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.

  • PFL Lyon 2025: Vadim Nemkov vs. Renan Ferreira, Cris Cyborg Headline Championship Doubleheader On Dec. 13

    PFL Lyon 2025: Vadim Nemkov vs. Renan Ferreira, Cris Cyborg Headline Championship Doubleheader On Dec. 13

    PFL Lyon is set for a championship doubleheader.

    PFL CEO John Martin on Wednesday announced that PFL Lyon will take place on December 13 at the LDLC Arena, headlined by a heavyweight championship showdown between former Bellator titleholder Vadim Nemkov and 2024 PFL tournament champion Renan Ferreira.

    Nemkov last competed at the PFL Champions Series in Dubai this past January, where he secured a first-round submission over veteran Tim Johnson. The 33-year-old Russian is riding a dominant 14-fight unbeaten streak, boasting a professional record of 19-2 with 15 of those victories coming by way of stoppage.

    Meanwhile, Ferreira returns to action for the first time since suffering a first-round TKO defeat to Francis Ngannou in their PFL Super Heavyweight Title clash in October 2024. Before that setback, “Problema” put together a four-fight win streak highlighted by knockout victories over Ryan Bader and Denis Goltsov.

    The 35-year-old Brazilian powerhouse carries a 13-4 professional record, with 12 of those wins coming by way of stoppage.

    Images: @vadimnemkov/@pflmma/Instagram

    Cris Cyborg Faces Undefeated Sara Collins In PFL Lyon Co-Main Event

    The co-main event of PFL Lyon marks the return of Cris Cyborg, who will square off against Sara Collins for the women’s featherweight championship.

    Cyborg was last seen in action inside the SmartCage in October 2024, where she defeated Larissa Pacheco via unanimous decision to capture the PFL Super Fights women’s featherweight title. In 2025, the 40-year-old Brazilian legend has competed in the boxing ring, recording three knockout victories, two in March and another in May.

    Earlier in her career, Cyborg defended her Bellator 145-pound title a record five times, cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. She enters this fight with a professional MMA record of 28-2, including 21 wins by knockout.

    On the other hand, Collins will enter PFL Lyon riding a first-round submission victory over Leah McCourt at Bellator Champions Series London in September 2024. The 35-year-old Australian contender remains undefeated, boasting a perfect 6-0 record that includes three submission wins.

    Image: PFLMMA.com

  • 2025 PFL Europe 3 Semifinals Results & Highlights: Amin Ayoub Finishes With Strikes After Wild War With Keweny Lopes

    2025 PFL Europe 3 Semifinals Results & Highlights: Amin Ayoub Finishes With Strikes After Wild War With Keweny Lopes

    The third PFL Europe event of the 2025 season took place on Saturday, September 26, with the PFL landing in Nantes, France, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    PFL Europe was the initial expansion effort of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), an effort that has since grown out to MENA in 2024. PFL Africa started up earlier this year, and PFL Pacific will be on the way.

    After the first leg of the third PFL Europe season started up in Belfast in May, and continued through Brussels in July, today’s action hosted the lightweight and bantamweight semifinals, as participants competed to see who will fight at the PFL Europe Championships — scheduled for December 13 in Lyon, France.

    The main event saw a lightweight showcase battle that featured Amin Ayoub pulling off the win over Keweny Lopez. The fight opened with a fast-paced opening round that saw Ayoub rock Lopes on a couple of occasions, threatening a guillotine more than once. Lopes, however, looked for a pair of leg locks of his own, landing heavy shots and scrambling nonstop just as much as Ayoub did.

    Ayoub started to take over in the second round, however, as he worked the body and reversed positioning following a takedown by Lopes. Ayoub controlled the ground striking in the second round and was relentless with pressure in the third, forcing the referee to step in for a third-round TKO victory.

    The event was broadcasted on DAZN in most countries, as well as on the PFL App in the U.S. If you missed any of the action, MMA News has you covered below with the full results and all the highlights below.

    2025 PFL Europe 3 Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Lightweight Showcase: Amin Ayoub def. Keweny Lopez via TKO (R3, 3:19)
    • Light Heavyweight Showcase: Boris Atangana def. Jhony Gregory via TKO (R1, 2:17)
    • Bantamweight Semifinal: Baris Adiguziel def. Julien Lopez via TKO (R1, 0:36)
    • Lightweight Semifinal: Connor Hughes def. Gino Van Steenis via KO (R1, 2:56)
    • Bantamweight Semifinal: Dean Garnett def. Jan Cieplowski via submission (guillotine choke) (R3, 0:38)
    • Lightweight Semifinal: Alex Chizov def. Claudio Pacella via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight Showcase: Darragh Kelly def. Bakhtiyor Abduloev via submission (rear-naked choke) (R1, 2:27)
    • Middleweight Showcase: Vincent Del Guerra def. Sofiane Aissaoui via TKO (R3, 0:24)
    • Lightweight Alternate Bout: Mark Ewen def. Sebastien Di Franco via submission (D’Arce choke) (R1, 3:18)
    • Women’s Strawweight Showcase: Maria Guedez Jr. def. Kiya O’Sullivan via split decision (30-26, 28-29, 29-28)

    Maria Guedez Jr. vs. Kiya O’Sullivan

    Sebastien Di Franco vs. Mark Ewen

    Vincent Del Guerra vs. Sofiane Aissaoui

    Darragh Kelly vs. Bakhtiyor Abduloev

    Claudio Pacella vs. Alex Chizov

    Dean Garnett vs. Jan Cieplowski

    Connor Hughes vs. Gino Van Steenis

    Baris Adiguziel vs. Julien Lopez

    Boris Atangana vs. Jhony Gregory

    Amin Ayoub vs. Keweny Lopez

  • PFL CEO John Martin Says He Plans To Discuss Future With Francis Ngannou

    PFL CEO John Martin Says He Plans To Discuss Future With Francis Ngannou

    PFL CEO John Martin is hoping to gain clarity into what the future is for the promotion and Francis Ngannou, who has not fought since the PFL Battle of the Giants event in October 2024.

    A recent press release from Martin addressed the PFL’s championship picture, in which he stated he will be looking to simplify the PFL’s championships to demonstrate one true champion at the top of each weight class in the PFL.

    Part of that press release stated that the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title Ngannou won last year was a “special, one-time designation” and that “going forward, those belts may be used only for occasional special events.”

    Martin, who took over as the new CEO of PFL this past July, added that “importantly, I will be engaging directly with Francis to determine what’s next for him in the PFL.”

