John Mitchell turned pro in 2019 after a highlight career as a championship-filled amateur career. Mitchell joined the 2023 PFL Europe season on a four-fight win streak and made it to the finals but lost to Jakub Kaszuba. He returned to action in May, scoring a submission of Adham Mohamed.

 

After competing for various promotions, Souhil Tairi joined PFL MENA in 2024. Tairi, who has six of his seven wins coming by stoppage, four of which have come in the first round, made his PFL debut with a decision over Ahmed Amir. Tairi, however, lost in the semifinals to Mohsen Mohammadseifi.

 

Which of these two will rebound with a PFL victory to start 2025?

 

 

Round 1

 

Mitchell with a push kick. Mitchell with a couple of low kicks. Tairi with a body shot. Mitchell drives Tairi to the ground with a takedown. Tairi looking to get himself to the fence, using his legs. He does so, but Mitchell brings him back down to the mat easily. Tairi looking to use his legs on the fence for momentum, but Mitchell rains down blows to the face. Mitchell, in side control, landing knees to the body. Mitchell continues to land knees, while Tairi lands weak shots to the head from bottom.

 

Tairi finally gets the underhook and is trying to use it to get himself back up. Mitchell continues to control the action from guard, however. Mitchell lands left hands and looks to keep space away from Tairi. The referee calls for more action. Mitchell not trying to posture up, as the ref calls for more work again. Strong elbow lands for Mitchell. The referee calls for action again. Tairi trying to work from bottom, but Mitchell’s strikes from up top give him control up to the bell.

 

 

Round 2

 

Right hand from Mitchell. Left hand lands to the solar plexus. Low kick from Tairi. Mitchell with a couple of strong counters with the right hand, countering Tairi’s boxing combinations. Sharp jab from Mitchell, who is using good head movement to avoid Tairi’s combinations. Tairi landing a couple of low kicks. Mitchell goes for another takedown, but Tairi counters with a guillotine choke! Tairi locks in a body triangle with it! Mitchell is thinking about tapping…but he gets out of it somehow! Tairi gets right to the back, however, and now Mitchell is in danger of being choked again. Mitchell trying to get away, but Tairi now looks for a triangle choke!

 

Mitchell manages to avoid the choke and gets in control on top. Left hand from Mitchell, working around Tairi’s guard. The referee calls for action. Left hand from Mitchell again. Mitchell appears to be looking for elbows on the ground. Mitchell looks for some ground-and-pound with a little over 30 seconds to go. The referee calling for more action. Tairi landing combinations from the bottom toward the body.

 

 

 

Round 3

 

Push kick from Mitchell to start things. Left hand from Mitchell. Tairi misses an overhand. Another kick from Mitchell. Front kick from Tairi. Kick from Mitchell. Low kick from Mitchell. Combination from Mitchell ends with a low kick. Another low kick from Mitchell. Both land jabs. Low kick from Mitchell and a right hand missed by Tairi. Combinations from both. Mitchell goes for another takedown. Tairi looks for another guillotine, but Mitchell avoids it and lands the takedown. Strikes from the bottom by Tairi.

 

Mitchell building up from up top as Tairi is sitting up against the fence. Tairi gets to his feet and looks for a low guillotine. Tairi nearly lands an illegal knee. Mitchell brings the action back to the mat, however. Tairi looks tired as we enter the bout’s final minute. The referee calls for action again. Tairi has butterfly hooks in, but he can’t do much with them. Mitchell looking to land shots to the head from up top.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

John Mitchell def. Souhil Tairi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)