MMA News

Category: PFL

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a mixed martial arts organization founded in 2018. It is the first major MMA promotion to feature a regular season, post-season and championship.

  • Francis Ngannou Teases Surprise Finish In MMA Return: ‘Been Working On Some Tricks…’

    Francis Ngannou Teases Surprise Finish In MMA Return: ‘Been Working On Some Tricks…’

    In his return to mixed martial arts this weekend, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou could be set to show new wrinkles in his game.

    Saturday marks a big night for “The Predator,” as he enters the cage for an MMA fight for the first time since a successful UFC title defense against Ciryl Gane back in January 2022.

    After departing MMA’s leading promotion and completing two bouts in the ring opposite boxing stars Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, Ngannou will put his sights back on the sport in which he made his name to make a long-awaited PFL debut.

    The Cameroonian is slated to headline the upcoming pay-per-view in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia against 2023 PFL heavyweight champ Renan Ferreira. Given the Brazilian’s penchant for knockouts, which is more than shared by “The Predator,” most are expecting Ngannou’s return to the cage to conclude with a knockout.

    But during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, the ex-UFC champ suggested that is far from certain, with both a decision and a surprise submission on the table.

    When it comes to the latter of those endings, the 38-year-old Batié native said he could have some “tricks” up his sleeve come fight night.

    “He moves a lot and he has good grappling. I mean, he is a black belt,” Ngannou said. “Unless the fight goes longer — if the fight goes past two rounds, I think it’s likely going to end up (being) a decision. Otherwise, if it stays inside two rounds, I think it’s a knockout or why not a submission?

    “You know, I’m not a black belt, but I’m not bad too,” Ngannou continued. “I’ve been working on some little tricks.”

    Be it a KO, submission or hard-fought victory on the scorecards, Ngannou will hope to emerge from the Middle East with a better result than in his last trip to Riyadh, which saw him rendered unconscious by “AJ.”

  • PFL CEO Says Battle Of The Giants Card Exceeds UFC 300 & UFC 306 As Biggest Event Of The Year

    PFL CEO Says Battle Of The Giants Card Exceeds UFC 300 & UFC 306 As Biggest Event Of The Year

    Undoubtedly the biggest MMA event of the weekend sees the PFL host the most significant night in the history of the promotion to date. Battle Of The Giants sees the promotion’s biggest ever signing, the former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, make his long awaited debut.

    His fight with Renan Ferreira is the real draw here because fans have waited a long time to see “The Predator” step back into MMA following his recent boxing contests. That being said, there’s other fights on this card that make it the PFL’s best event to date.

    The main card in particular features several homerun match-ups from the promotion that really shows the strength of the roster and how much it has improved since the Bellator acquisition.

    As they prepare for a massive night of fights in Riyadh, PFL CEO Peter Murray spoke about the card in a recent interview with MMA Junkie. In his opinion, Saturday’s event is the clear winner for the biggest and baddest event of 2024 in the MMA world.

    He specifically referenced how it stacks up when you compare this weekend’s card to the likes of UFC 300 and UFC 306 which would also be in the same conversation. There was criticism from some fans of both of those events for not having the kinds of cards that would live up to the high expectations on paper.

    In hindsight, it’s fair to say that both produced pretty special nights this year, even if some of the big fights at UFC 306 weren’t the most entertaining. Regardless, Murray believes that Battle Of The Giants stands tall not only next to any PFL event, but any MMA event that has taken place this year.

    “This is the biggest event of absolutely the PFL company history and the biggest event of the year and, you know, I’m looking forward to stacking this up against, when you look at the cards from UFC 300, The Sphere, but like as it relates to the card, this fight, this event on October 19, biggest of the year, second to none.”

  • PFL Founder Anticipates UFC Attempt To Stifle Ngannou’s Return: ‘What Will Dana White Announce?’

    PFL Founder Anticipates UFC Attempt To Stifle Ngannou’s Return: ‘What Will Dana White Announce?’

    Francis Ngannou makes his PFL debut this weekend, and the promotion is expecting his ex-employers to do what they can to steal the spotlight.

    For the first time since January 2022, Ngannou will enter the cage for an MMA contest on Saturday, October 19. In his last appearance close to three years ago, “The Predator” got the better of Ciryl Gane to remain UFC heavyweight champion.

    On this occasion, the Cameroonian will debut in new surroundings as the headline act for the Professional Fighters League’s second pay-per-view event of 2024.

    After completing his long-desired transition to boxing to do battle with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, the former UFC champ will adjust his sights back to MMA to face 2022 PFL title winner Renan Ferreira in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    And as his first MMA fight week since departing the UFC gets underway, the PFL higher-ups are seemingly expecting some outside efforts to drag the spotlight away from Ngannou…

    Davis Predicts White Announcement In Light Of Ngannou’s PFL Fight Week

    PFL founder, chairman, and co-owner Donn Davis has caused a stir in recent times owing to repeated shots at his organization’s former fighter, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison.

    To kick off the PFL’s ‘Battle of the Giants’ fight week, Davis once again had his sights on a UFC figure, this time the boss.

    In a social media post, Davis suggested the UFC CEO will no doubt be preparing a major announcement in the hope of stifling Ngannou’s return — a habit of the UFC’s that has become a running joke in the MMA community.

    “PFL Super Fight Week! Francis Ngannou makes his highly anticipated return with @PFLMMA!” Davis wrote on X. “So what will @danawhite announce to try to steal spotlight from THE biggest fight of 2024?? #PFLSuperFights“

    It would stand to reason that no announcement could affect the anticipation for Ngannou’s return, which comes after he took Fury to the limit and suffered a brutal KO to Joshua in the squared circle.

    Ngannou vs. Ferreira headlines Saturday’s card, with the likes of women’s MMA legend Cris Cyborg, reigning Bellator middleweight kingpin Johnny Eblen, and former Bellator champion AJ McKee making up the undercard.

  • Renan Ferreira vs. Francis Ngannou Doesn’t Feel Like A Title Fight To Coach – ‘Hasn’t Been Promoted’

    Renan Ferreira vs. Francis Ngannou Doesn’t Feel Like A Title Fight To Coach – ‘Hasn’t Been Promoted’

    Francis Ngannou will take on Renan Ferreira for the PFL heavyweight championship on October 19, 2024. The Battle Of The Giants PPV will be the first time fans will witness “The Predator” in MMA since leaving the UFC.

    Ngannou’s last MMA fight was against Ciryl Gane in 2022 when he defended his UFC heavyweight title. By grappling with the challenger for three rounds, he established himself as one of the most well-rounded heavyweight fighters in the world and went on to box Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

    Ngannou’s return to MMA is certainly a huge deal for fans worldwide, but according to his coach, the PFL hasn’t promoted it in the best way possible…

    Eric Nicksick Coach Critcizes PFL’s Battle Of The Giants Theme For Renan Ferreira vs. Francis Ngannou

    Nicksick discussed the upcoming PFL fight between Ngannou and Ferreira on the MMAFightingonSBN YouTube channel. Like many others, he was surprised by the PFL not emphasizing their main event is for the lineal heavyweight championship.

