PFL’s Bubba Jenkins explains why soccer star Lionel Messi inspires him

Bubba Jenkins takes inspiration from Lionel Messi’s success in sport.

[autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] takes inspiration from [autotag]Lionel Messi[/autotag]’s success in sport.

Messi is widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time – if not the greatest. Jenkins can relate to Messi’s small stature in competition, and how he was able to excel regardless of being undersized.

“My son is a Ronaldo fan so he’s not a Messi guy, he’s a Ronaldo fan,” Jenkins told MMA Junkie Radio. “He’s like, ‘Dad, why do you like Messi?’ and I was like because Messi is small, Messi is our size. Messi is a little guy, he’s smaller, and he gets the job done at the highest levels in his way, and I obviously know he’s in what you would consider the Arena League of soccer, killing everybody.

“So, it makes sense that he’s doing what he’s doing. But, it also highlights his greatness. He could have done it anywhere, doing it anywhere, but he decided to do it his way, how he wanted it. Pick up a smaller group of people, he likes to collaborate, and I love that.”

Jenkins (21-6) takes on Jesus Pinedo (21-6-1) in the 145-pound semifinal at 2023 PFL Playoffs 1, which takes place Aug. 4 at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas.

2023 PFL Playoffs 1 will mark the first event Jenkins headlines, and he can’t wait for the opportunity to shine.

“I’m very excited, I can’t be more excited, and I’m the main event,” Jenkins said. “So, when it comes to me feeling like PFL finally got it right or giving the people what they want, it’s this. It’s ‘Bad Man Things’ in the main event, in Texas, all things are big in Texas, they do it big there. So, I couldn’t be more excited, more pumped for the position, the platform, and the stage.”

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PFL announces featherweight, light heavyweight playoff matchups for San Antonio

The semifinal fights are set for the PFL’s 2023 postseason at featherweight and light heavyweight.

The semifinal fights are set for the PFL’s 2023 postseason at featherweight and light heavyweight.

The promotion announced the two playoff pairings in those two divisions. The semifinal winners at the playoff event, which is set for Aug. 4 at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, will meet in the $1 million finals later this year.

In the main event, top-seeded featherweight Bubba Jenkins (21-6) will take on Jesus Pinedo (21-6-1) in one semifinal at 145 pounds. On the other side of the bracket, Gabriel Braga (11-0) meets fellow unbeaten Movlid Khaybulaev (21-0-1). Khaybulaev won the featherweight season in 2021.

In the co-main event, top seeded light heavyweight Josh Silveira (11-1) fights Ty Flores (13-4). And across from them in the 205-pound bracket, Marthin Hamlet (12-4) takes on Impa Kasanganay (13-3).

At featherweight, Jenkins, Braga and Khaybulaev each went 2-0 in the regular season. Jenkins and Braga both finished with 9 points, but Jenkins is in the top-seeded spot. He had a 3-point decisino win over Chris Wade in April, then a 6-point rear-naked choke finish of Sung Bin Jo earlier this month to punch his ticket to the playoffs and, ultimately, the top seed.

At light heavyweight, top-seeded Silveira was one of only three fighters all regular season to have 12 points from two first-round finishes. Hamlet’s No. 2 seed came with 9 points, and Kasanganay and Flores got in with 5 points each – including from just one win for Kasanganay.

The card also features a half-dozen showcase bouts down the card.

The 2023 PFL Playoffs 1 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • No. 1 Bubba Jenkins vs. No. 4 Jesus Pinedo – featherweight semifinal
  • No. 1 Josh Silveira vs. No. 4 Ty Flores – light heavyweight semifinal
  • No. 2 Gabriel Braga vs. No. 3 Movlid Khaybulaev – featherweight semifinal
  • No. 2 Marthin Hamlet vs. No. 3 Impa Kasanganay – light heavyweight semifinal
  • Keoni Diggs vs. Elvin Espinoza

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)

  • Thad Jean vs. Ali Omar
  • Lisa Mauldin vs. Desiree Yanez
  • Satoshi Ishi vs. Danilo Marques
  • Ky Bennett vs. Chelsea Hackett
  • Chuck Campbell vs. Billy Elekana