Known as “The Prodigy,” Elvin Espinoza earned a PFL contract off the strength of a second-round submission of Damir Ferhatbegovic during the 2023 PFL Challenger Series. A freestyle specialist who has held gold on the amateur circuit, Espinoza is 5-1 in the PFL and 10-1 overall, with eight stoppages to his name. Espinoza scored a flying knee finish of Adam Piccolotti in April but missed the Playoffs after suffering his first pro loss in June, dropping a decision to Gadzhi Rabadanov.

 

Mads Burnell is a prominent MMA talent from Europe, coming into tonight’s bout with a 19-6 record. Burnell, a former European regional champion, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, scoring four wins via the rare Japanese necktie submission. After a 5-2 record in Bellator, Burnell joined the PFL this season, getting submitted by Michael Dufort in April before upsetting Clay Collard in June.

 

 

Round 1

 

Burnell lands a low kick. One-two from Espinoza, who then pushes Burnell to the fence. Burnell looks to reverse the position, and he does so. The pair walk over to another section of the fence. Burnell looking for the takedown. Burnell landing a couple of inside shots. Burnell lands a knee. The two separate and exchange, with Espinoza landing a couple of strong shots. Burnell brings Espinoza back over to the fence and work inside.

 

 

Espinoza landing a one-two back in the center. Burnell with a front kick and then works the left hand. Strong body kick from Espinoza. Left hand from Burnell. Espinoza landing another body kick. Burnell clinches up in the center of the SmartCage. Burnell landing a four-punch combination. The two trading inside in the pocket, landing small but strong shots. Espinoza with a one-two. Another body kick from Espinoza appeared to hurt Burnell. Burnell shoots in for a takedown, but Espinoza is right back up. Espinoza with a knee.

 

 

Round 2

 

Low kick from Burnell. Low kick from Espinoza. Small combination by Espinoza. Burnell pressuring Espinoza to the fence. Burnell gets a body lock and presses Espinoza to the fence. Espinoza gets Burnell off. Espinoza now pushing forward, working Burnell with a few combinations. Burnell looks to fire back. Burnell with a right uppercut and another clinch. Espinoza gets Burnell’s back to the fence.

 

 

Burnell cracks Espinoza with a hard right hand! Burnell looks for a D’Arce choke! He can’t get it, but Burnell gets into the mount and pours on the ground-and-pound! Espinoza turns over and gives up his back. Espinoza grabs a hold of Burnell’s leg and gets back to his feet. Espinoza with a low kick. Burnell pushing Espinoza’s back to the fence. One-two by Burnell on the inside and a knee from Espinoza. The two exchange with just over 30 seconds left in the round. Burnell cracks Espinoza, but referee Keith Petersen steps in to call a groin shot! On replay, looks like a knee right before the punches landed high on the groin. Espinoza with a few kicks on the resuming of the fight. Burnell presses Espinoza again to the fence before the bell.

 

 

Round 3

 

The two exchange and clinch up in the center again, with Burnell bringing Espinoza back to the fence. Burnell lands a couple of left hands. Espinoza with the double body punch. Burnell lands a knee. Burnell with a couple of knees. Right hand from Burnell not long after the separation. Round kick from Espinoza. Burnell presses Espinoza against the fence again. Burnell lands a knee to the body. Burnell continues to pressure Espinoza. Burnell lands to the body and gets Espinoza to the mat.

 

Espinoza gets back to his feet. Burnell, however, continues to hold him against the fence. Burnell gets to Espinoza’s back. Burnell smothering Espinoza against the fence. Knee by Espinoza. Espinoza gets to separate, punching his way off the SmartCage. Burnell with a body shot, as Espinoza continues to land. Espinoza misses a knee, and Burnell scores another takedown. Burnell lands to the body in Espinoza’s guard. Burnell gets into side control. Burnell looks to secure an arm-triangle choke in the closing seconds, but he can’t get it by the final bell.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Mads Burnell defeats Elvin Espinoza by unanimous decision (29-28x3) in a lightweight showcase bout

  • Burnell moves his career record to 20-6
  • Burnell has won 4 of his last 5 fights (only loss in that stretch was to semifinalist Michael Dufort)
  • Burnell is a former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion
  • Burnell represents Denmark