    The PFL has instead marketed Ferreira and Ngannou as two giants boasting unreal knockout power. According to Nicksick, he has to remind himself that “The Predator” is fighting for a title because the promotion is very different from how the UFC promotes a title fight.

    “I literally forgot we’re, let’s say forgot we’re fighting for a title. But it’s like, oh we get another title fight, you know. You think of a five- rounder or whatever else, it’s like that’s how much it hasn’t been promoted. Like, we know, it’s a title fight in the back of my mind, but I had to like, reassure we’re fighting for a title here. You know, it’s like I feel the same way- it’s like I want to hear that more rather than like these two giants fighting. This is for the PFL title, you know. This is huge man, so I don’t know man, I just wish it was promoted a little bit better too.”

    Nicksick admitted to expecting better promotion by the PFL, considering Ngannou’s solid legacy as a UFC champion and his popular bouts against Joshua and Fury.

  • Francis Ngannou’s Coach Discards Chin-Related Concerns Against Renan Ferreira Despite Anthony Joshua KO

    Francis Ngannou’s Coach Discards Chin-Related Concerns Against Renan Ferreira Despite Anthony Joshua KO

    Francis Ngannou last fought in the UFC in January 2022 and left the promotion amidst contract disputes. He’s since had two boxing matches, against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Although he lost both bouts, the fight against Fury went the distance and many backed him to be the winner.

    On October 19, 2024, Ngannou will finally make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira. The PFL heavyweight champ knocked out Ryan Bader to claim the title and his first defense is against the lineal heavyweight champion of mixed martial arts.

    Ferreira can end the fight anytime he lands like Ngannou. Despite his fighter coming off a KO loss in boxing, Eric Nicksick is confident in “The Predator” having superior boxing and grappling…

    Francis Ngannou’s Coach Admits To Wresting-Heavy Game Plan Against Ferreira But Denies Knockout Threat

    Nicksick recently discussed the future of many of his fighters during an interview on the MMAFightingonSBN YouTube channel. The coach was asked if fans should be worried about Ngannou’s chin deteriorating, as he’s now 38 and last suffered a crushing KO loss against Joshua.

    With 4 oz gloves that are far lighter than standard boxing gloves, Ferreira certainly boasts dangerous knockout power. However, according to Nicksick, Ngannou has an equal chance to knock his opponent out and his boxing has improved drastically in the last couple of years. “The Predator” has largely worked on his movement and knows how to roll with the punches to absorb damage.

    “It turns into a coin flip, right? Like these guys touch you with 4 oz gloves, somebody’s going to sleep. Now, what we do have in our favor is I think the fact that Francis has been working a lot of his boxing, a lot of his footwork, and understanding how to roll with those punches, how to tie his counters into his defense. Just the evolution of his striking to me has gotten much more crisper, much more pristine, over the last couple years and I know that we weren’t able to show that in the Anthony Joshua fight, but, leading up to that Anthony Joshua fight, I mean, he literally, I mean, the best I’ve ever seen him, you know.”

    Nicksick claimed that Ngannou’s boxing was at its best ahead of the Joshua fight. He couldn’t showcase this to the world, though, because at heavyweight, every match is a coin flip thanks to the power each fighter possesses.

    After praising Ngannou’s boxing prowess, Nicksick also admitted to having a grappling-heavy plan against Ferreira. He expects over 25% of the PFL main event this weekend to be on the ground, indicating Ngannou will be ready to grapple if things go south.

  • Francis Ngannou: PFL Opponent Renan Ferreira A ‘Little Less Than Me’ In All Areas

    Francis Ngannou: PFL Opponent Renan Ferreira A ‘Little Less Than Me’ In All Areas

    While Francis Ngannou respects the threat that upcoming PFL foe Renan Ferreira brings to the table, he doesn’t see where the Brazilian is superior.

    Ngannou is set to make the walk for an MMA fight for the first time since a successful UFC title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. Following that, “The Predator” was sidelined through injury before choosing to exit the promotion at the start of last year.

    After putting pen to paper on an MMA deal with the Professional Fighters League, Ngannou used his newfound freedom to make his long-held boxing ambitions a reality.

    And although consecutive bouts with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua led many to question his future in the cage, the Cameroonian will indeed resume his MMA career on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia, where he’s slated to headline a PFL pay-per-view against Ferreira.

    The Brazilian veteran is coming off title success in the PFL’s heavyweight season last year and a rapid knockout of Bellator kingpin Ryan Bader this past February.

    Despite his opponent’s winning form, however, Ngannou sees no area of the game where he’ll be outmatched by Ferreira come fight night…

    Ngannou Brands Ferreira A ‘Lesser Version’ Of Him

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Ngannou looked ahead to his upcoming return to MMA competition in the Middle East.

    When discussing the threat posed by “Problema,” Ngannou acknowledged that his foe is solid in all areas. But in terms of where the Brazilian’s abilities could surpass his, “The Predator” sees nothing.

    “I don’t know. He is very athletic. He’s very skilled, well-rounded,” Ngannou said. “But I think whatever it is, it’s a little less than me [laughs]. He is a little less version of me, I would say so.”

    Ngannou will look to prove that assessment correct come fight night in Riyadh next weekend, when he dips his toes back into mixed martial arts waters for the first time in close to three years.

  • Larissa Pacheco Sticks Up For Kayla Harrison After PFL’s ‘Uncalled For’ Fight-Day Dig

    Larissa Pacheco Sticks Up For Kayla Harrison After PFL’s ‘Uncalled For’ Fight-Day Dig

    It wasn’t just those outside of the PFL that took issue with the promotion’s decision to fire shots at Kayla Harrison on the day of her second UFC fight.

    Harrison, who achieved lightweight title glory twice under the PFL banner, made the switch to MMA’s leading promotion this year, making a successful bantamweight and promotional debut at UFC 300 this past April.

    And after dispatching Holly Holm, Harrison had the chance to add more top-five opposition to her record against Ketlen Vieira at this past weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view.

    Harrison’s return to the Octagon was a hot topic in the lead-up to the Salt Lake City-held event. And her ex-employer looked to capitalize with a reminder of who handed the two-time Olympic gold medalist her sole defeat in MMA.

    Just hours before her fight, PFL socials posted a video detailing Harrison’s 2022 loss to Larissa Pacheco, a move many saw as an attempt to mock the now-UFC star.

    The post also came just days after PFL founder Donn Davis reiterated his disparaging remarks about Harrison’s PFL departure, accusing her of ‘running’ from a fight with Cris Cyborg and another showdown with Pacheco — whom Harrison has already defeated twice.

    As it turns out, Pacheco herself wasn’t pleased to be used as a tool with which to take away from Harrison shortly before she made the walk in Utah.

