Tag: Joao Zeferino

PFL 2022, Week 6 weigh-in results: Kayla Harrison, Rory MacDonald official; Dilano Taylor steps in late

The weigh-ins are in the books for the PFL’s final regular season event, and all the fighters on the card hit their marks.

The weigh-ins are in the books for the PFL’s final regular season event, and all the fighters on the card hit their marks.

In the main event, two-time women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison (13-0) takes on Kaitlin Young (12-12-1), who was a late replacement for former Bellator women’s featherweight champ Julia Budd. Young was the first fighter to the scale during the two-hour official window and was 155 pounds on the nose. Harrison weighed in at 155.6 to make their fight official.

In the co-feature, former Bellator welterweight titleholder Rory MacDonald (23-8-1) meets Sadibou Sy (10-6-2). MacDonald, who leads the welterweight standings, was 170.8 pounds; Sy came in at 170.2.

[autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (9-1) weighed in as a welterweight alternate and hit his mark at 170.8 pounds. It didn’t take long for him to be called into service, either. He’ll step in for [autotag]Joao Zeferino[/autotag] (26-10), whom he beat in May by split decision, to take on Magomed Magomedkerimov (29-6).

Women’s lightweights and welterweights are fighting Friday for their second time this season with a final chance to earn regular season points to qualify for the postseason. The four-fighter playoff fields for featherweight, lightweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight were set in the past two events.

The official PFL Week 6 weigh-in results included:

MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET

  • Kayla Harrison (155.6) vs. Kaitlin Young (155)
  • Rory MacDonald (170.8) vs. Sadibou Sy (170.2)
  • Brett Cooper (170.4) vs. Ray Cooper III (170.4)
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov (170.8) vs. Dilano Taylor (170.8)
  • Genah Fabian (156) vs. Larissa Pacheco (154.6)
  • Jarrah Al-Silawi (170.4) vs. Magomed Umalatov (170.4)

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

  • Nikolay Aleksakhin (170.2) vs. Carlos Leal (170)
  • Marina Mokhnatkina (154) vs. Abigail Montes (154.8)
  • Martina Jindrova (154.8) vs. Zamzagul Fayzallanova (155)
  • Helena Kolesnyk (155.6) vs. Vanessa Melo (154.4)

2022 PFL 3: Best photos from Arlington

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 3 which took place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 3 which took place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL)

2022 PFL 3 faceoffs video: Kayla Harrison vs. Marina Mokhnatkina, Anthony Pettis, Rory MacDonald, more

Watch the pre-fight staredowns and check out the photo gallery from the 2022 PFL 3 weigh-ins.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Fighters competing at 2022 PFL 3 went face-to-face at ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of their bouts on Friday.

The 2021 PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (12-0) squared off with [autotag]Marina Mokhnatkina[/autotag] (6-2) Thursday. The two competitors are set to meet in the main event of Friday’s event, capping off the first event of the season including the women’s lightweight division.

In the co-main event, 2021 welterweight champion [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] (24-7-1) will face PFL Challenger Series newcomer [autotag]Carlos Leal[/autotag] (16-3) to close out the first event featuring 170-pound fighters.

The main card for PFL Championship airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET following the prelims on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.

Check out the pre-fight faceoffs in the video above and the photo gallery from the weigh-ins below.

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Photos: 2022 PFL 3 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 3 ceremonial weigh-ins.

Check out these images from the 2022 PFL 3 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photos by Matthew Wells, MMA Junkie)

2021 PFL Playoffs 1 sees four matchups altered, one fight added

Four matchups have been altered for the 2021 PFL Playoffs 1 event on Aug. 13.

The first playoff event for PFL in 2021 has undergone various changes.

Four of the current matchups have been altered, and one fight has been added to the Aug. 13 event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. PFL officials informed MMA Junkie of the changes on Wednesday.

[autotag]Joao Zeferino[/autotag], who was set to take on [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] in the welterweight co-main event, is out due to injury and has been replaced by No. 5 seed [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag].

