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  • PFL World Tournament Week 8 Results & Highlights

    PFL World Tournament Week 8 Results & Highlights

    The first of three events to mark the conclusion of the PFL’s 2025 World Tournaments goes down in Atlantic City, New Jersey 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 welterweight tournament final that sees undefeated rising star Thad Jean taking on former interim Bellator welterweight champion Logan Storley. Jean made it to the finals through a first-round knockout of Mukhamed Berkhamov and a split decision win over former Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson. Storley, meanwhile, scored a pair of decision wins over Joseph Luciano and Masayuki Kikuiri.

    The co-main event will be the featherweight tournament final that features a pair of former champions — 2021 PFL featherweight champion Movlid Khaybulaev and 2023 PFL featherweight champion Jesus Pinedo. The unbeaten Khaybulaev reached the finals with decision wins over Jeremy Kennedy and Kim Tae-kyun. Pinedo, meanwhile, scored finishes of Adam Borics and Gabriel Braga (the latter being a trilogy bout between the two).

    2025 PFL World Tournament Week 8 Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Final: Thad Jean def. Logan Storley via unanimous decision (49-46 x2, 48-47)
    • Featherweight Final: Movlid Khaybulaev def. Jesus Pinedo via submission (arm-triangle choke) (R5, 1:17)
    • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj def. Yves Landu via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Middleweight: Jordan Newman def. Eslam Baset via TKO (fighter retirement) (R1, 5:00)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Catchweight (160 lbs): Jakub Kaszuba def. Sergio Cossio via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Lightweight: Kyle Driscoll def. Husein Kadimagomaev via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Frederik Dupras def. Nathan Kelly via technical submission (guillotine choke) (R2, 4:38)
    • Welterweight: Sarek Shields def. Nick Meck via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) (R1, 5:00)
    • Featherweight: Tom Pagliarulo def. Matt Turnbull via KO (R1, 4:36)

    Matt Turnbull vs. Tom Pagliarulo

    Sarek Shields vs. Nick Meck

    Nathan Kelly vs. Frederik Dupras

    Husein Kadimagomaev vs. Kyle Driscoll

    Jakub Kaszuba vs. Sergio Cossio

    Jordan Newman vs. Eslam Baset

    Asael Adjoudj vs. Yves Landu

    Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Jesus Pinedo

    Thad Jean vs. Logan Storley

  • Logan Storley: “Give [Thad Jean] That First Loss and Win a World Title” in PFL 2025 Finals

    Logan Storley respects Thad Jean heading into their welterweight tournament title fight inside the PFL Smart Cage on August 1st, but he is focused on getting a measure of redemption against someone who bested one of his teammates. Storley appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts and touched on the points-based structure he was a part of last season and contrasted it with the more straight-ahead, defined tournament bracket this year.

    The former Bellator MMA interim champion prefers the win-and-advance bracket style this year and while it has certain hallmarks to his days as an amateur wrestler with the single elimination tournament style, it also feels like this year is easier for PFL fans to understand things better, according to the tournament finalist. On route to said finals, Storley secured a pair of unanimous decision wins over Joseph Luciano as well as Masayuki Kikuiri, and when touching upon that path to the PFL finals, Storley said,

    “They were both big, strong kids, you know. So really just setting the pace on them and dominating the grappling. Getting your ground and pound in there. Making sure there’s no questions about it, you know. Dominate those fights and set a really good pace. I felt like I did that.”

    Speaking to Thad Jean’s path through this year’s tournament, he punched his ticket to the finals to face Storley here by defeating one of Storley’s Kill Cliff FC teammates, Jason Jackson. When touching upon that tendril of this matchup in the coming days, Logan Storley stated,

    “He’s a talented young kid. Good striker, a lot of power, athletic. Does a good job in all positions. Jason and him had an extremely close fight, and Thad obviously got the nod. So you know, I was impressed with the way Thad competed so far this whole season. I’m excited to go out there and represent Kill Cliff and go get this W for our gym. For myself, for my coaches, you know, all those people that support you. But yeah, no, he’s performed great so far.”

    In the pre-fight lead up Jean described Storley as a one-dimensional fighter with a singular wrestling-minded approach. When responding to that characterization some fighters have of him and even some fans have of him that he comes to the cage with a myopic approach to the contest, Logan Storley quipped,

    “Everyone can say whatever they want, right. You look at the best of the best, a lot of them have been wrestlers, right, who go to their game plan. Dominate guys and maul guys and drag them into deep waters. So I’m gonna do what I’m the best at. So you can say it’s one-dimensional, whatever you want, but not very many people have ever been able to stop it.”

    “So I’m going to continue setting a high pace, dragging guys to deep waters, and just competing at the highest level. That’s what I think I do better than anyone is just compete. Ability to make changes mid-fight, ability to push the pace, ability to win scrambles, and the ability to always try to win every single position. So yeah, I think that’s kind of what I do. So I guess if people call it one-dimensional, they can call it one-dimensional [laughs].”

    Logan Storley on the headlines to come and showing his level

    As for what the headlines will read when the dust settles post-August 1st, Logan Storley said,

    “That I’m the best in the world. That nobody can hang with my wrestling. That the pace, smothering, scrambles after scrambles, that’s what I do better than anyone else. So I think that’s what the headlines will read. Just a high, high pace and a smothering pace and just me competing in all positions. Being focused for twenty-five minutes was enough to go out there and really be dominant.”

    When asked if there is an additional degree of satisfaction to handing an unbeaten fighter his first loss, and while that surging fighter has been bantering with you no less, Logan Storley stated,

    “Yeah, I mean, for sure. You always want to go out there and you want to be that guy to give them their first loss and show them that there’s levels and that he’s not quite there yet. So that’s my plan is to go out there and set the bar and give him that first loss and win a world title.”

    https://twitter.com/PFLMMA/status/1949901995747467454/photo/1

  • Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum Joins PFL Ownership Group

    Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum Joins PFL Ownership Group

    The Professional Fighters League announced today the addition of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum to its global ownership group, signaling increased commitment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

    Sheikh Mohammed, founding Chairman of Alpha MBM Investments, joins the group as the league expands its regional reach. “I am delighted to join the PFL’s ownership group as I believe in PFL’s global vision to grow the sport of MMA, and I am excited by PFL’s momentum in staging world-class fight events in Dubai and the UAE region,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

    Alpha MBM Investments, based in Dubai, has interests across multiple sectors, including sports. Under Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership, the company has supported economic innovation and established partnerships aligned with the UAE’s long-term strategy.

    PFL’s Growth in Dubai and the MENA Region

    Earlier this year, the PFL became the first global MMA organization to hold a major event in Dubai. The Champions Series Dubai event stood out for what many considered the most exciting title fight of the year—a matchup between Russian fighter Usman Magomedov and Irish athlete Paul Hughes.

    Peter Murray, CEO of PFL International, welcomed the new partnership, stating, “PFL is excited to welcome Sheikh Mohammed and his expertise to our ownership group. This marks another major milestone in our global expansion strategy and reinforces our long-term commitment to expanding our presence in the Middle East.”

    The PFL’s commitment to the region is further visible through the ongoing PFL MENA franchise, now in its second season. The regional league has produced notable talents, such as PFL MENA Champions Abdullah Al Qahtani and Omar El Dafrawy, and highlighted figures like women’s MMA pioneer Hattan Alsaif. The third event of the PFL MENA season is scheduled for September.

    PFL’s Global and Regional Stars

    PFL has raised several fighters to global stardom, such as Francis Ngannou and Dakota Ditcheva, plus:

    • Usman Magomedov: Undefeated Russian fighter who headlined the Champions Series Dubai event.
    • Paul Hughes: Rising Irish contender and prominent figure in recent PFL events.
    • Abdullah Al Qahtani and Omar El Dafrawy: MENA champions who have advanced through the regional franchise.
    • Hattan Alsaif: A trailblazer for women’s MMA in the Middle East.
    Dakota Ditcheva
    Image: PFL MMA

    About PFL and PFL MENA

    The Professional Fighters League is recognized for its “win and advance” tournament format, offering fighters clear paths to championships. Its three main products are:

    • PFL World Tournament
    • PFL Champions Series
    • PFL International Leagues

    Founded with backing from international investors and sports owners, PFL is broadcast worldwide and continues to position MMA as a key sport for a global audience.