    John Martin To “Engage Directly” With Francis Ngannou Over Future

    After his UFC departure at the start of 2023, Ngannou and the PFL agreed to a contract in May, with Ngannou competing in the pay-per-view Super Fights division and receiving perks such as becoming the owner and chairman of the PFL Africa promotion and being a member of the PFL’s global advisory board.

    Ngannou’s fight with Ferreira, however, has been the only fight he’s had in the PFL thus far. Ngannou, meanwhile, competed twice in boxing, nearly upsetting then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October 2023 before getting knocked out by Anthony Joshua in March 2024.

    The relationship with the PFL and Ngannou, however, has seemed to hit a bit of a rocky road. PFL Chairman Donn Davis expressed disappointment in Ngannou for not attending either of the first two PFL Africa events this summer. Ngannou would respond on The Ariel Helwani Show in August, expressing disappointment in how the PFL Africa brand has been built in comparison to the vision he had for it. Ngannou specifically noted not as much of a focus on African fighters as he preferred.

  • PFL CEO Vows A Simple System For Championships

    PFL CEO Vows A Simple System For Championships

    Since John Martin took the reigns of the PFL during the summer, many in the MMA community have wondered what changes could potentially come under the new CEO. And it appears that Martin’s first mission is to address the PFL’s championship situation.

    After a 2025 season that was filled with uncertainty over what would happen with Bellator champions, the re-branding of the regular season to the World Tournament and making championships for them and PFL world titles, Martin is looking to make things simple.

    “My goal is clear: one champion, one division, one world title, a system that is simple for athletes to chase and for PFL fans to follow,” Martin said in a press release.

    The PFL’s champions originally were determined annually through the regular season-and-playoffs format that was in effect from the inaugural 2018 season through 2024. The championship pictures, however, became more complicated over the past couple of years since the PFL’s purchase of Bellator in November 2023. Bellator champions defended their titles in Bellator Champions Series branded events, which became PFL Champions Series events following the full dissolution of the Bellator brand.

    PFL CEO John Martin Clarifies PFL Championship Picture

    Martin stated that the annual champions did create “some confusion about who truly sat atop of each division” and admitted the handling of Bellator’s brand and champions left “fans unclear on who was the definitive champion in each weight class.”

    “We are now simplifying our championship system,” Martin said. Going forward, each division will have one PFL World Champion, the single, undisputed titleholder in that weight class.”

    A PFL middleweight champion was crowned at PFL Cape Town in July, which saw Costello Van Steenis score a last-minute, come-from-behind submission of Johnny Eblen to win the title. The rematches between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Huges and Corey Anderson and Dovlet Yagshimuradov to be held next week at PFL Champions Series 3 will determine the PFL lightweight and light heavyweight champions, respectively.

    Martin additionally announced two world title fights to be held at the 2025 PFL Europe Championships in December — a PFL heavyweight title fight between former Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov and 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira, and a women’s featherweight title fight that will see the legendary Cris Cyborg face Sara Collins.

    The PFL title picture may have more confusion thanks to the PFL Battle of the Giants event held in October 2024, which saw Francis Ngannou beat Ferreira for the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title and Cyborg defeat Larissa Pacheco for the PFL Super Fights women’s featherweight title.

    Martin, however, claimed these title were special one-off titles that could be used occasionally for special events. Martin further claimed he will speak with Ngannou about what is next for him and the PFL.

  • Dakota Ditcheva Should be Traded for Magomed Ankalaev, says UFC Employee

    Dakota Ditcheva Should be Traded for Magomed Ankalaev, says UFC Employee

    Former UFC fighter turned analyst Din Thomas thinks the UFC should trade off Magomed Ankalaev for PFL star Dakota Ditcheva.

    Trades between MMA organizations are extremely rare. In fact, it’s only happened once. In October 2018, the UFC sent former flyweight king Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Akren. Now, Thomas thinks it’s time for the the UFC to initiate another trade, this time sending it’s reigning light heavyweight champion over to Donn Davis and Co. in exchange for their British bombshell.

    “We gotta understand that MMA is a star-driven sport,” Thomas said on The Casuals MMA podcast back in February. “We have a star problem in the UFC. [PFL] got Dakota Ditcheva, who’s a star. I’m like, ‘Yo, please listen, if you guys like MMA, do this for MMA. Trade her to the UFC, you know she belongs in the UFC.’ Just trade, listen, get rid of Ankalaev in the UFC, trade her for Ankalaev, we don’t need Ankalaev, you know what I’m saying.”

    Of course, Thomas’ comments came before Ankalaev unseated Alex Pereira as the UFC light heavyweight champion, though his victory did little to create excitement in the fledgling division.

    Is Dakota Ditcheva the Next Big Thing in Women’s MMA?

    Meanwhile, Ditcheva continues to take the world MMA world by storm despite having a limited number of viable opponents to contend with under the PFL banner. After handily defeating Taila Santos—who once took Valentina Shevchenko to the limit—to win the 2024 PFL flyweight tournament, Ditcheva scored a decisive decision victory over Sumiko Inaba during the promotion’s inaugural event in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Given her 15-0 record and 80% finish rate inside the Smart Cage, it’s clear that Ditcheva is ready for the next level of competition—something she’s unlikely to get in the PFL.

    As for Ankalaev, he’ll put his gold up for grabs on October 4 when he runs it back with ‘Poatan’ at UFC 320 in Las Vegas. Ankalaev bested Pereira at UFC 313 after the Brazilian bruiser delivered an uncharacteristically lackluster performance in their light heavyweight headliner.

    Ankalaev is currently trending as a 2-to-1 favorite to retain his title.

  • Dakota Ditcheva To Defeat Valentina Shevchenko According to UFC Veteran

    Dakota Ditcheva To Defeat Valentina Shevchenko According to UFC Veteran

    Dakota Ditcheva would get it done over Valentina Shevchenko if the two were to fight now, according to a former UFC title challenger. This was expressed by Dan Hardy who was asked about how a hypothetical fight would play out between the undefeated PFL standout and the UFC flyweight champion.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Hardy said [via Fighters Only],

    “I would put my money on her [Ditcheva] against Valentina right now. That’s with all due respect to Valentina, who I’ve held in high regard for a long time. The thing that Valentina always made challenging about my job when I was doing Inside the Octagon for the UFC was there’s no highlight reel moments in her fights really. Very, very rarely—and that’s because she completely dominates people with just this steady pace. The kind of person that would break that style of fighting is someone that attacks ferociously.”

