Tag: 2023 PFL Championship

‘Gold belt mentality’: PFL finalist Josh Silveira explains why title would mean more than $1 million

A second generation fighter, PFL finalist Josh Silveira was born with a martial artist’s mentality that he still carries today.

Money is cool, but [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] is looking for something a bit more meaningful to his sense of martial arts accomplishment.

For the second straight year, Silveira (12-1 MMA, 5-1 PFL) is on the verge of a $1 million prize. He faces former UFC fighter [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 4-0 PFL) in a light heavyweight final at 2023 PFL Championship. The event takes place Nov. 24 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., and streams on ESPN+.

“I would say the belt (means more than money),” Silveira recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “The belt drives me the most. Being champion, having that title, being part of a good organization and really cementing my name. The sport is growing. I think I have a good personality. I think I fight well. I think the money is going to come in all shapes and sizes.

“But I think the gold belt, especially for my father, and (it’ll) place a good stepping stone, a key moment into my great career. This is just the beginning. I think the gold belt for sure is the type of mentality you should have. The money is going to come and go but we really want to cement ourselves in that championship category, for sure.”

Perhaps Silveira’s preference for pride over dollars was handed down to him by his father, Conan, a former UFC fighter and longtime American Top Team coach. Silveira is a second-generation fighter. He’s been around an MMA gym for as long as he can remember.

“I think the PFL season format can kind of be tough,” Silveira said. “You need good coaching to understand that, ‘Hey, we’re going for our fourth fight. You’re more than ready. We’ve just got to sharpen up these little tools, do a couple of adjustments, get you ready for two more rounds, and that’s it.’ To be honest, the work feels good. The work feels done already. I feel like I’ve just been fighting all year long. It’s no problem with that. I feel great. My dad is just a guy who does a couple of adjustments, sometimes when he sees me getting too antsy. It is for a world championship fight. His goal is to keep me calm and collected and let’s go really cap this thing off and win this thing.”

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

Kayla Harrison unfazed by opponent switch for 2023 PFL Championship: ‘Any time, any place, anywhere, anyone’

Kayla Harrison is excited to return regardless of her opponent.

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] is excited to return regardless of her opponent.

Harrison (15-1 MMA, 14-1 PFL) was originally scheduled to face Julia Budd at 2023 PFL Championship on Nov. 24 at The Anthem in Washington, but will now face former UFC fighter Aspen Ladd (11-4 MMA, 2-1 PFL) instead. Budd was removed from the bout after she “refused to fulfill her contractual obligation.”

The opponent switch comes just over two weeks away from her fight, but two-time Olympic gold medalist Harrison isn’t too concerned with who she fights.

“It don’t matter: Any time, any place, anywhere, anyone,” Harrison told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’m in the zone. I just don’t care.”

Ladd holds a recent win over former Bellator champion Budd. Harrison, who look to rebound from her first-career loss to Larissa Pacheco in November 2022, sees Ladd and Budd as two completely different styles.

“It’s just a really different matchup,” Harrison said. “You look at stylistically, Julia Budd is much different. They have two different styles Julia, and Aspen. Julia is a former champ, Aspen was kind of a rising star. Julia is a little bit older, maybe on her way out. Aspen’s trying to build up and make a name and a future for herself. One’s a grappler, and one’s a striker. They’re just super different.”

While Harrison has enjoyed the time off with her family, she’s hungry to return.

“I’m super grateful to have a fight because at the end of the day, it’s what I love to do,” Harrison said. “It’s what makes me tick. It’s the burning desire I have in my heart. All is well and it’s good. Life is good.”

[lawrence-related id=2688400,2687148,2663311]

For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Championship.

Clay Collard calls Nate Diaz’s boxing ‘dog sh*t,’ would love to enter ring again if money is right

Clay Collard would love to box Nate Diaz.

[autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] would love to box [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag].

Collard has boxed 18 times as a professional, amassing a 9-6-3 record. He hasn’t entered the ring since December 2021 but would be open to it with the right opportunity. Collard ripped Diaz for his performance against Jake Paul, where the Stockton superstar lost a unanimous decision this past August in what was his boxing debut. Collard is open to boxing Diaz, then meeting him in the cage.

“If the money is right, I would love to box again,” Collard told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’ve been talking a little bit of sh*t on Jake Paul on Twitter and stuff like that hoping to beat him up. Nate Diaz’s boxing looked like dog sh*t in my opinion. So yeah, I’d like to box. I like boxing. I’m good at boxing. … F*ck Nate Diaz.