    PFL MENA, based in Saudi Arabia, operates in association with SURJ Sports Investment. Its events are streamed live, with STARZPLAY as the exclusive regional broadcast partner. STARZPLAY’s reach includes over 2.5million subscribers across MENA and Pakistan.

    Francis Ngannou
    Photo by Tim Wheaton
  • Tom Aspinall Wants to Defend His UFC Title Against Francis Ngannou – But Knows the Risks

    Tom Aspinall Wants to Defend His UFC Title Against Francis Ngannou – But Knows the Risks

    Is Tom Aspinall vs. Francis Ngannou on the table? Tom Aspinall, the undisputed UFC heavyweight king and poster child for “I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime,” has publicly declared he’s ready to defend his title against none other than Francis Ngannou. Yes, that Francis Ngannou – the man still regarded as the lineal UFC champion (he never lost his belt in the Octagon), newly-minted PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion, and possibly the most dangerous puncher the heavyweight division has ever known.

    Tom Aspinall vs. Francis Ngannou

    On paper, a clash between Aspinall and Ngannou is combat sports fantasy writ large. You’ve got the reigning champ with British steel, technical ability, and the self-proclaimed willingness to “never turn down a fight,” up against the immovable Cameroonian juggernaut who KO’d his way out of the UFC and into a new era at PFL. Ngannou may have swapped UFC gold for PFL millions, but many in the MMA world still see him as the true lineal king.

    And Aspinall? He’s almost taunting fate. “The day I start ducking out of fights and turning opponents down is the day I’m going to retire,” he reaffirmed, clearly not planning an early exit from the champion’s hot seat. “I’ll fight anyone. I’ll fight anytime and I’ll fight anywhere. Never turned down a fight in my life. Never will.”

    In a recent interview, Tom Aspinall was easked about Francis Ngannou and explained:

    “I’m not sure on his circumstances… I know he didn’t have the best relationship with the UFC, so I don’t know if that’s repairable. But like I said, I’ll fight anybody. He’s very, very dangerous. I think I’m a smart fighter with a good fight IQ, and I think I could navigate that danger well. But, man, you never know. This is heavyweight MMA at the top level. You never know until you get in there. It’s a fight I’d definitely be interested in.”

    But before Dana White gets too excited, here’s the rub: Ngannou’s UFC exit was as storied as it was messy. He left in 2022 after the two sides couldn’t agree on contract terms – Ngannou wanted more freedom, the ability to box, better pay for himself and all fighters, and a bit of good, old-fashioned respect from the top brass. The UFC? Not exactly in the business of co-promoting or bending the rules for departing stars, no matter the payday.

    Ngannou’s current PFL deal is equally ironclad – exclusive, lucrative, and, crucially, not constructed to let him stroll into the Octagon for a one-night-only grudge match. Both camps have the legal teams on speed dial; any “crossover” bout would require unprecedented cooperation. And, yes, plenty of zeroes on the checks.

    PFL's Donn Davis, Francis Ngannou, Peter Murray
    Image: @DonnDavisPFL/X
  • Dakota Ditcheva Announces Re-Signing With PFL

    Dakota Ditcheva Announces Re-Signing With PFL

    It appears Dakota Ditcheva’s future will remain within the PFL.

    Perhaps the newest face of the PFL, Ditcheva confirmed her re-signing with the PFL following her victory over Sumiko Inaba in the co-main event of PFL Champions Series 2 (one of two cards that made up PFL Cape Town).

    The deal is apparently for multiple years, according to Ditcheva.

    “I have just re-signed with PFL,” Ditcheva announced in her post-fight interview. “We’ve come to a great agreement, and I’m going to look forward to the next few years together.”

    Dakota Ditcheva To Remain With PFL

    Ditcheva seems to have become perhaps the face of the PFL brand following her move to the global season from PFL Europe in 2024 — occuring around the same time that Kayla Harrison jumped from the PFL to the UFC.

    Ditcheva became the inaugural PFL Europe women’s flyweight champion in 2023 and then made her way through the likes of Jena Bishop and Taila Santos to become the PFL women’s flyweight champion in 2024.

    Ditcheva returned to the cage for the first time since her title win at PFL Cape Town, defeating Inaba. Ditcheva, however, appeared to break her hand during the contest, and the extent of time she will miss is unknown as of press time.

  • PFL Cape Town: PFL Champions Series 2: Johnny Eblen vs. Costello Van Steenis & PFL Africa 1 Results & Highlights

    PFL Cape Town: PFL Champions Series 2: Johnny Eblen vs. Costello Van Steenis & PFL Africa 1 Results & Highlights

    PFL Cape Town presents a historic night for the PFL and Africa, as global MMA action has touched down in the continent with both the second edition of the PFL Champions Series and the first-ever PFL Africa event — and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    A card in Africa has been a longtime coming for the PFL since its signing of Francis Ngannou in 2023 — with Ngannou being named a part-owner and chairman of PFL Africa. PFL Africa is the latest region-specific venture of the PFL’s, following its launch of PFL Europe in 2023 and PFL MENA in 2024.

    This evening will simultaneously mark the second edition of PFL Champions Series — developed as part of the slew of changes made by PFL for 2025 that included the elimination of the Bellator brand.

    Those championships will carry on, however, as seen in the main event of PFL Champions Series 2, as now-PFL middleweight champion Johnny Eblen defends the title against Costello Van Steenis.

    Eblen won the then-Bellator middleweight title by defeating Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 282, retaining the belt against Anatoly Tokov at Bellator 290 and Fabian Edwards at Bellator 299. Since the PFL’s purchase of Bellator, Eblen scored a split decision win over Impa Kasaganay at PFL vs. Bellator Champions and retained against Edwards again at PFL Battle of the Giants last October.

    Van Steenis comes into this title shot off two straight wins, submitting Gregory Babene at the Bellator Champions Series event in Paris in May 2024 before a 48-second head kick knockout of João Vitor Dantas at the PFL World Championships last fall.

    Dakota Ditcheva, the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight champion and 2023 PFL Europe women’s flyweight champion, returns to action tonight against Sumiko Inaba, who defeated Saray Orozco and Mackenzie Stiller last year.

    The PFL Africa 1 portion of the evening will see the African-focused promotion’s tournaments kick off with first-round heavyweight and bantamweight action.

    PFL Cape Town begins with PFL Africa 1 action at 10am ET/7am PT on the PFL App, while PFL Champions Series 2 starts at 2pm ET/11 am PT on ESPN+. If you can’t watch the action, MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights below.

    PFL Cape Town: PFL Champions Series 2: Johnny Eblen vs. Costello Van Steenis & PFL Africa 1 Results & Highlights

    PFL Champions Series 2:

    • Middleweight Championship: Costello Van Steenis def. Johnny Eblen via submission (rear-naked choke) (R5, 4:51)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Dakota Ditcheva def. Sumiko Inaba via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Featherweight: A.J. McKee def. Akhmed Magomedov via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Lightweight: Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Takeshi Izumi via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Heavyweight: Corey Anderson def. Denis Goltsov via TKO (R2, 3:28)

    PFL Africa 1:

    • Bantamweight: Nkosi Ndebele def. Mahmoud Atef via TKO (R1, 4:50)
    • Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Mickaël Groguhe via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Bantamweight: Boule Godogo def. Shannon van Tonder via split decision (30-26, 28-29, 29-27)
    • Heavyweight: Justin Clarke def. Jashell Ticha Awa via TKO (corner stoppage) (R1, 5:00)
    • Bantamweight: Karim Henniene def. Asiashu Tshitamba via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Heavyweight: Joffie Houlton def. Abdoullah Kane via DQ (illegal strikes) (R1, 0:40)
    • Bantamweight: Simbarashe Hokonya def. Frans Mlambo via unanimous decision (30-26 x2, 30-25)
    • Heavyweight: Abraham Bably def. Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze via KO (R1, 4:59)
    • Women’s Strawweight Showcase: Juliet Ukah def. Ceileigh Niedermayr via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Juliet Ukah vs. Ceileigh Niedermayr

    Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze vs. Abraham Bably

    Frans Mlambo vs. Simbarashe Hokonya

    Abdoullah Kane vs. Joffie Houlton

    Asiashu Tshitamba vs. Karim Henniene

    Jashell Ticha Awa vs. Justin Clarke

    Shannon van Tonder vs. Boule Godogo

    Maxwell Djantou Nana vs. Mickaël Groguhe

    Nkosi Ndebele vs. Mahmoud Atef

    Corey Anderson vs. Denis Goltsov

    Makkasharip Zaynukov vs. Takeshi Izumi

    A.J. McKee vs. Akhmed Magomedov

    Dakota Ditcheva vs. Sumiko Inaba

    Johnny Eblen vs. Costello Van Steenis

  • PFL’s Timur Khizriev Ambushed, Shot In Russia

    PFL’s Timur Khizriev Ambushed, Shot In Russia

    UPDATE: Timur Khizriev’s management team tells Mike Bohn of MMAJunkie that the fighter’s “life is not in danger” but is currently hospitalized.

    Note: This is a developing breaking news story that will be updated as more information comes out.

    Timur Khizriev, the featherweight champion of the 2024 PFL season, has been reportedly shot during an ambush attack in his native Russia.

    Russian MMA media outlet Вестник ММА (Vestnik MMA) took to social media to post video of the incident.

    Khizriev is still alive and is in surgery as of press time.

    2024 PFL Featherweight Champion Timur Khizriev In Surgery After Being Shot Five Times

    According to the report, Khizriev was ambushed in the courtyard of a residential building located on Daniyalov Street, located in Chunya Village in Dagestan.

    Khizriev was getting out of a vehicle when the two attackers approached and open fire. He was hit and wounded by five bullets, which were fired by a traumatic pistol.

    Khizriev is currently 18-0 in his professional MMA career. After a three-fight stint with Bellator, Khizriev joined the PFL for its 2024 season after it purchased Bellator in late 2023.

    Khizriev went on to defeat Brett Johns, Enrique Barzola, Gabriel Braga, and Brendan Loughnane en route to capturing the 2024 PFL featherweight title.

  • Former Turner CEO John Martin Named New CEO Of PFL

    Former Turner CEO John Martin Named New CEO Of PFL

    The Professional Fighters League has announced former Turner and Time Warner executive John Martin is joining the organization as its new Chief Executive Officer.

    The PFL confirmed the news on the morning of Thursday, July 10, with a press release. This followed an initial hinting of a move in PFL’s management by longtime boxing promoter Don King on social media the evening before, as well as a series of posts on X (fka Twitter) from Robert Joyner.

    Martin will oversee all aspects of the PFL’s operations, including the promotion’s finances, management, strategies, and personnel decisions.

    “John Martin is THE ideal CEO to lead the next chapter of growth at PFL,” Donn Davis, PFL Founder and Chairman said in the statement. “He is a proven media, content, and sports executive who is a respected global leader and business operator at scale. I am thrilled to work closely with John to deliver on the vision to make PFL everything the fans, fighters, and sport of MMA deserves.”

    PFL Gains New CEO In John Martin

    Martin replaces Peter Murray, who the PFL says will be transitioning to a role as CEO of PFL International, “where he will lead the accelerated launch and growth of the PFL’s International Leagues” and serve under Martin.

    Martin previously served as Chairman and CEO of Turner from 2014 to 2018, overseeing the various cable networks, content, and digital platforms run by the company — including the Turner Sports brand, as well as the TBS, TNT, and CNN channels. He left Turner in 2018 following the AT&T-Time Warner merger.

    Prior to that role, Martin worked at Time Warner, working as Head of Investor Relations before going on to become CFO of Time Warner Cable and eventually CFO of Time Warner Inc. During his role there, Martin was an early advocate for expanding the UFC’s cable distribution, having become a fan of the UFC since the promotion’s earliest events.

    Martin himself has been a martial artist since his 20s, earning a black belt in karate and a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

    “MMA represents the biggest opportunity in sports, and the PFL has secured a unique position that will never be replicated,” Martin said in the statement. “I’m incredibly excited about the future of the PFL and confident that we’re only at the beginning of what this organization will achieve. My two greatest passions are leading media companies and MMA, so stepping into the position of PFL CEO is truly a dream role for me.”

    The PFL made significant changes in 2025, establishing the PFL Champions Series — a rebrand following the official dissolution of Bellator, which the PFL purchased in late 2023 — as well as eliminating its regular-season and playoff format in favor of eight World Tournaments, all of which will conclude at three PFL events in August.

    PFL’s Jonathan Coachman recently told MMA Fighting that the Champions Series will see eight PFL champions crowned, and the PFL World Tournament winners will go on to challenge those champions.

    The PFL has also been expanding on the number of international leagues, with PFL Europe starting in 2023, PFL MENA starting in 2024, and PFL Africa set to start next Saturday, July 19, with the PFL Cape Town event.

  • The Fight Fan’s Guide To July 19: Everything You Need To Know

    The Fight Fan’s Guide To July 19: Everything You Need To Know

    Next Saturday, July 19, is shaping up to be a memorable day filled with fights for combat sports fans everywhere.

    It sometimes can happen where fight cards will be stacked on top of one another on the same day, or even go head-to-head with each other. But only every so often do we get a day where fights will happen from one card to another throughout the day — and only every so often do we have a day of fights that are either heavily promoted, see titles on the line, or are all meaningful otherwise in some shape or way.

    We know for the obsessed fight fan that wants to see everything, a day like July 19 can be overwhelming in trying to figure out what’s going on, what’s important, and, more importantly, when and where to watch.

    Well, we here at MMA News are designing this guide here to help you put your feet up, grab your favorite foods and drinks, and watch all the action go down — from the first bell to the last!

    Everything Fight Fans Need To Know For July 19

    On July 19, the UFC and PFL will both be hosting heavily promoted cards, and the boxing world will feature a highly-anticipated title fight and the return of a legend.

    Here are — in order from the start of the day to the end — all the events going down on July 19, as well as when they start, where you can watch them, and what you need to know.

    PFL Cape Town

    Start Time: 10 am ET/7 am PT (Champions Series bouts will start at approx. 2 pm ET/11 am PT)

    Where To Watch: PFL App (PFL Africa 1) & ESPN+ (PFL Champions Series 2)

    After years of waiting, a major MMA player finally makes its way to the continent of Africa, as the PFL will host its first-ever event there with PFL Cape Town at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa.

    With the Bellator brand officially no more, Johnny Eblen — still considered one of the best talents in the sport outside of the UFC — will defend the newly-named PFL middleweight championship in the main event of the evening against Costello Van Steenis. Van Steenis comes into this title shot off a 2024 campaign that saw him submit Gregory Babene with a Von Flue choke at the Bellator Champions Series card in Paris and a 48-second head-kick knockout of Joao Vitor Dantas at the 2024 PFL World Championships.

    Dakota Ditcheva, the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight champion and 2023 PFL Europe women’s flyweight champion, returns in the co-main event, taking on Sumiko Inaba. The main card will also feature former Bellator light heavyweight champion Corey Anderson in action at heavyweight against 2024 PFL heavyweight champ Denis Goltsov, as well as former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee taking on Akhmed Magomedov.

    Before the five-fight Champions Series card, PFL Africa will host its first event, featuring first-round tournament matchups at heavyweight and bantamweight.

    KSW 108

    Start Time: 12pm ET/9am PT

    Where To Watch: KSWTV.com

    KSW gets a piece of the July 19 action, too, presenting KSW 108 from the Hala Urania in Olsztyn, Poland. Two noteworthy European featherweight up-and-comers do battle in the main event, as Adam Soldaev takes on Leo Brichta. Ibragim Chuzhigaev and Marcin Wójcik face off in the light heavyweight co-main event.

    Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 — Undisputed Heavyweight Title Fight

    Start Time: 12:30pm ET/9:30am PT (Main event ring walks expected, per DAZN, approx. 4:50pm ET/1:50pm PT)

    Where To Watch: DAZN PPV

    For just the second time in the four-belt era of boxing, there will be an undisputed heavyweight champion, as WBA/WBC/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk faces IBF champion Daniel Dubois.

    Having been an undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, Usyk is just one of three male boxers to win four-belt undisputed gold in two weight classes. He became the first four-belt heavyweight undisputed champion when he defeated Tyson Fury in their first encounter in May 2024 — also becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion overall since Lennox Lewis in 2000.

    With a win in this fight, Usyk would further cement his history by reclaiming the title of undisputed champion of heavyweight boxing; however, he’ll have to get past a familiar foe in Dubois.

    The two first met in August 2023, with Usyk winning by ninth-round knockout to retain the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles. The fight wasn’t without controversy, however, as Dubois and his team have disputed a fifth-round low blow call thrown by Dubois was a legal shot.

    Usyk’s reign as undisputed champion only lasted about a month, as the IBF stripped him of the title as he pursued a rematch with Fury, which Usyk went on to win this past December. That opened the door for Dubois to be promoted from interim to full-time IBF heavyweight champion.

    Dubois — also a former WBA (Regular) heavyweight champion — had won the interim IBF heavyweight belt in June 2024 with an eighth-round stoppage win over Filip Hrgović. He has since successfully defended the IBF world title once, scoring a fifth-round knockout of former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua this past September.

    UFC 318

    Start Time: Early Prelims start at 6pm ET/3pm PT. TV prelims start at 8pm ET/5pm PT. PPV Main Card begins at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

    Where To Watch: Early Prelims available on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. TV Prelims available on ESPN and ESPN+. Main Card available on ESPN+ PPV.

    For the final time in his illustrious career, “The Diamond” will make his way to the Octagon — and he’ll do so in front of a hometown crowd.

    UFC 318’s main event will be a BMF title fight between defending champion Max Holloway and challenger Dustin Poirier, the latter of whom will be retiring following this event.

    This is the third encounter between the two men. They first met in February 2012 at UFC 143 — Holloway’s UFC debut and just his fifth professional MMA fight. Poirier scored a first-round submission of Holloway. The two would then go on to have lengthy, successful careers before they met a second time at UFC 236. This time, interim UFC lightweight gold would be on the line (it was first UFC fight at lightweight for Holloway, who was the reigning featherweight champion at the time), and Poirier won an entertaining battle by decision.

    Since then, Holloway has dropped the featherweight title but remained one of the UFC’s most entertaining and winning fighters. Poirier has fallen short three times of becoming undisputed lightweight champion, but he picked up career wins in 2021 by scoring a pair of finishes over rival Conor McGregor. Both men, in fact, come into this fight off unsuccessful title shots, with Poirier losing to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 and Holloway losing to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308.

    The BMF belt was established for Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November 2019 but has since gone on to be occasionally defended like UFC’s sanctioned titles. Justin Gaethje knocked out Poirier to win the belt at UFC 291 in July 2023 but was knocked out in highlight fashion by Holloway for the title at UFC 300.

    Mario Barrios vs. Manny Pacquiao — WBC Welterweight Championship

    Start Time: 8pm ET/5pm PT

    Where To Watch: Prelims available on Amazon Prime Video. Main Card available on PBC PPV on Amazon Prime Video & PPV providers

    Whereas we say goodbye to one combat legend in Poirier, another legend makes his return. Legendary boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title.

    This will be Pacquiao’s first fight since losing a WBA welterweight title fight with Yordenis Ugás in August 2021. Barrios won the WBC interim title by defeating Ugás in September 2023. He retained the interim gold against Fabian Maidana and was promoted to full-time champion not long after. He defended the title once this past November, battling Abel Ramos to a draw.

    The co-main event will feature Sebastian Fundora defend the WBC and WBO super welterweight titles against Tim Tszyu.

    The card will feature three prelims, topped by the return of Gary Russell Jr. against Hugo Castaneda.

    Bonuses For The Mega Fans!

    If you’re just that fight fan that wants to soak up every minute and all the action, we’ve got some bonus bones being thrown your way!

    In addition to all the pre-fight festivities surrounding the fight cards, action gets underway on Thursday, July 17, when UFC Fight Pass airs Tuff-N-Uff 146 at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The main event will see Jamie Siraj take on Marlon Gonzales in a featherweight matchup. The card will also see Leon Shahbazyan, a Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus and the brother of UFC fighter Edmen Shahzabyan, in action against Aaron Phillips.

    Combate Global will also hold on card on Thursday, July 17, in Miami. The main event will see Jaden Ortega in welterweight action against Ivan Castillo. The event will air starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT on Combate Global’s YouTube channel. Those in the US with Samsung TV Plus can watch the action there as well.

    A pair of regional promotions will also hold events on Friday, July 18, as CFFC 144 goes down in Tampa, Florida, and Fury FC 106 takes place in New Orleans. CFFC 144 will be headlined by Auttumn Norton defending the CFFC bantamweight title against Emily Martins and Sean Mora facing Mark Grey for the vacant bantamweight title. Fury FC, meanwhile, will be headlined by Junior Maranhão taking on Artur Minev. Both cards can be watched on UFC Fight Pass.

  • Breaking: Stream Every PFL International League Fight Free with New Official App

    Breaking: Stream Every PFL International League Fight Free with New Official App

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has launched a new direct-to-consumer app that allows U.S. fans to stream all PFL International League events live and free. The app, available on Apple and Google Play stores, serves as the exclusive U.S. home for live broadcasts of PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and PFL Africa events. The platform also offers access to PFL fights, fighter information, analytics, fan rewards, games, and behind-the-scenes content.

    PFL App

    Upcoming live events accessible through the app include PFL MENA on July 4 in Riyadh, PFL Europe on July 5 in Brussels, and PFL Africa on July 19 in Cape Town. The app’s features include live fight streaming, schedules, fighter profiles, fan engagement tools, and insider content.

    PFL CEO Peter Murray stated that the app is part of the league’s strategy to provide a centralized experience for fans and to make international events directly accessible in the U.S. Rick Allen, CEO of ViewLift, the platform’s technology partner, highlighted the ongoing partnership and the new opportunities for fan interaction and access to live content.

    The app is currently available for download on mobile devices and via the web, with plans to expand to OTT devices such as Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV later in the year.

    Download now at the Apple or Google Play Storeto begin your PFL free all access pass.  

    “We’re putting the power directly in the hands of MMA fans,” explained PFL CEO Peter Murray. “For the first time ever, fans in the U.S. can watch PFL MENA, PFL Europe, PFL Africa, and PFL Pacific live and free, all in one place. The PFL App is a major investment in our global league strategy and in delivering a deeper, more connected and centralized experience for our fans.”

    “PFL has focused on its fans since its launch,” said Rick Allen, ViewLift’s CEO. “We are proud to continue our 7-year alliance with the League, and deliver an entirely new experience for those fans: behind-the-scenes access, new ways to expand your fight knowledge and test yourself against others, and … for the very first time … direct US access to live international fights and recaps. Join us in the SmartCage!”

  • Ryan Bader Signing With RIZIN, Will Fight On New Year’s Eve

    Ryan Bader Signing With RIZIN, Will Fight On New Year’s Eve

    The next stop for former Bellator heavyweight and light heavyweight champion is now known, as it appears he is signing with Japanese MMA promotion RIZIN.

    Bader appeared at the Rizin: Otoko Matsuri event held at the Tokyo Dome on May 4, announcing plans to take on the winner of the RIZIN Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament. Such a fight would take place at the end of this year at RIZIN’s annual New Year’s Eve card.

