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With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submission from April 2023.
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from April 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for April.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.
Josh Silveira picked up a big 6 points to start the 2023 light heavyweight regular season when he quickly submitted Sam Kei at 2023 PFL 1.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] beat Sam Kei with a first-round submission Friday on the preliminary card at 2023 PFL 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Silveira, who picked up a big 6 points to start the 2023 light heavyweight regular season.
Movlid Khaybulaev, the 2021 featherweight season winner who missed all of 2022, started 2023 with 3 points from a dominant decision win.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] beat Ryoji Kudo with a unanimous decision Friday on the main card at 2023 PFL 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Khaybulaev, the 2021 featherweight season winner who missed all of 2022.
Marthin Hamlet picked up 6 points in the PFL light heavyweight standings with a 65-second neck crank submission of Mohammad Fakhreddine.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] beat Mohammad Fakhreddine with a first-round submission Friday on the preliminary card at 2023 PFL 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Hamlet, who picked up 6 points in the light heavyweight standings with the 65-second neck crank.
“Say what you want to say, but we’re still in the game.”
[autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] won’t be deterred after he dropped his PFL debut.
Santos (22-12) lost a unanimous decision to 2022 light heavyweight season winner Rob Wilkinson in this past Saturday’s 2023 PFL 1 co-main event, which took place at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
The former UFC title challenger has now lost six of his past seven fights. His lone win in that stretch came over Johnny Walker in October 2021. But despite his losing skid, “Marreta” vows to come back stronger.
“At the end of the day, we have two options, give up or continue. And how can I give up on a blessing that God grants me, even with all my difficulties and limitations I’m still here, doing and living what I love. Say what you want to say but we’re still in the game.”
At the end of the day, we have two options, give up or continue. And how can I give up on a blessing that God grants me, even with all my difficulties and limitations I'm still here, doing and living what I love. Say what you want to say but we're still in the game. pic.twitter.com/b5cYnoPslu
— Thiago “Marreta” Santos (@TMarretaMMA) April 3, 2023
“I came from nothing, so mentally I never lose. Everything is a win or a lesson.”
Eu vim do nada mano, mentalmente eu nunca perco. Tudo é vitória ou aprendizado.
🇺🇸 I came from nothing, so mentally I never lose. Everything is a win or a lesson.— Thiago “Marreta” Santos (@TMarretaMMA) April 3, 2023
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Santos’ skid began when he took former UFC light heavyweight champion and current heavyweight champ Jon Jones to the brink in a split decision loss at UFC 239. Prior to that, he won eight of nine fights – including TKO finishes of Jack Hermansson, Anthony Smith and former champ Jan Blachowicz.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL 1.
Impa Kasanganay returned just a few weeks after a win on PFL’s Challengers Series to beat Cory Hendricks in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] beat Cory Hendricks with a unanimous decision Friday to open the preliminary card at 2023 PFL 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Kasanganay, who returned just a few weeks after a win on PFL’s Challengers Series.
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 3,349, the boys welcomed 2022 PFL women’s lightweight champion [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] into the studio, joined by her manager (and interpreter) Alex Davis. Additional topics include the WWE and UFC merger, Bellator 293 results, 2023 PFL 1 results, 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 Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique” live stream covering the biggest topics in MMA, including a look ahead to UFC 287.
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Dan Tom will join host Farah Hannoun live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:
“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch this week’s episode in the video above.
Bubba Jenkins outworked rival Chris Wade for 3 points in the featherweight standings.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] beat Chris Wade with a unanimous decision Friday on the main card at 2023 PFL 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Jenkins, the 2022 featherweight season runner-up who got his 2023 campaign started with 3 points.
Will Fleury spoiled Krzysztof Jotko’s PFL arrival after nearly 10 years in the UFC, but he wasn’t thrilled with his performance overall.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] beat Krzysztof Jotko with a split decision Friday on the main card at 2023 PFL 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Fleury, who spoiled Jotko’s PFL arrival after nearly 10 years in the UFC.
