PFL World Tournament 7 – Rodrigo Nascimento vs Oleg Popov

In a battle that blended grit and grappling mastery, Oleg Popov emerged dominant in every phase. The opening bell sparked an intense exchange: Nascimento came out aggressive, landing a stiff one-two to counter Popov’s low kicks. But Popov, showcasing his elite wrestling pedigree, swiftly shifted levels—closing the distance for a powerful takedown and immediately pressing Nascimento against the cage.

From there, it was Popov’s world. He maintained relentless top control—working trapped-leg positions and peppering Nascimento with short left hands and knees. Rodrigo, though proving resilient, never found consistency; each takedown return by Nascimento was met with another wave of Popov’s ground-and-pound. A bout-defining moment came mid-round when Popov unleashed brutal knees to the head and body, clearly overwhelming the Brazilian.

In Round 2, the narrative repeated itself. Hooks were exchanged, but Popov’s wrestling again stole the spotlight. He repeatedly dragged Nascimento to the mat, landing short punches from half-guard and using hip control to thwart any offensive rhythm. The persistent scrambles, clinch battles, and fence fighting only served to further wear out Rodrigo .

By the final chapter, Popov had full momentum. A sharp left and overhand right nearly dropped Nascimento early in round three. Popov’s fight IQ shined—pressing the Brazilian into the fence, raining elbows, knees, and inside strikes. Though Rodrigo staged a determined flurry late, it was too little, too late. Popov’s grappling superiority and controlled aggression carried him to a clean and unanimous decision victory (30-27 x3).

Oleg Popov’s performance was a testament to high-level MMA wrestling—impeccable takedown timing, positional dominance, and effective ground-and-pound. Against a rugged opponent like Rodrigo Nascimento, Popov dictated the pace, neutralized the offense, and stamped his ticket to the PFL Heavyweight World Tournament Final. Meanwhile, Rodrigo showed heart and flashes of striking sharpness, but ultimately couldn’t shake Popov’s relentless pressure.