Tag: Krzysztof Jotko

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.

Will Fleury def. Krzysztof Jotko at 2023 PFL 1: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Will Fleury’s split decision win over Krzysztof Jotko at 2023 PFL 1 in Las Vegas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag]’s split decision win over [autotag]Krzysztof Jotko[/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

PFL 2023, Week 1 predictions: Check out our three unanimous picks to open the season

Check out our staff members’ picks for the PFL 2023, Week 1 main card in Las Vegas, which features featherweights and light heavyweights.

Loughnane
vs.
Moraes		 Santos
vs.
Wilkinson		 Fleury
vs.
Jotko		 Khayvulaev
vs.
Kudo		 Jenkins
vs.
Wade
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
35-24		 loughnane2023
Loughnane
(88%)		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson
(56%)		 jotko2023
Jotko
(88%)		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev
(88%)		 wade2023
Wade
(61%)
Matt Erickson
@MattE
37-22		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 santos2023
Santos		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Nolan King
@mma_kings
37-22		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
37-22		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
35-24		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
34-25		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 jenkins2023
Jenkins
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
34-25		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
33-26
trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 jenkins2023
Jenkins
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
33-26		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 jenkins2023
Jenkins
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
32-27
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 santos2023
Santos		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
32-27		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 santos2023
Santos		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
31-28
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 jenkins2023
Jenkins

The PFL is back for its 2023 regular season, and featherweights and light heavyweights are up first.

PFL 2023, Week 1 takes place Saturday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, 2022 featherweight season winner [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (26-4) takes on [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] (23-11-1), a former WSOF bantamweight champion and ex-UFC interim title challenger who has fallen on rough times with five straight losses, including in his PFL debut this past November. Loughnane is the biggest favorite on the card at -750 at BetMGM; the comeback on Moraes is +500. Not surprisingly, our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Loughnane as one of three unanimous picks on the main card.

The co-main event also features a former UFC title challenger in [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] (22-11), who takes on 2022 light heavyweight season winner [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (17-2), who has six straight wins by stoppage. Wilkinson is a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, and he has a big 8-3 lead in the picks from our staff members.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Krzysztof Jotko[/autotag] (24-6) will fight outside the UFC for the first time in nearly 10 years when he steps in on short notice to take on [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] (11-3) at light heavyweight. Jotko, who is moving up after years at middleweight, is a -250 favorite and the second of our unanimous picks at 11-0.

Our third unanimous pick is [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] (19-0-1), who is a 7-1 favorite in his featherweight season opener against [autotag]Ryoji Kudo[/autotag] (11-4-1). Khaybulaev won the 2021 featherweight season, but was out of action all of 2022.

And to open the main card, the man Loughnane beat this past November to win the $1 million featherweight season, [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-6), returns to take on 2021 finalist [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (22-8). Wade is a slight favorite at -175, and he has the narrowest possible edge in the picks at 6-5.

In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Loughnane (82 percent), Wilkinson (56 percent), Jotko (88 percent), Khaybulaev (88 percent) and Wade (61 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 1.

Krzysztof Jotko plans to cap fresh start in PFL with light heavyweight title

After nearly nine years in the UFC, Krzysztof Jotko is about to get a new start.

LAS VEGAS – After nearly nine years in the UFC, [autotag]Krzysztof Jotko[/autotag] is about to get a new start.

Jotko made his UFC debut in December 2013 and went 11-6 with the promotion. His resume includes wins over the likes of Gerald Meerschaert, Misha Cirkunov and Eryk Anders. But after a submission loss to Brendan Allen this past October, he decided to check out free agency.

He signed with the PFL to take a crack at the $1 million 2023 light heavyweight season – after years at middleweight.

“I was in the UFC a long time,” Jotko said at Thursday’s media day for PFL 2023, Week 1. “I had little problems with my health, but everything is right now is very, very good and I’m super healthy. I just wanted to try something different – a different (weight class), different organization, better money.”

Jotko (24-6) will fight Will Fleury (11-3) on Saturday on the main card at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+. The bout is the first of two in the regular season with a max of six points at stake toward postseason qualification.

Jotko plans to hit that postseason, too – and leave as the next PFL light heavyweight winner. The way the PFL’s season works, Jotko said being able to prepare differently will make a difference for him, too.

“I like to have plans for everything,” Jotko said. “Now I know how to plan my year. I see myself as the new champion at PFL. That’s why I came here – to be the champion, and nobody (can) stop me.”

Check out Jotko’s full media day interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 1.

UFC veterans in MMA and boxing action March 30-April 1

Check out which UFC veterans are in MMA and boxing action across the globe this weekend.

The UFC idle this week after a trip to San Antonio for UFC on ESPN 43, where [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] picked up a big bantamweight win over [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other MMA events are taking place, including Bellator and PFL kicking off their 2023 regular season. Those events, and others feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

This week, there are a total of 32 veterans of the global MMA leader competing in MMA and boxing this week from March 30-April 1.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

UFC parts ways with 12 fighters including Krzysztof Jotko, Misha Cirkunov, more

A dozen fighters are no longer on the UFC roster after a series of releases, retirements, and contract completions.

The UFC roster has been trimmed as a dozen fighters have parted ways with the promotion in the past three days.

While many of the departures were that of fighters who were two or three fights into their promotional tenure, two athletes with double digits in the promotion were among those to split.

News of the departures were first reported by algorithm-based Twitter account, UFC Roster Watch, which monitors the rankings-eligibility of the promotion’s roster.

Scroll below to read about the 12 fighters who are now free agents after leaving the UFC. The designation of each athlete’s departure, whether it be a release, a completion of contract, or a retirement, is unknown unless noted otherwise.

UFC Fight Night 211 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: 2022 total hits $6.5 million

UFC has paid out $6.5 million in Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay to its athletes this year after UFC Fight Night 211.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 211 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $164,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 211 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 211 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Randy Brown[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Trevin Jones[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Don Shainis[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mike Davis[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Viacheslav Borshchev[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Daniel Santos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]John Castaneda[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Joaquim Silva[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jesse Ronson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag]: $6,000
[autotag]Krzysztof Jotko[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Chelsea Chandler[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Julija Stoliarenko[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Guido Cannetti[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Randy Costa[/autotag]: $6,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2117 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2111 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,491,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $12,658,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 211.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (July 11-17)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from July 11-17.

UFC on ESPN 35: Quick picks and prognostications

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the main card of UFC on ESPN 35.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main card for UFC on ESPN 35.

UFC on ESPN 35 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+.

Last event’s results: 3-1

Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2022: 38-14

Welcome to MMAJunkie’s Quick Picks and Prognostications, where I’ll be giving brief, fight-day breakdowns for UFC main cards.

With that in mind, I hope these write-ups don’t come off as curt or dismissive, as my goal here is to offer quick picks and analysis in a digestible format. All odds listed are provided by Tipico Sportsbook.

If you’d like more detailed analysis from me, then feel free to check out my weekly show, The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.

So, without further ado…