    This will be Bader’s first MMA fight since his 21-second TKO loss to Renan Ferreira at the PFL vs. Bellator Champions vs. Champions card in February 2024. Bader officially parted ways with the PFL in March, two months after it was officially announced that the PFL was folding the Bellator brand. The PFL had formally purchased Bellator MMA in November 2023.

    Ryan Bader To Fight In RIZIN On New Year’s Eve

    Bader won the Bellator heayvweight championship by winning the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix held from January 2018-January 2019. The tournament saw Bader defeat Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Matt Mitrione and Fedor Emelianenko to become champion. Bader became the first Bellator heavyweight champion since Vitaly Minakov was formally stripped of the title in 2016 and became the first double champion in Bellator history.

    Bader defended the heavyweight title against Cheick Kongo, Valentin Moldavsky and Emelianenko before Bellator’s purchase by the PFL.

    Bader was also the light heavyweight champion at one point, winning the title in his Bellator debut at Bellator 180. He’d defend that title against Linton Vassell before losing the title to Vadim Nemkov.

    The eight-man RIZIN Heavyweight Grand Prix began at the May 4 event, which saw Marek Samociuk defeat Daniel James, José Augusto Azevedo best Tsuyoshi Sudario and Mikio Ueda beat Shoma Shibisai. The remaining quarterfinal will take place between Islambek Baktybek Uulu and Alexander Soldatkin.

  • Patricio Pitbull Sets Sights On Former UFC Featherweight Champion Following Long-Awaited PFL Release

    Patricio Pitbull Sets Sights On Former UFC Featherweight Champion Following Long-Awaited PFL Release

    Patrício Pitbull is now officially a free agent after being granted his release from the PFL. The Bellator featherweight champion has been very vocal about wanting to leave the promotion in recent months after a breakdown in communications with the promotion and he has finally been granted his wish.

    The Brazilian is a legend of the Bellator promotion but with that brand now officially dead, he realizes that he doesn’t have long left to tick off some bucket list items in his career. At 37-years old, he has recently spoken about dreaming of getting to fight in the UFC before he hangs up the gloves for good.

    As a 30-fight veteran in Bellator with the most fights, wins and finishes in the history of the promotion, it didn’t ever look like we would see him step inside the Octagon but that is quite clearly the destination which he hopes to arrive at in the coming days, weeks or months. In fact, shortly after PFL founder Donn Davis announced the news that Pitbull would be parting ways with the promotion, the Brazilian had already set his sights on a potential opponent.

    It appears that whilst he has spent a lot of time talking about a move to lightweight coming sooner rather than later, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will face former champ Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch which he agreed to after being joined in the cage by “The Great” following his win over Max Holloway last October. Given the fact that Pitbull is towards the end of his career, it makes sense for him to jump in at the deep end against the best 145-pounders that the UFC has to offer.

    If the rematch doesn’t take place in the near future for whatever reason, Pitbull would like to share the cage with Volkanovski in a dream fight that no one would have seen coming several years ago.

  • Daiane Silva, Fighter Hospitalized After Bellator Weight Cut, Out Of Coma

    Daiane Silva, Fighter Hospitalized After Bellator Weight Cut, Out Of Coma

    After a long space of time with no updates, there is finally some positive news regarding the health of Daiane Silva who was hospitalized following a weight cut. The Brazilian was set to make her Bellator debut in London on September 14 but the fight was cancelled after Silva was unable to make featherweight, which would have been her first time competing at this weight class.

    It was later reported that she was placed into in an induced coma in London after suffering from kidney failure and some time later, PFL founder Donn Davis spoke about it for the first time as he explained that the PFL’s decision to not speak on the matter was to give Silva and her loved ones some privacy at this time.

    After staying in London for over a month, Silva’s manager Alex Davis recently relayed the latest update to Ariel Helwani who forwarded the news during Monday’s edition of The Ariel Helwani Show. He said that Silva is back in Brazil where she has spending time at a rehabilitation center where she is able to walk and talk.

    Davis also told Uncrowned’s Helwani that there were major concerns that Silva would be on dialysis for the rest of her life but she has since made some positive steps even if it remains unclear whether she will ever make a full MMA return. Davis thanked the PFL, Mike Kogan and Eduardo Lima in particular, for their help during this difficult period.

    He said that the doctors believe that she will make a full recovery.

  • Paul Hughes Looks To Secure Revenge For Ireland Against Dagestan: ‘I’ll Find Out Where Islam’s At’

    Paul Hughes Looks To Secure Revenge For Ireland Against Dagestan: ‘I’ll Find Out Where Islam’s At’

    At the PFL’s Battle of the Giants event, Paul Hughes was one of the biggest stories of the night following his great performance. The Irish lightweight was considered to be one of the brightest rising talents in the sport but in a huge step-up against AJ McKee, he showed that he’s the present as well as the future by beating him via the scorecards.

    Just like he wanted to face McKee so that he could make a statement, Hughes knew exactly who was in his sights after getting his hand raised. “Big News” called for a fight with Bellator lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov, which has since been confirmed for January 25 in Dubai in one of the best match-ups that the promotion could possibly put together.

    The challenger also did a lot of the heavy lifting for the PFL when it comes to marketing this fight after on the mic, he pitched it as Dagestan vs Ireland 2. The promotion has ran with that tagline when the fight was announced yesterday, setting it up as the second chapter to the biggest fight in MMA history between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.

    In a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Hughes said that evening the score by getting some revenge for “The Notorious” by beating Khabib’s cousin next time out is a big source of motivation for him. He doesn’t see this being the decider either, teasing the potential of a trilogy bout with the UFC’s lightweight king, Islam Makhachev further down the line.

    “Yeah 100%, I’m going to make it 1-1 for the boys definitely and maybe in the future, make it 2-1. I’ll find out where Islam’s at and maybe do that in the future but I’ll not get ahead of myself now. Usman’s an incredibly, incredibly dangerous fighter that I have to be on my game to beat.”

  • Bellator Title Contender Announces Free Agency: ‘Who Wants An Exciting Welterweight?’

    Bellator Title Contender Announces Free Agency: ‘Who Wants An Exciting Welterweight?’

    Former Bellator title contender Lorenz Larkin has announced that he is currently a free agent after fighting out his contract. “The Monsoon” had recently said in interviews that he would be in talks with the PFL about re-signing but his latest statement seems to suggest that he is exploring all options right now.

    The final fight of his contract was listed as a welterweight title eliminator at the Bellator Champions Series event in San Diego this past September. After stopping Levan Chokheli in the first round, it seemed clear that he would go on to challenge the undefeated Ramazan Kuramagomedov who won the title by beating Jason Jackson in June.

    After competing both in Strikeforce and the UFC, Larkin signed with Bellator in 2017 after securing back-to-back wins in the Octagon over Jorge Masvidal and Neil Magny making his switch a fairly substantial acquisition. This showed in his debut as he jumped right into a welterweight title shot where he lost a decision to Douglas Lima.

    If this is the end of Larkin’s run with Bellator, he departs having fought 12 times with the promotion with one additional appearance on a PFL card this past June. The 38-year old posted a video on his Instagram story to talk about the next stage of his career.

    “Hey, so just wanted to keep everybody updated who’s interested, your boy is officially a free agent. Me and my team can officially start talking to other promotions. I’m excited, this is another part of the career that we gotta do so I’m pumped, excited for what the future brings and excited to see who wants an exciting welterweight to come in so let’s see.” 

  • Former Champion Files Lawsuit Against PFL-Owned Bellator Shortly After His Release

    Former Champion Files Lawsuit Against PFL-Owned Bellator Shortly After His Release

    Former Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi has filed a complaint against the promotion, and the PFL, after being released from his contract in May.

    The 39-year old was granted his release earlier this year after he spoke incredibly negatively of the promotion in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. In that interview, he said that if it was up to him, he would like to just leave and move on with his career but his team wanted to pursue legal action after the way he had been treated.

    The breakdown in relationship between the two parties stems from Mousasi’s Bellator contract and the PFL being unhappy to honor it after they acquired the promotion and it’s roster last year. This is explained in the documents, including several interactions between Mousasi’s team and the PFL regarding his expensive contract.

