In the United States booed the world champion from Russia. Only the referee saved her rival from suffocation.

Marina Mokhnatkina won the fight by decision, which caused a wave of protest in the stands.

The Russian landing at the PFL 6 mixed martial arts tournament performed well. Our fighters beat, strangled and knocked out their rivals, trying to break into the playoffs.

However, the American public did not appreciate the efforts – the successes of the men were greeted coolly, and the only lady was completely booed after the victory.

Why so much negativity?

Whistle instead of congratulations

The evening of fights in the organization of the Professional Fighters League, held the day before in Atlanta, opened the program of major fighting tournaments in July. For the Russian public, the event in the United States was interesting primarily with the participation of Magomed Magomedkerimov, Magomed Umalatov and Marina Mokhnatkina. Our fighters tried to get into the playoffs, but not everyone managed to solve this problem.

Multiple world sambo champion Marina Mokhnatkina started the new PFL season not in the best way – she lost by a decision to American Kayla Harrison. The Russian woman had to rehabilitate herself in a duel with the Mexican Abigail Montes. Taking into account not the biggest experience in MMA at the opponent, the task before our sportswoman was solvable.

Photo: © Cooper Neill / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

The Russian woman acted better in the fight, making two successful transfers. And at the end of the second round, she could get an early victory by choke hold. However, at the last moment, the referee intervened, stopping Marina’s attack due to the end of the second round time. The Mexican barely survived.

In the third round, the exchange of blows was rather in favor of the Latin American. Perhaps for this reason, the audience in Atlanta believed in the victory of Abigail. The judges were not unanimous in their decision, but recognized the Russian woman as a triumphant, which led to outrage in the stands.

Mokhnatkina triumphed, but received only a whistle as a reward from the audience. It was not possible for the Americans to be happy for our athlete. However, this victory was still not enough for Marina to get into the playoffs.

Tired of the beating

In men, our Magomed Magomedkerimov held the first bout in the new season. It was originally planned to confront the 31-year-old Russian with Joao Zeferino. The duel with the Brazilian failed for the third time, but now it is the fault of the South American, who failed to cope with the weighing procedure. Zeferino was forced to be replaced by Dilano Taylor, who not so long ago replaced, by the way, Magomedkerimov himself.

It was hard for the replacement American to count on the role of the favorite in this pair. The duel took place with the advantage of a native of Dagestan and ended ahead of schedule. In the second round, Magomed felt very at ease in the octagon – the opponent almost did not resist the blows of the Russian fighter. The referee was tired of watching this beating. He decided to stop the fight, awarding Magomedkerimov a victory by technical knockout.

The 29th victory in his career and the 11th in the PFL organization, unfortunately, does not allow Magomed to count on getting into the playoffs – he has enough serious competitors in the welterweight division. One of them, compatriot Magomed Umalatov, who achieved an even more impressive victory that evening.

Prince of Astrakhan and the main prize

Like Magomedkerimov, Magomed Umalatov had his first fight this season. His opponent, Jordanian Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi, had experience in the Brave organization, and qualified for the PFL Grand Prix through the Candidates Tournament. In the first fight of the season, an athlete from the Middle East defeated the experienced Brazilian Gleison Tibau. And yet, the chances of the Russians in this fight were quoted higher.

The former Eagle FC champion previously had 12 career wins and two in the PFL. In his third fight under the auspices of the organization, the 30-year-old fighter did not wait until the end of the first round. The Jordanian seemed to know how the meeting with Umalatov could end, so he was careful and kept his distance, hoping to avoid a flurry of blows.

Magomed Umalatov / Photo: © Cooper Neill / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

A rare and at the same time some kind of timid attack by Al-Silawi ended in failure for him. Umalatov, sensing the indecision of the opponent, went forward and knocked out the opponent with a powerful right side blow to the head. The victory brought Magomed closer to the main prize of the tournament – a million dollars, which will go to the winner of the playoffs. Apparently, anticipating a possible success, the “Prince of Astrakhan” climbed onto the net in order to show his strength. The audience did not dare to boo him.