    Pacheco Tells PFL ‘You Don’t Need’ To Take Shots At Harrison

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Pacheco reacted to the controversial PFL post, which was widely criticized and branded “nasty” by some in the community.

    The Brazilian appeared to share the same sentiment as most, describing the move as “uncalled for.” She also encouraged her organization to focus on promoting her as its current top women’s fighter rather than putting energy into its former athletes.

    “I thought that was uncalled for, honestly,” Pacheco said. “I think (PFL) have the champion they deserve, they have a respectful champion who has defeated Kayla, so why do that? Promote me right. Let’s promote the champion. ‘Oh, but Larissa beat Kayla.’ You don’t need that. I’ve shown (my work) with other results, I’ve proven myself, so you don’t need that.

    “But anyway, that’s not on me. I have nothing to do with that. I respect Kayla. Our rivalry is over right now because she’s in another organization. Had she stayed here it would be the two of us and Cris clashing heads here, but there’s no reason to talk (about her now),” Pacheco continued. “I wish her good luck. The more she wins, the bigger my win over her gets, so I’ll always cheer for her.”

    Pacheco, the only fighter to win gold in two PFL divisions, is set to make her return in Saudi Arabia next weekend. The Brazilian will do battle with an all-time great in Cyborg, with the pair co-headlining a pay-per-view event topped by Francis Ngannou’s MMA return.

    Harrison, meanwhile, kept her ball rolling with a comfortable decision victory over Vieira at UFC 307. She’s now expected to receive her first shot at reaching the bantamweight mountaintop against newly crowned queen Julianna Peña.

  • PFL Founder Touts Superior Women’s Division After UFC 307 Harrison, Peña Wins

    PFL Founder Touts Superior Women’s Division After UFC 307 Harrison, Peña Wins

    UFC 307 was a big night for the women’s bantamweight division due to two match-ups that took place right at the top of the rankings.

    Julianna Peña was able to reclaim the 135-pound title by defeating Raquel Pennington via split decision in the co-main event.

    Earlier on in the night, Kayla Harrison cemented her status as the next in line by defeating Ketlen Vieira via a unanimous decision.

    Harrison’s return to the Octagon wasn’t without comment from her former home, the PFL, who received some criticism for posting about her loss to Larissa Pacheco on the same evening.

    The use of Harrison’s time spent in the PFL didn’t stop being talking point there after the promotion’s founder commented once again on the day after UFC 307.

    Donn Davis Says PFL’s Women’s Division Would ‘Crush’ The UFC’s, Lays Down A Challenge To Prove It

    In a post on X, PFL founder Donn Davis made a statement that was followed by a challenge to the UFC regarding the strength of their female roster.

    He took Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco, who are set to face off on October 19, and put them up against the champion and top contender in the UFC’s 135-pound division.

    Davis makes it clear that he would back Cyborg and Pacheco over Peña and Harrison and even offers to put money on it.

    Following Dana White’s harsh comments regarding the success of the PFL in his post-UFC 307 press conference, Davis wrote “#DanaScared” underneath the post.

    “It is clear from UFC 306 that @PFLMMA female division would crush @UFC. I am so confident… winner take all. PFL: Cyborg + Pacheco. UFC: Harrison + Peña. $2m to each fighter… losing company pays $8m total fighter purses”

    Read also: Kayla Harrison On Being Bloodied For The First Time At UFC 307: ‘That Threw Me…’

  • VIDEO: PFL Releases Destructive Trailer For Francis Ngannou’s MMA Return

    VIDEO: PFL Releases Destructive Trailer For Francis Ngannou’s MMA Return

    The build-up toward Francis Ngannou’s MMA return and Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut has picked up with the official trailer for the upcoming pay-per-view event.

    For the first time since January 2022, Ngannou will make the walk for a mixed martial arts contest on October 19 in Saudi Arabia. There, the former UFC champion will collide with Renan Ferreira in the main event of the “Battle of the Giants” card.

    Since defending the UFC gold against Ciryl Gane over two years ago, Ngannou’s combat sports outings have come inside the ring, where he threw down with two heavyweight greats in Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

    While he took “The Gypsy King” to the limit, he was brutally knocked out by “AJ” earlier this year, and his sights are now back on the cage for the time being.

    PFL Releases ‘Official Trailer’ For Ngannou vs. Ferreira

    Ahead of Ngannou’s debut in the SmartCage, which comes 17 months on from his signing with the PFL, an “official trailer” has been released.

    The cinematic video has a Godzilla vs. Kong look to it, with Ngannou and Ferreira taking out a city amid their “Battle of the Giants.”

    While all eyes will be on “The Predator” as he returns to MMA action in the main event, a number of intriguing bouts are set for the undercard.

    That includes another major debut, with Bellator Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg colliding with two-weight PFL title winner Larissa Pacheco in the co-headliner.

    Gold will also be on the line on the main card, as Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards run it back following the postponement of their scheduled rematch in London last month.

  • ‘Fight Of The Year Across Any Promotion’ – MMA Fans React After Wild PFL Europe Brawl Features 14 Knockdowns!

    ‘Fight Of The Year Across Any Promotion’ – MMA Fans React After Wild PFL Europe Brawl Features 14 Knockdowns!

    This past Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland, PFL Europe 3 produced possibly the best fight to have ever taken place in the Smart Cage.

    After his previous opponent withdrew, Lewis McGrillen stepped in as an alternate to face Dean Garnett in the semi-final play-offs of the bantamweight tournament.

    What followed was an unbelievable back-and-forth war between the two Brits that featured a staggering 14 knockdowns in just 12 minutes.

    The majority of them came from McGrillen, who is known for knocking opponents out cold but Garnett kept recovering and getting back to his feet.

    That was until the fifth round where a heavy shot landed and sent Garnett face down to the canvas, giving “McGrizzla” a spectacular walk-off KO moment.

    MMA Fans React To Fight Of The Year Contender In PFL Europe

    In what will surely go down as one of the best fights of the year, if not one of the greatest bouts in the history of UK MMA, McGrillen vs Garnett sure did turn some heads.

    MMA fans reacted on social media to one of the wildest contests that you’re ever likely to see.

    “Fight of year across any promotion”

    “This is unreal, both fighters just biting down on the mouthpiece and going for the knockout. Pure fighting.”

    “Both of these guys have jaws made of STEEL!!!”

    “Gotta be the greatest fight in UKMMA history. Best scrap I’ve seen live”

    “Crazy fight , I almost missed the Bryan Battle fight because this was the best fight I have seen all year. Insanity from both fighters.”

    Read also: Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

  • 2024 PFL Europe 3: Playoffs Results & Highlights: Stevie Ray Lands ‘Scottish Twister’

    2024 PFL Europe 3: Playoffs Results & Highlights: Stevie Ray Lands ‘Scottish Twister’

    The 2024 PFL Europe Playoffs took place on Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    Having broken onto the scene with its regular season and playoff format in North America, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has begun its pursuit of further prominence around the globe.

