PFL 3 took place on April 29th, 2024 and there was one fight in particular that delivered some results that might be of interest to grappling fans. Goiti Yamauchi and Neiman Gracie are both fantastic MMA grapplers and they were always going to put on a show thanks to their exciting styles. They were both making their PFL debut in this opening round match of the welterweight edition of the promotion’s 2024 season. Not only were they eager to get off to a good start competing in a brand new cage, but there was plenty of history coming into the fight too. Yamauchi actually already beat Gracie all the way back in 2022, as he knocked him out in the second round of the Bellator 284 main event.
It was clear from the start of the fight that Neiman Gracie wanted to take the fight to the ground, and also clear that Goiti Yamauchi had no intention of obliging him. Other than a brief flying armbar attempt, the story in the first round was that Yamauchi kept the fight standing and won the majority of the striking exchanges. The second round was far more even and Gracie got some good shots in, but he still wasn’t able to get the fight to the ground. Yamauchi got to work his striking yet again in the final round and although Gracie did finally get to the ground, he was on the bottom with very little time left to work. The clock ran out with Yamauchi on top in Gracie’s half guard and he had his hands raised by the judges, taking two out of three rounds on their scorecards.
PFL 3 Full Results
Magomed Umalatov defeats Andrey Koreshkov via Decision – Unanimous (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Brendan Loughnane defeats Pedro Carvalho via TKO – Punches (Round 1, 1:26)
Shamil Musaev defeats Logan Storley via KO – Punches (Round 2, 0:27)
Gabriel Alves Braga defeats Justin Gonzalez via KO – Punch (Round 1, 4:59)
Goiti Yamauchi defeats Neiman Gracie via Decision – Unanimous (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Kai Kamaka III defeats Bubba Jenkins via Decision – Unanimous (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
Adam Borics defeats Enrique Barzola via Decision – Unanimous (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Timur Khizriev defeats Brett Johns via Decision – Unanimous (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Murad Ramazanov defeats Laureano Staropoli via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (Round 1, 4:06)
Don Madge defeats Brennan Ward via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (Round 1, 1:02)
Tyler Diamond defeats Otto Rodrigues via Decision – Unanimous (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Thad Jean defeats Romain Debienne via KO – Punches (Round 1, 2:07)
Some of the highlights from the Goiti Yamauchi vs Neiman Gracie rematch at PFL 3 were uploaded to the promotion’s official Twitter account:
Flying Armbar attempt from Neiman Gracie! #PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/73fQQve4HP— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 20, 2024
Yamauchi drops Gracie but doesn't follow up on the ground!#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/i6BgJ4pX7T— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 20, 2024
Yamauchi lands a clean combo on Neiman Gracie.#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
🇺🇸ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/QWb9ydvcCr— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 20, 2024