Amin Ayoub puts on all-around masterclass, secures third-round stoppage

A former lightweight and welterweight champion in two of the more notable regional promotions, Amin Ayoub has had over 30 fights in MMA before turning 30 years old. Originally a kickboxer before starting professional MMA in 2014, Ayoub has trained with the likes of Arman Tsarukyan and Zubaira Tukhugov. Ayoub, who has finished 15 of his 25 wins thus far, has won nine straight entering tonight, most recently knocking off Pedro Souza in June.

Keweny Lopes has won championships on the regional circuit at both featherweight and lightweight. Lopes makes his PFL debut tonight, coming in with a 12-3-1 record, with 10 finishes to his credit. Lopes, a striking specialist fighting out of Brazil, scored a first-round finish of Heliton dos Santos in his most recent outing this past May.

Who will be the one on top at the end of this lightweight battle in tonight’s main event in Nantes?

Round 1

Lopes with a Superman punch to start as he tries to storm forward right away. He comes forward with a lot of pressure, but he gets rocked by a counter right hand from Ayoub! Ayoub with a tight guillotine right away! Lopes backs away, and he’s able to shrug out. Right back into a striking exchange! Lopes now gets Ayoub backing up. Lopes lands a left hook! He goes to swing, but Ayoub lands a hook that rocks Lopes again! We’re back to the guillotine! It’s unsuccessful. What a wild start!

Lopes lands a couple of low kicks. Low kick from Ayoub. Ayoub with a left hand. Lopes scores a takedown. Ayoub appears to be answering with a kimura attempt. He can’t get it, but he lands elbows. Lopes works his way into side control. Ayoub is going for a heel hook now. Lopes goes for his own ankle lock, but instead we get a reset back to the feet. Lopes throws some kicks and lands one to the body. Ayoub lands a combination. Knee by Ayoub and the two exchange jabs. Low kicks from Lopes. Low kick and some punches from Ayoub. Lopes with some left hands. Low kick and a combination from Ayoub. The pace has slowed in the closing seconds of the round, as Ayoub attacks the body. One more wild exchange to cap an unbelievably entertaining opening round!

Round 2

Low sidekick from Lopes. Ayoub counters with a body attack. A right and a left hand from Ayoub. Lopes lands an overhand left. Spinning back kick lands low for Ayoub. Inside low kick from Lopes. Body kick and a couple of shots from Ayoub. Inside low kick by Lopes. Spinning back kick to the body by Ayoub. Lopes scores a takedown, and he gets on top in the guard of Ayoub. Ayoub with a couple of elbows before going for an armbar! Lopes counters and looks for a heel hook. Ayoub counters and gets into top position!

Short elbows from Ayoub. Strong elbow from the top by Ayoub. Ayoub steps over as he tries to get around the guard of Lopes. Short shot to the midsection by Lopes. Ayoub is trying to bring in some shoulder pressure in the final minute of the round. Knee to the body and a hammerfist by Ayoub. Some ground-and-pound from Ayoub as he steps over again. Ayoub is landing some strong lefts from the top to conclude the round.

Round 3

Front kick by Ayoub. More kicks from Ayoub. Left hands from both men. Another round kick by Ayoub. Combination by Lopes, but he eats a left hook that briefly wobbles him! Knee by Ayoub, and we’ve got another guillotine attempt! Lopes works his way out of it nicely though. Calf kick by Ayoub. Left overhand by Lopes gets blocked. Body shot by Ayoub. Combination by Ayoub lands solidly. The two start to swing, and Ayoub makes Lopes eat a left hook. A solid one-two by Ayoub. Knee by Ayoub. To the body with Ayoub before he lands a left to the head.

Head kick by Ayoub. Ayoub ducks an overhand from Lopes. Ayoub with a combination, and Lopes is warned to defend himself. Lead hook, a knee, and another series of shots by Ayoub! Ref tells Lopes to fight back! And he steps in!

https://x.com/PFLMMA/status/1971658046632808959

Amin Ayoub gets the third-round stoppage win!

OFFICIAL RESULT

Amin Ayoub def. Keweny Lopez via TKO (R3, 3:19) in a Lightweight Showcase Bout.