Category: PFL

Stevie Ray announces retirement from MMA after 2023 PFL 6 loss: ‘Time to pass on my knowledge and experience’

One of Scotland’s greatest MMA fighters has called it a career.

One of Scotland’s greatest MMA fighters has called it a career.

[autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] has decided to retire after suffering a second-round TKO to Clay Collard this past Friday at 2023 PFL 6, which took place at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.

Ray (25-13) needed a finish in the first round to clinch a spot in the playoffs, but fell short when he was stopped by Collard. “Braveheart” took to Instagram to announce that he’s hanging up his gloves, and his plans to continue coaching.

“14 years of service done. Time to pass on my knowledge and experience. Going to try book some Seminars over the next few months July/Aug/Sep in the UK if you’d like me to do a seminar at your Gym give me a message 😊👊

I will now also be back full time coaching at my Gym @braveheartmma from Next Monday 🙏👊 Full MMA timetable again.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct8r_ExKXKH/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

Ray departs the sport having lost three straight for the first time in his career. The 33-year-old made it to the 2022 PFL lightweight final after back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Anthony Pettis, but fell short in claiming the $1 million prize when he was knocked out by Olivier Aubin-Mercier.

Ray, a former Cage Warriors champion and ex-UFC fighter, holds notable wins over Pettis, Michael Johnson, Joe Lauzon and Ross Pearson.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 6.

PFL’s decision to suspend Raush Manfio ‘distasteful and unnecessary,’ manager says

PFL suspended Raush Manfio and Natan Schulte due to a lackluster bout – and now Manfio’s manager is speaking out.

A manager of one of the two PFL fighters recently suspended by the promotion due to a lackluster bout has taken exception with the decision.

2021 lightweight champion [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] lost to close friend [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag], also the godfather of his daughter, at 2023 PFL 6, which took place Friday in Atlanta.

The bout was lackluster in nature with minimal engagements. After the fight, PFL removed Natan Schulte from the playoff spot he had just clinched with the win and suspended him. Manfio also was suspended from competing under the promotion’s banner for the rest of 2023. The promotion said Saturday the actions were taken because the fighters “did not meet the standards which all PFL fighters agree to uphold in competition.”

Brian Butler, of SuckerPunch Entertainment, manages Manfio. Saturday, Butler disavowed the promotion’s decision in a statement to MMA Junkie. He also called into question the subjectiveness of the situation because, despite being a league format, the promotion decides regular-season matchmaking.

“To make a subjective decision like this from a promotion that stakes its claim in fighter advocacy is just a bad look, in my opinion,” Butler said. “Judges make bad calls all the time with less repercussion. Raush and Natan are best friends and have been exclusive training partners for each other for years. Natan is the godfather of Raush’s daughter. To say they know each others styles, tricks and techniques inside and out is a gross understatement.

“Situations like bad style matchups and lackluster fights happen in this sport all the time, but the unique thing about the PFL and the ‘tournament/point format’ is that it would sort itself out on its own in the end. Our client got half his pay and zero points to move forward in the tournament… This is distasteful and unnecessary.”

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Multiple rules listed in official “2023 Rules and Regulations” document posted on the promotion’s website addresses the semifinals, point delegation, and playoff qualification.

Article 1.1.c. indicates the semifinals are based on merit, “Fighters will earn points during the regular season based on their performance and will be ranked in division standings accordingly. At the end of the regular season, the top 4 in each division will make the playoffs.”

However, Article 3.1.b. lays the groundwork for playoff participants to be selected in a more traditional matchmaker-type format, “Semifinal matchups will be determined at the league’s discretion. The league reserves the right to change matchups at any time.”

Additionally, Article 2.3 states that points, which determine who does and does not make the PFL playoffs, can be changed by the promotion at any time.

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According to the promotion’s official lightweight standings, since Schulte was stripped of his three points earned against Manfio, he dropped back down below the playoff qualifying line. Schulte and his representatives have yet to comment.

The 2023 PFL lightweight playoffs will launch Aug. 23 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Schulte’s replacement, Shane Burgos, will take on Clay Collard, and 2022 champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier takes on Bruno Miranda.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 6.

PFL tosses Natan Schulte from playoffs, suspends Raush Manfio after bout ‘did not meet the standards’

A fight between close friends Natan Schulte and Raush Manfio has resulted in both fighters suspended and one removed from the playoffs.

[autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag] won’t be in the 2023 PFL playoffs after all.

Less than 12 hours after Schulte (25-5-1) defeated [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] (17-5) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at 2023 PFL 6 and clinched a playoff spot in the process, the promotion announced his removal from the postseason and both fighters’ suspensions for the remainder of the season.

“Last night Natan Schulte and Raush Manfio did not meet the standards which all PFL fighters agree to uphold in competition,” a PFL press release Saturday said. “All fighters in their PFL Fight Agreements agree to use their ‘best efforts … skills and abilities as a professional athlete to compete … and defeat any opponent.’”

The bout in question took place Friday at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta on the event’s preliminary card. For the majority of three rounds, Schulte and Manfio were hesitant to engage. The two are close friends and training partners.

“It was very clear that Natan and Raush did not meet that contractual standard in yesterday’s bout,” the promotion said. “PFL immediately suspended both fighters from the season and deemed the fight to have 0 points for purposes of League standings. PFL takes this action in recognition of its responsibility to all PFL fighters and all PFL fans.”

As a result, [autotag]Shane Burgos[/autotag] (16-4) will slide into a playoff slot and take on [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] (23-10), who previously clinched the No. 1 seed. [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (19-5) and [autotag]Bruno Miranda[/autotag] (16-3) man the other side of the four-man playoff bracket.

