2023 PFL Challenger Series 2 results: Amanda Leve wins unanimous decision, PFL contract

Amanda Leve is heading to the PFL regular season after her performance at 2023 PFL Challenger Series 2.

The PFL’s Challenger Series returned for the second week of 2023, with athletes gunning for 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 2 took place Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., and aired live on fubo Sports Network. The event featured three women’s featherweight fights and one catchweight bout.

The first three contests ended early, with Michelle Montague (3-0) and Evelyn Martins (3-0) picking up rear-naked choke submission wins, while Jackie Cataline (3-1) stopped her opponent by TKO with strikes. The lone decision of the evening was a unanimous nod for Amanda Leve (2-0).

After the conclusion of the bouts, the four winners were narrowed down to Montague and Levee to determine which fighter would be awarded a PFL contract with the help of a live fan vote.

The celebrity panel this week consisted of an all-former fighter lineup of Paige VanZant, Tyron Woodley and Randy Couture. Their vote went to Montague, while the fans chose Leve. Ray Sefo served as the tiebreaking vote for the second week in a row, and he chose Leve as the winner of the PFL contract.

Official results for 2023 PFL Challenger Series 2 include:

  • Amanda Leve def. Naranjargal Tsend-Ayush via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Evelyn Martins def. Jeslen Mishelle via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:40
  • Jackie Cataline def. Senna van der Veerdonk via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:09
  • Michelle Montague def. Shaquita Amador Woods via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:45

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Photos: 2023 PFL Challenger Series 2 weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the 2023 PFL Challenger Series 2 ceremonial weigh-ins and fighter faceoffs in Florida.

Check out these photos from the 2023 PFL Challenger Series 2 ceremonial weigh-ins and fighter faceoffs in Orlando, Fla. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

Video: PFL’s Amanda Leve pulls off big upset over Gabi Garcia in grappling tournament

Watch PFL’s Amanda Leve score a giant upset, defeating Gabi Garcia at the 2021 FloGrappling WNO Championship.

[autotag]Amanda Leve[/autotag] shocked the grappling community over the weekend.

The grappler and PFL women’s lightweight pulled off a big upset over jiu-jitsu black belt and IBJJF Hall of Famer [autotag]Gabi Garcia[/autotag] at Saturday’s 2021 FloGrappling WNO Championship in Austin, Texas.

Leve (1-0) outpointed the much larger Garcia (6-0) – who has weighed in the past as heavy as 230 pounds for her MMA fights – in the first-round of the tournament, causing one of the biggest upsets of the year in the grappling world.

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At multiple times, Leve came close to submitting Garcia with her rear-naked choke attempts from back mount but was unable to get the tap. Regardless, Leve did enough to dominate the action and defeat Garcia in a unanimous decision. Leve went on to lose in the semifinal to Rafaela Ribeiro Guedes, who went on to win the tournament.

Leve has only competed once in her professional MMA career. She debuted at the 2021 PFL: Playoffs 2 on Aug. 19 in Hollywood, Fla. Leve defeated Miranda Barber via first-round rear-naked choke.

Meanwhile, Garcia last competed in MMA back in December 2018 when she defeated Barbara Nepomuceno via submission at Rizin FF 14. Garcia is unbeaten in her MMA career.

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