Mahio Campanella earns semifinal spot with decision win

Mahio Campanella is a grappling specialist who recently held a regional featherweight championship. He is 7-1, with five finishes to his credit, four of them being submissions. He made his PFL debut in December, defeating Ezzoubair Bouarsa at the 2024 PFL Europe Championships.

Matiss Zaharovs is a striking specialist who trains out of the legendary SBG Ireland gym. He is a 10-fight veteran who has competed for a number of noteworthy regional promotions. Zaharovs is 1-1 in PFL Europe so far, losing to Lewis McGrillen and submitting Brian Hyslop.

Which of these fighters will advance to the Bantamweight Semifinals?

Round 1

Zaharovs trying to come out on the front foot. Zaharovs with a low kick. Left hand from Campanella. Low kick from Campanella. Side kick to the leg now by Campanella. Left hand from Zaharovs. Body lock, and Zaharovs with a Whizzer. Campanella presses Zaharovs into the fence. Right hand by Campanella as they move along the SmartCage. Zaharovs reverses the position. Guillotine attempt by Campanella. Zaharovs backs himself up. Low kick by Zaharovs. Zaharovs shoots in. Left hands from Zaharvos. One-two from Zaharovs. Body kick by Campanella. High kick from Zaharovs.

Side kick by Campanella lands on the leg. Low kick by Campanella. Low kick by Zaharovs. Left hand by Zaharovs. Front kick by Campanella. Spinning kick by Campanella. Back fist from Zaharovs. Zaharovs pressing Campanella into the fence. Small flurry from Zaharovs. Low kick from Campanella. Campanella now with a takedown. Campanella is getting to Zaharovs’ back despite Zaharovs returning to his feet. Switch knee drops Zaharovs! Campanella jumps on him and gets right under the neck! Campanella rides too high, however, and Zaharovs escapes! Campanella now tries for a triangle, but Zaharovs defends it well. Knees to the body by Zaharovs now. Campanella wrestles his way up to his feet and to Zaharovs’ back. Spinning kick by Campanella to end the round.

Round 2

A high kick from Campanella is blocked. Side kick to the midsection by Zaharovs. Leg kicks from Campanella. Left hand by Zaharovs, and Campanella level changes. Zaharovs sprawls and prevents the takedown. Low kick and a body kick by Campanella. Spinning back kick from Campanella doesn’t land fully. Campanella catches a knee, but Zaharovs gets a body lock and brings the fight to the floor. Zaharovs is controlling the action, landing a number of left hands. Campanella is now on his feet, but Zaharovs is pressing. Zaharovs with a left hand on the break.

Body kick by Campanella. Zaharovs comes forward, but Campanella with a duck-under and he’s now back on the back of Zaharovs. Campanella chases a takedown, but Zaharovs gets right back to the feet. Zaharovs avoids a spinning attack on the break. Uppercut from Campanella misses. Low kick from Campanella. Spinning elbow from Zaharovs lands, but Campanella wrestles him down! Campanella near a full mount now, looking for a potential arm-triangle. Zaharovs gets half-guard back. Campanella with shoulder pressure. Campanella bridges. Left hands from Zaharovs. Campanella tries to step over. Right hand from Campanella, who now enters side control. Right hands from Campanella. Zaharovs tries to get up, but Campanella lands a mat return. Zaharovs tries again, but Campanella ends the round still on his back.

Round 3

Left hand from Campanella. Low kick from Campanella. Front kick from Campanella. Left hand from Zaharovs. Zaharovs pushes for a takedown, getting Campanella to the fence. Small combination from Zaharvos, but Campanella trips Zaharovs. Zaharovs gets to his feet, but Campanella on his back. Zaharovs blocks a high kick on the separation. Left hand by Campanella. Zaharovs scores the takedown. Zaharovs pins one of Campanella’s legs down. Campanella tries to get up, but Zaharovs takes his back and is looking for the neck.

Zaharovs is on the chin right now and squeezing. Zaharovs lost the grip when it was really tight. Zaharovs has a body lock and is hand fighting with Campanella for another choke attempt now. A series of right hands from Zaharovs. Campanella escapes the attempts, but Zaharovs is still on him. Campanella gets to his feet and gets out of the grasp. Now he’s got Zaharovs’ back while standing. Zaharovs gets the action back down. Punches to the head by Zaharovs. Zaharovs landing with the right hand. Campanella gets up, and Zaharovs lands one more combination.

OFFICIAL RESULT

Mahio Campanella def. Matiss Zaharovs via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)