Tag: Aspen Ladd

Aspen Ladd vs. Olena Kolesnyk among announced fights to complete 2023 PFL 2 lineup

UFC veteran Aspen Ladd has booked her return to the PFL cage.

[autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag]’s return to the PFL cage has been booked as she will take part in the promotion’s women’s featherweight season.

The former UFC contender is set to take on [autotag]Olena Kolesnyk[/autotag] at 2023 PFL 2 on April 7 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The Ladd-Kolesnyk matchup was one of several announced Monday to complete the PFL 2 lineup.

They join the previously announced main and co-main event bouts, with Ante Delija vs. Yorgan De Castro and Larissa Pacheco vs. Julia Budd.

Ladd (10-3) is coming off a successful PFL debut, having beaten former Bellator champion Julia Budd in a showcase bout at the 2022 PFL Championships back in November. She defeated Budd by split decision. It was her first fight since her release from the UFC.

Kolesnyk (7-5) is looking to bounce back from a loss to 2022 PFL women’s lightweight champion Larissa Pacheco. Prior to the defeat, the Ukrainian fighter was on a two-fight winning streak.

Below is the complete 2023 PFL 2 lineup:

MAIN CARD (ESPN 2, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Ante Delija vs. Yorgan De Castro
  • Larissa Pacheco vs. Julia Budd
  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Matheus Scheffel
  • Renan Ferreira vs. Rizvan Kuniev

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

  • Denis Goltsov vs. Michal Andryszak
  • Martina Jindrova vs. Amber Leibrock
  • Olena Kolesnyk vs. Aspen Ladd
  • Marcelo Nunes vs. TBA
  • Marina Mokhnatkina vs. Yoko Higashi
  • Amanda Leve vs. Karolina Sobek
  • Biaggio Ali-Walsh vs. TBA

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MMA Junkie Radio #3316: Aspen Ladd joins the show, UFC on ESPN 42 preview, more

Check out the latest edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,316, the guys talk to PFL’s [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag], preview the upcoming UFC on ESPN 42 card, discuss the [autotag]Artem Lobov[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] beef, and much 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.

Aspen Ladd focused on 2023 PFL season but ‘would gladly’ fight Kayla Harrison or Larissa Pacheco

How will Larissa Pacheco’s upset of Kayla Harrison affect Aspen Ladd’s plan for 2023? That depends.

[autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] will enter the PFL’s 2023 featherweight season but won’t rule out the possibility of special one-offs.

Ladd (10-3), who left the UFC earlier this year after a plethora of weight-cutting issues, was victorious in her promotional debut, defeating former Bellator champion Julia Budd by split decision in a women’s featherweight showcase bout last Friday at the 2022 PFL Championships.

With potential big fights against 2022 PFL lightweight champ [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] and two-time Olympic gold medalist [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] out there, Ladd is keeping her options open as the new year approaches.

“I want to do both,” Ladd told MMA Junkie Radio. “So if something was to occur before the season or after the season or whatever, I would love to do that. But I am definitely planning on going into the season right now.”

Pacheco scored a massive upset win against Harrison in the women’s lightweight final, handing Harrison the first loss of her career. But with Harrison having already defeated Pacheco twice in the past, Ladd isn’t sure which direction the PFL will go or how that could impact the possibility of fighting them.

“It’s an interesting situation, though, because it’s not like they only fought once or twice,” Ladd said. “If they rematch, it’s gonna be their fourth time, and in this situation, a rematch is usually what makes sense. Yeah, it definitely has implications for me but not in a tournament format. Could I fight either one of those women outside of the tournament? Yes, and I would gladly do it.

“But obviously the world at large thought Kayla was gonna win, so now it’s really what does Larissa want to do? What does the PFL want to do? Do they want that rematch?”

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The trilogy between Pacheco and Harrison was close. In their two previous fights that both went the distance, Pacheco lost all eight rounds combined. At the 2022 PFL Championships, all three judges scored it for her 48-47, even though she spent a fair amount of time on her back.

Ladd “definitely” thought Pacheco won.

“I thought it was a really great, competitive fight,” Ladd said. “I definitely thought Larissa won and by the time it got to the end of it, as somebody watching and as a fighter that – I know better than a lot of people, but I’m still not a judge even though some judges shouldn’t be judges, but I definitely thought (Pacheco) won that fight.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3316: Guest Aspen Ladd, UFC on ESPN 42 preview, more

Check out the latest edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”


Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,316, the guys bring on guest [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag], who beat former Bellator champ Julia Budd in her PFL debut. They also look ahead to UFC on ESPN 42, talk about Nate Diaz’s free agency options, the lawsuit and beef between Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov 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.

Aspen Ladd: Resumes of Larissa Pacheco, Kayla Harrison are ‘absolutely nothing compared’ to mine

Aspen Ladd feels her resume stands out in PFL.

[autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] is confident as she sizes up her future competition.

The former UFC contender and now PFL newcomer likes her chances when she sees the top of the women’s division in her new home. Ladd (10-3), who made a successful PFL debut by beating Julia Budd on Friday night, thinks her body of work is far more impressive than Larissa Pacheco or Kayla Harrison, the two finalists of the 2022 PFL women’s lightweight season.

“I think Larissa has progressed incredibly,” Ladd told reporters at the post-fight news conference (via MMA Sucka). “She’s done very well with her striking. I think Kayla has been the queen for a long time, but if you look at either one of their resumes, it’s absolutely nothing compared to the people that I have fought and have come in fighting.

“So, you have different levels of experience with different levels of opponents.”

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As far as her own career, the win over Budd proved to be an important one for Ladd. Not only did she start with the right foot under a new promotion, but she snapped a two-fight losing skid. There were also personal issues involved for Ladd.

“Elated,” Ladd said regarding her win. “I went through some serious health struggles, not just my knee the last couple of years, it was bad. Autoimmune stuff, lost all my hair. This little shaved down is not because I wanted to, it was because I had nothing left and just getting healthy again and feeling good and being unable to live and fight and do what I love and not feel like crap.

“It’s been years of a lot of difficult stuff, and it’s a huge relief.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Championships.

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2022 PFL Championships live and official results

Check out the results from the 2022 PFL Championships, where six $1 million champs will be crowned in New York.

The final event of the 2022 PFL season takes place on Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York, and MMA Junkie will keep you updated with live results throughout the event.

The 2022 PFL Championships event features 12 fights, including all six divisional finals for a $1 million grand prize.

In the main event, undefeated two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (15-0) goes for a title three-peat at women’s lightweight when she clashes with [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (18-4), whom Harrison has already defeated twice before.

The co-headliner will see [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (24-4) and [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-5) clash for the featherweight championship, while elsewhere on the card [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-3) makes her promotional debut vs. former Bellator titleholder [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (16-4) at women’s featherweight, plus much more.

Full results of 2022 PFL Championship include:

2022 PFL Championships results: Aspen Ladd sneaks by Julia Budd to win split decision

Former UFC fighter Aspen Ladd had a drama-free fight week, made weight, and defeated former Bellator champion Julia Budd in her PFL debut.

[autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] found in her PFL debut what she’s sought for some time: a drama-free win.

In a special women’s featherweight showcase bout Friday at the 2022 PFL Championships, Ladd (10-3) defeated former Bellator champion [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (16-5) by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). The fight took place at Hulu Theater in New York.

The fight was competitive throughout. Ladd found success early with her grappling when she took Budd’s back less than two minutes into the bout. Despite the early and dominant position, Ladd wasn’t able to finish. Budd successfully defended choke attempts.

In Round 2, Budd used her clinch work and striking to find success she was unable to in the previous five minutes. The round was close, but Budd appeared to get a little bit better of Ladd in the exchanges and positions.

With it potentially anyone’s fight as the athletes entered Round 3, Ladd showed off her boxing. Budd, the more visually imposing fighter, tried to make it ugly in the clinch, but Ladd broke and was the fresher fighter. In the final minute, Ladd really pushed the action as she swung away at Budd.

Ladd signed with PFL in October after she was released from the UFC. Highly-touted during her rise to UFC contendership, Ladd’s stint with the promotion was riddled with weight issues with numerous misses and cancellations. The bout Friday was her first win since December 2019 and snapped a two-fight losing skid.

As for Budd, she has lost two fights in a row and is 1-2 since she signed with PFL in 2021.

Up-to-the-minute 2022 PFL Championships results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Championships.

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2022 PFL Championship predictions: Who are our two unanimous picks in $1 million finals?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2022 PFL Championships, which feature six $1 million playoff finals.

