After coming up just short in last year’s Lightweight Final, former Bellator Lightweight World Champion Brent Primus is geared up and ready to take on the competition, hoping to earn a World Tournament Title in 2025. The American Top Team Portland product and Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist has scored finishes in 10 of his 15 career victories. Primus, who holds notable victories against Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson, scored victories over Bruno Miranda and Solomon Renfro during last year’s season, as well as against Clay Collard in the Semifinals, before losing to Gadzhi Rabadanov in the Final.

 

Vinicius Cenci is known for his aggressive grappling and submissions. Cenci has scored finishes in nine of his 10 victories – including seven finishes coming in the first round – with five finishes via rear-naked chokes and two via guillotine. Cenci, who makes his PFL debut tonight, is on a three-fight win streak, most recently earning a split decision over Yabna Ferreira N'Tchala in March 2024.

 

Who will be the first name to advance in the Lightweight Tournament?

 

 

Round 1

 

Cenci lifts the knee. Left jab from Cenci flashed. Cenci misses a quick left. Primus backs him up with a left hand. Cenci switches stances, throws a left. Cenci jumps for a knee but is caught. Primus gets Cenci to the fence and takes him down. Primus quickly gets to Cenci’s back. Primus gets a hook in, but he looks to be riding high on the back. Primus locks his legs around Cenci’s body in a backpack hold. Cenci moves across the fence, but Primus is not getting loose. Cenci brings Primus over toward the fence in front of Cenci’s corner. Cenci trying to get Primus off. Cenci throws a couple of left hands.

 

Primus with a left hand. Primus tries to get an arm around Cenci’s chin. Primus lands a couple of more punches, trying to soften up Cenci’s defenses. Primus lands a few body shots as Cenci appears to have cleared the arm. Primus tries to get his arms around again. Some strong elbows landing to the back of Cenci. Primus continuing to land some notable elbows. Primus switches up his body triangle around Cenci’s body. Primus loses the body triangle but still has hooks in. Primus gets off Cenci but remains in back control to the bell.

 

 

 

Round 2

 

Round kick by Cenci to the body. Right hand from Cenci. Front kick from Primus. Right hand by Cenci. Cenci with a knee and he tries for a guillotine. Primus rolls out of it quickly, however, and he goes to the ground, getting in top control on Cenci. Primus quickly finds his way into mount. Cenci gets a lock down on Primus’s left leg. Cenci tries to use his legs on the cage to improve position, but Primus is riding heavy. Cenci with a reversal to get out of the bottom. Primus has some inverted half-nelson on Cenci. Cenci looking for a crucifix? Primus has a kimura grip, but Cenci gets out of it as he returns to the feet.

 

Cenci swings and lands a combination. Cenci with another flying knee, but Primus again avoids it and presses Cenci to the fence. The action goes to the ground, but Cenci ends up on top. Cenci with a couple of ground strikes. Primus tries to press off the fence to improve position. Primus appears to be going for a Gogoplata. Cenci is smartly blocking it, but Primus tries to soften it again. It gets close, but Cenci scrambles out and goes back to striking from top. Primus tying Cenci up from the bottom. Both men landing punches on the ground. Primus appears to be going for a triangle. That position is where the round ends.

 

 

Round 3

 

Low kick from Cenci. Left hand from Cenci. Round kick from Primus. Cenci with a low kick. Primus with a solid jab. Cenci switches stance and lands a body kick but misses a high kick. The two swing away and both land. Primus misses a hook, and Cenci lands a left hand. Cenci goes for a knee, but Primus locks up his legs and scores a takedown. Cenci locks Primus up in his guard. Cenci going to attack with the rubber guard? Some punching from up top by Primus. Cenci looking to get toward the fence, potentially looking for elevation. A couple of right hands from Cenci. A couple of left hands from Primus.

 

 

Primus is trying to get around Cenci’s legs and lands a left hand as he goes back to the ground. Primus quickly gets himself into full mount. Primus looking for an arm-triangle. Cenci rolls and gets out of it, but Primus has a body triangle around him again. Primus landing several right hands. Cenci trying to turn to clear Primus’ arm, but Primus remaining in back control and continuing to land. Primus looks for a rear-naked choke and he gets it locked in with 20 seconds remaining! Primus squeezes and he forces the tap with less than 10 seconds to go!

 

Brent Primus with a master-class performance in grappling earns him a Semifinal spot!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

Brent Primus defeats Vinicius Cenci by 3rd round submission (rear-naked choke, 4:52), advancing to the Semifinals in the Lightweight Bracket. Primus will face the winner of Clay Collard vs. Alfie Davis.

  • Primus moves his career record to 16-4 with his 9th submission win
  • Primus lost in the 2024 PFL World Championship to Gadzhi Rabadanov
  • Primus fights out of Portland, Oregon
  • Primus has a win over Clay Collard (unanimous decision in 2024 PFL Semifinals). He could end up facing Collard in the Semifinals again this year