Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Check out these photos from Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. David Zawada at 2023 PFL 6 in Atlanta.
Check out these photos from [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag]’s victory over David Zawada at 2023 PFL 6 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)
Check out our staff members’ picks for 2023 PFL 3 in Las Vegas, which features season-opening fights at welterweight and lightweight.
| Sy vs. Al-Silawi |
Egli vs. Magomedkerimov |
Ray vs. Schulte |
Manfio vs. Martinez |
Lopez vs. Mitchell |
Amir vs. Miranda |
Jenkins vs. Juusola |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 45-33 |
 Sy (69%) |
 Magomedkerimov (95%) |
 Schulte (72%) |
 Manfio (88%) |
 Lopez (72%) |
 Miranda (76%) |
 Jenkins (82%) |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 48-30 |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
Schulte |
Manfio |
Lopez |
Miranda |
Jenkins |
| Matt Erickson @MattE 48-30 |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
Schulte |
Manfio |
Lopez |
Miranda |
Jenkins |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 48-30 |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
Schulte |
Manfio |
Lopez |
Miranda |
 Juusola |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 47-31 |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
 Ray |
Manfio |
Lopez |
Miranda |
Jenkins |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 45-33 |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
Schulte |
Manfio |
 Mitchell |
Miranda |
Jenkins |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 44-34 |
 Al-Silawi |
Magomedkerimov |
Schulte |
Manfio |
Lopez |
 Amir |
Jenkins |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 44-34  2018, 2022 Champion |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
Ray |
Manfio |
Lopez |
Miranda |
Jenkins |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 44-34 |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
Ray |
Manfio |
Lopez |
Miranda |
Jenkins |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 43-35 2014 Champion |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
Schulte |
Manfio |
Lopez |
Miranda |
Jenkins |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 43-35 2017 Champion |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
Ray |
Manfio |
Lopez |
Miranda |
Jenkins |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 41-37 |
Sy |
Magomedkerimov |
Schulte |
Manfio |
Lopez |
Miranda |
Jenkins |
The PFL wraps up its Las Vegas three-event residency this week with the start of the lightweight and welterweight regular seasons.
PFL 2023, Week 3 takes place Friday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
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In the main event, 2022 welterweight season winner [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] (13-6-2) takes on former Brave CF champion [autotag]Jarrah Al-Silawi[/autotag] (18-4). Sy is nearly a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, and our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have him as a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.
In the co-feature, [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] (30-6) is by far the biggest favorite on the card at more than 12-1 in his welterweight bout against [autotag]Ben Egli[/autotag] (14-4). Not surprisingly, Magomedkerimov is one of two unanimous picks on the main card.
Also on the main card, two-time (2018, 2019) lightweight season winner [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag] (23-5-1) is back to take on [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (25-11). Schulte is a 4-1 betting favorite, but Ray has a pocket of support that leaves Schulte with just a 7-4 picks lead.
[autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] (16-4), the 2021 lightweight winner, takes on [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag] (10-3) to open his 2023 regular season. Even though Martinez is the slight -150 favorite at the betting window, Manfio is our staff members’ other unanimous pick a 11-0.
[autotag]Shane Mitchell[/autotag] (13-4) takes on the unbeaten [autotag]Nayib Lopez[/autotag] (15-0) at welterweight. Lopez is a -250 favorite and is a near-unanimous pick at 10-1. And -150 lightweight favorite Bruno Miranda (14-3) is a 10-1 pick over Ahmed Amir (12-3-1).
To open the main card, [autotag]Brandon Jenkins[/autotag] (16-9) is a slight favorite at welterweight against [autotag]Zach Juusola[/autotag] (13-9), and he’s got a big 10-1 picks lead.
In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Sy (69 percent), Magomedkerimov (95 percent), Schulte (72 percent), Manfio (88 percent), Lopez (72 percent), Miranda (76 percent) and Jenkins (82 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 3.
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The lineup for the third PFL event of this season is now complete.
The lineup for the third PFL event of this season is now complete.
The promotion announced on Monday the full lineup for 2023 PFL 3, which is set to go down April 14 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
These newly announced fights, which include fan favorites and two former champions, join the previously announced matchups that make up the main and co-main event in Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos and Sadibou Sy vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi.
2019 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag] takes on former UFC veteran and 2022 PFL runner-up [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] in a matchup at 155 pounds. Schulte is on a two-fight winning streak, with his most recent victory being a submission over Jeremy Stephens this past November. Ray also competed in November, where he lost to Aubin-Mercier in the 2022 PFL lightweight final.
The other former champion added to the card is [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag], who won the 2021 PFL lightweight season. He’ll be taking on [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag]. Manfio last fought in June, also losing to Aubin-Mercier – a result that snapped a five-fight winning streak.
Additionally, [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag], one of PFL’s most exciting fighters, will take on [autotag]Yamato Nishikawa[/autotag] to close out the preliminary card.
