2023 PFL Challenger Series 8 results: Denzel Freeman’s 27-second TKO finish earns contract

Denzel Freeman is the latest addition to the PFL heavyweight division after earning a contract for a 27-second finish.

The PFL’s Challenger Series returned for the eighth week of 2023, with some athletes gunning for a second shot at a PFL contract that could either serve as a developmental deal or earn them a spot directing into the regular season to compete for its $1 million prize.

2023 PFL Challenger Series 8 took place Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., and aired live on fubo Sports Network. The “Second Chance” event featured four bouts at various weight classes: lightweight, welterweight, heavyweight and women’s featherweight. The fighters in the final two bouts of the evening competed for the second time during this year’s Challenger Series.

Ali Omar (5-2) got the evening started with a gritty split decision win over Sanon Sadeck (3-2). In the second bout, Denzel Freeman (4-0) made quick work of Raiden Kovacs (0-1), finishing the fight in just 27 seconds after a brutal head kick led to the stoppage. Evelyn Martins (4-0) outstruck Jackie Cataline (3-2) to win a unanimous decision. In the feature bout, Kendly St. Louis (9-4) shut out Paulo Henrique (14-7) on the scorecards to win a one-sided unanimous decision.

The four winners were narrowed down to Freeman and Martins , with their PFL regular season hopes in the hands of voters.

The celebrity panel this week consisted of former UFC champion Randy Couture, two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison, and award-winning recording artist and part owner of PFL, Wiz Khalifa. The panel, along with the fans, chose Freeman as the heavyweight contract winner. He will now compete in the upcoming regular season, where he will test his skills against PFL’s largest fighters.

Freeman is undefeated through four fights in his professional career. Friday’s bout was his first appearance inside the cage since 2021, where he recorded a 47-second finish of Duane Crespo at Titan FC 70.

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Official results for 2023 PFL Challenger Series 8 include:

  • Kendly St. Louis def. Paulo Henrique unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Evelyn Martins def. Jackie Cataline via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Denzel Freeman def. Raiden Kovacs via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:27
  • Ali Omar def. Sanon Sadeck via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

2022 PFL champ Rob Wilkinson feels underappreciated: ‘UFC fighters for whatever reason get put on a pedestal’

Rob Wilkinson feels he’s not fully appreciated by the MMA community.

[autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] wants to prove he’s among the best in the world, and he feels he can do just that in his next outing.

The 2022 PFL light heavyweight champion returns to the cage April 1 in the co-main event of 2023 PFL 1 in Las Vegas. Wilkinson (17-2 MMA) welcomes former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos to the PFL. The Australian sees this as a great opportunity to prove his worth in the MMA landscape.

“He’s been fighting the top guys in the UFC forever now,” Wilkinson told MMA Junkie Radio. “His last fight was against the now current UFC champion, Jamahal Hil. So I think that going out there and making a statement and making it look easy in a sense, having a better performance than all these guys in the UFC had against him, I think that really goes to show that there are a lot of fighters, not only in the UFC. We’re seeing this time and time again – UFC fighters leaving to PFL thinking they can have good fights and make a quick million dollars, and that’s not been the case at all. I’m looking forward to Thiago.”

Wilkinson feels underappreciated by the masses. Now on a six-fight winning streak, and with his last loss being to Israel Adesanya in 2018, Wilkinson feels he should be regarded as one of the best light heavyweights in the world.

He thinks that the label of the UFC unfairly overshadows those doing good work outside the octagon.

“I definitely want that respect,” Wilkinson explained. “I saw some of those world rankings, you know, how low I’m in some of those rankings. I think UFC fighters for whatever reason get put on a pedestal above all other promotions. I’m a world champion of what? One of four major promotions and I definitely consider myself top 10, and I want to prove I’m the best light heavyweight in the world. So that’s why I’m excited for this fight.”

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Regardless of whether he gets the credit, he feels he deserves or not, Wilkinson sees the Santos matchup as something beyond an opportunity to prove his skills to the world. Wilkinson considers Santos to be the toughest challenge in the PFL light heavyweight season. Taking the Brazilian out will send a message to the rest of the competitors.

“I think this fight, it almost feels like a bigger fight than the final last year,” Wilkinson said. “It’s a big name and probably the toughest guy in the tournament to verse for myself.

“I think it’s going to be exciting to go out there and make a statement and get a finish, and kind of really show that … I want no one to want to fight me. I want them if they get matched up with me to be like, ‘F*ck.’ I want to make a statement with Thiago and make everyone scared to fight me.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3344: UFC 286 preview, Alistair Overeem gets suspension, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”


Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,344, the guys preview the big UFC 286 pay-per-view in London, discuss Alistair Overeem’s suspension, talk the latest news and more. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Skidding Marlon Moraes feels indebted to fans to win at PFL 1, responds to calls for retirement

Marlon Moraes thinks he owes his fans a victory at 2023 PFL 1 and explains why retirement isn’t on his mind.

[autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] thinks he owes his fans a victory at 2023 PFL 1.

Moraes (23-11-1) will look to snap a five-fight losing skid when he faces 2022 PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane (26-4) April 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The event will have a main card on ESPN and ESPN Deportes following prelims on ESPN+.

Rebounding against the promotion’s most recent champion will be a tough task, but Moraes wants to prove his doubters wrong and show that he can still compete at a high level.

“I’m excited for the season, and I feel like I’m in debt with some of my fans, and this is the mentality I’m coming with for 2023,” Moraes told MMA Junkie Radio. “I have so many people that support me, that like to see me performing, and I want to get in there starting April 1 and show to all these guys what I still can do, and I want to cement this season as – I don’t know if I’m going to be the champion at the end of the season, but one thing I’m going to do for sure is give so many good fights for my fans.”