    This saga appeared to have come to an end when PFL’s Mike Kogan, who previously worked with Mousasi at Bellator, announced that he had been released, writing: “We wish him all the best fighting in his next chapter.”

    However, as Mousasi stated back in May, his team wanted to progress things even further with John S. Nash reporting that the complaint alleges a breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, a claim for relief for Monopsonizaton.

    The detailed complaint provides lots of information about Mousasi’s Bellator contract and how the PFL did not want to pay him that much money to fight considering that he wasn’t a champion or a PPV draw.

    It also goes into the other issues, including a claim that Mousasi was misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee.

    All of the information, including the conversation back and forth from Mousasi’s management and the PFL can be found via Nash’s X account below:

  • Dan Hardy Reacts To UFC Erasing Francis Ngannou, Compares With Own Experience

    Dan Hardy Reacts To UFC Erasing Francis Ngannou, Compares With Own Experience

    Francis Ngannou found himself in the news without doing anything the week before the press conference for his PFL debut.

    “The Predator” may be gearing up for his long awaited MMA return where he will face Renan Ferreira on October 19 but the legacy he left behind in the UFC will never be forgotten.

    The MMA leader found themselves receiving some criticism during fight week for UFC 305, after claims that they had tried to erase Ngannou from the promotion’s history books due to his name being edited out during the Countdown episode preview.

    Though Dana White did apologise for this and put it down to a miscommunication, it certainly wasn’t the first time that the UFC have tailored things to better suit the promotion.

    Dan Hardy Says Francis Ngannou’s UFC Erasure Was Sad But Not Surprising Based On Track Record

    During a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the discourse regarding the UFC’s conduct around the career of their former heavyweight champion, who left the promotion on less than stellar terms.

    “The Outlaw” spoke about the comparisons between Ngannou’s treatment and that of Randy Couture, who also left to sign with another promotion and wasn’t remembered fondly by the UFC as a result.

    “It was sad to see and it didn’t surprise me unfortunately and I did see what Dana’s reply was about the fact that the editors had assumed that’s what he would have chosen and what he would have wanted and look, they were probably right because it’s happened so many times in history. Ngannou and Randy, they’re two fantastically credible names in the sport.”

    Hardy was also able to draw from his own experiences, even if his was on a smaller scale.

    The current Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe left the promotion in 2021 after some disagreements with the UFC, both publicly and privately.

    He recalled how he was seemingly wiped from the history of UK MMA during an event in London where his wife, Veronica, was in action.

    Despite being the first Brit to challenge for a UFC title when he faced Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight belt, “The Outlaw” was nowhere to be seen across the celebrations of the sport in this region.

    “My history in the UFC is far more mediocre in comparison but even so, at UFC London when Veronica was on the card, there’s posters of all the UK fighters on all of the underground tubes and everything and of course, I’m not there. It does happen, they do it a lot.

    “It makes no difference to me, I can dye my hair red and walk down the street and people will remember my fights. It’s just kind of a weird thing to see and for people like Randy and Ngannou, they need to be celebrated because they’ve inspired so many people, myself included. They shouldn’t be omitted, they’re part of the fabric of the sport and I think the fans will always remember that.”  

    Read also: PFL CEO Contradicts President’s Rejection Of Muhammad Mokaev: ‘He Could Absolutely Be The Future Face Of Flyweights Within PFL’

  • PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World

    PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World

    The heavyweight division in MMA has gone through a lot of changes over the last few years.

    From Francis Ngannou leaving the UFC and vacating his heavyweight title, to Jon Jones debuting in the weight class and becoming champion, to the ongoing situation regrading him, Stipe Miocic and interim champ Tom Aspinall.

    Ngannou is set to make his long awaited return to MMA when he debuts in the PFL on October 19 against PFL champion, Renan Ferreira.

    The fight will see the winner claim the PFL Super Fights belt but with Ngannou never losing his UFC title, he has to be in the conversation for still being the best out there and therefore, Ferreira can also enter that discussion with a win.

    Dan Hardy On Who The Best Heavyweight In The World Is

    In a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the magnitude of the fight that is billed as “Battle of the Giants”.

    The Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe believes that Ngannou versus Ferreira is the very highest level in the heavyweight division.

    For what it’s worth, he also weighed in on the current Jones, Miocic, and Aspinall debate, making it clear who his pick is for the best of the bunch.

    “We’re potentially going to find out who the best heavyweight is on the planet. There’s a lot of conversation on the other side around Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, Miocic, etc. Right now for me, Tom Aspinall is head & shoulders above Jon Jones and Stipe just based on his activity.”

    With Aspinall being his pick for the best heavyweight in the UFC, Hardy said that a fight between the Brit and the winner of Ngannou vs. Ferreira may be the very pinnacle of the weight class.

    “But, then you compare Tom Aspinall to Ngannou and Ferreira and that might be the fight to determine who the best heavyweight is on the planet, the winner of the Ngannou-Ferreira fight and then Tom Aspinall. It’s exciting. As an MMA fan, I love speculating about these things, it’s very rare that we get to match a current PFL champion against the heavyweight king of the world, Francis Ngannou.”

    Read also: Glover Teixeira Gives His Verdict On Alex Pereira Weight Class Move

  • Anthony Pettis & Jeremy Stephens Feature As PFL 1 Pairings Announced

    The Professional Fighters League is set to return with a bang on April 20 as the light heavyweights and lightweights take center stage for PFL 1.

    After a successful 2021 season, which came after the postponement of the previous lineup due to COVID-19, the PFL is looking to go even better with its fourth season in the sport.

    To do so, the rising promotion has bolstered its ranks with a number of new faces, some of which will be on display right from the off when the 155 and 205lbers look to open the season with a bang next month.

    The card, which was confirmed by the promotion on Tuesday, includes a host of widely-recognized names and intriguing clashes.

    On the ESPN+ card, slated for 5:30PM ET, long-time UFC veteran Stevie Ray (22-9) will enter the cage for the first time since 2019. The Scotsman, who has faced the likes of Michael Johnson, Paul Felder, and Joe Lauzon during his 32-fight career, has come out of retirement for the 2022 PFL lightweight season. He’ll face Alexander Martinez (8-2), who went 1-2 in last year’s competition.

    Elsewhere, former UFC middleweight Omari Akhmedov (21-7) hopes to make up for his unsuccessful PFL debut at last year’s finale when he opens his first full 205-pound season against former GCF heavyweight champion Viktor Pešta (18-6). Olivier Aubin-Mercier (13-5), meanwhile, will hope to keep his perfect PFL record intact as his season gets underway against a yet-to-be-announced 155-pound opponent.

    At 9:00 PM ET, four quality bouts are set to grace ESPN and ESPN+. Clay Collard (20-9-1), who recorded a victory over Anthony Pettis last year before falling in the lightweight semifinals, will welcome renowned MMA veteran Jeremy Stephens (28-19-1) to the PFL cage. “Lil Heathen” has made the move over from the UFC, where he shared the Octagon with names like Josh Emmett, Renan Barão, Max Holloway, Yair Rodriguez, José Aldo, Frankie Edgar, and Charles Oliveira.

    2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Antonio Carlos Jr. (13-5-2) also has his pairing set. He’ll hope to follow in the footsteps of Kayla Harrison and record back-to-back titles. His journey to doing so begins against his compatriot Delan Monte (8-1). Another 2021 champion in action will be lightweight king Raush Manfio. To start his defense of last year’s championship on the right foot, “Cavalo de Guerra” has to dispatch South Africa’s Don Madge (10-3-1), who is riding a seven-fight win streak into this year’s season.

    Finally, hoping to make up for a lackluster 0-2 arrival in PFL last year, former UFC lightweight champion Pettis (24-12) has been dealt the hand of Ireland’s Myles Price (11-7), who enters his first PFL season having not competed since a 2019 victory over Peter Queally under the Bellator banner.

