Tag: 2023 PFL 4

2023 PFL 4 fighter pay: Bubba Jenkins, Movlid Khaybulaev top list with six figures

Check out the disclosed 2023 PFL 4 fighter pays released by the state of Georgia.

PFL returned to Atlanta this past Thursday for the first of three shows in consecutive weeks at Overtime Elite Arena.

2023 PFL 4 featured final regular season bouts at light heavyweight and featherweight, as well as a pair of showcase fights. The event saw a shocking main event result when former UFC fighter [autotag]Jesus Pinedo[/autotag] knocked out 2022 PFL featherweight champion [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] with a brutal knee and punches in Round 1.

Also on the card, 2021 PFL featherweight champion [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] defeated former UFC fighter [autotag]Tyler Diamond[/autotag], and former UFC bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] retired after a knockout loss to [autotag]Gabriel Braga[/autotag].

MMA Junkie acquired a list of the 22 athletes’ disclosed payouts from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission. The amounts do not include bonuses, sponsorships, or any other discretionary payments.

Two fighters, 2022 PFL featherweight runner-up [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] and Khaybulaev, topped the list at $100,000 and were the only two athletes on the card with disclosed six-figure payouts.

Scroll below to see the disclosed pay for each 2023 PFL 4 fighter.

Deontay Wilder serious about two-fight offer to Francis Ngannou: ‘People will be very impressed on what I can do’

Deontay Wilder still wants to fight Francis Ngannou in both boxing and MMA.

[autotag]Deontay Wilder[/autotag] still wants to fight [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] in both boxing and MMA.

Wilder was in attendance for 2023 PFL 4 Thursday at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, where he was interviewed by the PFL broadcast crew. Wilder was asked about new PFL signee Ngannou, and the “Bronze Bomber” said he’s still very much interested in the fight.

Wilder is currently linked to a boxing match with Anthony Joshua at the end of the year but remains open to a two-fight deal against Ngannou.

“I thought about this many times,” Wilder said. “Even with Ngannou, we were talking about getting together. You always see the MMA guys crossing over, but you never see the boxers crossing over. So I said I’m willing to make it more interesting for the fans and just the whole combat family as in a whole.

“I said why don’t you come to my backyard, and after we handle business, I can come to yours and crossover, and I really meant it. So things are still up in the air, but I have seen myself on this side of the field. People will be very impressed on what I can do in my abilities to be here.”

Ngannou’s PFL deal includes equity and the flexibility to box. Wilder reappeared on the broadcast to try on PFL’s four-ounce MMA gloves and had a final message for Ngannou.

“Aye Francis, if you listening, we discussed this before. And hey, we got many space and opportunity to discuss it once more,” Wilder said. “Aye, I’m looking for a two-fight crossing over.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 4.

Brendan Loughnane reacts to shocking 2023 PFL 4 loss to Jesus Pinedo: ‘Got me good’

Brendan Loughnane was all class after he was finished for the first time in his professional career and eliminated from the PFL postseason.

[autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] was all class after his upset loss at 2023 PFL 4.

Loughnane (26-5) was knocked out in the first round by [autotag]Jesus Pinedo[/autotag] (21-6-1) in the main event Thursday at Overtime Elite Arena. The loss eliminated Loughnane from the playoffs and marked the first time he’s ever been stopped in his professional MMA career.

Pinedo was a big underdog heading into the bout with 2022 PFL champion Loughnane and delivered one of the biggest upsets of the year when he dropped Loughnane with a knee up the middle, then finished him with strikes.

Afterward, Loughnane congratulated Pinedo on Twitter and reacted to the stunning loss.

“Congrats champ. Took your opportunity and got me good. In 44 fights that’s the first time I’ve been stopped. Warrior 👏.”

“High level sport is crazy. I’ll be back.”

Having scored a first-round TKO of Marlon Moraes in his opening bout, Loughnane just needed a win to advance to the playoffs, whereas Pinedo needed an early finish. Pinedo advanced to the postseason alongside featherweights Bubba Jenkins, Movlid Khaybulaev, and Gabriel Braga.

In the first round of the 2023 playoffs, Pinedo takes on Jenkins, who submitted Sung Bin Jo in the first round earlier in the night. The other half of the bracket features Braga, who knocked out Moraes, against Khaybulaev, who submitted Tyler Diamond.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 4.

2023 PFL 4 video: Jesus Pinedo lands knee to knock out Brendan Loughane for huge first-round upset

Jesus Pinedo shook up the PFL with a massive upset over 2022 featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane.

[autotag]Jesus Pinedo[/autotag] pulled off one of the biggest upsets of 2023 Thursday evening in Atlanta.

In the main event of 2023 PFL 4, Pinedo (21-6-1) stepped into the cage to face 2022 champion Brendan Loughnane. The bout took place at Overtime Elite Arena and aired live on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

A massive underdog at the betting window, Pinedo needed to score a first-round finish if he wanted to reach the playoffs, while Loughnane (26-5) just needed a win in any manner to continue his quest for another championship.

Unfortunately for the champ, Pinedo hand designs on spoiling the party, and was successful by landing a knee up the middle in an exchange that dropped Loughnane. A few follow-up punches later, the referee called a stop to the action and the celebration for one of the biggest upsets of the year was on.

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

With the first-round stoppage, Pinedo earned six points and knocked off Chris Wade for the last featherweight playoff spot.

In his first fight of the season in April, Pinedo ended up on the wrong side of a split decision to Gabriel Braga. Despite the loss, he was able to reach the playoffs by upsetting Loughnane.

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The first round of the 2023 playoffs will see Pinedo take on Bubba Jenkins, who put Sung Bin Jo to sleep with a submission in the first round earlier at the event. The other half of the bracket will see Gabriel Braga take on Movlid Khaybulaev.

Loughnane sees his five-fight win streak come to an end in devastating fashion. Not only was he on the receiving end of a knockout, but he was eliminated from playoff contention. In his first fight of the season, Loughnane finished Marlon Moraes, who retired earlier in the evening after being stopped by Braga.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 4.

2023 PFL 4 results: Jesus Pinedo pulls off massive upset, finishes Brendan Loughnane in first round

2023 PFL 4 took place Thursday in Atlanta, where 2022 champion Brendan Loughnane was upset by Jesus Pinedo in the first round.

2023 PFL 4 took place Thursday and MMA Junkie provided live and official results throughout the entire card.

The event featured featherweight and light heavyweight bouts and took place at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. The main card aired on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

In the main event, 2022 featherweight season winner Brendan Loughnane (26-5) was upset by Jesus Pinedo (21-6-1). Loughnane won his first fight of the season with a second-round stoppage of Marlon Moraes, earning five points in the standings. Pinedo played spoiler, keeping Loughnane out of the playoffs in a massive upset.

In the co-feature, undefeated 2021 featherweight season winner Movlid Khaybulaev (21-0-1) took on Tyler Diamond (12-3). Khaybulaev earned three points in his first fight of the season by winning a unanimous decision over Ryoji Kudo.

Full 2023 PFL 4 results include: