Category: PFL

Rory MacDonald aims to reach potential in PFL: ‘I want this to be the best part of my career’

Soon to be 31, are Rory MacDonald’s best days still ahead?

[autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] hasn’t fought in 2020 nor will he, which leaves a lot of time for self-reflection.

A former UFC welterweight title challenger and Bellator champion, MacDonald (21-6-1) signed with PFL months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the outbreak, the promotion decided to cancel its 2020 season.

“Of course it’s frustrating,” MacDonald told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I was really motivated to start this new chapter with a bang. C’est la vie. I’m going to use this time wisely. I’m also using it to look inward and try to improve myself. I’m also looking back on the past to try to right my wrongs moving forward. In a sense, it was a positive thing, because it gave me some time to reflect and dial in my focus for the next chapter of my career.”

Despite the PFL’s hiatus, MacDonald said he’s been utilizing the time to reflect on his journey. MacDonald admitted he’s made mistakes in his career, without them he wouldn’t be where he is today. He’s actively hoping to identify and correct previous errors in order to learn.

“This quarantine, I was really trying to analyze my career,” MacDonald said. “Sometimes you just don’t think about it. You just go through the motions to the next fight. I was able to kind of take a step back, signing with a new company. I have a few regrets during my twenties – the decisions that I made from all different ranges in my career from training to business or whatever.

“I want to take this opportunity with the change of promotion. I’m going to be 31 years old this summer. I want to make my thirties much more successful. I want to not have regrets when I’m 40 looking back. I want this to be the best part of my career. I’m focused and working hard at making those changes and applying them.”

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At this point in time, MacDonald struggles to define his legacy. Why? Well, because he thinks the best is yet to come. Deep inside, MacDonald said he thinks his peak potential is hidden. It has yet to shine through.

“I’m really focused on achieving my goal of being one of the best to ever do it,” MacDonald said. “I feel like I slipped my opportunity at being world champion with the UFC. My career kind of went like this a little bit in my twenties. My thirties, I just really want it to be an uphill trajectory. I don’t want to have big ups and downs and lose focus in some fights and be hungry in others.

“I just really want to stay hungry and get after my goal of being one of the best welterweights that (has) ever competed in this sport. That’s what I’m focused on – making a name for myself, and showing my skills and my full potential.”

The PFL is currently running a series on MacDonald’s life called “The Red King Rundown.” The series premiere aired Tuesday, with more episodes expected in the near future.

https://youtu.be/6x26D6xFEfs

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, June 9: Take a look at bantamweight, sans Henry Cejudo

“Triple C” insists his fighting days are done, unless he gets a shot at the UFC featherweight title, and our new rankings reflect the move.

[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] insists his fighting days are done, and after giving him a little cooling off period, the newest edition of the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA rankings reflect his removal from the bantamweight division.

“Triple C” may return at some point if he’s given an opportunity to compete for the UFC’s featherweight title, but for now, he’s elected to step aside, and with all the action happening at bantamweight, we figured it was time to honor his request. That allows former title challenger [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] to ascend to the No. 1 position, with [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag], who picked up a massive win at this past weekend’s UFC 250, to take the No. 2 slot.

Of course, we know that neither of those men will be fighting for Cejudo’s belt next. Instead, that honor falls to No. 3 [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag], as well as [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag], who sits at No. 5 in the featherweight division, where he long served as a UFC champion.

So check out the new look of the bantamweight division, as well as all weight classes in this week’s latest rankings list.

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Joao Zeferino featured in new episode of PFL’s ‘Run it Back’ series

Most MMA action is on hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, but the PFL will help fill the void with its “Run it Back” series.

Most mixed martial arts action is on hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, but the PFL will help fill the void with its “Run it Back” series.

“Run it Back” features PFL fighters looking back on their biggest moments. The latest episode – which streams live Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET on the promotion’s YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels – will feature [autotag]Joao Zeferino[/autotag].

