Tag: Emiliano Sordi

Global Fight League announces launch, roster includes giant list of former UFC fighters

GFL has arrived – and it’s bringing fairly massive names from UFC yesteryears with it.

A new player has entered the MMA landscape, and it has arrived with some big names.

Wednesday, Global Fight League (GFL) announced its official launch will come in the opening weeks of 2025. The GFL concept differs from that of UFC and PFL.

While it has a league format and playoffs, it is also team-based and has a draft. There will be six franchises (names and cities to follow). The draft is scheduled for Jan. 24, with an inaugural event to follow in April.

Who’s fighting?

Co-founder Darren Owen revealed on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Wednesday that the promotion has over 300 fighters under contract. Not all fighters will be drafted.

Of the 92 fighters posted to the promotion’s official website, 45 of them are former UFC fighters. Names include Tyron Woodley, Anthony Pettis, Benson Henderson, Gegard Mousasi, Wanderlei Silva, Frank Mir, Andrei Arlovski, Kevin Lee, Fabricio Werdum, and Junior Dos Santos among others.

Scroll below to see the released names:

  • [autotag]Marcel Adur[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Amirkhon Alikhuzhaev[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Omar Arteaga[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Stuart Austin[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Renan Barao[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Deberson Batista[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Raimundo Batista[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Stephen Beaumont[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alan Belcher[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Tanner Boser[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Claudeci Brito[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Will Brooks[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Yan Cabral[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alexsandro Cangaty[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Pedro Carvalho[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Rafael Carvalho[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alexa Conners[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kyle Daukaus[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ayton de Paepe[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Patrizio de Souza[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Marcelo Dias[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Miao Ding[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Cameron Else[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Tonya Evinger[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kalindra Faria[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Marciano Ferreira[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Chauncey Foxworth[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Glaico Franca[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Andre Harrison[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Guto Inocente[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Michael Irizarry[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Pannie Kianzad[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag]
  • [autotag]William Lima[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Hector Lombard[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ruan Machado[/autotag]
  • [autotag]John Makdessi[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lucas Martins[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Aleksandr Maslov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jordan Mein[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Dominick Meriweather[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Frank Mir[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Silvania Monteiro[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Killys Motta[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Gegard Mousasi[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Bi Nguyen[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ayinda Octave[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Renan Oliveira[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Karolina Owczarz[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Oscar Ownsworth[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Denis Palancica[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Rousimar Palharaes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Chiara Penco[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jefferson Pontes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jimmie Rivera[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Charles Rosa[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Cleiton Silva[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Wanderlei Silva[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Julio Spadaccini[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Andre Soukhamthath[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Roggers Souza[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Gabriel Souza Galindo[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mohamed Tarek Mohey[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Diego Teixeira[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Oli Thompson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Austin Tweedy[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Feruz Usmonov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jozef Wittner[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag]

What does GFL provide athletes that other promotions don’t?

According to Owen, GFL offers fighters a 50-50 split in revenue sharing. Additionally, the promotion provides comprehensive support for training and medical bills, retirement benefits, insurance coverage, and more.

Who is behind GFL and where is the money coming from?

Owen is listed as the co-founder and commissioner for GFL and serves essentially as the public face for the promotion. He served as COO of PFL vs. October 2015 to May 2020 and was the founder and CEO of World Series of Fighting Canada, according to his LinkedIn page.

Also listed on the promotion’s website are Arun Parimi (co-founder and COO), Scott Parker (CMO), and Jeffrey Pollack (senior advisor).

Owen declined to identify the source of the funds behind the operation, but did say it’s a silicon valley investor.

How does the regular season work?

Similarly to PFL, GFL has a point system for regular season fights.

A finish victory notches a fighter’s team four points. A decision win earns three points. A draw earns two points. A decision loss earns one point. If a fighter loses by finish, he or she walks away with zero points.

Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA full event video, results: Roy Nelson vs. Dillon Cleckler

Check out the live stream and results for Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA took place Friday at FLA Live Arena.

In the main event of the card, former UFC and Bellator heavyweight [autotag]Roy Nelson[/autotag] took on BKFC veteran [autotag]Dillon Cleckler[/autotag].