    In 2023, that took sizable step forward with the maiden PFL Europe season. And the sophomore campaign moved closer to its lucrative conclusion in Lyon, France today when the playoff bouts went down inside the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.

    After the season bouts all eyes were on local favorite and former PFL global lightweight finalist Stevie Ray as he returned from retirement to headline on home soil.

    “Braveheart” thrilled his home crowd by notching his self-created submission, the Scottish twister, for the second time in his career to submit Lewis Long in the very first round.

    While the event was broadcast on DAZN for select countries, it was unfortunately not available to audiences in the United States. However, MMA News has you covered below with the full results and all the highlights below.

    2024 PFL Europe Playoffs Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Main Event: Stevie Ray def. Lewis Long via submission (Scottish twister): R1, 4:21
    • Catchweight (150lbs) Co-Main Event: Rob Whiteford def. Roger Huerta via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: Mark Ewen def. Yassin Chtatou via submission (D’arce choke): R1, 2:30
    • Bantamweight Playoff: Lewis McGrillen def. Dean Garnett via KO (left hook): R3, 1:45
    • Bantamweight Playoff: Alexander Luster def. Julian Lopez via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 1:15
    • Welterweight Playoff: Florim Zendeli def. Jack Grant via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Welterweight Playoff Bout: Daniele Miceli def. Ibrahima Mané via TKO (uppercut & punches): R1, 1:26

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight Playoff: Jakub Kaszuba def. Daniele Scatizzi via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Lightweight Playoff: Connor Hughes def. Ignacio Capella via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Women’s Flyweight Playoff: Shanelle Dyer def. Valentina Scatizzi via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Women’s Flyweight Playoff: Paulina Wiśniewska def. Karolina Wójcik via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Lightweight Showcase: Lorenzo Parente def. Stefano Catacoli via submission (armbar): R1, 1:45
    • Bantamweight Showcase Bout: Matiss Zaharovs def. Brian Hyslop via submission (rear-naked choke): R2, 4:18
    • Women’s Flyweight Showcase: Gemma Auld def. Weronika Pietruszka via TKO (punches): R1, 4:50

    Gemma Auld Def. Weronika Pietruszka

    Matiss Zaharovs Def. Brian Hyslop

    Lorenzo Parente Def. Stefano Catacoli

    Paulina Wiśniewska Def. Karolina Wójcik

    Shanelle Dyer Def. Valentina Scatizzi

    Jakub Kaszuba Def. Daniele Scatizzi

    Daniele Miceli Def. Ibrahima Mané

    Florim Zendeli Def. Jack Grant

    Alexander Luster Def. Julian Lopez

    Lewis McGrillen Def. Dean Garnett

    Mark Ewen Def. Yassin Chtatou

    Rob Whiteford Def. Roger Huerta

    Stevie Ray Def. Lewis Long

  • PFL Superstar Highlights ‘Firecracker’ Of A Fighter Who Is Going Under The Radar At UFC Paris

    PFL Superstar Highlights ‘Firecracker’ Of A Fighter Who Is Going Under The Radar At UFC Paris

    PFL star Brendan Loughnane recently said that he feels a fighter on the UFC Paris card has the potential to deliver an electrifying performance, yet everyone is overlooking him.

    The fighter Loughnane is spotlighting is Morgan Charriere, who’s gearing up to face Gabriel Miranda in a featherweight showdown on the main card of this Saturday’s Fight Night event at the Accor Arena in Paris, France.

    Charriere made a memorable promotional debut with a spectacular first-round knockout of Manolo Zecchini during last year’s inaugural UFC Paris event. “The Last Pirate” boasts a professional record of 19-10-1, with an impressive 11 victories by knockout.

    However, since his explosive debut, Charriere has only made one additional Octagon appearance, where he lost to Chepe Mariscal via a split decision this past April. Despite the setback, Loughnane is confident it doesn’t define the 28-year-old Frenchman’s true potential.

    The former PFL featherweight champion believes Charriere possesses all the tools to turn the tide and become a force to be reckoned with, while also carrying immense star power in his homeland.

    Loughnane Has Followed Charriere’s Journey Since His Time At Cage Warriors

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Loughnane shared his thoughts on the upcoming Charriere vs. Miranda bout at UFC Paris. The seasoned British fighter revealed that he’s been tracking “The Last Pirate’s” career since his Cage Warriors days and confidently vouched for Charriere’s ability to deliver an electrifying performance for the fans.

    “I watched him in his Cage Warriors days, mate, he’s up for it, let me tell you,” Loughnane said. “Really, really dangerous fighter. I watched him on his rise through Cage Warriors, and it’s great to see him now progress onto these stages with the UFC. Let’s see how far he can go—another firecracker.”

    Loughnane went on to praise the UFC for the smart decision to feature Charriere on the UFC Paris card, noting that the Frenchman is a massive draw in his home country.

    “It’s good that they’re building him up through these French cards, getting this whole crowd behind him because, from what I’m seeing—I’ve not personally been to France—but watching MMA from the outside, and with [Cédric] Doumbé and all that, they really get behind their own. It looks like they’re really getting behind their fighters and Morgan’s definitely one they can rally behind. He’s fan-friendly, talks the talk, walks the walk, and I love watching him fight.”

    Before making his way to the UFC, Charriere competed under the Cage Warriors banner, where he carved out an impressive run and eventually captured the featherweight championship, finishing with a record of 6-3 in the promotion.

  • PFL Announces Full Card For ‘Battle Of The Giants’ PPV Headlined By Francis Ngannou

    PFL Announces Full Card For ‘Battle Of The Giants’ PPV Headlined By Francis Ngannou

    The PFL has announced the full card for “Battle of the Giants”, the promotion’s huge event in Riyadh on October 19.

    We already knew about four fights, which regardless of the rest of the card, were going to make this one of the biggest nights in the history of the promotion.

    Between Francis Ngannou’s MMA return against Renan Ferreira, Cris Cyborg vs Larissa Pacheco, the Bellator middleweight title rematch between Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards plus a fantastic lightweight bout with AJ McKee taking on Paul Hughes, this card was certainly PPV worthy.

    We now know the remaining six bouts that will fill up the rest of the evening and though they’re still noteworthy, they don’t quite match up in box office value compared to the big four that were previously announced.

    Rounding out the main card is a featherweight clash between Switzerland’s Husein Kadimagomaev and Germany’s Zafar Mohsen.

    The most notable name to be added is Raufeon Stots, who will be fighting in the featured prelim against Marcos Breno.

    This will be Stots’ first fight of the year following his victory over Danny Sabatello in November last year at Bellator 301.