    “Dakota’s got the height and reach, the power, she’s got the viciousness, and the reality is American Top Team is probably one of the toughest mats, especially for a female fighter. I’ve got to expect her to at least hold her own on the ground with Valentina, if not be able to defend the takedowns. I think Dakota beats anybody right now in her weight class. I think pound-for-pound, if she’s not top three, then I’m crazy. I think she has a damn good chance against anybody and even going up to bantamweight and fighting there and having a lot of success there as well.”

    Dakota Ditcheva
    Image: PFL MMA

    Dakota Ditcheva and her pro MMA resume so far

    Dakota Ditcheva boasts a 15-0 overall record in professional mixed martial arts. The surging star out of the United Kingdom has captured tournament titles in both the PFL Europe and main stage PFL circuits.

    Ditcheva has become one of the big grassroots stars in the promotion and since debuting with that promotion in 2022, has become one of the first fighters you think of who compete inside the Smart Cage.

  • Artem Lobov Coming Out of Retirement Due to Personal Animosity Against Zubaira Tukhugov

    Former UFC fighter Artem Lobov has explained why he’s opted to come out of retirement for his upcoming PFL fight against Zubaira Tukhugov.

    Throughout the course of his career, Artem Lobov has largely been known for his association with Conor McGregor. Of course, that’s a friendship that has collapsed in the last few years, but that doesn’t stop Artem from remembering what went down between Conor’s team and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team back in the day.

    Between Khabib and his teammates trying to intimidate Artem Lobov to the post-UFC 229 brawl that occured, Artem and Tukhugov have quite a history together – which is probably one of the reasons why this fight was booked in the first place.

    In a recent interview, Artem Lobov spoke candidly about what he’s decided to make his mixed martial arts return at PFL Champions Series 2.

    Artem Lobov talks end of his MMA retirement

    “I said it when I was retiring that look, this I’m retiring, but this fight here has to happen. You know, it’s very personal and I have to I have to take that off, you know, I have to close that chapter otherwise it’s always going to be in the back of my mind, you know, and I’m always going to be thinking about it. So I want to get in and get it done. 

    “So, I’m not sure if you can call this a comeback or what this is, but it’s just something that I knew I was going to do. I said I was going to do it. It was always in the back of my mind.”

  • Former TUF Winner Bryan Battle Signs With PFL After UFC Release

    Former TUF Winner Bryan Battle Signs With PFL After UFC Release

    A little more than two weeks following his release from the UFC, Bryan Battle has signed with the PFL.

    The PFL welcomed Battle in an announcement posted to social media on September 5.

    Battle was released from the UFC on August 20 after missing weight for a scheduled fight with Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC 319, causing the bout’s cancelation. Battle weighed in at 190 pounds for the fight, four pounds over the non-title middleweight limit.

    This was after Battle had already missed weight by four pounds at welterweight for a fight with Randy Brown that took place at UFC 310 this past December.

    Bryan Battle Signs With PFL

    After an 8-2 amateur record between 2017 and 2018, Battle made his professional MMA debut in July 2019. He’d go 5-1 before participating in season 29 of The Ultimate Fighter, going on to defeat Kemran Lachinov, Andre Petroski, and Gilbert Urbina to win the middleweight portion of the tournament.

    Battle went 7-1 (1 NC) in the UFC.

    In the time between his UFC release and PFL signing, Battle took a short-notice bout with Derik de Freitas at DBX 3 for Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing promotion. Battle won the bizarre bout in just under a minute.

  • Sammy-Jo Luxton Booked To Return After First Career Defeat At PFL Nantes On Sept. 26

    Sammy-Jo Luxton Booked To Return After First Career Defeat At PFL Nantes On Sept. 26

    Sammy-Jo Luxton will be aiming to redeem herself when she steps into the cage for her next fight..

    On Tuesday, the promotion announced that Luxton will take on debutant Jade Jorand in a strawweight contest at PFL Nantes (aka PFL Europe 3) on September 26, set to take place at the Zenith Nantes Metropole in France.

    https://x.com/PFLEurope/status/1962822980033036514

    The upcoming PFL Nantes card will be headlined by a welterweight showdown between Abdoul Abdouraguimov and Kevin Jousset. Meanwhile, the co-main event will feature a lightweight clash as Amin Ayoub squares off against Donovan Desmae.

    When Did Sammy-Jo Luxton And Jade Jorand Last Compete?

    Sammy-Jo Luxton most recently competed at PFL Belfast this past May, where she suffered the first defeat of her professional MMA career, falling to Gemma Auld via second-round submission. Before that setback, “The Ghetto Cinderella” had rattled off back-to-back first-round knockout victories under regional promotionals and currently holds a 2-1 record.

    Meanwhile, Jade Jorand was seen in action at Karate Combat 51 in December 2024, securing a unanimous decision victory over Saba Nabavinejad. “The Princess” is riding a two-fight winning streak, with her most recent defeat coming in July 2024 against Leslie Hernandez at LFA 188. The 24-year-old Frenchwoman currently holds a professional MMA record of 4-3.

  • “Head Shot. Dead.” – Fans React As Fabian Edwards Mirrors His Brother In Knocking Out Dalton Rosta To Claim Middleweight PFL World Tournament Title

    “Head Shot. Dead.” – Fans React As Fabian Edwards Mirrors His Brother In Knocking Out Dalton Rosta To Claim Middleweight PFL World Tournament Title

    Almost exactly three years ago, on August 20, 2022, Leon Edwards shook the MMA world up with a head kick that dropped Kamaru Usman out cold, making him the new UFC welterweight champion. Now, his brother, Fabian Edwards has his own championship head-kick knockout moment.

    The younger Edwards brother knocked out Dalton Rosta in the third round to win the PFL Middleweight World Tournament in the main event of the card in Hollywood, Florida.

    Rosta started strong, being speedy with his kicks and using his wrestling and pressure to control Edwards, threatening submissions at a couple of points. Rosta also hurt Edwards with a flurry during the second round, but Edwards showed resilience.

    By the third round, Edwards had found a groove with landing his kicks on Rosta. And just as he continued to land a couple of low kicks, Edwards went high on one, connecting on the head and dropping Rosta out cold, becoming the first man to finish Rosta.

    Fabian Edwards Knocks Out Dalton Rosta For PFL Middleweight World Tournament Title

    Edwards made his way into the final bout through victories over Impa Kasaganay and Josh Silveira.

    Rosta advanced with victories over Sabidou Sy and Aaron Jeffrey.

