This is a dark horse pick.

-------------------------------- Entrant #28 --------------------------------
AW: Our next entrant is a true veteran of the sport who has competed in both the UFC and the PFL.. Antony Ivy!

MG: Ivy! Now this is a sleeper pick in the tournament. A veteran with world class experience.
BS: Ivy is a gamer. He is good wherever the fight goes. He may not be the biggest name himself but he has fought a whose who and is looking to make his name.
RB: Ivy is what I call a disruptor. He's unorthodox and great at throwing you off your game.
-------------------------------- Entrant #29 --------------------------------
AW: Our next entrant is a representative of Egypt who has previously fought in Bellator and the PFL. He is Eslam Abdul Baset!

Eslam Abdul Baset

MG: I like this pick. Baset is very much an underrated pick in this tournament.
RB: He's not flash. This is a very slow, stalking fighter who walks you down.
BS: Technically this man is highly proficient. He is a dangerous threat.
-------------------------------- Entrant #30 --------------------------------
AW: Our next selection is from France and he is the current reigning ARES Middleweight champion.. Virgil Augen!

MG: What a pick up this is. The undefeated Virgil Augen!

RB: One of the finest pick ups from Europe. This man is one to watch.

BS: Augen is a sniper. He has a rangy frame and can pick an opponent off with ease.

-------------------------------- Entrant #31 --------------------------------
AW: Our next pick fights out of Turkey and is one of Europe's finest prospects. He is currently riding a 17 fight win streak.. Kerim Engizek.

MG: This fighter is a game changer. An absolutely destructive striker.

RB: This fighter embodies forward pressure. He walks you down and uncorks a bomb. A game changer striker.

BS: We may have a new favorite in this tournament with this pick. Engizek is dangerous!

-------------------------------- Entrant #32 --------------------------------
AW: For our final pick of the tournament. We will head to American Kickboxing Academy for a special guest. Please welcome Javier Mendez.

(Javier Mendez appears on the screen from his office in AKA.)

MG: Javi.. Welcome to the GFL.

JM: It is a pleasure to be here and my honor to announce this man. One of the finest martial artists I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. Luke Rockhold!

MG: What a final entrant! One of the greatest Middleweights of all time.

RB: The field of champions continues with our final entrant. What an announcement this is!

BS: Rockhold is a scary fighter. Powerful kicks and nasty grappling. He is a dangerous opponent for anyone.

MG: With this final announcement let's take a look at the full list of competitors in the GFL Middleweight tournament.

TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS
1. Anderson "The Spider" Silva (34-11)
2. Douglas "The Phenom" Lima (33-12)
3. Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove (24-19)
4. Will "Drago" Currie (13-4)
5. Brandon "Bull" Halsey (12-5)
6. Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko (68-17-1)
7. "The Gorilla" Darren Till (18-5-1)
8. "The One" Derek Brunson (24-9)
9. Devin "The Brown Bear" Clark (14-10)
10. "The Blessed" Rafael Carvalho (17-9)
11. Nick Diaz (26-10)
12. Chris Camozzi (27-15)
13. Hector "Lightning" Lombard (34-10-1)
14. James Webb (12-5-1)
15. Yoshihiro "Sexayama" Akiyama (16-7)
16. "The Cannibal" Mamed Khalidov (38-8-2)
17. Uriah "Prime Time" Hall (17-11)
18. Makhmud "Mach" Murado (29-8)
19. "The All American" Chris Weidman (16-8)
20. Romero "Bad News" Cotton (7-2)
21. Cezar "Mutante" Ferreira (14-11)
22. Grant "The Truth" Neal (10-3)
23. Anvarbek Daniyalbekov (11-1)
24. Yushin "Thunder" Okami (39-15)
25. Gegard "The Dreamcatcher" Mousasi
26. "The Russian Hammer" Valery Myasnikov (17-3-2)
27. "Magic" Norbert Novenyi Jr (9-1)
28. Antony "Aquaman" Ivy (15-8)
29. Eslam "The Ironman" Abdul Baset (16-4)
30. Virgil Augen (8-0)
31. Kerim Engizek (24-4)
32. Luke Rockhold (16-6)