In the co-main event, 2019 PFL champion [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag] battled former UFC fighter Markus Perez in a light heavyweight matchup. The card also featured several other MMA notables including [autotag]Irwin Rivera[/autotag], [autotag]Sean Soriano[/autotag], [autotag]Charles Bennett[/autotag], and [autotag]Anthony Njokuani[/autotag].

You can watch the full event replay in the video above and the results below:

2019 PFL champ Emiliano Sordi books return at UAE Warriors on Feb. 25

2019 PFL champ Emiliano Sordi has a fight booked, and it’s not with PFL.

[autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag] is taking his talents to Abu Dhabi, for now.

The 2019 PFL light heavyweight champion has booked his first fight of 2023 and it’s outside PFL. Sordi (23-11-1) is set to take on [autotag]Asylzhan Bakhytzhanuly[/autotag] at a UAE Warriors event on Feb. 25. The bout will be contested at 205 pounds.

Sources recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup, but asked to remain anonymous, as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

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Sordi is looking to bounce back from a three-fight skid. Prior to that, the Argentine fighter was on a six-fight unbeaten streak that saw him win the 2019 PFL light heavyweight title. Sordi’s current commitment with UAE warriors stands as a one-fight deal.

His opponent, Bakhytzhanuly (13-4-1), last fought in December when he came out short against Ivan Shtyrkov in a decision at RCC 13 – a regional Russian promotion. He was on a two-fight winning streak prior to the defeat with one of the wins coming under the UAE Warriors banner.

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2019 champ Emiliano Sordi unsure if he’ll continue with PFL: ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen’

2019 PFL champion Emiliano Sordi says he might not continue with the promotion in 2023.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag] is unsure if he’ll remain with the PFL for long.

The 2019 PFL light heavyweight champion is currently in contract negotiations with the promotion and can’t guarantee PFL will continue to be the home of his fighting career. But what is certain is that Sordi (23-11-1) is ready for whatever comes next.

“We’re negotiating to see what’s going to happen,” Sordi told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I think PFL has new plans for next year, and they possibly might do two seasons, more events in Europe. The truth is that I don’t know what’s going to happen with me and PFL – if I’m going to continue with them or not. But I’m at peace with all of that. I’m training at a good gym, and I’m ready for what’s to come.”

After winning the PFL light heavyweight title and $1 million prize in 2019, Sordi has been unable to recreate another championship run.

In the PFL’s return 2021 season from the pandemic closure, Sordi lost by decision to eventual winner Antonio Carlos Junior in the semifinals. And in 2022, Sordi suffered consecutive defeats, which eliminated him from the postseason. The Argentine has been dealing with a knee injury in 2022, and part of him regrets not pulling out to make a healthy return.

“I’m coming off three straight losses like you said, and I had a knee injury that hindered me a lot, but that’s my fault,” Sordi said. “I should’ve said that I couldn’t fight like the ex-heavyweight champion did, as he pulled out from the fight.

“It was stupid of me to not do that, and I could’ve pulled out. But oh well, the heart of a fighter sometimes doesn’t allow you to say no. But whatever, the fault is mine. I don’t blame anyone else. It’s 100 percent my fault.”

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Sordi is training hard at Kill Cliff FC and is staying ready, as he’s determined to fight one more time this year. The 31-year-old is itching to get back in the cage.

“This year, I’m fighting at least one more time, for sure,” Sordi said. “I don’t know where or against whom. I had a fight lined up, but the entire event got cancelled, so we’re looking for something, so I could fight in November or December.”

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2022 PFL salaries from Atlanta: Anthony Pettis tops disclosed payouts despite loss; Kayla Harrison second

This marks the first time that PFL salaries have been revealed in 2022.

The back half of the 2022 PFL regular season recently took place in Atlanta with three cards in three weeks at Overtime Elite Arena.

Each card spotlighted two specific divisions. PFL 4 took place June 17 and featured men’s lightweights and light heavyweights. One week later, PFL 5 featured featherweights and heavyweights. Last Friday, PFL 6 consisted of welterweights and women’s lightweights.

On Wednesday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of disclosed show and win purses from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, the regulatory body that oversaw the events.