  • “May We Never Have To Witness That Fight Ever Again” – Fans Left In Foul Mood As Oleg Popov Outlasts Alexandr Romanov In Clinch-Filled Battle To Win Heavyweight PFL World Tournament

    “May We Never Have To Witness That Fight Ever Again” – Fans Left In Foul Mood As Oleg Popov Outlasts Alexandr Romanov In Clinch-Filled Battle To Win Heavyweight PFL World Tournament

    After coming up short in last year’s PFL heavyweight season, a loss to Denis Goltsov that snapped a long winning streak, Oleg Popov has avenged himself and become 2025 heavyweight PFL World Tournament champion with a split decision win over Alexandr Romanov in Hollywood, Florida.

    Popov focused on low kicks and right hands, while Romanov answered with pressure, landing knees and short punches on the inside. Both men had their moments early on, trading strikes and battling for control in tight clinch battles.

    Though Popov did more work in the first three rounds, Romanov surged late in round four with a furious flurry. Popov weathered the storm, however, and came back with strong strikes in the fifth.

    One judge scored the bout for Romanov 48-47, while the other two scored the bout for Popov 48-47 and 49-46 to give the Fedor Emelianenko protegee the heavyweight title.

    Oleg Popov Captures World Tournament Title With Split Decision Win Over Alexandr Romanov

    Popov made it to the finals with victories over Karl Williams and Rodrigo Nascimento.

    Romanov, a UFC veteran who started his career 16-0, advanced to the final with a win over Tim Johnson and a no contest with former Bellator interim champion Valentin Moldavsky (Romanov advanced through a judges’ decision)

  • “Shoeface Absolutely Wrecked Cauley” – Fans React As Antonio Carlos Junior Wins Violent Battle With Sullivan Cauley To Claim Light Heavyweight PFL World Tournament Title

    “Shoeface Absolutely Wrecked Cauley” – Fans React As Antonio Carlos Junior Wins Violent Battle With Sullivan Cauley To Claim Light Heavyweight PFL World Tournament Title

    Already a PFL champion from its season-and-playoffs format, Antonio Carlos Junior now is also a World Tournament champion, putting away Sullivan Cauley to win the light heavyweight World Tournament title in Hollywood, Florida.

    The two went toe-to-toe early, with each man scoring knockdowns in a wild opening round. Carlos Junior repeatedly landed heavy right hands and front kicks, while Cauley fired back with strong boxing to keep things even.

    In round two, after a brief clash of heads, Carlos Junior stunned Cauley with straights and a head kick before taking the fight to the ground. From there, he secured back control and locked in a rear-naked choke to secure the tapout championship victory.

    Antonio Carlos Junior Bests Sullivan Cauley For PFL World Tournament Title In Brawl

    Carlos Junior reached tonight’s final through victories over Karl Moore and Simeon Powell.

    Cauley reached the final after picking up wins over Alex Polizzi and Phil Davis.

  • “Pergande Is A Problem” – Fans React To Alexei Pergande Pulling Off Quick Submission Of Ethan Goss At PFL World Tournament

    “Pergande Is A Problem” – Fans React To Alexei Pergande Pulling Off Quick Submission Of Ethan Goss At PFL World Tournament

    Alexei Pergande continues to show himself to be perhaps one of PFL’s fastest rising stars, as he pulled off a first-round finish of Ethan Goss at the PFL World Tournament event in Hollywood, Florida.

    Pergande and Goss traded early strikes, with Goss landing body kicks as Pergande came forward with combinations and pressure. As Pergande landed more, he began to control more of the action.

    About midway through the first, Pergande blasted Goss with a perfectly-timed knee that busted him open. He’d jump on a choke right away, scoring the submission.

    Alexei Pergande Submits Ethan Goss At PFL World Tournament

    Pergande now moves to 7-0 this year, having fought exclusively for the PFL. He fought two months ago in Nashville, scoring a decision over Mike Bardsley.

    Goss, who made his PFL debut tonight, falls to 12-8 in his pro MMA career.

  • VIDEO: Impa Kasaganay Scores Come-From-Behind Finish In Final 30 Seconds Of Fight With Andrew Sanchez At PFL World Tournament

    VIDEO: Impa Kasaganay Scores Come-From-Behind Finish In Final 30 Seconds Of Fight With Andrew Sanchez At PFL World Tournament

    On the verge of potentially having a three-fight losing skid, Impa Kasaganay pulled off a highlight finish of Andrew Sanchez to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat during the preliminary card of the PFL World Tournament event in Hollywood, Florida.

    Sanchez controlled most of the early portion of the fight, thanks to his takedown efforts. Sanchez followed this up in the second round by continuing to push the pace, landing counters and mixing in grappling exchanges.

    Kasaganay did find more rhythm with his combinations in the second round, but it wasn’t enough to halt off Sanchez’s grappling efforts. But in the bout’s final minute, a right hand cracked Sanchez, causing him to faceplant. Kasaganay stayed on him, pouring punches on until the referee stopped the fight to solidify the comeback victory.

    Impa Kasaganay Scores Comeback TKO Of Andrew Sanchez

    Kasaganay, who won the 2023 PFL light heavyweight season, rebounds from his loss to Dovlet Yagshimuradov in the 2024 light heavyweight finals and his loss to Fabian Edwards in the 2025 PFL middleweight World Tournament first round.

    This is Sanchez’s second straight loss, following his loss to Sadibou Sy last year.

  • PFL World Tournament Week 10 Results & Highlights

    PFL World Tournament Week 10 Results & Highlights

    The final of three events to mark the conclusion of the PFL’s 2025 World Tournaments goes down in Hollywood, Florida tonight — and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    The World Tournament is the spiritual successor to the season-and-the-playoffs has had since its inaugural season in 2018. As part of the changes in format to the PFL upon the official folding of the Bellator brand earlier this year, the PFL changed its global season to a single-elimination tournament format, adding more weight classes, eight fighters per weight class.

    First-round action took place in April and May, with June — previously hosting the second leg of the regular season — hosting semifinal action. This month will see the conclusion of these tournaments, with eight winners receiving PFL World Tournament title belts and $100,000.

    This evening will be headlined by the middleweight tournament final between former Bellator title challenger Fabian Edwards and Dalton Rosta. Edwards, the younger brother of former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, reached tonight’s final through a finish of 2023 light heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay and a decision over Josh Silveira. Rosta has won three straight since suffering the sole loss of his career, including victories over former 2022 welterweight champion Sabidou Sy and Aaron Jeffrey (the one man to beat him) to reach tonight’s final.