This week’s episode of Run It Back takes a closer look at PFL welterweight Joao Zeferino’s 21 MPH, first-round knockout of veteran Paul Bradley in 2018. The “Brazilian Samurai” caught Bradley with a devastating right-hand haymaker, launching him to the cage where he finished him off before the bell rang.

New episodes of “Run it Back” will air each Thursday.

MMA rankings report: Sorting through recent moves before the UFC returns

Big-time MMA returned earlier this month with three shows in eight days. What was the fallout from the second and third in that stretch?

Big-time MMA returned earlier this month with three shows in eight days. What was the fallout from the second and third shows in that stretch?

The MMA Rankings Report returns this week to break down UFC on ESPN+ 29 and UFC on ESPN 8 in Jacksonville, Fla. Ahead of what is expected to be the UFC’s return to Las Vegas this week, pending the Nevada Athletic Commission potential approval Wednesday, take a look inside some recent moves ahead of Saturday’s welterweight clash.

“Gorgeous” George and “Goze” from MMA Junkie Radio take you through all the updates to the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, May 26: UFC’s welterweight picture to become clear?

The UFC is all set to host the promotion’s first event at the UFC Apex, and a few top welterweights hope the company’s title picture clears.

The UFC is all set to host the promotion’s first event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas this weekend, and a few top welterweights hope the company’s title picture becomes a bit more clear.

Former UFC champion [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag] (19-4-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) and [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) meet in Saturday’s main event, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+. Woodley checks in at No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, while Burns has already claimed the No. 12 spot with wins over Demian Maia, Gunnar Nelson and Aleksei Kunchenko.

Of course, the welterweight division is filled with contenders hoping to unseat current champion Kamaru Usman. “BMF” titleholder Jorge Masvidal and British challenger Leon Edwards would certainly seem to have the inside track. But Colby Covington is still hoping for a rematch of their December clash, and Conor McGregor is a game-changing wild card that can pop up at any point.

Can Woodley or Burns do enough to separate themselves from the pack. We’ll find out Saturday night. In the meantime, take a look at the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings across all divisions.

Ray Sefo talks difficulty in decision to cancel PFL’s 2020 season

PFL president Ray Sefo discusses the promotion’s decision on pulling the plug on the entire 2020 season.

The Professional Fighters League was one of the first promotions to take definitive action amid the coronavirus outbreak.

After putting the season on hold, PFL decided to cancel their entire 2020 season, with all contracted fighters to receive monthly stipends.

It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but PFL president Ray Sefo says due to the nature of the promotion’s format, it would have been too difficult to try and resume operations with so much uncertainty surrounding the global pandemic.

“The decision was a difficult one because there’s so many fighters of course,” Sefo told MMA Junkie. “But when we looked at this world crisis and where it was heading, it just wasn’t safe for our fighters to even get ready and at that point when we made the decision, there was just so many people getting affected and people dying left, right and center which was pretty sad.

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“So the safety of our fighters and our staff was the most important thing that played a big part in making that decision and we had to push the season as you know. The fighters, they gotta fight five times to get to the finals but also, the season takes like eight to nine months to complete so we just knew time-frame wise, the safety of our athletes and of course fans and everybody else involved, it was just the best thing to do.”

The focus will now be on the 2021 season, as the promotion has no intentions of holding one-off shows in the meantime. PFL has recently signed the likes of former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Justin Willis and Tyler Diamond, who will all have to wait before getting to make their promotional debuts.

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Twitter reacts: MMA community celebrates Mother’s Day on social media

It’s Mother’s Day 2020, and despite being among the toughest characters in all of sports, MMA fighters aren’t against well wishes.

It’s another Mother’s Day, and despite being some of the toughest and most tenacious characters in all of sports, MMA fighters aren’t against well wishes.

Check below to see a collection of tweets and Instagram posts from MMA fighters and personalities across the globe celebrating Mother’s Day on social media.

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Sarah Kaufman thinks PFL’s decision to cancel season ‘makes sense’

Sarah Kaufman will not get to compete this year, but has no hard feelings toward the PFL.