Former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] ($750,000) led all paydays despite a submission loss to [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag]. Two-time PFL season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] ($500,00) was second on the list, followed by former UFC title challenger and Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] ($250,000).

[autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag], [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag], [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag], [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag], and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] also received six-figure disclosed payouts.

It’s important to note that the figures given do not reflect potential “locker room” bonuses, streaming points, or promotional sponsorship payments.

Scroll below to see the complete payouts for the most recent three PFL events.

2022 PFL 4 video: Big underdog Delan Monte cashes with 92-second TKO of 2019 champ Emiliano Sordi

Delan Monte was a 4-to-1 underdog, according to the 2022 PFL 4 broadcast – but he certainly didn’t fight like one.

[autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] was a 4-to-1 underdog, according to the 2022 PFL 4 broadcast – but he certainly didn’t fight like one.

Though he brought his judo background into the cage with him, Monte (9-2) utilized his boxing to quickly dismantle 2019 PFL light heavyweight champion [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag] (23-11-1) en route to a TKO stoppage at 1:32 of Round 1.

2022 PFL 4 took place Friday at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.

The finishing sequence was lengthier than many, with Sordi clipped off a mistimed takedown attempt. Monte immediately noticed his opponent’s stumble and went in for the kill. Sordi did a good job initially as he fended Monte off with counterstrikes. However, he was only able to do so for so long.

With his back against the fence, Sordi bobbed and weaved – but covered up, too. As his opponent ducked blindly, Monte threw an off-rhythm uppercut that dropped Sordi. From there, Monte followed up with a few more punches and the fight was waved off by referee Blake Grice.

With the win, Monte earns six points and bounces back from a submission loss to Antonio Carlos Junior at 2022 PFL 1. As for Sordi, he moves to 0-3-1 in his most recent four outings.

The up-to-the-minute 2022 PFL 4 results include:

  • Delan Monte def. Emiliano Sordi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:32
  • Robert Wilkinson def. Viktor Pesta via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:03
  • Josh Silveira def. Marthin Hamlet via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:27
  • Nate Jennerman def. Jake Childers via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:00 – showcase bout

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Photos: 2022 PFL 4 Ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 4 ceremonial weigh-ins in Atlanta.

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 4 ceremonial weigh-ins and the fighter faceoffs. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL)

Emiliano Sordi recounts wild Sean Strickland sparring sessions: ‘He’s truly crazy’

Emiliano Sordi describes how sparring with Sean Strickland is as crazy as it looks in videos on the internet.

MIAMI –  [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]’s rise to UFC middleweight title contention has been accompanied with great performances, weird interviews and also wild sparring clips that pop up every now and then from obscure corners of the internet.

The clips are usually short and filmed under poor quality, but in a way that it adds to Strickland’s rawness. One of the most notable figures featured in those videos was 2019 PFL light heavyweight champion [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag].

Sordi (23-10-1) was seen going toe to toe with Strickland while the UFC middleweight did his signature, erratic talk in the middle of it. It wasn’t the first or last time Sordi trained with Strickland as he’s very familiar with sparring the show.

“I used to do a lot of rounds with him,” Sordi told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “And the problem with him is that many people don’t want to do sparring with him because he hurts them. He used to call me, and I would be like, ‘Yeah, I’m at home. Come get me. I have no problem. As many rounds as you’d like.’ It was always like that.

“He does spar in that manner, but that doesn’t bother me. I know he does it to get in your head and get in that mental game, so he can get the edge. I always laugh, and we fight. Sometimes he does say more than he should, but he never went there in my case. What I respect from him is that he’s authentic. It’s not like he talks for the sparring for social media. No, that’s how he is in real life.

“He’s crazy, and I’ve told him, ‘You’re really crazy.'”

Sordi recently moved to South Florida and is now training under Sanford MMA. However, for a long time he lived in San Diego and trained at Alliance MMA. That’s where he would train with Strickland, who’s a Las Vegas resident.

“He’s truly not right in the head,” Sordi said while fondly recalling his sparring sessions with Strickland. “So (at Alliance) we would do sparring Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. So he would travel Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Las Vegas to San Diego to meet up with us to do sparring with us. And then the other days he would return to Las Vegas to spar there. His training is basically just doing sparring. He doesn’t do anything else.”