    The co-main event will be the heavyweight tournament final featuring Oleg Popov and Alexandr Romanov. After Popov fell short to Denis Goltsov in last year’s final, snapping a long winning streak for Popov, he reaches tonight’s final through decision wins over Karl Williams and Rodrigo Nascimento. Romanov submitted Tim Johnson in the first round of the tournament before a no contest with Valentin Moldavsky in the semifinals. Romanov, however, advanced to the final based on a judges’ decision from what went down in the fight with Moldavsky up to that point.

    Also featured will be the light heavyweight tournament final featuring Sullivan Cauley and Antonio Carlos Jr. Cauley advanced to the final through victories over Alex Polizzi and former Bellator light heavyweight champion Phil Davis. “Shoeface,” who won PFL light heavyweight gold in 2021, reached the finals through wins over Karl Moore and Simeon Powell.

    2025 PFL World Tournament Week 10 Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Final: Fabian Edwards def. Dalton Rosta via KO (R3, 1:28)
    • Heavyweight Final: Oleg Popov def. Alexandr Romanov via split decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47)
    • Light Heavyweight Final: Antonio Carlos Junior def. Sullivan Cauley via submission (rear-naked choke) (R2, 3:44)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Alexei Pergande def. Ethan Gross via submission (anaconda choke) (R1, 3:52)
    • Bantamweight: Lazaro Dayron def. Bryce Meredith via TKO (R3, 4:06)
    • Middleweight: Impa Kasanganay def. Andrew Sanchez via TKO (R3, 4:31)
    • Light Heavyweight: Rasul Magomedov def. Guilherme Viana via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Heavyweight: Sergey Bilostenniy def. Karl Williams via TKO (R2, 4:11)
    • Middleweight: Josh Silveira def. Murad Ramazanov via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
    • Catchweight (175 lbs): Jean-Pierre Saint Louis def. Tyler Ray via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

    Jean-Pierre Saint Louis vs. Tyler Ray

    Josh Silveira vs. Murad Ramazanov

    Sergey Bilostenniy vs. Karl Williams

    Rasul Magomedov vs. Guilherme Viana

    Impa Kasanganay vs. Andrew Sanchez

    Bryce Meredith vs. Lazaro Dayron

    Alexei Pergande vs. Ethan Gross

    Sullivan Cauley vs. Antonio Carlos Junior

    Oleg Popov vs. Alexandr Romanov

    Fabian Edwards vs. Dalton Rosta

  • Francis Ngannou Not Happy with PFL over Africa Tournament Issues

    Francis Ngannou Not Happy with PFL over Africa Tournament Issues

    Francis Ngannou has responded to Donn Davis’ discontentment surrounding the former’s lack of presence at PFL Africa events but ‘the Predator’ has his own grievances. Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, the lineal MMA heavyweight champion covered multiple topics including issues that he had with the presentation of the July 19th PFL Africa card that was headlined by Johnny Eblen taking on Costello Van Steenis for the middleweight belt.

    Ngannou expressed issues with the earlier portion of the card receiving the PFL Africa branding while the main card was labelled Road to Dubai Champions Series. This perception of the PFL Africa brand not getting the predominant focus resulted in Ngannou not attending the card with PFL figurehead Donn Davis later mentioning his disappointment that the PFL Africa chairman was not in attendance.

    While mentioning that he predominantly engages with Peter Murray and other PFL executives while quipping that he rarely speaks with Davis himself, Ngannou said,

    “We have a good relationship with PFL; it’s just that sometimes things don’t run smoothly. Sometimes we don’t agree, but that’s how it works. It’s about making things right so that the vision can come together.”

    “The problem is cultural. There’s a culture difference, and they are struggling to understand the African culture aspect of things. I have to make sure that is being considered.”

    “I wasn’t very okay with the first PFL Africa event seeming to be like an undercard. I hope PFL Africa debut would have at least have its glory, its moment. That wasn’t my decision, and I wasn’t done for it, but I expressed my feeling to them.”

    Francis Ngannou addresses his thoughts on the second PFL Africa card

    Francis Ngannou was not happy with the July 19th card that also featured big names like Dakota Ditcheva but the August 9th PFL Africa card seemed to fit his vision of things with a predominant focus on African mixed martial artists. That being said, the former UFC heavyweight champion and current PFL champ also did not attend that sophomore PFL Africa card and when offering up his thoughts on the sophomore effort from this branch of PFL’s global expansion, Francis Ngannou stated [via MMA Junkie],

    “Matter of circumstances, and again, we were still working on it. This is not the only event. PFL Africa is something that is made to be run forever. So, as we take the time that it takes to set things up right, then the company will run properly. So, I don’t have any problem with that. I don’t have any problem with going, as long as we get things right and feel comfortable. Because I’m going there, stepping forward, putting myself in line as a guarantee. So,at least I’m going to make sure I’m going to stand by what I’m saying.”

  • Francis Ngannou’s Inactivity Prompts MMA Analyst To Urge PFL To Scrap Heavyweight Division

    Francis Ngannou’s Inactivity Prompts MMA Analyst To Urge PFL To Scrap Heavyweight Division

    Francis Ngannou’s inactivity compels an MMA analyst to advise PFL for drastic measures with the heavyweight division.

    “The Predator” inked his deal with PFL in May 2023, securing several exclusive perks, including being named chairman of PFL Africa with the responsibility of spearheading MMA’s growth across the continent. However, when PFL Africa finally launched with a sold-out debut in Cape Town this July, Ngannou was conspicuously absent.

    Francis Ngannou
    Image: @francis_ngannou/X

    Francis Ngannou’s absence from the Cape Town debut didn’t sit well with PFL chairman Donn Davis, who openly voiced his disappointment over the Cameroonian’s no-show at such a landmark event.

    John McCarthy Suggests PFL Should Shut Down Heavyweight Division With Francis Ngannou On Sidelines

    During a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast alongside former UFC fighter Josh Thomson, “Big” John McCarthy criticized Francis Ngannou for failing to live up to his PFL deal, pointing out that “The Predator” has fought just once in the past two years.

    With Ngannou stuck on the sidelines, the veteran MMA analyst argued that the PFL heavyweight division lacks the depth to justify its existence and suggested the promotion should instead invest its resources into other weight classes.

    “It’s a glamour division with no talent,” McCarthy said. “Let’s just be honest, OK? Why do you have it? You have the ability to put in a flyweight division. You finally put in the bantamweights: Way to go. That was a smart thing. You’ve got some really good, talented people in that. Open up the 125-pound division. Take the heavyweights, get rid of it.

