Mukhamed Berkhamov has found success against notable PFL talents before, holding victories over former two-time champion Ray Cooper III and last year’s welterweight runner-up, Magomed Umalatov. A former regional welterweight champion, Berkhamov is 17-3 with 10 victories coming via submission. He most recently fought in the First Round of the PFL World Tournament in April, losing to Thad Jean.

 

Kendly St. Louis enters tonight’s fight with a 10-4 record, including seven finishes to his credit. St. Louis is on a seven-fight win streak and defeated Nick Alley and Paulo Henrique during the 2023 PFL Challenger Series. Since then, he’s fought once, scoring a split decision over Collin Lubberts this past September.

 

Who will impress the PFL fans and officials in this one?

 

 

Round 1

 

St. Louis comes forward working his punches. Berkhamov keeping a slow, concentrated pace in his movement. St. Louis misses a right. Inside shot by Berkhamov. Right hand from Berkhamov. Low kick from Berkhamov. Low kick from St. Louis. Left hand from Berkhamov. Low kick from St. Louis. One-two from Berkhamov. Low kick from Berkhamov. Another combination from Berkhamov. Berkhamov grabs the leg and scores the takedown — but St. Louis is right back up. Quick straight from Berkhamov. One-two from St. Louis. St. Louis steps in with a right. Round kick is blocked by Berkhamov.

 

Right hand by Berkhamov. Low kick from Berkhamov. Low kick from St. Louis. Berkhamov with a combination. Berkhamov misses a big uppercut. Berkhamov goes for a knee, but St. Louis answers by pushing him to the mat. St. Louis locks up a quick guillotine. Berkhamov tries to circle and get out of it – and he does so. Berkhamov has side control. St. Louis goes for a kimura, but Berkhamov gets out of it and into half-guard. Berkhamov clears the leg and is now into the mount. Berkhamov with high guard. St. Louis scrambles, but Berkhamov stays on top. Berkhamov lands several left hands. Elbow and hammerfists with the left hand from Berkhamov until the horn.

 

 

Round 2

 

Low kick from Berkhamov, but St. Louis lands a right hand that snaps Berkhamov’s head back. Combination by Berkhamov. Right hand by St. Louis. St. Louis misses an uppercut. Berkhamov with a left elbow. Low kick from Berkhamov. Low kick from Berkhamov again. Berkhamov with a level change and he scores the takedown easily. St. Louis puts up his guard. Berkhamov has St. Louis stacked near the SmartCage barrier. St. Louis tried to attack the leg, and while he didn’t get it, St. Louis scores a takedown. Berkhamov with a whizzer to get to his feet. St. Louis is pressing him against the SmartCage barrier. Berkhamov reverses the position – and St. Louis gets it back.

 

St. Louis landing knees and stomps to the legs. The referee calls for action. Berkhamov reverses the position and misses the inside trip attempt. The fight now goes back to the center. St. Louis throws a couple of combinations. Berkhamov avoids the double-leg attempt. St. Louis presses Berkhamov into the fence. Left elbow by Berkhamov. St. Louis now pressing Berkhamov into the fence. Berkhamov with some right hands. The referee calls for more action. Berkhamov misses an outside trip attempt, but he now has control of the clinch. Berkhamov with another spinning attack before the horn.

 

 

Round 3

 

St. Louis comes forward and lands a right hand. St. Louis throws a left. Inside low kick from Berkhamov. One-two from St. Louis. Right hand from both men. Low kick from St. Louis. Strong left high kick from Berkhamov. One-two from Berkhamov. Left hand from St. Louis. Some…sort of handstand sprawl from Berkhamov? St. Louis goes for the neck and goes for a guillotine choke again. Berkhamov lands a few shots to the back with the right hand and gets out of it. Berkhamov scrambles to his feet.

 

St. Louis with a takedown, and he gets to Berkhamov’s back. St. Louis landing right hands to the head. St. Louis has a body triangle locked in on Berkhamov. St. Louis appears to have a rear-naked choke in. He lets it go and lands right hands. He locks the choke back in, and he scores the tap!

 

 

Kendly St. Louis becomes the first man to submit Mukhamed Berkhamov!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Kendly St. Louis def. Mukhamed Berkhamov via third-round submission (rear-naked choke, 3:21)