The unusual nature of Friday’s fight gained much attention from fans and even other PFL lightweights prior to the announcement Saturday,

2022 PFL lightweight champion Aubin-Mercier, who defeated Anthony Romero in the card’s main event, questioned if the promotion should have two fighters from the same gym compete in the same weight division.

“It was really weird,” Aubin-Mercier said (via BestFightPicks). “I have to be very clear. I understand 100 percent if I was going to fight my best friend. … It would be a fight like this. But at the same time, it’s unfair to anybody else. I think it showed PFL. When I said I wanted PFL to be better, I think it showed maybe we shouldn’t put two people of the same gym in the same category. This stuff can happen.

 

MMA Junkie reached out Saturday to the George Athletic and Entertainment Commission (GAEC), which oversaw the event. The story will be updated to reflect comment if/when it is received.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 6.

2023 PFL 6 video: Olivier Aubin-Mercier’s knee crushes Anthony Romero for brutal knockout

“The Canadian Gangster” Olivier Aubin-Mercier capped off his 2023 PFL regular season with a devastating third-round knockout in Atlanta.

[autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] needed a win in any fashion to reach the 2023 PFL playoffs, and a highlight-reel finish did the trick.

At 2023 PFL 6 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Aubin-Mercier (19-5) took on Anthony Romero in the main event (12-2), where both fighters were hunting for their spot in the playoffs. It would be “The Canadian Gangster” who punched his ticket by putting Romero out from a brutal knee at 0:28 of Round 3.

The first round was wild to start. In one of the opening exchanges, Aubin-Mercier rocked Romero with a hard right hand. Romero was able to recover quickly and started to return fire. A few moments later, he landed a slick crescent kick to wobble Aubin-Mercier.

In the second round, the fighters struggled to get a solid read on their opponent’s movement, as a series of head clashes due to the open stances caused brief pauses in the fight. Regardless, the fight continued without any point deductions.

With just five minutes to go on the clock, Aubin-Mercier ended things in less than 30 seconds in the final round. While looking for a left high kick, Romero changed levels, resulting in a quick adjustment by Aubin-Mercier to connect with the knee. The result was devastating for Romero, who instantly crashed to the canvas.

Check out video of the finish below (via Twitter):

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Aubin-Mercier has recorded arguably two of his best finishes in his last three fights. In November, he knocked out Stevie Ray with a punch worth $1 million in the second round to win the 2022 lightweight season.

The Canadian lightweight won his first bout of the season, picking up a unanimous decision win over fellow UFC veteran Shane Burgos at 2023 PFL 3.

Aubin-Mercier now heads to the playoffs, where he will face Natan Schulte in the first round. The other side of the bracket will see Clay Collard take on Bruno Miranda.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 6.

2023 PFL 6 results: 2022 season winners Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Sadibou Sy score highlight-reel knockouts

2023 PFL 6 took place Friday to complete the lightweight and welterweight playoff brackets – and last year’s champs shined with KOs.

2023 PFL 6 took place Friday and MMA Junkie provided live and official results throughout the entire card.

The event featured lightweight and welterweight regular season bouts at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. The main card aired on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

In the main event, 2022 lightweight season winner [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (19-5) took on [autotag]Anthony Romero[/autotag] (12-2). Mercier competed for the second time in the 2023 season, following a unanimous decision win over Shane Burgos at 2023 PFL 3. Romero, a 2023 PFL Challenger Series competitor, entered his first regular season bout, hunting for a playoff spot.

In the co-feature, 2022 welterweight season winner Sadibou Sy (15-6-2) took on Shane Mitchell (13-6). Sy finished Jarrah Al-Silawi in the second round at 2023 PFL 3, while Mitchell looked to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Nayib Lopez.

Full 2023 PFL 6 results include:

2023 PFL 6 video: Sadibou Sy wheel kicks Shane Mitchell for insane walkoff knockout

Sadibou Sy already secured his spot in the 2023 PFL playoffs, but added another highlight to his reel for good measure.

[autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] said he wanted a viral knockout in the final regular season bout of the year, and he may have accomplished his goal.

At 2023 PFL 6 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Sy (15-6-2), the 2022 welterweight season winner, took on Shane Mitchell (13-6) in the co-main event. A majority of the bout was spent in striking exchanges on the feet, until Sy landed a beautiful wheel kick at 1:35 of the third round.

The fight started out competitive, with both fighters landing well on the feet. However, Sy was more accurate and offered a higher volume, including a lightning-quick wheel kick that would have ended Mitchell’s night had it connected.

In the third round, Sy was well ahead in the fight and a had a playoff spot already clinched, but he still hunted for that highlight moment. He went for the wheel kick again and this time he connected, sending Mitchell crashing to the canvas for the walkoff finish.

Check out video of the finish below (via Twitter):

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Sy finished both of his 2023 regular season bouts. At 2023 PFL 3, he stopped Jarrah Al-Silawi with knees and punches in the second round. On Friday, his playoff spot was secure with any win, draw, or even a loss after the second round. However, he opted to go for the highlight moment and it paid off immensely.

Sy will face Carlos Leal in the first round of the welterweight playoffs. The other side of the bracket will see Magomed Magomedkerimov take on Magomed Umalatov.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 6.

Magomed Magomedkerimov def. David Zawada at 2023 PFL 6: Best photos

Check out these photos from Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. David Zawada at 2023 PFL 6 in Atlanta.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag]’s victory over David Zawada at 2023 PFL 6 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)