    See the full card for “Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact” listed below:

    Main card:

    Heavyweight Main Event: Francis Ngannou (17-3) vs. Renan Ferreira (13-3, 3 NC) 
    Women’s Featherweight Co-Main Event: Cris “Cyborg” (27-2, 1 NC) vs. Larissa Pacheco (23-4)
    Bellator Middleweight World Title Bout: Johnny Eblen (15-0) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-3)
    Featherweight Main Card Bout: Husein Kadimagomaev (11-1, 1 NC) vs Zafar Mohsen (13-4)
    Lightweight Main Card Bout: AJ McKee (22-1) vs. Paul Hughes (12-1)

      Early Card:

      Bantamweight Early Card Bout: Raufeon Stots (20-2) vs Marcos Breno (15-3)
      Lightweight Early Card Bout: Makkasharip Zaynukov (15-4) vs Dedrek Sanders (9-4)
      Featherweight Early Card Bout: Ibragim Ibragimov (7-0) vs Nacho Campos (5-0)
      Middleweight Early Card Bout: Mostafa Nada (9-3) vs Ahmed Sami (11-4-0, 1 NC) 
      Featherweight Early Card Bout: Youssef Al Housani (4-1) vs Taha Bendaoud (3-0)

      Read also: Muhammad Mokaev Claims His Pay Is Three Times Higher After UFC Release

    1. Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

      Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

      To prepare for his long awaited MMA return, Francis Ngannou is doing his training camp out in Paris before October 19.

      Any heavyweight in the sport will tell you that one of the biggest problems that they encounter is finding suitable training partners to work with.

      This is even more true when you’re preparing to fight a 6’8″ opponent in Renan Ferreira.

      Team Ngannou’s problem could have been temporarily solved this week thanks to the UFC arriving in Paris for Saturday night’s event at the Accor Arena.

      Ngannou’s coach, Eric Nicksick, has built a strong relationship with another of the world’s best heavyweights – whom he was hoping to cross paths with in the French capital.

      Eric Nicksick Says He Would’ve Loved To Connect Ngannou & Aspinall

      In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Nicksick said that he hoped to connect Ngannou with the interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall this week.

      Unfortunately, Aspinall wasn’t making the trip over for the fights on Saturday but the Xtreme Couture coach still thinks it could happen at some stage.

      With both men being right at the top of their weight class in different promotions, the sparring videos alone would be PPV-worthy.

      He said that the short distance between England and France means that Aspinall may be able to join their camp before they leave for Saudi Arabia.

      Nicksick did say that though the Brit isn’t in town, he did offer to help out in a different way, by giving them a list of names who may be of use as sparring partners to mimic Ferreira.

      “I was hoping that he’d [Aspinall] be out here and we’d get some training in and not saying it won’t happen, maybe it can before we get out of here because he’s like an hour flight away. He’s not too far away but he was gracious enough to send me some names of his training partners and guys that we could use and try to bring out here to help out Francis but he was all about it man and Tom’s been a great friend and a great guy to have in the circle.”

      Read also: Ciryl Gane’s Absence From UFC Fight Night Card In Paris Explained

    2. Former Boxing Opponent Calls Jake Paul Out For MMA Debut After Training With Tom Aspinall

      Jake Paul has plenty to focus on right now. In addition to helping the PFL with its promotion of Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia, Paul is preparing himself for his highly anticipated boxing showdown with Mike Tyson on Nov. 15 in Dallas.

      What comes next for “The Problem Child” in the aftermath of the Tyson fight is unknown. Will he try for another boxing match? Or will he finally look to make his PFL debut after signing with the promotion at the start of 2023?

      The younger of the Paul brothers has found plenty of success in the boxing ring regardless of who has come his way — all except for one person: Tommy Fury.

      Many have wondered when a rematch between the two will come, especially given Paul and Fury failed to come to terms on a rematch, and the Brit has fought just once since their initial encounter, defeating KSI in a highly lackluster outing in October 2023.

      Though one might expect that Fury would pursue a rematch with Paul in the boxing ring, it appears he’s open to doing battle in the cage, too.

      In a recent YouTube video, Fury showed off some of his time training alongside Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall.

      Tommy Fury Calls Out Jake Paul For PFL Debut After Training With UFC Champion Tom Aspinall

      In the video, Fury suggested that he is more than willing to cross over to MMA if it means getting his hands on Paul again.

      “Jake Paul’s in the PFL, isn’t he?” Fury said. “I’m going to smash his face in when I get better at MMA. I’ll beat him in boxing, and in the cage. A big useless prick. I reckon a year-and-a-half to two years of training until I’ll beat him in a [MMA] fight. It’ll be no problem in the cage.

      “He’s got the funds, he’s got the best trainers in the world, he’s got the best sparring in the world. So, he’s doing all right. But he’s no match for me. I swear to you, next time I fight him, I’ll knock him out.”

      Paul has not responded to Fury’s remarks as of writing.

      Since the loss to Fury, the Cleveland native has gone on to defeat Nate Diaz by decision and score knockouts against Andre August, Ryan Bourland, and Mike Perry.

    3. 2024 PFL MENA 3: Playoffs Results & Highlights

      2024 PFL MENA 3: Playoffs Results & Highlights

      The inaugural PFL MENA season continued on Friday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

      Having broken onto the scene with its regular season and playoff format in North America, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has begun its pursuit of further prominence around the globe.

      In 2023, that took sizable step forward with the maiden PFL Europe season. And this year, the promotion continues to grow with its latest regional expansion, PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa).

      Like the inaugural and sophomore cards in May and July of this year, the playoffs event took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The PFL MENA Studio in Boulevard City played host as a number of athletes booked their spots at the championship finals later this year.

      The main event came at 145 pounds, where Saudi Arabia’s own Abdullah Al-Qahtani had hope to advance from his semifinal against Jordan’s Abdelrahman Alhyasat. After recording two wins at PFL global events in 2023 and opening his 2024 with another knockout triumph on the PFL vs. Bellator card, “The Reaper” was now nearing regional dominance.

      However, hopes of that came to a crashing halt courtesy of Alhyasat’s efforts on fight night. He outpointed the home favorite on all three scorecards to take home the upset win.

      While the event was broadcast on DAZN for select countries, it was unfortunately not available to audiences in the United States. However, MMA News has you covered below with the full results and all the highlights below.