    The announced PFL 1 card is currently as follows:

    5:30PM ET/ESPN +

    Alexander Martinez vs. Stevie Ray (lightweight)

    Robert Wilkinson vs. Bruce Souto (light heavyweight)

    Omari Akhmedov vs. Viktor Pešta (light heavyweight)

    Marthin Hamlet vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis (light heavyweight)

    Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. TBA (lightweight)

    Emiliano Sordi vs. Josh Silveira (light heavyweight)

    9PM ET/ESPN & ESPN+

    Clay Collard vs. Jeremy Stephens (lightweight)

    Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Delan Monte (light heavyweight)

    Anthony Pettis vs. Myles Price (lightweight)

    Raush Manfio vs. Don Madge (lightweight)

    Which fight are you most looking forward to seeing go down at PFL 1 on April 20?

  • Why Staying In The PFL Was A Smart Move For Kayla Harrison

    It was the moment Kayla Harrison’s dream was shattered. Sitting cageside at UFC 269, the two-time PFL women’s lightweight champ watched in disbelief as monumental underdog Julianna Peña took the back of Amanda Nunes, sunk in a rear-naked choke, and forced the Baddest Woman on the Planet to tap.

    For months, speculation had been rife that Harrison, at the time testing free agency, would soon sign with the UFC, face Nunes, and perhaps become the first to dethrone the seemingly unbeatable Brazilian. But as she watched Peña beat her to it, Harrison knew that the opportunity of her career—to defeat the GOAT and thereby claim the title for herself—had just passed agonizingly by.

    Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist with a 12-0 MMA record, has consistently voiced her ambition to become the greatest women’s mixed martial artist of all time. And that’s why, earlier this month, the 31-year-old shocked many fans by spurning an offer to fight the very best in the UFC, and instead, re-sign with the PFL.

    Perhaps Nunes’ defeat factored into her decision. The massive spectacle (and payday) that a matchup with the Brazilian promised is now a far less attractive prospect. That aside, it seems there are other compelling reasons why Harrison may have made the right decision—both financially and for her long-term career.

    Why Staying In The PFL Is Good For Harrison’s Career

    Harrison only made her pro MMA debut in the PFL just under four years ago. Despite her claim that she could beat UFC bantamweight champ Peña with one arm, Kayla is still relatively inexperienced in MMA and, it can safely be argued, untested.

    As inexperienced Kayla is, the opponents thrown her way in the PFL are even more so. Her last opponent, Taylor Guardado, had a pro MMA career spanning less than two years and four fights when the duo met in October last year. Her opponent before that, Genah Fabian, had just five fights. And if Harrison’s opponents aren’t inexperienced, they have worryingly checkered records. When she fought Mariana Morais in May last year, the Brazilian was 16-10.

    Kayla Harrison
    PHOTO: ESPN

    Sure, Harrison has looked impressive, having ended seven of her twelve fights in the first round. But whether she can defeat someone like Amanda Nunes, whose 14-year, 26 fight career has mostly taken place in the UFC, is highly debatable. Fighting Nunes or Peña now would certainly be in their favor, and if Kayla were to lose, it would irreparably damage her star power. Fighting them after a few more years growing as a mixed martial artist in the PFL will surely be in Harrison’s.

    And why not stay and work on her game in the PFL, where she’s made $2 million by winning the lightweight tournament in the last two years? And now with her new contract, Harrison is reportedly the highest-paid female mixed martial artist of all time. Despite the UFC offering Harrison a “first-of-its-kind” deal during her free agency, even its president, Dana White, believes the easy, more-than-generous paydays she earns in the PFL are too good to give up.

    “They pay her an obscene amount of money to fight over there,” White said of Harrison’s PFL stint in October. “If I was her, I’d stay right where she is and keep picking off the people over [there]. When you come here [chuckles], Amanda Nunes is no joke; Shevchenko is no joke; Rose Namajunas—these are all the best women in the world, the best female fighters in the world.”

    The Personal Reasons Keeping Kayla Harrison In The PFL

    Part of the reason why Harrison made the decision, it seems, is because she’s motivated by conflicting ambitions. Yes, she wants to prove she’s the best. But having recently acquired legal guardianship of two children, her quest for GOAT status has become complicated by the need for financial security.

    “Three years ago, I would have said legacy,” Harrison said of her ambitions in a February interview with ESPN. “That’s all I give a shit about. My advisers, they care about security. Obviously, I have two kids now, so for me, as hard as it is, security comes first. I have to make sure. There’s no guarantees in this life. There’s no certainties. I could snap my neck tomorrow and never fight again. Security is important. But if I can find a way to have security and continue to build my legacy, I think that’s a winner.”

    The question is: can Harrison have her cake and eat it too?

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison (Image Credit: PFL MMA)

    The Less Travelled Road To GOAT Status In The PFL

    Having been given assurances by the PFL, Kayla Harrison earnestly believes that she’ll get the big, legacy-building fights while fighting in the promotion. And one matchup that she feels will help her on the road to GOAT status is with Bellator featherweight champ Cris Cyborg, which PFL founder Donn Davis has promised to aggressively pursue through a cross-promotion. 

    “When I talked to Donn, and one of the things that really sort of put my worries about my legacy to rest, was he was like, ‘Listen, ‘I don’t care if we have to do this on the Moon, I don’t care if we have to cross-promote, co-promote, we’re going to make this fight happen. This is the fight to make happen,’” Harrison told The Underground this month. “I was like, ‘Well, hell yeah, it is. Let’s go.’”

    Unlike the UFC, which is notoriously unwilling to stage a cross-promotion fight, there’s a good chance that Bellator will, having previously done so with Rizin Fighting Federation in 2019. But even if Harrison were to land a big-money fight with Cyborg, defeating her would by no means confer GOAT status in the eyes of fans.

    So, is Harrison sacrificing her prime years in a promotion that many, including Peña, regard as the ‘B-Leagues?’ There’s certainly an argument for that. But by staying in the PFL for a few more years, Harrison will emerge a much more complete fighter. And if she does enter the UFC in the future, she’ll undoubtedly have a much more realistic chance of becoming the greatest of all time.

    What do you think? Was staying in the PFL the right move for Kayla Harrison?

  • Manager: PFL Deal Makes Harrison Highest-Paid Female MMA Fighter

    According to Dominance MMA Management CEO Ali Abdelaziz, Kayla Harrison’s new PFL deal has made her the highest-paid female mixed martial artist in history.

    After months of speculation and uncertainty, the future of one of the most sought-after free agents in MMA was announced this week. Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and undefeated lightweight is set for some more years fighting under the promotional banner of the rising PFL organization.

    “I’m happy the free agency is over and I have a fight on the horizon,” Harrison told The New York Post via text. “I’m excited to continue to grow and challenge myself and be one of the highest-paid athletes in the sport.”

    And one of the highest-paid athletes she certainly is, if her manager is to be believed.

    Per journalist Aaron Bronsteter, Abdelaziz has said his client has shot to the top of the ladder in women’s MMA when it comes to financial gain following the signing of a new lucrative contract.

    “I spoke with Harrison’s manager @AliAbdelaziz00, who said ‘the PFL stepped up in a big way and Kayla is now the highest paid women’s mixed martial artist ever. I want to thank everyone who was involved in getting the deal done and in particular, Peter Murray and Ray Sefo.’”

    Given that she’s only 12 fights and four years deep into her career, if true, Harrison’s status as the highest-paid female MMA fighter ever is certainly an impressive achievement.

    Harrison Will Pursue A 3rd PFL Title In 2022

    While a return to the PFL seemed likely a number of weeks ago, a late offer from Bellator seemingly threw a spanner in the works. If that came to fruition, a long-awaited clash between Harrison and Cris Cyborg, who have been going back and forth on social media for months, would have been a possibility.

    Unfortunately for Bellator kingpin Scott Coker, his rival for her signature was able to match the offer, thus paving the way for this week’s confirmation.

    With her future finally laid out following five months of discussion and a tied-down place on the sport’s rumor mill, Harrison will now turn her attention to what she seemingly does best—destroying her competition inside the PFL cage and capturing gold.

    Having previously secured $1 million checks and championship glory in both 2019 and 2021, the Ohio native will be looking for a third successive dose of PFL glory when she returns for the 2022 season.

