PFL World Tournament 5 – Alexei Pergande vs Mike Bardsley

In the high-energy atmosphere of the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on June 12, 2025, featherweights Alexei Pergande and Mike Bardsley delivered a striking showcase during the PFL World Tournament 5 semifinals. From the opening bell, Pergande—fighting in front of a hometown crowd—set the tone with crisp low kicks and sharp combinations, instantly dictating range and rhythm. Bardsley responded with resilient offense, mixing in kicks and punches, but Pergande’s fluid striking and superior distance management kept him in command.

As the action intensified, Pergande unleashed a powerful switch knee and flashed a wheel kick, while Bardsley landed with intent but couldn’t match the precision. Midway through round two, Pergande nearly secured a triangle-armbar transition before swiftly taking Bardsley’s back and peppering him with elbows, visibly opening a cut on Bardsley’s face . Pergande’s grappling prompt counters underscored his well-rounded skill set.

The third round saw Pergande maintain full control—continuing to mix powerful jabs, elbows, and knees. Bardsley pushed forward heroically, but Pergande’s superior cardio and tactical striking nullified his efforts. Neither fighter dramatically altered the bout’s course as they exchanged shots until the horn.

When the judges’ scorecards were revealed, Pergande saw his perfect pro record hit 6–0, earning a unanimous decision (30–27 across the board) and a ticket to the featherweight finals. Bardsley, now 5–2, walked away with pride, having shown toughness and flashes of offense, but was ultimately outclassed in a striking duel.

Pergande’s performance was a clear demonstration of lethal precision, fight IQ, and championship readiness—an emphatic statement that he’s a contender to watch as he advances toward a shot at PFL gold.