    “Be honest, (the UFC’s) whole (heavyweight) lineup, it’s just not that good. You can take a look at the PFL’s lineup. Yes, Francis is a good fighter… Get rid of it. All it does is cost you way more money than it’s worth for your promotion. Get rid of the heavyweights, put in all the other weight classes. Have 125, ’35, ’45, ’55 – you’ll have it all the way to 205. You don’t need the heavyweights because they’re not doing anything for you, and Francis is not doing anything as far as what he was supposedly contracted for.”

    Francis Ngannou’s lone outing inside the SmartCage came at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants in October 2024, where he stopped Renan Ferreira via first-round TKO to capture the PFL super heavyweight title.

    Since parting ways with the UFC, however, “The Predator” has shifted his focus to boxing, suffering back-to-back defeats in high-profile bouts against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

    PFL heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou
    Image: @francisngannou/Instagram
  • “The Best Lightweight In PFL” – Fans React To Alfie Davis Pulling Off Massive Upset To Defeat Gadzhi Rabadanov And Claim Lightweight PFL World Tournament Title

    “The Best Lightweight In PFL” – Fans React To Alfie Davis Pulling Off Massive Upset To Defeat Gadzhi Rabadanov And Claim Lightweight PFL World Tournament Title

    Gadzhi Rabadanov’s desires for a second straight PFL lightweight title are for naught. Alfie Davis put on an excellent striking performance to outlast Rabadanov’s grappling-heavy efforts to claim the 2025 PFL World Tournament lightweight title in the main event of the PFL’s card in Charlotte, North Carolina.

    The fight opened with a tactical first round, with Davis working kicks from range as Rabadanov tried to pressure. Raabdanov was trying to overwhelm Davis with his takedown attempts and grappling, but Davis executed well on his high kicks and body shots.

    Rabadanov took control in the second round, scoring an early takedown and imposing his will from the top position. He stayed on top for most of the frame, landing body shots and advancing through half guard. Davis rebounded with a dynamic striking effort in the third round, working combinations and scoring in the exchanges, in particular landing kicks and sharp elbows.

    Rabadanov repeated his second-round performance in round four, but Davis’ sharp striking and tagging of Rabadanov helped him secure the fifth round, resulting in all three judges awarding 48-47 scores and the PFL tournament title to Davis.

    Alfie Davis Claims 2025 PFL Lightweight World Tournament Title With Decision Over Gadzhi Rabadanov

    Rabadanov reached his second straight PFL lightweight final thanks to finishes of Marc Diakiese and Kevin Lee.

    Davis’ final spot was secured thanks to victories over Clay Collard and Brent Primus.

  • “The Epitome Of A Timeless Fighter” – Fans React As Liz Carmouche Crushes Jena Bishop With Devastating Left Hand To Claim Women’s Flyweight PFL World Tournament Title

    “The Epitome Of A Timeless Fighter” – Fans React As Liz Carmouche Crushes Jena Bishop With Devastating Left Hand To Claim Women’s Flyweight PFL World Tournament Title

    Liz Carmouche’s legacy grows following the PFL World Tournament event in Charlotte, North Carolina, as she claimed the women’s flyweight tournament gold with a knockout of Jena Bishop in the co-main event.

    The opening round saw both women trading jabs, with Bishop landing combinations to the body while Carmouche answered with steady low kicks. Bishop pressed forward with volume and clinch control, but Carmouche battled back with short strikes inside and a late flurry.

    Round two saw the drama go up to another level, with the fight going to the ground after a caught kick by Bishop. Bishop nearly locked up an armbar and then transitioned to a triangle choke. Carmouche escaped and threatened her own submissions. The round ended with the two trading heavy shots and battling for positional control.

    After a slow start to the third round, with Bishop trying to establish her range again, Carmouche exploded with a big left hand that dropped Bishop for the finish.

    Liz Carmouche KOs Jena Bishop For 2025 PFL Women’s Flyweight World Tournament Title

    After falling short in last year’s women’s flyweight competition, Carmouche reached the finals this year through wins over Ilara Joanne and Elora Dana.

    Bishop also fell just short of the final last year, losing to eventual champion Dakota Ditcheva. She reached the final with wins over Kana Watanabe and Ekaterina Shakalova.

  • “Contender Series For Him In 2 Years” – Fans React As Marcirley Alves Staves Off Justin Wetzell For 2025 PFL Bantamweight World Tournament Title

    “Contender Series For Him In 2 Years” – Fans React As Marcirley Alves Staves Off Justin Wetzell For 2025 PFL Bantamweight World Tournament Title

    In a battle of two men who started the PFL bantamweight tournament as alternates before being official participants, Marcirley Alves managed to outwork Justin Wetzell in a featured bout at the PFL World Tournament card in Charlotte, North Carolina, to become the 2025 PFL World Tournament champion at bantamweight.

    Alves started strong, finding his range early with combinations, including a sharp left that caught Wetzell in the opening round. Wetzell tried to slow the pace, but Alves’ striking volume and takedown defense controlled most of the fight’s first half.

    Momentum shifted in round four, as Wetzell finally secured takedowns and pressured Alves, mixing knees and body shots. Wetzell took his grappling pressure and combined it with clinch pressure in the fifth.

    Wetzell then landed a huge knee in the fifth that dropped Alves. He nearly scored a D’Arce choke, but Alves narrowly escaped. Wetzell pushed forward with flurries and cage control, though Alves stayed in control and fired back.

    Marcirley Alves Defeats Justin Wetzell For PFL Bantamweight World Tournament Title

    Alves reached the final with a finish of Leandro Higo in the first round and a win over former Bellator champion Brent Primus in the semifinals.

    Wetzell, who entered with 11 wins in his last 12, secured his spot in the final through wins over Kasum Kasumov and Mando Gutierrez.

  • PFL World Tournament Week 9 Results & Highlights

    PFL World Tournament Week 9 Results & Highlights

    The second of three events to mark the conclusion of the PFL’s 2025 World Tournaments goes down in Charlotte, North Carolina tonight — and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    The World Tournament is the spiritual successor to the season-and-the-playoffs has had since its inaugural season in 2018. As part of the changes in format to the PFL upon the official folding of the Bellator brand earlier this year, the PFL changed its global season to a single-elimination tournament format, adding more weight classes, eight fighters per weight class.

    First-round action took place in April and May, with June — previously hosting the second leg of the regular season — hosting semifinal action. This month will see the conclusion of these tournaments, with eight winners receiving PFL World Tournament title belts and $100,000.