      2024 PFL MENA Playoffs Results & Highlights

      • Featherweight Semifinal: Abdelrahman Alhyasat def. Abdullah Al-Qahtani via unanimous decision
      • Welterweight Semifinal: Omar El Dafrawy def. Jarrah Al-Selawe via TKO: R1, 3:11
      • Welterweight Semifinal: Mohammad Alaqraa def. Amir Fazli via unanimous decision
      • Lightweight Semifinal: Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Souhil Tairi via unanimous decision
      • Bantamweight Semifinal: Ali Taleb def. Jalal Al Daaja via KO (punch): R1, 2:18
      • Featherweight Semifinal: Islam Reda def. Marouane Bellagouit via unanimous decision
      • Bantamweight Semifinal: Rachid El Hazoume def. Elias Boudegzdame via unanimous decision
      • Lightweight Semifinal: Georges Eid def. Omar Reguigui via TKO (punches): R1, 1:39
      • Amateur Flyweight Showcase: Malik Basahel def. Saher Qasmieh via unanimous decision
      • Featherweight Showcase: Adam Meskini def. Yazeed Hasanain via split decision

      Adam Meskini Def. Yazeed Hasanain

      Malik Basahel Def. Saher Qasmieh

      Georges Eid Def. Omar Reguigui

      Rachid El Hazoume Def. Elias Boudegzdame

      Islam Reda Def. Marouane Bellagouit

      Ali Taleb Def. Jalal Al Daaja

      Mohsen Mohammadseifi Def. Souhil Tairi

      Mohammad Alaqraa Def. Amir Fazli

      Omar El Dafrawy Def. Jarrah Al-Selawe

      Abdelrahman Alhyasat Def. Abdullah Al-Qahtani

    4. PFL CEO Insists Jake Paul Will Fight ‘Very Credible’ Opponent In MMA Debut

      PFL CEO Insists Jake Paul Will Fight ‘Very Credible’ Opponent In MMA Debut

      When YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul does finally enter the cage for his first taste of mixed martial arts action, it’ll be against a “very, very credible” opponent.

      That’s according to Professional Fighters League CEO Peter Murray, who recently addressed Paul’s long-discussed planned venture to the multifaceted sport, which was promised when the ex-Disney star signed with the PFL 20 months ago.

      Thus far into his combat sports tenure, “The Problem Child” has made a splash in the ring, largely by getting the better of veteran MMA fighters like Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Tyron Woodley.

      2024 has seen his focus remain on boxing, and after defeating BKFC star Mike Perry this past June, Paul is set to close out his year by headlining the first live combat sports event to be broadcast on Netflix opposite legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson.

      With that, a crossover to MMA has slipped from the surface. But the PFL evidently remains confident of that coming to fruition. If and when it does, the promotion doesn’t plan on having Paul face a low-level foe…

      Peter Murray Provides Update On Jake Paul’s MMA Venture: ‘Not Easy To Cross Over…’

      During an interview with Sportskeeda MMA, Murray briefly spoke about the status of Paul’s MMA plans, insisting that the Cleveland native remains committed to testing his skills inside the SmartCage.

      When he does, many appear to be expecting “The Problem Child” to throw down with a fighter of similar inexperience when it comes to MMA. But Murray dismissed that notion, instead stating that Paul will face “credible” competition from the jump.

      “(There’s) plenty of options…and Jake is committed to fighting a very, very credible, well-rounded MMA fighter, and (it’s) not easy to do,” Murray said. “Not easy to cross over from boxing into MMA. You know, the crossover from MMA or other disciplines into boxing is a lot easier.”

      Paul has posted comments and footage related to MMA training on social media for a number of years. But although a signing with the PFL in January 2023 appeared set to pave the way for a debut in the sport that year, “The Problem Child’s” combat sports action remains isolated to the ring as it stands.

    5. Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards 2 Rescheduled For PFL’s Battle Of The Giants

      Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards 2 Rescheduled For PFL’s Battle Of The Giants

      A huge rematch in Bellator’s middleweight division has been announced as the latest addition to the PFL’s Battle Of The Giants event on October 19.

      185-pound champion Johnny Eblen was set to defend his title for a third time in a rematch with Fabian Edwards in London this past weekend.

      Unfortunately, the bout fell off the card with no reason being given, meaning that the latest instalment of the Bellator Champions Series went down without a title fight headliner.

      The two men previously met back at Bellator 299 in September last year where Eblen retained the gold via a third round stoppage in Dublin, Ireland.

      A win over Aaron Jeffery put Edwards back in the title picture for another chance to bring the Bellator belt back to Birmingham, England.

      Eblen, on the other hand, remained undefeated in a tough fight with Impa Kasanganay earlier this year at the PFL vs. Bellator event in February.

      As per the official press release, the fight will now take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on the same night as Francis Ngannou’s long awaited return to MMA.

      He takes on PFL’s 2023 heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira with Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco serving as the co-main event for the debut of the PFL’s PPV Super Fights division.

      Also announced for the card is Bellator star A.J. McKee, who takes on one of the PFL’s most exciting additions in recent times, Irish prospect Paul Hughes who will be facing his toughest test to date.

      Read also: Brendan Schaub On UFC Show At ‘Rainforest Cafe’ Sphere: ‘Looks Great But The Product Is Sh*t’

    6. Dan Hardy Reignites Talk Of MMA Return: ‘I Said To The PFL…’

      Dan Hardy Reignites Talk Of MMA Return: ‘I Said To The PFL…’

      In 2013, UK MMA pioneer Dan Hardy retired from competition after being diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, which meant he wouldn’t be cleared to fight.

      Hardy would later find out and reveal five years down the line that a second opinion from a different doctor revealed that with him not feeling any of the effects of the condition, he could’ve continued fighting.

      Instead, the former UFC welterweight title challenger had already began his career as a commentator and analyst, which would eventually lead him to the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

      As a key figure in the promotion as both a color commentator and the head of fighter operations for PFL Europe, Hardy is playing a pivotal role in helping to structure the promotion.

      “The Outlaw” spoke in a recent interview with Sky Sports about wanting to bring in a “masters division” for older fighters who want to continue competing. Instead of fighting the next wave of upcoming contenders, they’d be facing opponents who are ay similar stage of their careers.

      In fact, Hardy himself would be open to the idea of competing in that bracket.

      Dan Hardy Teases Potentially Competing In ‘Masters Division’ In The PFL

      Hardy has wanted to make a combat sports return for many years now, but in every instance, the fights or plans have fallen through for various reasons.

      However, competing under the PFL banner against fellow legends and veterans of the sport would appear to be the most realistic and suitable option for an MMA comeback.

      When asked whether he would put himself forward for a masters division, Hardy said that he has recently tried to speak to the PFL about having him step back inside the cage.

      “Hey, why not? Yeah, why not. I actually said to the PFL the other day, we were coming out of an event and I said, ‘Look, like, I’ll dust off and come back for another 12 months,’ and I gave them three or four names. I’d be like, ‘Look, this is a good little selection of names.’”

      When asked if he was being serious, he doubled down on the idea of competing once again to cap off his 36-fight pro career.

      “Yeah, I’ll always fight. I’ll always fight, I love fighting, I love the adrenaline rush of it. I love the ‘do or die’ feeling of a fight, it’s the singlemindedness. You’re getting in there, you’re throwing techniques and you know, you’re hoping that your game plan is going to be the one that is victorious. I’m a little bit older now, absolutely, but of course, if we’ve got a masters division and I’ve got a few good ideas in mind…”

      Sky Sports’ Nik Hobbs questioned whether Hardy would be willing to reveal any of the names that he put forward to the PFL. After some hesitation, he named former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis as a potential opponent.