    With the addition of former Bellator featherweight champion Julia Budd to the equation, this year promises to provide the former Judoka with her stiffest tests to date.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVkrTb8g47i/

    Do you think re-signing with PFL was the correct move for Kayla Harrison?

  • Claressa Shields Revisits Then Drops Jake Paul Beef While Giving Him Credit

    Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields spoke on conflict with Jake Paul and seemed willing to drop their beef.

    Since 2016, Claressa “T. Rex” Shields has dominated women’s boxing. She is the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals and has won multiple world championships in three separate weight classes.

    Claressa Shields
    Claressa Shields, Photo Credit:  STEPHANIE TRAPP/ TRAPPFOTOS/ SHOWTIME

    12-0 in her professional boxing career, Claressa Shields is easily a revered champion. And in 2021, the superstar made a switch to mixed martial arts.

    She won her MMA debut against Brittney Elkin by TKO at PFL 4 last June. However, later in the year, Shields lost via split decision against Abigail Montes, and immediately following that loss, Jake Paul had a few choice words.

    “The only beef I have with Jake Paul is don’t ever disrespect me, you know what I’m sayin’? Like, he tried to kick me when I was down and also going into a new sport,” Shields said in an interview with TMZ Sports. “I lost a split decision. I didn’t get submitted, I didn’t get knocked out, I didn’t get beat up, it was a split. And I’m also brand new at MMA. And when he made that comment, calling me a loser and stuff, that’s what really made me want to fight him.

    “And then it’s like, you can’t call me a loser because you don’t box better than me and you damn sure don’t do MMA better than me. You don’t do nothing better than me. That’s it. To kick somebody while they’re down but never give them their props when they’re up, that was kinda wack to me and that’s why I didn’t have no respect for him,” Shields explains on TMZ Sports.

    But their beef between them did not start there. Claressa Shields claims undefeated Jake Paul would be an easy opponent for her and requested a sparring match. She later threatened to sue Paul and his team for claiming that she had requested to be on Paul’s undercard.

    Claressa Shields & Jake Pau Squash Beef

    On January 7, Paul took to Twitter to squash their disagreement.

    “Let’s put this behind us and work together to continue to build women’s boxing,” Paul tweeted.

    Recently, Jake Paul helped promote a highly anticipated boxing match between undisputed champions Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, which Shields expressed an appreciation for and thus met Paul halfway in his olive-branch extension.

    “But now, I just wish him the best,” Shields said. “I wish him the best. If he ever wanna spar, it’s always up in the air. It’s always an option. Because I do owe him a couple blows,” Shields said half-jokingly. “But other than that, I think what he’s doing for Amanda is great. I think him getting involved in helping the fight with Katie Taylor getting made is great for Amanda, and Katie, and it’s great for women’s boxing. So I appreciate him for that,” Shields continued.

    Considering women’s boxing is a high priority for both athletes, perhaps their quarrel can now be swept under the rug.

    Do you think this is the end of the Claressa Shields and Jake Paul beef?

  • PFL Announces New ESPN Broadcasting Deal Amidst Harrison Talks

    The PFL has renewed its broadcasting deal with ESPN for the 2022 league season and beyond amidst contract talks with its biggest star.

    The league is also reportedly expected to re-sign Kayla Harrison to a new contract as her free agency comes to a close.

    2022 regular season and playoff events will be simulcasted on ESPN and ESPN+. Some additional PFL coverage will take place on ESPN2.

    The PFL first agreed to a broadcast partnership with ESPN back in 2019. Before that, the league had a longstanding deal with NBC Sports before “The Worldwide Leader in Sports” agreed to become the league’s new televised home.

    2022 is expected to be another huge year for the PFL as a whole. The league’s new Challenger Series program, similar to Dana White’s Contender Series, will launch next month. The show will give up-and-coming prospects a chance at signing with the league.

    “After two successful years of providing fans with premium MMA content alongside ESPN, PFL is proud to extend and expand our agreement,” CEO Peter Murray said via a press release. “As MMA continues to evolve as a sport and rights property, our differentiated product and unique approach will help shape its path forward and in 2022 fans can expect more events, matchups between the world’s best fighters, and innovative content than ever before.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    The league has added a different spin on how MMA is scored and judged. The PFL’s point-based system, along with its league standings and postseason, has added a new and unique dimension to the sport.

    The PFL regular season will begin on April 20 as Anthony Pettis, Julia Budd, and possibly Harrison make their returns to the cage.

    Will you watch the PFL this season?

  • PFL Commits To Holding Events In Africa And Europe In 2022

    The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will be branching out beyond North America in 2022, with plans to hold events in Africa and Europe.

    The PFL is one of the fastest-growing MMA promotions in the world. Ever since adopting its season-themed approach to the sport, the PFL has begun airing on ESPN and has become the home to stars of yesterday and tomorrow, with names like Rory MacDonald, Anthony Pettis, Kayla Harrison, and Claressa Shields competing in the promotion. With the $1 million prize offered to the winner of each division’s tournament, the PFL is expected to continue attracting big names for several years to come.

    As the promotion continues to grow, one of its New Year’s resolutions is to continue its expansion onto new soil. This includes Africa, a continent that has given birth to UFC champions Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya, and Francis Ngannou. Yet, according to PFL CEO Peter Murray, the PFL will be putting on events in Africa before the UFC does.

    “We’ll be making announcements in the first quarter of 2022,” Murray said. “What I can tell you is we’re committed to Africa as a priority market, to develop and grow the sport – at the pro level, at the grassroots level,” Murray told The Independent.

    “We’re committed to expanding PFL distribution throughout the continent in 2022, and we’re also committed to staging events in Africa in 2022. So, the plans are firm, it’s just a matter of finalising partnerships and rolling out those details. But come first quarter, we’ll be in a better position to share some context on that.”

    Murray also plans on making a splash in the European market next year as well, with the continent figuring largely into the promotion’s 2022 plans.

    “With respect to Europe, and in particular the UK, we’re excited about staging events,” Murray said. “We’ll have a new premium distribution partner in the UK in 2022 – critically important for the PFL – so we expect to tick the box on both distribution and live events in the UK next year.”

    The PFL is currently being distributed in 160 countries. In addition to these expansion plans, the PFL has also recently announced a “Challenger Series” that will serve as a scouting mechanism for new talent, similar to Dana White’s Contender Series. With all these changes coming down the pike, 2022 figures to be a very ambitious year for the North American promotion.

  • PFL Announces “Challenger Series” To Scout Up-And-Coming Talent

    The PFL has announced a Dana White’s Contender Series-like show that will begin in 2022 and give MMA prospects an opportunity at a contract.

    The PFL Challenger Series will debut on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, and will stream on Friday nights exclusively on FuboTV. Prospects will have the chance to duke it out and impress a guest panel that will change from week to week and will feature celebrities such as NFL stars Ray Lewis and Todd Gurley, and boxing legends such as Mike Tyson.

    The celebrity guest panel will not decide the official outcomes of the fights themselves but will play a significant role in determining which fighters will earn PFL contracts. Fans will also have the opportunity to voice their opinions during the broadcasts regarding fight decisions and who should get an opportunity in the league.

    Contract winners will be entered in the league’s 2022 tournament for a chance at $1 million.

    The PFL Continues To Change The MMA Landscape

    “PFL Challenger Series is not your father’s contender series,” PFL Founder and Chairman Donn Davis said in a statement. “The winner of the PFL Challenger Series can become a real-world Rocky story, going from an unknown pro to World Champion holding a $1 million check in the same year.”

    The PFL has added multiple new elements to how the sport of MMA is viewed, and with the level of competition it has added over the past few years. Big names such as Kayla Harrison, former UFC standout Antonio Carlos Jr. and others have made their mark on the league.

    The new Challenger Series will add another angle to the league’s future and send the message that the PFL is here to stay for many years to come. It’ll be interesting to see the level of talent they’ll add through this program.

    What are your thoughts on the PFL Challenger Series?