With Sy stepping in as an alternate, veteran [autotag]Gleison Tibau[/autotag] now faces replacement [autotag]Curtis Millender[/autotag].

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Former PFL champion [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag] also was forced to withdraw for undisclosed reasons. His opponent, [autotag]Olivier Aubin Mercier[/autotag], will now face fellow former UFC fighter [autotag]Darrell Horcher[/autotag] in a lightweight matchup.

[autotag]Nikolai Aleksakhin[/autotag] is out of his scheduled bout against [autotag]Brett Cooper[/autotag] for undisclosed reasons. Cooper now takes on PFL newcomer [autotag]Tyler Hill[/autotag].

Additionally, a new lightweight matchup has been added to the card, as [autotag]Elvin Espinoza[/autotag] puts his undefeated record up against [autotag]Hopeton Stewart[/autotag].

The main card for 2021 PFL Playoffs 1 airs on ESPN 2 and the prelims on ESPN+.

With the changes, here is the updated lineup:

MAIN CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Ray Cooper III vs. Rory MacDonald
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Sadibou Sy
  • Clay Collard vs. Raush Manfio
  • Alex Martinez vs. Loik Radzhabov

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

  • Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Darrell Horcher
  • Curtis Millender vs. Gleison Tibau
  • Brett Cooper vs. Tyler Hill
  • Micah Terrill vs. Magomed Umalatov
  • Kyron Bowen vs. Michael Lombardo
  • Elvin Espinoza vs. Hopeton Stewart

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2021 PFL 2 predictions: Can Curtis Millender upset Rory MacDonald?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2021 PFL 2 main card, featuring welterweights and light heavyweights.

MacDonald
vs.
Millender		 Cooper
vs.
Ponet		 Tibau
vs.
Zeferino		 Camozzi
vs.
Sordi
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 50-34		 macdonald2021
MacDonald
(84%)		 cooper2021
Cooper
(91%)		 tibau2021
Tibau
(56%)		 sordi2021
Sordi
(66%)
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 53-31		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 zeferino2021
Zeferino		 sordi2021
Sordi
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 52-32		 millender2021
Millender		 cooper2021
Cooper		 zeferino2021
Zeferino		 camozzi2021
Camozzi
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 52-32
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 zeferino2021
Zeferino		 sordi2021
Sordi
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 51-33		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 tibau2021
Tibau		 sordi2021
Sordi
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 51-33		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 tibau2021
Tibau		 sordi2021
Sordi
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 50-34		 millender2021
Millender		 cooper2021
Cooper		 zeferino2021
Zeferino		 sordi2021
Sordi
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 50-34
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 tibau2021
Tibau		 sordi2021
Sordi
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 48-36		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 tibau2021
Tibau		 sordi2021
Sordi
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 48-36
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 zeferino2021
Zeferino		 sordi2021
Sordi
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 46-38
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 tibau2021
Tibau		 sordi2021
Sordi
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 46-38		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 tibau2021
Tibau		 sordi2021
Sordi
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 44-40		 macdonald2021
MacDonald		 cooper2021
Cooper		 zeferino2021
Zeferino		 sordi2021
Sordi
BetMGM
Betting Favorites		 macdonald2021
MacDonald -450		 cooper2021
Cooper -650		 zeferino2021
Zeferino -175		 sordi2021
Sordi -350

The PFL is back for its second event of the 2021 regular season with welterweights and light heavyweights on the docket.

2021 PFL 2 takes place Thursday at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, former Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] (21-6-1) makes his PFL debut against [autotag]Curtis Millender[/autotag] (18-6). MacDonald is a heavy favorite at -450 at BetMGM, and he’s got a big 10-2 lead in the picks from our 12 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, 2019 welterweight season winner [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] (20-7-1) is back to go after his second $1 million prize. He’s the biggest favorite on the card against [autotag]Jason Ponet[/autotag] (20-12-1) at -650, and he’s our staff members’ only unanimous pick.

