LAS VEGAS – This wasn’t the way Esquiva Falcao wanted to move up in the IBF’s middleweight rankings, but the gruesome gash above his left eyebrow was too much to withstand Saturday night.

Falcao won a technical split decision over Patrice Volny in their IBF elimination match because the cut he sustained during the sixth round prohibited the Brazilian southpaw from continuing on the pay-per-view portion of the Terence Crawford-Shawn Porter undercard. Judges Tim Cheatham (58-56) and Don Trella (58-57) had Falcao in front at the time of the stoppage, including an incomplete sixth round they were required to score in accordance with the Association of Boxing Commission's regulations.

Judge Patricia Morse Jarman had Volny ahead, 58-57, when referee Mike Ortega stopped their scheduled 12-round fight at 2:18 of the sixth round.

Falcao, a silver medalist at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, entered the ring as an 8-1 favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The 31-year-old contender improved to 29-0 (20 KOs).

Montreal’s Volny lost for the first time as a pro (16-1, 10 KOs), though he was coming on in the final two-plus rounds of action.

Falcao is ranked fourth among the IBF’s middleweight contenders, one spot above Volny. The top two spots in the IBF’s 160-pound ratings are vacant and Falcao figures to occupy one of those positions now that he has won this elimination match.

Winning Saturday night eventually could lead to Falcao getting a shot at the IBF’s 160-pound championship, currently held by Gennadiy Golovkin.

Their fight was very competitive when a violent clash of heads with just under 50 seconds to go in the sixth round opened a gash along the bottom part of Falcao’s forehead, just above his left eyebrow. He winced and turned away, which caused Ortega to have a ringside physician examine him.

Falcao took some time to recuperate before he decided he could continue.

Volny caught Falcao with a left hook on the inside with about 40 seconds to go in the fifth round. Volny then unloaded an array of power punches on a backtracking Falcao toward the end of the fifth round.

Volny kept his guard high during the fourth round and blocked many of Falcao’s punches. Ortega warned Falcao for leading with his head with just under 40 seconds to go in the fourth round.

Volny stood his ground more in the third round than he had done during the first two rounds. He couldn’t connect with clean shots consistently during that round, but Volny at least made Falcao think about what was coming back at him.

Falcao pressured Volny again throughout the second round, though he didn’t land many flush punches on his retreating opponent.

Falcao went after Volny throughout the first round and unloaded hard shots on him. Volny blocked and avoided some of those shots, but Falcao snuck a left through Volny’s high guard with about 15 seconds to go in the opening round.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for krikya360.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.