Tonight marks Raufeon Stots’ first time competing in a PFL cage. A two-time NCAA Division II Wrestling Champion, Stots was a rising prospect to start his career, being trained under Jens Pulver. Stots made his way over to Bellator and continued to find victory after victory, eventually defeating Juan Archuleta to capture the interim Bellator Bantamweight title. He defended that title against Danny Sabatello before his win streak was snapped at the hands of Patchy Mix. Stots defeated Sabatello in a rematch last year at Bellator 301.

 

Marcos Breno began his MMA journey through jiu-jitsu at the age of 10, later relocating to Sao Paulo to train under Glover Teixeira and alongside Alex Pereira. A black belt in the discipline, Breno has scored finishes in 13 of his 15 wins, including nine coming in the first round of his fights. Breno makes his PFL debut here tonight after a pair of bouts in Bellator, defeating Josh Hill at Bellator 284 before a submission loss to Sabatello at Bellator 294.

 

Will Stots have a successful start to his PFL tenure here tonight?

 

 

Round 1

 

Both men rush to the center. Low kick from Stots. Breno responds in kind, though not as strong as the one Stots delivered. Right punch to the body. Breno trying to show aggression early, landing multiple straights. Stots level changes, but Breno avoids it. Breno avoids another takedown attempt. Stots appears hurt from Breno’s striking. Stots being selective with his shots. Breno with another right hand and avoids another takedown attempt. Another strong right hand wobbles Stots. Stots continues to chase for the takedown and misses. Stots misses a pair of combinations.

 

 

Breno lands another pair of strong combinations with Stots near the fence. Stots with a left hand. Right hand from Breno. Low kick from Breno. Left hand from Breno. Body kick from Stots. Stots tries for a single-leg takedown. Stots continues to chase and gets Breno against the fence, chest-first, with a hold of Breno’s back. Stots manages to work his way down and brings Breno to the mat while looking for a rear-naked choke. Breno avoids the submission, but Stots is now on top. Stots ends the round in top position.

 

 

Round 2

 

Both men throwing left jabs to start things off. Breno misses a knee attempt. Stots with a body kick. Low kick from Breno. One-two from Breno. Low kick from Breno. Body kick from Breno. One-two from Breno. Right jab from Stots. High kick is blocked by Stots. Low kick from Breno, but Stots lands a left hand. Small rushing combination from Stots. Stots with a well-timed level change, and now he’s onto Breno’s hips.

 

Stots gets behind Breno and is able to secure another takedown. Breno gets up, but he drags Breno back to the mat and gets a hook in while he’s on Breno’s back. Stots works his way into top position, securing a crucifix. Stots landing with the left hand. Stots looking for a straight armlock, but Breno gets his arm free. Stots continuing to work on top as Breno gets his back to the mat. Breno keeping Stots down in his guard, but Stots doing work there on top as the round comes to an end.

 

 

Round 3

 

Low kick from Breno to start things off. Right hand from Stots. One-two from Breno. Right hand from Stots. A pair of left hands from Breno. Stots landing some combinations. Breno goes for a takedown and appears to get it. Stots, however, appears to have an arm around him for an arm-in guillotine choke. Stots looking for an arm-triangle. Breno looks to reverse the position, but Stots sweeps and maintains his top control.

 

Stots gets behind to the back and drags Breno back with a rear-naked choke! Stots gets the tap!

 

 

After being troubled in the opening round, Raufeon Stots succeeds in his PFL debut!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno via third-round submission (rear-naked choke, 3:01)