[autotag]Sarah Kaufman[/autotag] will not get to compete this year, but has no hard feelings toward the PFL.

The PFL made the decision to suspend the entire 2020 season due to growing concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, but Kaufman (21-5 MMA, 1-1 PFL) understands what prompted the promotion’s decision.

“It does make sense,” Kaufman told MMA Junkie. “The biggest, the most unique and the most exciting part of the PFL is their format, and it could not have been an easy decision. Going from what was a great PFL 1, into a build for PFL 2, I think that we now have a lot of buzz around the PFL. It’s very exciting. There are a lot of big names that are now part of the PFL that were signed on for Season 3, and so to have the postponement is hard – but it’s very understandable.

“Given just the fact that we have 25, I think, countries represented within the PFL – so to have that many different people flying in from different places, the logistics of all that travel and the safety and the precautions that would need to be taken if it was even possible, I understand.”

Kaufman, who joined the PFL roster in 2019, was eliminated in the lightweight semifinals with a decision loss to Larissa Pacheco.

Though she admitted not getting to compete this year is a tough pill to swallow, Kaufman holds no ill will toward the PFL’s decision to cancel the season.

“It’s hard as a fighter to know that you’re not fighting potentially for a full year, and that you’re prepared for something that is now being moved,” she said. “But I definitely understand where the PFL is coming from, and I respect the hard decision that they had to make.”

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Sarah Kaufman featured in new episode of PFL’s ‘Run it Back’ series

Most mixed martial arts action is on hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, but PFL will help fill the void with its “Run it Back” series.

Most mixed martial arts action is on hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, but the PFL will help fill the void with its “Run it Back” series.

Mixed martial arts action is on hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, but the PFL will help fill the void with its “Run it Back” series.

“Run it Back” features PFL fighters looking back on their million-dollar championship victories. The fifth episode – which streams live Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET on the promotion’s YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels – will feature 2019 signee [autotag]Sarah Kaufman[/autotag].

This week’s episode features a look back at the PFL debut of Canadian MMA trailblazer Sarah Kaufman. Sarah entered the 2019 PFL season as the most seasoned fighter in MMA’s first-ever women’s lightweight division and the favorite to meet Kayla Harrison in the championship. She did not disappoint at PFL 1, earning a first-round submission win by arm triangle over Morgan Frier. The win improved her career record to 21-4, and the six points catapulted her to atop the division standings.

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New episodes of “Run it Back” will air each Thursday.

You can hear Kaufman talk about her PFL arrival in the video above.

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PFL partners with Food Bank for New York City to provide 25,000 meals

During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the PFL is teaming up with Food Bank for New York City on a major initiative.

During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the PFL is teaming up with Food Bank for New York City on a major initiative.

The organizations will provide meals for thousands of New Yorkers who have been impacted by COVID-19. As part of its “PFL Fights for Communities” program, the fight promotion will provide 25,000 meals to those in need.

The PFL has postponed its entire 2020 season in the wake of global coronavirus shutdowns, delaying the promotional debut of former Bellator champion Rory MacDonald and the return other standouts like 2019 lightweight winner Kayla Harrison. The promotion said it has committed to a monthly cash stipend for its contracted fighters to help provide financial relief during the shutdown.

But they, and other fighters and organization representatives, are helping spread the word and encouraging others to help in New York, where food pantries have declared a state of emergency. Donations can be made at PFLMMA.com or Everyday Hero.

“Our thoughts are with all those impacted by COVID-19, and the heroes out in the front lines attacking this pandemic,” PFL CEO Peter Murray stated. “We want to do our part to show that the PFL family is in their corner and they aren’t alone in this fight. I am a lifelong New Yorker, our PFL headquarters are in Manhattan, and we’ve received tremendous support at our championship events hosted at Madison Square Garden. This is our home, and together we can make a difference, provide some comfort and make sure New Yorkers don’t go hungry.”

Food Bank for New York City has worked to end food poverty in the city for more than 35 years and is the city’s largest hunger relief organization. Every $1 donated to Food Bank provides five meals.