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Below is the full lineup for 2023 PFL 3:
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 9 p.m, ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
The 2022 PFL Championships took place Friday in New York, and all 24 fighters on the card received medical suspensions.
The 2022 PFL Championships took place this past Friday at Hulu Theatre in New York and featured six $1 million title fights among other bouts.
Atop the card was a shocking upset, with [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] defeating [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] to claim the women’s lightweight title. Other championship winners included [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag], [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag], [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag], [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag], and Rob [autotag]Wilkinson[/autotag].
On Monday, the New York State Athletic Commission, which oversaw the event, released medical suspension durations to MMA Junkie, which show all 24 combatants suspended at least one week – with two fighters out 90 days. MMA Fighting first reported the suspensions.
The NYSAC has a policy against revealing the fighters’ specific injuries to the public.
See below to find out the medical suspension durations for the 2022 PFL Championships combatants. It’s important to note that athletes are allowed to return prior to completion of the suspension if they are cleared earlier by a doctor.
Check out the results from the 2022 PFL Championships, where six $1 million champs will be crowned in New York.
The final event of the 2022 PFL season takes place on Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York, and MMA Junkie will keep you updated with live results throughout the event.
The 2022 PFL Championships event features 12 fights, including all six divisional finals for a $1 million grand prize.
In the main event, undefeated two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (15-0) goes for a title three-peat at women’s lightweight when she clashes with [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (18-4), whom Harrison has already defeated twice before.
The co-headliner will see [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (24-4) and [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-5) clash for the featherweight championship, while elsewhere on the card [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-3) makes her promotional debut vs. former Bellator titleholder [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (16-4) at women’s featherweight, plus much more.
Full results of 2022 PFL Championship include:
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.
Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 6 which featured Kayla Harrison, Rory MacDonald, Ray Cooper III, and more.
Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 6, which took place at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, and was headlined by Kayla Harrison vs. Kaitlin Young. (Photos courtesy of PFL) (Gallery updated throughout the event.)
Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 6 weigh-ins at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.
Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 6 weigh-ins at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. (Photos courtesy of PFL)
For the second time, Ray Cooper III took home the $1 million PFL welterweight prize.
[autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] has power in his hands – $1 million power.
For the second time in his professional career, Cooper (24-7-1) won the PFL welterweight championship and the seven-figure prize that comes along with it.
At 2021 PFL Championship, Cooper knocked out [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] (29-6) with a violent punching combination and follow-up shots at 3:02 of Round 3.
The event took place Wednesday at Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Hollywood, Fla. The main card aired on ESPN2/ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN+.
The first round was back-and-forth with both men having their moments. In Round 2, Cooper took Magomedkerimov to the canvas where he worked for an unorthodox opposite-side arm-triangle choke. Despite a solid amount of pressure on his head and neck, Magomedkerimov wiggled his way out of danger.
In Round 3, the momentum shifted in Magomedkerimov’s favor. While his output seemed similar to the first two rounds, the rate at which his punches were landing seemingly increased. He tagged Cooper over and over and even seemed to stun the Hawaiian at one point.
Despite the shots, Cooper hung in the fight and it’s a good thing for him that he did. After a solid hook connected on the feet, Cooper landed another that floored Magomedkerimov. From there, Cooper put the lights out with violent follow-up ground-and-pound shots.
Ray Cooper III Shuts Down Magomed!#PFLChampionship pic.twitter.com/bOgZpphY5G
— PFL (@PFLMMA) October 28, 2021
With the win, Cooper avenges a submission loss to Magomedkerimov in the 2018 PFL Championship. He extended his winning streak to six with the victory.
As for Magomedkerimov, the loss snaps his 13-fight winning streak including an unbeaten 10-fight stretch in PFL.
The up-to-the-minute 2021 PFL Championship results include:
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Watch the pre-fight staredowns from the 2021 PFL Championship weigh-ins in Hollywood, Fla.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] might’ve done her final PFL staredown.
The two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and 2019 PFL champion squared off for the last time against her opponent [autotag]Taylor Guardado[/autotag] following Tuesday’s weigh-ins for 2021 PFL Championship. The two competitor are set to meet in the main event of Wednesday’s 2021 PFL Championship. They fight for the women’s lightweight title along with the $1 million prize.
Harrison (11-0) is set to become a free agent following her fight with Guardado. She has yet to revel wether she’ll re-sign with PFL or go else where.
The main card for PFL Championship airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ at 8:00 p.m. ET following the prelims on ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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Additionally other 18 fighters faced off including five other title bouts and four non-championship fights.
The staredowns include [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] (welterweight final), [autotag]Abigail Montes[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Claressa Shields[/autotag], [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (heavyweight final), [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (featherweight final), [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] (light heavyweight final), [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Loik Radzhabov[/autotag] (lightweight final).
Check out the pre-fight faceoffs in the video above.
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