Our most contentious fight from a picking standpoint is between former UFC fighters [autotag]Gleison Tibau[/autotag] (34-14) and [autotag]Joao Zeferino[/autotag] (24-9) at light heavyweight. Zeferino is a mild favorite at -175, but the picks are dead even at 6-6.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Chris Camozzi[/autotag] (25-14) meets [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag] (22-8). Sordi, the 2019 light heavyweight season winner, is a -350 favorite and is a near-unanimous pick at 11-1.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, MacDonald (84 percent), Cooper (91 percent), Tibau (56 percent) and Sordi (66 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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PFL 2021, Week 2: Rory MacDonald set for debut as welterweight, light heavyweight seasons begin

Former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald will make his PFL debut against 2019 season runner-up David Michaud on April 29.

Hot on the heels of the PFL’s announcement of this season’s curtain-raiser, the promotion has confirmed its lineup for its second round of bouts.

PFL 2021, Week 2 takes place on Thursday, April 29 and features a 10-fight card headlined by one of the promotion’s biggest new signings.

Former Bellator welterweight champion and UFC title challenger [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] will make his promotional debut in the night’s main event against 2019 welterweight season runner-up [autotag]David Michaud[/autotag].

MacDonald (21-6-1) won and twice defended the Bellator 170-pound title during a six-fight stint with the promotion, but he lost his belt in a rematch with Douglas Lima in his final bout with the organization at Bellator 232.

MacDonald subsequently explored free agency and signed a deal with PFL, and he will kick off the latest chapter in his career against Michaud (18-6), who has lost just twice since the summer of 2017.

His 2019 PFL campaign started with a 17-second body-kick knockout loss to Sadibou Sy, but he bounced back to register three successive wins over Handesson Ferreira, John Howard, and Glaico Franca to earn a spot in the welterweight season final. He lost out to [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] via second-round TKO and will be looking to bounce back with a statement win over MacDonald.

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The PFL’s 2019 welterweight and light heavyweight champions are both set for action on the card, with 170-pound champion Cooper (20-7-1) facing French contender [autotag]Jason Ponet[/autotag] (20-12-1) in the co-main event, while 205-pound champion [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag] (22-8) will kick off the defense of his crown against former UFC veteran [autotag]Chris Camozzi[/autotag] (25-14) in the main card opener.

The main card also features a light heavyweight battle between 2019 205-pound runner-up [autotag]Jordan Johnson[/autotag] (12-2-1) and promotional newcomer [autotag]Tom Lawlor[/autotag] (10-7), while 2018 welterweight champion [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] (27-5) will look to establish his championship credentials in 2021 after injury curtailed his title defense in the 2019 season. He will take on Brazil’s [autotag]Joao Zeferino[/autotag] (24-9) in the night’s featured preliminary card bout.

PFL 2 takes place at a venue to be confirmed. The event will air on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+. Further regular season events will follow on May 6, and June 10, 17, and 25.

The full PFL 2 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN 2)

  • Rory MacDonald vs. David Michaud
  • Ray Cooper III vs. Jason Ponet
  • Jordan Johnson vs. Tom Lawlor
  • Chris Camozzi vs. Emiliano Sordi

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Joao Zeferino
  • Smealinho Rama vs. Jordan Young
  • Cezar Ferreira vs. Nick Roehrick
  • Aleksei Kunchenko vs. Gleison Tibau
  • Nikolai Aleksakhin vs. Sadibou Sy
  • Marthin Hamlet vs. Daniel Spohn

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Joao Zeferino featured in new episode of PFL’s ‘Run it Back’ series

Most MMA action is on hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, but the PFL will help fill the void with its “Run it Back” series.

Most mixed martial arts action is on hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, but the PFL will help fill the void with its “Run it Back” series.

“Run it Back” features PFL fighters looking back on their biggest moments. The latest episode – which streams live Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET on the promotion’s YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels – will feature [autotag]Joao Zeferino[/autotag].

This week’s episode of Run It Back takes a closer look at PFL welterweight Joao Zeferino’s 21 MPH, first-round knockout of veteran Paul Bradley in 2018. The “Brazilian Samurai” caught Bradley with a devastating right-hand haymaker, launching him to the cage where he finished him off before the bell rang.

New episodes of “Run it Back” will air each Thursday.