VIDEO: PFL 5 Fighter Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive with Massive Knockout
Drew Beaupré
Marcelo Nunes needed a finish to try and extend his PFL season, and the Brazilian heavyweight came up big by stopping Danilo Marques in the first round.
The 34-year-old came into PFL 5 in Atlanta with no points after he was finished by Maurice Greene in April, while Marques’ 3 points had him sitting in the fourth and final playoff spot for the PFL’s heavyweight division.
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Nunes entered the cage knowing exactly what was needed to try and make the playoffs, and late in the first round he backed Marques to the fence to score a brutal finish.
Marques ate several punches before the two fighters briefly clinched up, however a huge right hand from Nunes connected on the break and sent his countryman toppling to the canvas. The 34-year-old landed a single follow-up strike before the ref intervened, leaving Nunes to walk off and celebrate his victory.
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With PFL 5 still ongoing and several heavyweight bouts yet to come, there’s no guarantee that Nunes' win will secure a spot in the 2023 PFL playoffs. The first-round finish does put him in a strong position, and he’ll no doubt be anxiously watching the rest of the evening’s heavyweight action and hope his dream of a PFL title stays alive.
Be sure to check back on our homepage for more coverage of PFL 5, including live results of all the fights as they happen.
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