    This evening will be headlined by the lightweight tournament final between defending champion Gadzhi Rabadanov and Alfie Davis. Rabadanov, who defeated Brent Primus to claim the 2024 lightweight title, looks to become just one of a handful of PFL fighters to become a back-to-back tournament champion, let alone a two-time PFL tournament champion. Rabadanov made it to the finals with a pair of first-round finishes against Marc Diakiese and Kevin Lee. Davis, meanwhile, advanced here with a first-round knockout of Clay Collard and a decision win over Primus.

    The co-main event will be the women’s flyweight tournament final between Liz Carmouche and Jena Bishop. Carmouche, the former Bellator women’s flyweight champion, reached the finals through an 85-second finish of Ilara Joanne and a decision over Elora Dana. Bishop reached with a unanimous decision over Kana Watanabe and a second-round submission of Ekaterina Shakalova.

    Also featured will be the bantamweight tournament final featuring Marcirley Alves and Justin Wetzell. Alves made it to the final through decision wins over Leandro Higo and Jake Hadley. Wetzell scored decision wins over Kasum Kasumov and Mando Gutierrez.

    2025 PFL World Tournament Week 9 Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Lightweight Final: Alfie Davis def. Gadzhi Rabadanov via unanimous decision (48-47 x3)
    • Women’s Flyweight Final: Liz Carmouche def. Jena Bishop via KO (R3, 2:56)
    • Bantamweight Final: Marcirley Alves def. Justin Wetzell via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47 x2)
    • Lightweight: Robert Watley def. Mads Burnell via TKO (R3, 2:43)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Women’s Flyweight: Juliana Velasquez def. Ekaterina Shakalova via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Adryan Grundy via TKO (R3, 3:23)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Sabrinna de Sousa def. Saray Orozco via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Bantamweight: Renat Khavalov def. Vilson Ndregjoni via TKO (R1, 2:49)
    • Welterweight: Chris Mixan def. Kendly St. Louis via TKO (R1, 4:36)
    • Featherweight: Damian Nelson def. Isaiah Diggs via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Damian Nelson vs. Isaiah Diggs

    Kendly St. Louis vs. Chris Mixan

    Renat Khavalov vs. Vilson Ndregjoni

    Sabrinna de Sousa vs. Saray Orozco

    Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Adryan Grundy

    Juliana Velasquez vs. Ekaterina Shakalova

    Mads Burnell vs. Robert Watley

    Marcirley Alves vs. Justin Wetzell

    Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop

    Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Alfie Davis

  • PFL 2025 Finalist on PFL vs. ONE Idea: “I’ll be the lineal champ across the board”

    PFL 2025 Finalist on PFL vs. ONE Idea: “I’ll be the lineal champ across the board”

    Justin Wetzell is squarely focused on capturing PFL gold this week but also has a peripheral focus on other PFL belts as well as some ONE Championship titleholders to boot.

    Justin Wetzell clashes with Marcirley Alves for the PFL bantamweight tournament title in the promotion’s 2025 World Tournament on August 15th. Wetzell was a recent guest on Bowks Talking Bouts and touched upon his thoughts on the global expansion efforts from the Professional Fighters League. When discussing his thoughts on the PFL’s global expansion efforts with their Europe, Africa and MENA circuits in the context of if this feels like an exciting time to be a contracted combatant with the Professional Fighters League, Justin Wetzell said,

    “Yeah, it’s super cool how they’re expanding and they have different leagues, man. Once I win this belt, I want to fight the champions of the other leagues to show that I’m the best bantamweight in PFL, period.”

    How Wetzell feels about a potential PFL vs. ONE champs against champs card

    It was then referenced some of the recent comments made by the Professional Fighters League’s Donn Davis toward ONE Championship‘s Chatri Sityodtong regarding an idea for a champions versus champions event. When asked what thought on an idea like that becoming a reality someday, Justin Wetzell stated,

    “Yeah, that’d be sick, man. I’ll be the lineal champ across the board. I mean, I believe in my heart I can beat Merab [Dvalishvili], bro. I can beat anyone.”

    When touching on some interesting variables of a possible Professional Fighters League vs. ONE Championship event and things like what ruleset would be utilized for those fights but addressing that it is an exciting concept all the same, Justin Wetzell quipped,

    “Yeah, I like the the collab fights or the co-promotion fights. Those are sick.”

  • Dubai to Host PFL Champions Series on October 3 Featuring Two World Title Rematches – Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2

    Dubai to Host PFL Champions Series on October 3 Featuring Two World Title Rematches – Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2

    The PFL will stage a major championship event in Dubai on October 3, headlined by two world title bouts at the Coca-Cola Arena. The card, titled PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch, will feature the return meeting between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes, as well as a light heavyweight title clash between Corey Anderson and Dovlet Yagshimuradov.

    Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2

    The main event will see undefeated lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) defend his title against Ireland’s Paul Hughes (14-2). The pair fought earlier this year in January at the same venue, producing a five-round contest that many regarded as one of the best fights of the year. Nurmagomedov was declared the winner by decision, though the result was the subject of fan debate. Hughes has since returned with a rapid 42-second win over Bruno Miranda in May, using his post-fight interview to directly call for the rematch.

    Nurmagomedov, known for his technical control and tactical approach, holds notable wins over former champions Patricky Pitbull and Benson Henderson, competing in what is considered one of MMA’s most competitive divisions. The October meeting will mark his latest defence against one of his closest rivals.

    Corey Anderson vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov

    The co-main event will revisit a previous encounter between former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Corey Anderson (19-6) and reigning PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1). Anderson won their first match in the 2021 Bellator World Grand Prix Quarterfinal by third-round stoppage. Since that bout, Anderson has collected the Bellator title and recently halted 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov. Yagshimuradov, representing Turkmenistan, has gone unbeaten in his last seven fights, securing the PFL light heavyweight belt with a victory over Impa Kasanganay.

    2025 PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE, Saturday, Saturday, January, 25, 2025. (Jose Peñuela / PFL)

    PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch

    The undercard will include an undefeated heavyweight meeting between Pouya Rahmani (4-0) and Slim Trabelsi (8-0). Also scheduled is a 165-pound grudge bout between Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) and Artem Lobov (14-15-1), originally planned for 2018 but cancelled after the UFC 229 post-fight incident. In welterweight action, 2024 PFL MENA Champion Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) meets PFL Europe Champion Florim Zendeli (10-1-1), with both fighters riding unbeaten streaks.

