Tag: Brahyan Zurcher

James Gallagher out of PFL fight vs. Brahyan Zurcher, who now faces Marcirley Alves

Eight of the last 12 fights James Gallagher has been booked for have been canceled.

Another [autotag]James Gallagher[/autotag] fight has been canceled.

Gallagher (12-3) is out of his Aug. 23 bout vs. [autotag]Brahyan Zurcher[/autotag] (9-0) at 2024 PFL Playoffs 3. The featherweight fight was expected to be a showcase prelim at The Anthem in Washington.

MMA Junkie confirmed Gallagher’s exit from the card with a PFL official Wednesday after a post by Zurcher indicated the fight was off. Gallagher indicated in the comments of the post that a visa issue was to blame.

According to promotion officials, Zurcher will remain on the card against Brazil’s [autotag]Marcirley Alves[/autotag] (12-4).

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Cobrinha BJJ’s Zurcher, 28, is one of the promotion’s most promising up-and-comers by some accounts. The 28-year-old Mexican finisher added a violent highlight to his reel in June when he smoked Julian Ruiz with a brutal knockout hook.

Chute Boxe’s Alves, 25, aims to bounce back from a loss to Sarvarjon Khamidov under the Bellator banner in June. The win came after a successful Bellator debut vs. Jerrell Hodge, whom he defeated by knockout.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL Playoffs 3.

2024 PFL 5 video: Brahyan Zurcher smokes Julian Ruiz with ultra-violent knockout blow

Could this be the best knockout in PFL this year?

Trading in the pocket makes for visually appealing action, largely because of the sense of aggression and danger – as was on full display in the PFL 2024, Week 5 preliminary card opener Friday.

At Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, [autotag]Brahyan Zurcher[/autotag] began the event with a bang as a massive left hook snatched consciousness from opponent [autotag]Julian Ruiz[/autotag]. The finish ended the fight at 1:26 of Round 2.

The featherweight bout between Zurcher (9-0) and Ruiz (4-1) was not a regular season matchup, but rather a showcase fight. Zurcher maintained his perfect professional record as Ruiz lost for the first time.

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Up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL 5 results include:

  • Brahyan Zurcher def. Julian Ruiz via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 1:26

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 5.

2023 PFL 6 fighter pay: Shane Burgos pockets six-figure purse after move from UFC

Check out the disclosed 2023 PFL 6 fighter pays, including what Shane Burgos is making after jumping over from the UFC.

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

2023 PFL 6 featured final regular season bouts at lightweight and welterweight, as well as three showcase fights. In the main event, 2022 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] knocked out Dana White’s Contender Series alum [autotag]Anthony Romero[/autotag].

Other names on the card included former UFC fighters [autotag]Shane Burgos[/autotag] and [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag], as well as past PFL championship winners [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag], [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag], [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag].

MMA Junkie acquired a list of the 24 fighters’ disclosed payouts Monday from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission. The amounts do not include bonuses, sponsorships or any other discretionary payments.

Five fighters topped the list at $100,000, while all other fighters received five-figure or four-figure payouts. Among them was Burgos, who left the UFC as a free agent to sign with the PFL. Friday, Burgos pocketed a six-figure flat purse against [autotag]Yamato Nishikawa[/autotag].

Scroll below to see the disclosed pay for each 2023 PFL 6 fighter.

2023 PFL Challenger Series 6 results: Brahyan Zurcher wins featherweight contract with submission win

Featherweight Brahyan Zurcher wins a PFL contract after tapping his opponent in the second round at 2023 PFL Challenger Series 6.

The PFL’s Challenger Series returned for the sixth 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 6 took place Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., and aired live on fubo Sports Network. The event featured four featherweight bouts.

In the first fight of the night, James Gonzalez ground and pounded Vikas Singh Ruhil in the first round for a TKO stoppage. Next, Gabriel Braga recorded a range of scores from the judges in a unanimous decision nod over Ago Huskic.

A pair of submissions led to the end of the final two bouts of the evening. Nathan Kelly tapped Zachary Hicks in the first round with an arm triangle, and Brahyan Zurcher slapped on a rear-naked choke in the second round to finish David Evans.

The four winners were narrowed down to Kelly and Zurcher before going to the votes by fans and a celebrity panel to determine who would walk away with a PFL contract.

The celebrity panel this week consisted of UFC veterans Tyron Woodley, Megan Anderson, and Tim Kennedy. The panel, along with the fans, chose Zurcher as the featherweight contract winner.

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Official results for 2023 PFL Challenger Series 6 include:

  • Brahyan Zurcher def. David Evans via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:37
  • Nathan Kelly def. Zachary Hicks via submission (arm triangle) – Round 1, 2:30
  • Gabriel Braga def. Ago Huskic via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 29-28)
  • James Gonzalez def. Vikas Singh Ruhil via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:20

2022 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos from New York

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Check out these photos from the fights at 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 which took place at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)

Anthony Pettis vs. Stevie Ray rematch headlines PFL’s playoff-opening card in New York

The lineup is set for the PFL’s first set of playoff fights next month in New York.

The lineup is set for the PFL’s first set of playoff fights next month in New York.

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] (25-13) remained the top lightweight seed despite an upset loss to [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (24-10) two weeks ago. Ray’s win made him the No. 4 seed – which set up a rematch with Pettis in the four-man playoff field.

On the other side of the lightweight playoff bracket, No. 2 seed [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (15-5) takes on No. 3 [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag] (10-2). The winners of those two fights will meet in the $1 million lightweight season final in October.

In the light heavyweight playoffs, there’s been a significant shakeup. No. 3 seed [autotag]Antonio Carlos Jr.[/autotag] (15-5) is out of his fight against American Top Team teammate and No. 2 seed [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (23-7-1), the PFL announced Friday. Stepping in for Junior is another one of Akhmedov’s teammates at American Top Team, [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] (9-0), who finished the regular season in fifth place and was an alternate.

Top light heavyweight seed [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (15-2) will take on No. 4 [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (9-2) on the other half of the bracket.

The PFL’s first set of playoff fights take place Aug. 5 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The four-fight main card of playoff matchups airs on ESPN. A two-fight set of prelims and four fights after the main card stream on ESPN+.

The playoffs continue later in August with welterweights and heavyweights on tap Aug. 13 in Cardiff, Wales, and women’s lightweights and featherweights set for Aug. 20 in London.

The PFL 2022 Playoffs 1 card includes:

POSTLIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cory Hendricks[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Adam Keresh[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcelo Nunes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ricardo Jimenez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brahyan Zurcher[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Elvin Espinosa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Corey Jackson[/autotag]

MAIN CARD (ESPN)

  • No. 1 Anthony Pettis vs. No. 4 Stevie Ray – lightweight semifinal
  • No. 2 Omari Akhmedov vs. No. 5 Josh Silveira – light heavyweight semifinal
  • No. 2 Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. N. 3 Alexander Martinez – lightweight semifinal
  • No. 1 Robert Wilkinson vs. No. 4 Delan Monte – light heavyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • [autotag]Elvis Lebron[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexei Pergande[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lucas Barbosa[/autotag] vs. TBA

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