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Having been knocked out in his past five fights, many have urged Moraes to hang up his gloves. But Moraes, who holds wins over former longtime UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and current UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, said he had a very tough road in the UFC and was never really given a rebound fight.

“I can’t wait to fight again, and a lot of people are questioning, ‘Should he fight? What’s he doing? It’s a tough fight.’ But I never had an easy fight,” Moraes said. “Since 2017 when I signed with the UFC, I faced Raphael (Assuncao) in my first fight. Raphael was top seven in the world and since then, I never faced an easy fight.”

He continued, “I just got a bad streak. The UFC didn’t want to give me an opening. They didn’t want to give me like Cody Garbrandt got (Trevin Jones) in the last fight, a get-back fight. I never got that get-back fight.”

MMA Junkie Radio #3343: Guest Marlon Moraes, Bellator 292 and UFC recaps, Benson Henderson, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”


Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,343, the guys welcome guest [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag], who returns to the PFL on April 1. Plus, they recapped Bellator 292 and UFC Fight Night 221, discussed the latest news and more. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

2023 PFL Challenger Series 7: Best photos from Orlando

Check out these photos from the fights at 2023 PFL Challenger Series 7 in Orlando, Fla.

Check out these photos from the fights at 2023 PFL Challenger Series 7, which took place at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL)

2023 PFL Challenger Series 7 results: Ex-UFC fighter Impa Kasanganay finally finds a new home

Former UFC fighter Impa Kasanganay has a new home after he three-punched an opponent at 2023 PFL Challenger Series 7.

[autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] has a new home.

Friday at 2023 PFL Challenger Series 7, Kasangany (11-3) was the fighter selected to take home a contract for the promotion’s regular season after he three-punched [autotag]Osama Elsaidy[/autotag] (8-3) for a TKO victory at 4:15 of Round 1. The event took place at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.

Kasanganay was a former UFC fighter, who joined that promotion off “Dana White’s Contender Series.” From August 2020 to September 2021, Kasanganay went 2-2 and alternated wins and losses. The promotion elected not to re-sign him after his fourth fight, a knockout loss to Carlston Harris.

Since his departure, Kasanganay has struggled to find fights. After a split decision loss to Raimond Magomedaliev at Eagle FC 46, Kasanganay defeated Jared Gooden by knockout at XMMA 5.

Full 2023 PFL Challenger Series 7 results include:

  • Impa Kasanganay def. Osama Elsaidy via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:15
  • Taylor Johnson def. Trey Williams via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 1, 1:20
  • Billy Elekana def. Tristan Overvig via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Roland Dunlap def. Monte Deon Ogbonna-Morrison via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Challenger Series 7.

Impa Kasanganay likes that he ‘can always look forward in PFL,’ hopes to secure contract

Impa Kasanganay sees PFL as a perfect platform to stay busy and get his career on track ahead of his Challenger Series appearance.

[autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] sees the PFL as the perfect platform to stay busy and get his career on track.

Kasanganay (10-3) headlines Friday’s PFL Challenger Series 7, which takes place at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., and airs live on Fubo Sports Network. He meets Osama Elsaidy (8-2) in a light heavyweight bout for an opportunity to either sign a developmental deal or earn a spot directly into the regular season to compete for the $1 million prize.

Kasanganay, who was cut by the UFC in 2021, started his professional MMA career 8-0 before he was on the receiving end of the 2020 Knockout of the Year against Joaquin Buckley. Including that fight, he’s 2-3 since then.

Outside the UFC, Kasanganay dropped a split decision to Raimond Magomedaliev at Eagle FC 46 then rebounded with a TKO of re-instilled UFC fighter Jared Gooden last July at XMMA 5.

If he can find a new home with PFL, the season and tournament format will give Kasanganay the stability he’s looking for.

“I think the cool thing is you can always look forward in PFL,” Kasanganay told MMA Junkie Radio. “It prepares me for the season, especially that the light heavyweights go April 1. I told myself I’m gonna go claim this victory, go get this contract, and God willing I dominate this fight. …

“It’s exciting. It’s inspiring to me. It’s one of those things I feed off of. If it’s a pressure, I say it’s a privilege, so it’s something I’m really looking forward to, and I want to stay active.”

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A former welterweight and middleweight, Kasanganay will be making his light heavyweight debut against Elsaidy. When asked if he’ll face any size disadvantages in his new division, Kasanganay said he used to weigh 245 pounds during his college football days and currently walks around at 215 to 220.

“This is where home is for me,” Kasanganay said. “I’m going to be able to push the pace on these guys, definitely be faster. Strength-wise, there’s no discrepancies. So I’m just ready to get after it for sure.”

PFL announces three shows in Atlanta for second half of 2023 season

The 2023 PFL regular season schedule is complete as the promotion will head to Atlanta for the second straight year.

The PFL is headed back to Atlanta.

On Thursday, the promotion announced 2023 second-half regular season dates, all of which will take place at Overtime Elite Arena, a venue the promotion visited for the first time last season.

The three events are set for June 8, June 16, and June 23 and will feature the final regular season matchups for competitors across all six weight classes. The events will stream on ESPN and ESPN+.

The weight classes for each date are as follows:

  • Thursday, June 8: Featherweight and light heavyweight
  • Friday, June 16: Heavyweight and women’s featherweight
  • Friday, June 23: Lightweight and welterweight

The 2023 PFL regular season kicks off April 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, where the first half of the regular season is scheduled to take place over the course of three consecutive weekends.