“He might have a little bit bigger name than me, but his boxing is f*cking dog sh*t. So I’ll fight him in boxing, turn around and fight in the smart cage. I’ll get to put on a little weight. He’s a little bit bigger than me, so I’ll lift a little bit, get to eat going on the scale, but yeah, I would love that. Line it up. I’m hoping to tell enough people they start talking enough they’ll just do it.”

First Collard (24-10-1) will look to win his first $1 million lightweight title when he meets Olivier Aubin-Mercier (20-5) at 2023 PFL Championship on Nov. 24 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The event streams live on ESPN+ PPV.

Collard is coming off a barnburner against ex-UFC fighter Shane Burgos and dubbed himself as the most exciting fighter in the PFL.

“I’m for sure the most exciting fighter in the PFL,” Collard said. “I think that’s a given. I think I’m one of the most exciting fighters in the world, so it’s something I am proud of.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030792]

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

With Julia Budd out, Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd booked for 2023 PFL Championship

Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd is set for 2023 PFL Championship in November.

(Editor’s Note: This report was revised at 5:35 p.m. ET to include information from an official press release from PFL.)

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] will return to action at 2023 PFL Championship in November, but not against her originally scheduled opponent.

Harrison (15-1 MMA, 14-1 PFL) was set to face Julia Budd at the final PFL event of 2023 on Nov. 24 at The Anthem in Washington. According to a press release from PFL, Budd (17-6 MMA, 2-3 PFL) was removed from the bout after she “refused to fulfill her contractual obligation.”

Luckily for Harrison, she will get to keep her planned fight date as UFC veteran [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] has stepped up on short notice. The new matchup will be a catchweight bout at 150 pounds, according to the press release. Prior to the official statement from PFL, three people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news with MMA Junkie. One person told MMA Junkie that contracts were issued.

Ladd (11-4 MMA, 2-1 PFL) was one of the PFL’s biggest additions in 2022. She debuted with the promotion last year, where she won a split decision over Budd at 2022 PFL Championship. In 2023, Ladd dropped a majority decision against Olena Kolesnyk, but rebounded nicely with a second-round armbar submission against Karolina Sobek. She now will fill in to face one of the toughest tests the PFL has to offer.

[lawrence-related id=2688400,2687148,2651003]

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Harrison will be competing for the first time since suffering the first setback of her pro MMA career. At 2022 PFL Championship, she lost a unanimous decision to Larissa Pacheco in their third meeting. The 2021 PFL lightweight champion is expected to be featured as a part of PFL’s pay-per-view model in 2024.

With the change, the current 2023 PFL Championships lineup includes:

  • Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Clay Collard – for lightweight championship
  • Renan Ferreira vs. Denis Goltsov – for heavyweight championship
  • Larissa Pacheco vs. Marina Mokhnatkina – for women’s featherweight championship
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Sadibou Sy – for welterweight championship
  • Impa Kasanganay vs. Josh Silveira – for light heavyweight championship
  • Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd
  • Derek Brunson vs. Ray Cooper III
  • Gabriel Braga vs. Jesus Pinedo
  • Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Joel Galarza Lopez – amateur bout
  • Bubba Jenkins vs. Chris Wade
  • Phil Caracappa vs. Khai Wu
  • Josh Blyden vs. Jesse Stirn

For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Championship.

Olivier Aubin-Mercier contemplating retirement after 2023 PFL Championship

Olivier Aubin-Mercier could be making the walk for the final time at 2023 PFL Championship.

[autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] could be making the walk for the final time at the 2023 PFL Championship.

Aubin-Mercier (20-5) will look to claim his second straight $1 million lightweight season win when he meets Clay Collard (24-10-1) on Nov. 24 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The event streams live on ESPN+ PPV.

Aubin-Mercier almost didn’t take part in the 2023 season due to the hectic nature of the format. When asked if he’d rather just compete in superfights, “The Canadian Gangster” hinted he may be nearing the end.

“(I think I’m tired of) fighting in general,” Aubin-Mercier told MMA Junkie Radio. “I love PFL, I love the format of PFL, but to fight eight times in two years is a lot, and it’s really demanding. At least, I need some vacation. I’ve never been as good as right now, and maybe it’s one of the reasons why I feel a little bit bad going away, but I need at least year (off).

“I don’t know if in a year if the motivation is going to be there and if I’m going to be as good as right now. If I don’t feel I’m the best version of myself, I won’t bother coming back. So let’s wait a little bit and let’s see what PFL says. I would like to fight in Montreal, that’s for sure, and I think that could be the only reason why I would maybe think to fight one more time.”

While Aubin-Mercier didn’t 100 percent make up his mind on his fighting future, the odds are currently swaying more towards him hanging up his gloves.

“I think there’s more of a chance that I’m done after this fight than I’m not done,” Aubin-Mercier said.

[lawrence-related id=2673600,2673483,2653381,2653378]

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