2024 PFL 6 video: Brennan Ward retires from MMA after submission loss to Magomed Umalatov

Bellator veteran Brennan Ward announced his retirement following his submission loss at 2024 PFL 6.

[autotag]Brennan Ward[/autotag] has decided to call it quits on MMA.

The Bellator veteran announced his retirement from the sport following his first-round submission loss to [autotag]Magomed Umalatov[/autotag] on the main card of 2024 PFL 6, which went down on Friday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

It was a quick night for Ward (17-9), as Umalatov (16-0) took him down early in the fight and then worked his way to an anaconda choke, which produced the tap. With this result, Umalatov now advances to the 2024 PFL welterweight playoffs.

You can watch Ward’s retirement announcement along with Umalatov’s submission win in the video below:

Ward, 35, fought for Bellator for over a decade. He made his debut for the promotion in 2012 and stayed with the company through it’s purchase by PFL this past November. He won the Bellator season 9 middleweight tournament, and went on to challenge for the undisputed title, in a fight he lost to then champion Alexander Shlemenko. Ward retires on a two-fight losing streak.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 6.

Magomed Umalatov happy to defeat Russian ‘legend’ Andrey Koreshkov, vows PFL ‘takeover’

Magomed Umalatov looks to run the PFL’s welterweight division after picking up a big win over former Bellator champ Andrey Koreshkov.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Magomed Umalatov[/autotag] didn’t walk away from a big win over Andrey Koreshkov unscathed, but is happy with the end result.

In the 2024 PFL 3 main event, Umalatov (15-0 MMA, 6-0 PFL) kept his unbeaten record intact by picking up a unanimous decision win over Koreshkov (27-5 MMA, 0-1 PFL), earning three points in the welterweight standings.

The fight meant more to Umalatov than just getting his hand raised, as he added a name to his resume that he has looked up to throughout his career.

“He’s a famous guy in Russia, a former Bellator champion,” Umalatov told reporters during a post-fight news conference. “Even me, when I was amateur, I was watching his fights. He’s a legend and I’m happy to beat him today. After this fight, I will be more confident. I’m 15-0, undefeated. I beat a very strong guy, and I’m just (looking) forward.”

Don Madge and Murad Ramazanov both picked up first-round finishes worth six points, while Shamil Musaev earned five for his second-round stoppage. Umalatov has three points along with Goiti Yamauchi, which will make for a tight race in the second round of fights in June.

Umalatov came out of the fight with damage to his right arm, as he held an ice pack to his limb while fielding questions to reporters. He did not seem too concerned with the injury, however, as he delivered a haunting message to future opponents this season:

“Just be ready, I’m coming for takeover.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 3.

Magomed Umalatov def. Andrey Koreshkov at 2024 PFL 3: Best photos

Check out these photos from Magomed Umalatov’s victory over Andrey Koreshkov in the 2024 PFL 3 main event in Chicago.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Magomed Umalatov[/autotag]’s unanimous decision victory over Andrey Koreshkov in the 2024 PFL 3 main event, which took place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. (Photos courtesy of PFL MMA)

2023 PFL 6 fighter pay: Shane Burgos pockets six-figure purse after move from UFC

Check out the disclosed 2023 PFL 6 fighter pays, including what Shane Burgos is making after jumping over from the UFC.

PFL returned to Atlanta this past Thursday for the third of three shows in three consecutive weeks at Overtime Elite Arena.

2023 PFL 6 featured final regular season bouts at lightweight and welterweight, as well as three showcase fights. In the main event, 2022 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] knocked out Dana White’s Contender Series alum [autotag]Anthony Romero[/autotag].

Other names on the card included former UFC fighters [autotag]Shane Burgos[/autotag] and [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag], as well as past PFL championship winners [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag], [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag], [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag].

MMA Junkie acquired a list of the 24 fighters’ disclosed payouts Monday from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission. The amounts do not include bonuses, sponsorships or any other discretionary payments.

Five fighters topped the list at $100,000, while all other fighters received five-figure or four-figure payouts. Among them was Burgos, who left the UFC as a free agent to sign with the PFL. Friday, Burgos pocketed a six-figure flat purse against [autotag]Yamato Nishikawa[/autotag].

Scroll below to see the disclosed pay for each 2023 PFL 6 fighter.

2023 PFL 3 video: Magomed Umalatov blasts Dilano Taylor in first-round KO

Magomed Umalatov made quick work of Dilano Taylor at 2023 PFL 3.

It didn’t take long for [autotag]Magomed Umalatov[/autotag] to get his six points for PFL’s 2023 season.

Umalatov (13-0) needed less than two minutes to dispatch his opponent [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] in the opening bout of 2023 PFL 3 on Friday night. The event took place at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas and aired on ESPN and ESPN+.

Just as both fighters were getting settled, Umalatov wobbled Taylor (10-4) with a right hand, sending him to the canvas. The Russian only needed a few extra follow-up shots to get the referee to waive off the action. With the first round finish, Umalatov scores six points in PFL’s 2023 welterweight season.

You can watch Umalatov’s finish in the video below:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL 3.

Clay Collard, Raush Manfio, more booked to complete 2023 PFL 3 card

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)

  • Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos
  • Sadibou Sy vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi
  • Natan Schulte vs. Stevie Ray
  • Raush Manfio vs. Alexander Martinez
  • Shane Mitchell vs. TBA
  • Abdelaziz Abdulvakhabov vs. Ahmed Ami

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Clay Collard vs. Yamato Nishikawa
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Don Madge
  • Carlos Leal vs. David Zawada
  • Magomed Umalatov vs. Dilano Taylor

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 6: Best photos from Atlanta

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.)