    2025 PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE, Saturday, Saturday, January, 25, 2025. (Jose Peñuela / PFL)

    The event is part of the PFL’s ongoing “Road to Dubai” initiative, run in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Launched in November 2024, the campaign has brought multiple international MMA cards to the UAE and will culminate in the Road to Dubai Finale in January.

    PFL CEO John Martin called the October event one of the league’s biggest nights, noting the significance of staging two championship fights in Dubai. He cited the city’s growing position as a host for major MMA events and the PFL’s role in presenting high-level competition on a global stage.

  • PFL Africa 2 Results & Highlights

    PFL Africa 2 Results & Highlights

    The PFL has arrived to Johannesburg as it presents PFL Africa 2 — and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    The PFL’s expansion efforts began a couple of years ago with the launch of PFL Europe, followed by the establishment of PFL MENA last year. Now, as was once promised when the PFL signed Francis Ngannou in 2023, the PFL has officially launched PFL Africa this year.

    It was just three weeks ago when the PFL held the first global MMA event on African soil with PFL Cape Town — a night that featured both the first-ever PFL Africa card, as well as the second PFL Champions Series event, the latter playing host to Costello Van Steenis’ historical comeback to win the PFL middleweight title.

    Just like the first PFL Africa event, PFL Africa 2 will see the African-focused promotion’s tournaments kick off with first-round action, this time focusing on featherweights and welterweights.

    The featherweights will be in the main event tonight, as Patrick Ocheme takes on Mohamed Camara. Ocheme enters this fight 6-1 and on a four-fight win streak, most recently scoring a first-round finish of Kaleka Kabanda in the EFC this past November. Camara, meanwhile, comes into tonight 5-2-1, most recently battling Ali Yazbeck to a split draw back in May 2024 at a UAE Warriors event.

    Welterweight action will be featured in the co-main event with Shido Boris Esperanca facing PFL Europe and Bellator veteran Ibrahima Mane.

    PFL Africa 2 actions begins at 12pm ET/9am PT on the PFL App. If you can’t watch the action, MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights below.

    PFL Africa 2 Results & Highlights

    • Featherweight: Patrick Ocheme def. Mohamed Camara via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
    • Welterweight: Shido Boris Esperanca def. Ibrahima Mane via submission (rear-naked choke (R1, 0:34)
    • Welterweight: Octave Ayinda def. British Boloyouang via submission (verbal) (R1, 1:55)
    • Welterweight: Yabna N’tchala def. Sanon Sadeck via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
    • Welterweight: Emilios Dassi def. Osvaldo Benedito via KO (R1, 2:12)
    • Featherweight: Wasi Adeshina def. Jean Jacques Lubaya via submission (rear-naked choke) (R2, 3:14)
    • Featherweight: Dwight Joseph def. Wilker Nsamo via KO (R2, 4:57)
    • Catchweight (148 lbs) Showcase: Abderrahman Errachidy def. Elbert Steyn via TKO (R2, 0:14)
    • Featherweight: Abdoul Razac Sankara def. Shadrack Yemba via KO (R1, 2:01)
    • Welterweight Alternate Bout: Kunle Lawal def. Desmond Tamungang via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Desmond Tamungang vs. Kunle Lawal

    Abdoul Razac Sankara vs. Shadrack Yemba

    Elbert Steyn vs. Abderrahman Errachidy

    Wilker Nsamo vs. Dwight Joseph

    Wasi Adeshina vs. Jean Jacques Lubaya

    Osvaldo Benedito vs. Emilios Dassi

    Sanon Sadeck vs. Yabna N’tchala

    British Boloyouang vs. Octave Ayinda

    https://twitter.com/PFLAfrica/status/1954262180997591300

    Shido Boris Esperanca vs. Ibrahima Mane

    Patrick Ocheme vs. Mohamed Camara

  • Exclusive | ‘Losing in the Cage Is Better Than Losing From Doing Nothing’: Elbert Lukas Steyn’s Mental Shift Before Turning Pro

    Exclusive | ‘Losing in the Cage Is Better Than Losing From Doing Nothing’: Elbert Lukas Steyn’s Mental Shift Before Turning Pro

    South African mixed martial artist Elbert Lukas Steyn is preparing for one of the biggest moments of his career at PFL Africa 2 in Johannesburg. The undefeated fighter, nicknamed “Pikachu,” has built a reputation for his grappling ability and submission finishes, but his journey to this stage has been far from straightforward.

    Elbert Lukas Steyn

    Steyn’s entry into combat sports began through wrestling, a path he describes as the toughest discipline he has ever undertaken. “With wrestling, you get your cauliflower ears, your experience, and the most important thing is the discipline that you learn over the years,” Steyn said during an interview with MMA News leading up to the event. His achievements included qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games at 17, but making weight was a major challenge. “I used to cut down to 63kg… that was killer for me at that time.”

    His introduction to MMA came almost by accident. Growing up without internet access at home, Steyn happened upon a downloaded George St-Pierre highlight reel on a friend’s hard drive. “When I saw what this guy was doing to people, I just fell in love with it,” he said. The energy of the sport’s crowds, particularly in GSP’s hometown of Montreal, also left a mark. By the age of 15, he was training with an MMA career in mind.

    In his amateur years, Steyn struggled with nerves and the pressure of competition. “I hated MMA as an amateur. I feared the cage, I feared the feeling, I feared the pressure,” he said. That led to a six-year break from competition after defending a local amateur belt. He returned to training through wrestling, was offered a fight within two months, and made his professional MMA debut. The shift in mindset was immediate. “The moment I walked out as a pro, I knew this is what I was going to do, before I knew the outcome of the fight.”

    A key factor in overcoming those pre-fight anxieties was a change in perspective. “The anxiety I felt doing nothing for those six years was much worse than losing in front of millions of people… or rather be the loser on the screen than the loser watching the screen,” Steyn explained. He learned to manage the adrenaline dump that can sap fighters in competition, describing the challenge as “more mental fatigue than fitness.”

    PFL Africa 2 represents both a personal and professional milestone for Steyn. The event is part of the Professional Fighters League’s expansion on the continent, with the Johannesburg card showcasing some of Africa’s top talent in tournament action. Steyn, facing Moroccan opponent Abderrahman Errachidy in a catchweight bout, is eager to make the most of the opportunity.

    “From my point of view as a South African fighter, we didn’t really have many mentors from our country to look up to,” he said. “To be part of a platform this big… I’d match PFL with the UFC. The level is there, if not surpassing it.” He sees fighting at home as a chance to inspire the next generation and to perform in front of a local crowd without the prohibitive travel costs that South African fighters often face.

    PFL Africa 2 Goes down on August 9.