      “Not right now, no. But, well, I will say Anthony Pettis has always been someone I’ve had a lot of respect for and his name has been thrown around a few times regarding a future opponent for me. So maybe that’s an option, but we’ll see.”

    7. PFL Founder Picks Dana White, Joe Rogan On His MMA Mount Rushmore

      PFL Founder Picks Dana White, Joe Rogan On His MMA Mount Rushmore

      UFC President Dana White sparked conversation this week after revealing the four figures that would make it into his MMA Mount Rushmore.

      Unsurprisingly, White picked out the names that he believes have left behind the greatest legacies in the UFC and have made the biggest impact on the sport as a whole.

      Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor and Georges St-Pierre are all incredibly deserving of their recognition for different reasons.

      After the fans had their say on who they would exchange for their own personal lists, the founder of the promotion that hopes to stand side-by-side with the UFC in the future weighed in with his thoughts.

      Donn Davis Lists Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Joe Rogan & Dana White As His Mt. Rushmore Picks

      Via a post on X, PFL founder Donn Davis revealed who would make it into his exclusive club for their contributions to the sport.

      Rather than naming four fighters, he went slightly outside the box by listing two influential figures who have helped bring the sport to a whole new level.

      Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey were the two shared picks between White and Davis for the sheer amount of attention they have brought to MMA, with Rousey being credited for breaking down barriers in women’s MMA.

      However, where they differ is in Davis’ two non-fighter picks, one of which was the UFC President, who Davis attributes with “Built the industry”.

      It’s undeniable that White has been a massively significant figure when looking at the growth of the sport and in that same vein, the PFL founder included UFC commentator Joe Rogan on his list.

      Not only does Rogan regularly feature on PPV broadcasts, his Joe Rogan Experience Podcast being one of the biggest in the world will have exposed so many new fans to the sport.

      As Davis wrote in his social media post, Rogan has played a crucial role in “Explaining the sport to masses” which has helped to remove barriers to entry and stigmas surrounding mixed martial arts.

      Read also: Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

    8. Bellator Champions Series Results & Highlights: Usman Nurmagomedov Decisions Alexandr Shabliy

      Bellator Champions Series Results & Highlights: Usman Nurmagomedov Decisions Alexandr Shabliy

      The fourth Bellator Champions Series event went down on Saturday night, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

      After taking the newly created Bellator Champions Series to Belfast, Paris, and Dublin thus far since acquiring its rival promotion late last year, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) brought the brand back to United States soil for the first time in 2024.

      And headlining inside the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California on September 7 was Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov, who was tasked with defending his belt opposite an Alexandr Shabliy who rode a nine-fight win streak into his first title challenge.

      The reigning kingpin was ultimately successful, comfortably outpointing his fellow countryman in a largely low-volume affair across five rounds.

      Elsewhere on the lineup, Lorenz Larkin and Levan Chokheli duked it out to secure number one contender status at middleweight, with the 38-year-old UFC and Strikeforce veteran getting it done in under two minutes, and former Bellator champ Douglas Lima fell to Aaron Jeffrey in his comeback after 15 months away.

      With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights!

      Bellator Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs. Shabliy Results & Highlights

      Main Card:

      • Lightweight Championship: Usman Nurmagomedov def. Alexandr Shabliy via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
      • Welterweight: Lorenz Larkin def. Levan Chokheli via TKO (punches): R1, 1:53
      • Middleweight: Aaron Jeffrey def. Douglas Lima via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
      • Women’s Flyweight: Sumiko Inaba def. Mackenzie Stiller via TKO (ground strikes): R2, 4:25
      • Lightweight: Zhora Ayvazyan def. Yancy Medeiros via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

      Preliminary Card:

      • Middleweight: Jordan Newman def. Imamshafi Aliev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
      • Welterweight: Masayuki Kikuiri def. Herman Terrado via TKO (body kick): R3, 2:54
      • Bantamweight: Bryce Meredith def. Jon Macalolooy via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 3:18
      • Heavyweight: Josh Hokit def. Sean Rose via submission (armbar): R1, 4:48
      • Women’s Strawweight: Ashley Thiner def. Aysia Cortez via TKO (punches): R2, 3:11

      Ashley Thiner Def. Aysia Cortez

      Josh Hokit Def. Sean Rose

      Bryce Meredith Def. Jon Macalolooy

      Masayuki Kikuiri Def. Herman Terrado

      Jordan Newman Def. Imamshafi Aliev

      Zhora Ayvazyan Def. Yancy Medeiros

      Sumiko Inaba Def. Mackenzie Stiller

      Aaron Jeffrey Def. Douglas Lima

      Lorenz Larkin Def. Levan Chokheli

      Usman Nurmagomedov Def. Alexandr Shabliy

    9. Former Ranked UFC Heavyweight Handed 22-Month Suspension For Drug Test Failure One Fight Into PFL Career

      Former Ranked UFC Heavyweight Handed 22-Month Suspension For Drug Test Failure One Fight Into PFL Career

      Former UFC heavyweight contender Blagoy Ivanov won’t be making his sophomore appearance under the PFL banner anytime soon.

      Ivanov, a former Bellator fighter and WSOF champion, competed eight times in the UFC, defeating Ben Rothwell and Tai Tuivasa en route to the rankings early into his Octagon tenure.

      The Bulgarian fell to consecutive decision defeats opposite Marcin Tybura and Alexandr Romanov in 2023, after which he departed mixed martial arts’ leading promotion and signed with the Professional Fighters League.

      The veteran made his SmartCage debut at event one of this year’s regular season, battling Sergei Bilostenniy in a memorable three-round war. Ivanov once again failed to earn the judges’ nod, and that marked his sole shot at putting points on the board.

      Blagoy Ivanov
      Image: PFL MMA

      Ivanov was scheduled to next face Oleg Popov in June but was pulled on late notice. That cancellation now has some aded context following the announcement of an indiscretion in the drug test department.

      Ivanov Slapped With Lengthy Suspension After Failing Drug Test

      On Wednesday, USADA officials announced that Ivanov tested positive for a substance that violated the PFL’s anti-doping policy during an out-of-competition test on March 28, 2024.

      As a result of the drug test failure, the former UFC heavyweight-turned-PFL newcomer has been handed a 22-month suspension, a reduced term due to his cooperation throughout the investigation.

      “Ivanov, 37, tested positive for an anabolic agent as the result of an out-of-competition sample collected on March 28, 2024,” a USADA statement read. “His urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test that differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin.

      “Ivanov received a reduction to the default period of ineligibility for his full and complete cooperation. Ivanov’s 22-month period of ineligibility began on March 28, 2024, the date his positive sample was collected.”

      It remains to be seen whether Ivanov will remain a part of the PFL roster following confirmation of his failed drugs test and subsequent suspension.

      What is certain, however, is that the Bulgarian won’t be a part of the 2025 heavyweight season or any other events until January 2026 at the earliest.