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Sordi, who returns to action at 2022 PFL 4 on June 17 for his second regular season light heavyweight bout, recalls a time Strickland called him last minute to spar just days away from a UFC fight.

“I’ll tell you a story,” Sordi said. “He had a (UFC) fight on a Saturday, and he was traveling to the event for fight week on a Tuesday. And he called me on Monday night around 9 or 10 p.m.

“He told me, ‘Hey, Emiliano. What are you up to?’ And I was like, ‘I’m in bed. It’s already 10.’ And he tells me, ‘I need to spar.’ And I replied, ‘But you’re fighting on Saturday.’ (Strickland said) ‘No, I want to spar.’ So I told him, ‘OK, come tomorrow to the gym, we’ll meet up and go at it.’ And he was like, ‘No, I want to spar right now.’ I told him, ‘I like sparring with you and all, but no way. I’m sleeping.’

“I’m telling you: He’s crazy. He’s truly crazy.”

2022 PFL 1 weigh-in results: All 20 lightweights, light heavyweights on point to start season

Check out the weigh-in results of 2022 PFL 1 in Arlington, Texas.

Fighters competing in the 2022 PFL season opener stepped on the scale Tuesday to record their official weight for their bouts.

The 10-fight 2022 PFL 1 card takes place Wednesday at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The event airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+ beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The first week will see lightweights and light heavyweights compete as they aim to get a strong start to the new season. [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] (20-9) takes on [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag] (28-19) in the main event. The co-main will see 2021 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] (15-3) against [autotag]Don Madge[/autotag] (10-3-1). Representing the light heavyweights in the feature bout, 2021 PFL champion [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] (13-5) will face [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (8-1).

All fighters competing on Wednesday made weight with no issues, kicking off the season with a smooth start on the scales.

The full 202 PFL 1 weigh-in results are below:

Main Card (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Clay Collard (155) vs. Jeremy Stephens (156)
  • Raush Manfio (156) vs. Don Madge (155.75)
  • Antonio Carlos Junior (205.5) vs. Delan Monte (205)
  • Natan Schulte (156) vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier (155.75)

Preliminary card (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Emiliano Sordi (205.5) vs. Cory Hendricks (205.75)
  • Alex Martinez (156) vs. Stevie Ray (155.5)
  • Marthin Hamlet (205.75) vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis (204.5)
  • Omari Akhmedov (204.25) vs. Viktor Pesta (205.5)
  • Rob Wilkinson (205) vs. Bruce Souto (204.5)
  • Simeon Powell (205.75) vs. Clinton Williams (204.5)

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2021 PFL Playoffs 3 live and official results

Follow along with live and official results of 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 featuring Brendan Loughnane vs. Movlid Khaybulaev in the main event.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 takes place at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday and you can follow along with live and official results on MMA Junkie.

The main card airs on ESPN 2 and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET following prelims exclusively on ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. ET.

The final week of the PFL Playoffs will determine the finalists for the featherweight and light heavyweight seasons.

In the main event, [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (21-3) takes on undefeated [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] (17-0-1) in a semifinal matchup of the 145-pound season. The other semifinal bout takes place in the co-main event, as former UFC fighter [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (19-6) takes on [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (16-4).

The semifinals of the PFL light heavyweight season take place on the main card with [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] (11-5) taking on 2019 PFL champion Emiliano Sordi (23-8-1), and [autotag]Cezar Ferreira[/autotag] (14-9) facing [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] (7-2).

The full 2021 PFL Playoffs 3 results are below:

Main Card (ESPN2, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Movlid Khaybulaev
  • Chris Wade vs. Bubba Jenkins
  • Antonio Carlos Junior  vs. Emiliano Sordi
  • Cezar Ferreira vs. Marthin Hamlet

Preliminary card (ESPN+)

  • Sheymon Moraes vs. Lazar Stojadinovic
  • Chris Camozzi vs. Cory Hendricks
  • Anthony Dizy  vs. Jesse Stirn
  • Jason Knight vs. Bobby Moffett
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Carl Deaton III
  • Brandon Jenkins vs. Jacob Kilburn

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