Rodrigo Nascimento has had some bumps in the road as of late, but that doesn’t take away from a strong 8-0 start to his career. Nascimento, who makes his PFL debut tonight, has finishing power, scoring finishes in eight of his 11 career victories, including six first-round stoppages. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, fighting out of American Top Team, lost to Alexandr Romanov back in November.

 

Abraham Bably went 4-0 as an amateur, picking up an amateur heavyweight title in the process, before turning pro in 2021. Bably won a PFL contract during PFL Challenger Series in 2023 and has gone 2-1 under the PFL banner thus far. Bably, who enters 5-1, suffered his first defeat at the PFL World Championships early card this past November, dropping a split decision to Slim Trabelsi.

 

Who will be the first fighter to move on in the PFL Heavyweight bracket?

 

 

Round 1

 

Bably switching stances. One-two as Bably tries to come in. Nascimento tries to close the distance, but he eats a small flurry from Bably. Bably pins Nascimento to the fence. Nascimento tries to grab control of the neck. Midsection shots from Bably. Nascimento with a right hand. Bably continues to attack the body. Bably looking for some powerful takedown, but Nascimento is defending it. The two trade body shots. Left hand to the body. Nascimento tries to sneak in knees and power his way off the fence. Bably quickly makes it chest-to-chest against the SmartCage though.

 

A battle for wrist control ensues on the inside as Nascimento is trying to tie Bably up. Bably is trying to pressure Nascimento and use his frame against him. One-two from Bably on the break. Left hand from Nascimento. Bably continues to attack the body. Nascimento with a counter hook. Bably continues to land and pins Nascimento back against the fence. Bably continues to rip to the body before a separation right before the bell.

 

 

 

Round 2

 

Bably with a right hand. Bably working around the outside. Nascimento coming on the front foot, trying to land to the body. Bably misses a left hook, and Nascimento lands a counter to the body. Bably goes for a double-leg takedown, and he presses Nascimento against the fence. Nascimento lands a knee up the middle. Another knee from Nascimento. Bably with a left hand. Another Nascimento knee to the body. Referee calls for action. Uppercut to the body by Bably. Dirty boxing exchanges here. Knee by Bably. Bably with a right hand, and Nascimento with an elbow as the break occurs.

 

Nascimento with a one-two as Bably throws a jab. Bably staying on the outside, daring Nascimento to come in. Right hand from Nascimento lands. Combination thrown from Nascimento. Right hand from Nascimento, who is holding the center. Left hand from Nascimento. Nascimento using his length and building combinations. Bably with a right hand. Clean punches from Nascimento down the center, and he’s picking up momentum in this fight. One-two from Nascimento. Right hand from Nascimento, and Bably with a right hand. Overhand left from Bably, and Nascimento rushes in. One-two from Nascimento, but Bably avoids it. Overhand right and a hook from Bably. Round kick from Nascimento that lands before the bell.

 

 

Round 3

 

Left hand and a one-two from Bably. Low kick from Nascimento. Jabs from both men. Right hand from Bably. Left hand from Nascimento. Right hand from Bably. One-two from Nascimento before another clinch, with Bably bringing Nascimento to the fence once more. Bably landing with the right hand in the clinch. Left hand from Bably on the separation. Left hand from Nascimento. Left hand from Bably. Bably misses a hook, and Nascimento lands a hook in response.

 

 

Left hand from Nascimento. And again. One-two from Bably. Left hand from Nascimento. Bably lands an elbow and then presses for another takedown attempt — once again bringing the action to the fence. Nascimento lands a couple of knees in the clinch. Both men land to the body. Nascimento lands the knee before separation. Left hand from Nascimento. Left hand from Bably. Nascimento flashes the left hand. Right to the body from Bably. Nascimento with a strong knee. One-two and a hook from Bably. Nascimento lands while moving backward, and Bably gets him against the fence again briefly. Left hand lands for Bably. Nascimento responds in kind. Nascimento ends the fight on the front foot.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Rodrigo Nascimento defeats Abraham Bably by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), advancing to the Semifinals of the Heavyweight Bracket. Nascimento will face the winner of Oleg Popov vs. Karl Williams.