    10. Bellator Champions Series London Loses Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards On Late Notice, New Main Event Confirmed

      Bellator Champions Series London Loses Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards On Late Notice, New Main Event Confirmed

      The return of the Bellator brand to England’s capital has taken a major blow less than two weeks out.

      After the Professional Fighters League (PFL) acquired Bellator MMA and announced the Bellator Champions Series, founder Donn Davis outlined plans for two titles to be on the line at each of the eight events.

      While that promise came through for event one in Belfast, the subsequent cards in Paris and Dublin saw just one piece of gold at stake. And although that trend continues in San Diego this week, London has now lost its one and only championship clash.

      Following a lightweight title showdown between Usman Nurmagomedov and Alexandr Shabliy on US soil this coming Saturday, the Bellator Champions Series will cross the pond to stage its fifth event of the year inside London’s OVO Arena Wembley.

      But just days out, fans planning to attend have received some disastrous news…

      Eblen vs. Edwards Postponed, McCourt Headlines Championshipless Champions Series Card

      Topping the lineup on Sept. 14 was scheduled to be middleweight kingpin Johnny Eblen and England’s own Fabian Edwards, with the latter slated to challenge for “The Human Cheat Code’s” title for the second time in as many years.

      On Tuesday, however, a post on the Bellator MMA social media accounts announced that the pair’s main event has been scrapped from the card and will be rescheduled for a later date. The reason for the cancellation is unclear as of this writing.

      With insufficient time to book a replacement bout with similar stakes and name value, the original women’s featherweight co-main event between Leah McCourt and Sara Collins has been elevated to the headline spotlight.

      That news was met with frustration from plenty of UK fans, some of whom took to the comment sections on X and Instagram to enquire about possible refunds.

      Below the promoted main event matchup, notable UK names like former PFL Europe standout Simeon Powell, ex-UFC contender Marc Diakiese, and highly touted American Archie Colgan are all set to be in action.

    11. Kayla Harrison Makes Surprising Prediction For Larissa Pacheco vs. Cris Cyborg: ‘Unless She’s Been Goofing Off…’

      Kayla Harrison Makes Surprising Prediction For Larissa Pacheco vs. Cris Cyborg: ‘Unless She’s Been Goofing Off…’

      Kayla Harrison fighting Cris Cyborg is a fight that has been spoken about for many years, but looks to be completely off the table at this stage.

      The former PFL and Bellator champions could’ve put on one of the biggest fights possible outside of the UFC but with Harrison signing to the MMA leader, it wasn’t possible even with Cyborg joining the PFL in the Bellator acquisition.

      Now, on October 19, Cyborg will fight a PFL champion but it will instead be the only woman to have beaten the former Olympic Judoka during her pro career.

      Larissa Pacheco has won back-to-back PFL tournaments including her shock upset win over the former champ in 2023.

      Though Harrison may now be competing at the top of the UFC’s bantamweight division, she has got some thoughts on this match-up between the two greatest rivals of her career so far.

      Kayla Harrison Picks Larissa Pacheco To Defeat Cris Cyborg, Says Age A Key Factor

      In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Harrison picked Pacheco to get the better of Cyborg when they clash at PFL: Battle Of The Giants.

      The bout is set to be the co-main event for the debut of the promotion’s PPV Super Fights division, which will see both the winner of this fight and the main event between Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira receive a new Super Fights belt.

      Harrison said that as long as Pacheco hasn’t lost her dedication, after being able to earn a lot of money, she has the edge in this fight.

      “I think Pacheco wins. She’s young, I mean unless she’s been goofing off, you know. Couple mil will do that sometimes. Couple mil in the bank account makes it hard to get out of bed but she’s young, she’s hungry, she keeps getting better, she’s got real power. Cyborg’s at the end of her career.”

      Harrison then elaborated on the idea that in her opinion, Cyborg is in the final stages of her career now at 39 years old, which gives Pacheco an advantage.

      The Brazilian MMA icon made her pro debut back in 2005, whereas Pacheco wouldn’t make hers until seven years after in 2012.

      “Yeah I think she’s a little bit older and I just think that we like we haven’t seen a lot of progress from her like I don’t see her fight IQ growing. I haven’t seen progression really, she fights the same way now that she fought, you know, however long ago so I think Pacheco is gonna win.”

      Read also: Jéssica Andrade Teases Inaugural Women’s BMF Matchup With Retired Legend: ‘I’ve Been Talking To Joanna…’

    12. 2024 PFL 9 Playoffs Results & Highlights: Brendan Loughnane Outlasts Kai Kamaka III

      2024 PFL 9 Playoffs Results & Highlights: Brendan Loughnane Outlasts Kai Kamaka III

      The 2024 PFL Playoffs continued on Friday night with the last of three semifinal events in the postseason, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

      The Professional Fighters League was back this week, with the championship finals at featherweight and welterweight decided at The Anthem in Washington D.C.

      In the 145-pound main event, 2022 PFL kingpin Brendan Loughnane returned for the next step in his pursuit of a second title. To reach another final, the Brit got the better of ex-UFC fighter Kai Kamaka III across three rounds.

      He’ll now go on to face Timur Khizriev with $1 million prize money and this year’s featherweight championship on the line after the Russian outlasted Gabriel Braga in the other semifinal

      The welterweight bracket, meanwhile, saw Magomed Umalatov make good on his favorite status by defeating Neiman Gracie in the PFL 9 co-main event. That result ensured an always likely all-Russian final, with his compatriot Shamil Musaev beating another Russian in Murad Ramazanov in their immediate rematch.

      With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights!

      2024 PFL 9 Playoffs Results & Highlights

      Main Card:

      • Featherweight Semifinal Main Event: Brendan Loughnane def. Kai Kamaka III via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
      • Welterweight Semifinal Co-Main Event: Magomed Umalatov def. Neiman Gracie via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
      • Featherweight Semifinal: Timur Khizriev def. Gabriel Braga via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
      • Welterweight Semifinal: Shamil Musaev def. Murad Ramazanov via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

      Preliminary Card:

      • Welterweight: Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Ray Cooper III via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
      • Featherweight: Enrique Barzola def. Tyler Diamond via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
      • Featherweight Jose Perez def. Jesse Stirn via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
      • Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Kent Mafileo via KO (punch): R2, 4:50
      • Welterweight: Shido Boris Esperança def. Tyler Hill via TKO (punches): R1, 3:31

      Shido Boris Esperança Def. Tyler Hill

      Maxwell Djantou Nana Def. Kent Mafileo

      Jose Perez Def. Jesse Stirn

      Enrique Barzola Def. Tyler Diamond

      Mukhamed Berkhamov Def. Ray Cooper III

      Shamil Musaev Def. Murad Ramazanov

      Timur Khizriev Def. Gabriel Braga

      Magomed Umalatov Def. Neiman Gracie

      Brendan Loughnane Def. Kai Kamaka III