Harrison
vs.
Pacheco		 Jenkins
vs.
Loughnane		 Delija
vs.
Scheffel		 Budd
vs.
Ladd		 Aubin-Mercier
vs.
Ray		 Sy
vs.
Taylor		 Akhmedov
vs.
Wilkinson
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
186-109		 harrison2022
Harrison
(81%)		 jenkins2022
Jenkins
(51%)		 delija2022
Delija
(77%)		 budd2022
Budd
(57%)		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
(81%)		 sy2022
Sy
(56%)		 wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
(56%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
196-104
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 harrison2022
Harrison		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 delija2022
Delija		 budd2022
Budd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 sy2022
Sy		 akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
187-113		 harrison2022
Harrison		 jenkins2022
Jenkins		 delija2022
Delija		 ladd2022
Ladd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 taylor2022
Taylor		 wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
186-114		 harrison2022
Harrison		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 delija2022
Delija		 budd2022
Budd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 taylor2022
Taylor		 akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
183-117		 harrison2022
Harrison		 jenkins2022
Jenkins		 delija2022
Delija		 ladd2022
Ladd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 taylor2022
Taylor		 wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
183-117
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 harrison2022
Harrison		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 delija2022
Delija		 budd2022
Budd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 sy2022
Sy		 akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
181-119		 harrison2022
Harrison		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 delija2022
Delija		 budd2022
Budd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 taylor2022
Taylor		 wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
178-122		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 jenkins2022
Jenkins		 delija2022
Delija		 ladd2022
Ladd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 sy2022
Sy		 wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Nolan King
@mma_kings
173-127		 harrison2022
Harrison		 jenkins2022
Jenkins		 delija2022
Delija		 ladd2022
Ladd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 taylor2022
Taylor		 wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
172-128
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 harrison2022
Harrison		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 delija2022
Delija		 ladd2022
Ladd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 sy2022
Sy		 wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
163-137		 harrison2022
Harrison		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 delija2022
Delija		 budd2022
Budd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 sy2022
Sy		 wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
146-154		 harrison2022
Harrison		 loughnane2022
Loughnane		 delija2022
Delija		 budd2022
Budd		 aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier		 sy2022
Sy		 akhmedov2022
Akhmedov

The PFL closes out its 2022 season with six $1 million playoff finals this week.

The 2022 PFL finals take place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, two-time women’s lightweight season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (15-0) goes after her third crown when she meets [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (18-4) for the third time. Harrison is 2-0 against the Brazilian. Harrison is a massive 8-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Pacheco is +470. But not all of our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are taking Harrison. One of our pickers has Pacheco in a big upset.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-5) takes on [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (25-4) in the featherweight final. Loughnane is a -180 favorite and has a 7-4 lead in our picks.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (22-5) is a heavy -350 favorite in the heavyweight season final against [autotag]Matheus Scheffel[/autotag] (17-8). Delija, the 2021 runner-up, is one of our two unanimous picks at 11-0.

In a non-playoff showcase fight, former Bellator women’s featherweight champion [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (16-4) takes on [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-3), who recently was released by the UFC and signed with the PFL. Ladd is a -230 favorite at the betting window, but it’s Budd who has a narrow 6-5 edge from our pickers.

In the lightweight season final, [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (16-5) is a big -420 favorite against [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (25-10) and is our second unanimous pick.

[autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] (12-6-2) takes on [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (10-2) in the welterweight final. Sy nearly is a 2-1 favorite, but he has just a slim 6-5 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (24-7-1) meets 2-1 favorite [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (16-2) in the light heavyweight final. Australia’s Wilkinson has a 7-4 lead from our staff pickers.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Harrison (81 percent), Jenkins (51 percent), Delija (77 percent), Budd (57 percent), Aubin-Mercier (81 percent), Sy (56 percent) and Wilkinson (74 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Championships.

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2022 PFL Championships weigh-in results: Kayla Harrison, 11 other finalists hit marks

Two-time champion Kayla Harrison was among all 12 finalists to hit their marks for Friday’s $1 million title fights.

All six of the 2022 PFL Championships matchups are set to go off without a hitch after all 12 finalists made weight Friday in New York.

Among those to weigh in were headliner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag], who meet in a women’s lightweight title fight. Two-time PFL champion Harrison stepped on the scale at 154.4 pounds, while Pacheco registered 154.2.

Aside from the six $1 million title bouts, former UFC standout [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] and former Bellator champion [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] meet in a featured bout. A former bantamweight with a history of weight-cutting issues, Ladd registered 145.4 for her featherweight bout against Budd, who was 146.

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The 2022 PFL Championships takes place Friday from Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+.

Below are the complete weigh-in results:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Kayla Harrison (154.4) vs. Larissa Pacheco (154.2)
  • Bubba Jenkins (145) vs. Brendan Loughnane (144.8)
  • Ante Delija (241.8) vs. Matheus Scheffel (254.2)
  • Julia Budd (146) vs. Aspen Ladd (145.4)
  • Olivier Aubin-Mercier (154.6) vs. Stevie Ray (154.6)
  • Sadibou Sy (169.6) vs. Dilano Taylor (169.4)
  • Omari Akhmedov (202.8) vs. Rob Wilkinson (204.6)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Marlon Moraes (146) vs. Sheymon Moraes (145.8)
  • Natan Schulte (155.4) vs. Jeremy Stephens (155.8)
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov (175.8) vs. Gleison Tibau (174.6)
  • Katherine Corogenes (124.3) vs. Dakota Ditcheva (125.6)
  • Biaggio Ali Walsh (154.8) vs. Tom Grasser (154.8)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Championships.

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UFC veterans in MMA and bareknuckle action Nov. 25-26

Check out which veterans of the UFC are in action this week.

This week, the UFC is idle following UFC Fight Night 215 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Elsewhere, there are a number of MMA and bareknuckle events taking place that feature familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

These 14 veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA and boxing this week from Nov. 25-26.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.