Mitch McKee Defeats Sergio Pettis in PFL Chicago Main Event

Chicago, IL – April 11, 2026 – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) delivered a night of thrilling action at Wintrust Arena as Mitch McKee extended his undefeated streak with a unanimous decision win over Sergio Pettis in the PFL Chicago main event.

McKee, a two-time NCAA Division I All-American, successfully implemented his wrestling strategy, effectively nullifying Pettis' game plan. Throughout the bout, McKee posed significant finishing threats to the former Bellator Champion. This decisive victory over the division's top-ranked bantamweight is expected to propel McKee into the Top 10 of the upcoming rankings.

In the co-main event, a highly anticipated clash between elite grapplers saw two-time NCAA Division II Champion Raufeon Stots face the undefeated No. 6-ranked Renat Khavalov. The fight was a closely contested affair, with both athletes demonstrating their skills and inflicting damage from dominant positions.

The pivotal moment occurred in the third round when Stots landed a forceful knee that sent Khavalov to the canvas. Despite this significant strike, all three judges awarded the victory to Khavalov, who maintains his undefeated professional record.

The card also featured a compelling battle between UFC veterans, with No. 10-ranked Viviane Araujo and Shanna Young engaging in a competitive 15-minute bout. While both fighters had their moments, Araujo gradually asserted control and secured a unanimous decision victory in her PFL debut, with judges scoring the fight 30-27.

The main card kicked off with a featherweight contest between No. 4-ranked Gabriel Braga and Cheyden Leialoha. Leialoha, from Hawaii, initially used his strong grappling to counter Braga's striking. However, Braga weathered the early storm and took over the fight in the second and third rounds, ultimately earning a unanimous decision win.

A middleweight bout between No. 5-ranked Jordan Newman and No. 6-ranked Josh Silveira was cancelled after Newman withdrew from the fight.

PFL Chicago Main Card Results:

• Mitch McKee def. #1-Sergio Pettis via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• #6-Renat Khavalov def. #2-Raufeon Stots via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• #10-Viviane Araujo def. Shanna Young via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• #4-Gabriel Braga def. Cheyden Leialoha via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Preliminary Card Results:

• #7-Jena Bishop def. Borena Tsertsvadze via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:21 of Round 1
• #9-Omar El Dafrawy def. James Vake via KO at 1:12 of Round 1
• #6-Paulina Wisniewska def. #8-Kana Watanabe via TKO (strikes) at 3:15 of Round 2
• Alexandr Romanov def. #6-Rodrigo Nascimento via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:10 of Round 2
• Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Dash Harris via TKO (punches) at 0:44 of Round 1
• Valanti Atsas def. Nate Jennerman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)