Tag: Daniel Torres

7 PFL fighters punished for drug tests; multiple bout results overturned

The seven remaining PFL fighters who failed drug tests but had not received punishments were handed theirs Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Seven of the PFL fighters who tested positive for banned substances during the promotion’s 2023 season have been handed punishments by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

At a monthly commission meeting Tuesday in Las Vegas, the NAC announced a list of adjudication agreements that included suspensions, fines, and a few bout results overturned.

Out of the 36 bouts that took place across three PFL events at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in April, 10 featured fighters who were flagged, including three bouts in which both fighters tested positive.

The recent wave of positive tests triggered a response from PFL brass, which stated publicly they are looking to implement a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency testing program similar to the UFC’s.

Bruno Cappelloza, Alejandro Flores, and Krzysztof Jotko already received their punishments during the May event. Scroll below for details of the other seven fighters, who received punishments Tuesday in Las Vegas.

9 PFL fighters face suspensions following failed drug tests in Nevada

Nine PFL fighters are suspended after positive drug tests across three events, including two pairs of fighters who fought each other.

Nine PFL fighters face sanctions from the Nevada Athletic Commission after failed drug tests stemming from their first regular season bouts of the 2023 season.

At a monthly NAC meeting Tuesday, three fighters were handed sanctions, while another six had hearings announced and postponed to a later date.

Out of the 36 bouts that took place across three PFL events at The Theater at Virgin Hotels on April 1, April 7, and April 15, seven featured fighters who were flagged, including two bouts in which both fighters tested positive.

After the reading of the agenda items and announced sanctions, commission members expressed disappointment and concern at the number of PFL fighters who tested positive.

NAC executive director Jeff Mullen mentioned PFL is exploring the possibility of implementing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency as a method of cleaning up the promotion.

PFL released the following statement prior to the hearing Wednesday.

“PFL has been notified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that several fighters who competed in the two PFL 2023 Regular Season events this past April have been temporarily suspended until further review by the Commission,” it read.

“PFL has a zero-tolerance policy related to the usage of banned substances and complies with the U.S. State Athletic Commission requirements. Further, as the PFL moves towards the highest level of testing and compliance in the sport, PFL is engaged with USADA on the implementation of its athlete anti-doping program.

Scroll below to find out which fighters have been flagged.

Alejandro Flores def. Daniel Torres at 2023 PFL 1: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Alejandro Flores’ unanimous decision win over Daniel Torres at 2023 PFL 1 in Las Vegas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Alejandro Flores[/autotag]’ unanimous decision win over [autotag]Daniel Torres[/autotag] at PFL 2023, Week 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

2023 PFL 1 ceremonial faceoffs video: Brendan Loughnane, Marlon Moraes size each other up

Check out the ceremonial faceoffs from the first PFL event of 2023.

LAS VEGAS – The 2023 PFL season kicks off Saturday and the promotion held its first ceremonial faceoffs Friday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels.

2023 PFL 1 features the first of two regular season fights for its featherweight and light heavyweight fighters with a main card on ESPN/ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN+.

In the main event, 2022 PFL featherweight champion [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (26-4) returns against former UFC bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] (23-11-1).

Also on the card, 2022 PFL light heavyweight champion [autotag]Robert Wilkinson[/autotag] (17-2) takes on former UFC light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] (22-11).

Check out the ceremonial faceoffs above and the full fight card below.

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

  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Marlon Moraes
  • Rob Wilkinson vs. Thiago Santos
  • Will Fleury vs. Krzysztof Jotko
  • Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Ryoji Kudo
  • Bubba Jenkins vs. Chris Wade

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

  • Mohammad Fakhreddine vs. Marthin Hamlet
  • Sam Kei vs. Josh Silveira
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Daniel Torres
  • Sung Bin Jo vs. Jesus Pinedo
  • Ty Flores vs. Delan Monte
  • Cory Hendricks vs. Impa Kasanganay

Defying the odds: The 10 biggest MMA betting upsets of 2021

Check out the biggest upsets of 2021, according to the oddsmakers.

Who doesn’t love a good upset?

In 2021, MMA saw its fair share of underdogs who defied the odds – in the UFC, Bellator and beyond. While everyone has an opinion of who should win and who should lose, the oddsmakers largely get the final say on what history reflects.

This year, with the help of MMA database Tapology, MMA Junkie has compiled the top 10 betting upsets of 2021. Fights that were eligible were those which numerous major online sports books recognized, and which Tapology recorded prior to line close.

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2021 below, per Tapology. Note that only major MMA promotions were included in the tally.

KSW 58 results: Daniel Torres claims featherweight title with first-round upset of Salahdine Parnasse

Daniel Torres’ scored a rather awkward knockout of Salahdine Parnasse to claim featherweight gold in the KSW 58 main event.

[autotag]Daniel Torres[/autotag] became the new KSW featherweight champion on Saturday, when he stopped [autotag]Salahdine Parnasse[/autotag] less than two minutes into the first round.

Torres’ (12-4) awkward right hook caught Parnasse (14-1-1) on the top of the head and put him down to spell an end to the contest, forcing a change of ownership with the 145-pound belt at the 1:49 mark of Round 1 in the KSW 58 main event.

KSW 58 took place at an undisclosed venue in Lodz, Poland and streamed via online pay-per-view.

After exchanging some blows early in the fight, Parnasse got slightly too aggressive coming in on Torres with a combination, and it cost him.

Torres looked to counter with a right hook, and as Parnasse ducked, the lower part of Torres’ bicep caught him on the side of the head and dropped Parnasse face-first to the canvas.

Parnasse, despite not being out cold, was unquestionably hurt by the glancing blow, and it was enough for the referee to jump in and stop the fight.

With that, Torres, who closed as a high as a +500 betting underdog, was deemed the new KSW featherweight champ, while Parnasse was stunned after taking his first career loss.

Complete KSW 58 results included:

  • Daniel Torres def. Salahdine Parnasse via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:49 – to win featherweight title
  • [autotag]Szymon Kolecki[/autotag] def. [autotag]Martin Zawada[/autotag] via unanimous decision
  • [autotag]Michal Michalski[/autotag] def. [autotag]Aleksandar Rakas[/autotag] via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:35
  • [autotag]Shamil Musaev[/autotag] def. [autotag]Uros Jurisic[/autotag] via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • [autotag]Michal Andryszak[/autotag] def. [autotag]Guto Inocente[/autotag] via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:07
  • [autotag]Pawel Politylo[/autotag] def. [autotag]David Martinik[/autotag] via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • [autotag]Robert Ruchala[/autotag] def. [autotag]Daniel Bazant[/autotag] via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 3:37
  • [autotag]Francisco Albano Barrio[/autotag] def. [autotag]Bartlomiej Kopera[/autotag] via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)