2022 champs Brendan Loughnane, Rob Wilkinson headline 2023 PFL 1 on April 1

Two of the PFL’s 2022 season winners will take their first steps toward hope of a repeat in April.

Two of the PFL’s 2022 season winners will take their first steps toward hope of a repeat in April.

The promotion’s first event of the 2023 regular season is set for April 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels (the former Hard Rock Hotel Casino) in Las Vegas. Featherweights and light heavyweights will be on the card for their first matchups of the two-fight regular season. The event will have a main card on ESPN and ESPN Deportes following prelims on ESPN+.

[autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (26-4), the 2022 featherweight winner, will be at the top of the bill in a matchup against [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] (23-11-1), the PFL announced Thursday. In the co-feature, 2022 light heavyweight winner [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (17-2) will take on [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] (22-11).

Other matchups on the main card include 2021 season winner [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] (19-0-1) vs. [autotag]Ryoji Kudo[/autotag] (11-4-1) at featherweight; 2022 runner-up [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-6) vs. former finalist [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (22-8) at featherweight; and [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (24-8-1) vs. [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] (11-3) at light heavyweight.

“The 2023 PFL regular season is shaping up for our best season yet, and I’m excited to watch our featherweight and light heavyweight divisions compete on April 1,” PFL president Ray Sefo said in a news release. “From returning PFL world champions to league debuts from MMA stars, fight fans across the world are in for a treat starting with PFL 1 in Las Vegas.”

The PFL’s second and third events of the 2023 regular season take place April 7 and April 14 from Las Vegas, as well.

Loughnane knocked out Jenkins in the fourth round this past November to win the 2022 featherweight season. He beat Kudo and Ago Huskic in the regular season, then beat Wade in the postseason semifinals. He has won 11 of 12 overall, including his $1 million finish of Jenkins.

Moraes will be looking to turn his career around. The former UFC bantamweight lost a vacant title shot against Henry Cejudo in June 2019, but rebounded with a win over former UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo later that year. After that, though, it’s been a struggle. He was knocked out in four straight fights by Cory Sandhagen, Rob Font, Merab Dvalishvili and Song Yadong and found himself outside the UFC by mid-2022. In his PFL debut this past November in a move to featherweight, he was stopped in the third round by a Sheymon Moraes TKO in a showcase fight.

Wilkinson hasn’t lost in five years – and it happened to be the UFC debut of future middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who knocked him out in the second round in Wilkinson’s native Australia. Since then, Wilkinson has won six straight, including his first four in the PFL in 2022 on his way to a TKO over Akhmedov to win the light heavyweight title this past November. All four of his PFL wins came by knockout or TKO.

Santos, a former UFC title challenger, has dropped five of his past six starting with his 205-pound title shot against Jon Jones in July 2019, which he lost by split decision. After that, he lost to eventual champion Glover Teixeira, then Aleksandar Rakic. He rebounded with a win over Johnny Walker in October 2021 before a loss to Magomed Ankalaev in March 2022 and a fourth-round TKO setback to new champ Jamahal Hill in August 2022. His fight with Wilkinson will be his PFL debut after nearly 10 years and 24 fights with the UFC.

The 2023 PFL 1 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN)

  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Marlon Moraes – featherweight regular season
  • Robert Wilkinson vs. Thiago Santos – light heavyweight regular season
  • Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Ryoji Kudo – featherweight regular season
  • Bubba Jenkins vs. Chris Wade – featherweight regular season
  • Omari Akhmedov vs. Will Fleury – light heavyweight regular season

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • Krzysztof Jotko vs. TBA – light heavyweight regular season
  • Mohammed Fakhreddine vs. Marthin Hamlet – light heavyweight regular season
  • Sam Kei vs. Josh Silveira – light heavyweight regular season
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Daniel Torres – featherweight regular season
  • Sung Bin Jo vs. TBA – featherweight regular season

2022 PFL Championships medical suspensions: 10 fighters ruled out indefinitely

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.

2022 PFL Championship results: Rob Wilkinson slices Omari Akhmedov open for $1 million light heavyweight crown

Rob Wilkinson knew he had Omari Akhmedov in trouble and kept the pressure on until he was $1 million richer.

[autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] knew he had [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] in trouble and kept the pressure on until he was $1 million richer.

Wilkinson (17-2) capped off a perfect 2022 with a TKO win over Akhmedov (24-8-1) to capture the 2022 PFL light heavyweight crown. Wilkinson signed with the PFL this year and finished both his regular season fights by knockout, his playoff semifinal by knockout, and then a doctor’s stoppage to win $1 million.

It was a kickboxing matchup early, but Wilkinson started to take over with his boxing. Just before the Round 1 horn, Wilkinson landed a perfect knee to the chin, and it’s likely Akhmedov was saved by the bell.

In the second, Wilkinson’s striking stayed on point. Akhmedov’s best chance seemed to be on the canvas, but Wilkinson kept it standing. Wilkinson opened up a big cut on Akhmedov’s forehead, and by the end of the second round he was a bloody mess. When the cageside doctor took a second look at the cut, he decided it was too deep for him to continue.

The 2022 PFL finals took place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Championships.

Rob Wilkinson def. Omari Akhmedov at 2022 PFL Championships: Best Photos

Check out the best photos from Rob Wilkinson’s second-round TKO win over Omari Akhmedov to win the 2022 PFL light heavyweight season.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag]’s second-round TKO win over [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] to win the light heavyweight season at the 2022 PFL Championships at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photos courtesy of the PFL)

2022 PFL Championship predictions: Who are our two unanimous picks in $1 million finals?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2022 PFL Championships, which feature six $1 million playoff finals.

Harrison
vs.
Pacheco
Jenkins
vs.
Loughnane
Delija
vs.
Scheffel
Budd
vs.
Ladd
Aubin-Mercier
vs.
Ray
Sy
vs.
Taylor
Akhmedov
vs.
Wilkinson
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
186-109
harrison2022
Harrison
(81%)
jenkins2022
Jenkins
(51%)
delija2022
Delija
(77%)
budd2022
Budd
(57%)
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
(81%)
sy2022
Sy
(56%)
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
(56%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
196-104
trophy copy 2018 Champion
harrison2022
Harrison
loughnane2022
Loughnane
delija2022
Delija
budd2022
Budd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
sy2022
Sy
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
187-113
harrison2022
Harrison
jenkins2022
Jenkins
delija2022
Delija
ladd2022
Ladd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
taylor2022
Taylor
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
186-114
harrison2022
Harrison
loughnane2022
Loughnane
delija2022
Delija
budd2022
Budd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
taylor2022
Taylor
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
183-117
harrison2022
Harrison
jenkins2022
Jenkins
delija2022
Delija
ladd2022
Ladd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
taylor2022
Taylor
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
183-117
trophy copy 2014 Champion
harrison2022
Harrison
loughnane2022
Loughnane
delija2022
Delija
budd2022
Budd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
sy2022
Sy
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
181-119
harrison2022
Harrison
loughnane2022
Loughnane
delija2022
Delija
budd2022
Budd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
taylor2022
Taylor
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
178-122
pacheco2022
Pacheco
jenkins2022
Jenkins
delija2022
Delija
ladd2022
Ladd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
sy2022
Sy
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Nolan King
@mma_kings
173-127
harrison2022
Harrison
jenkins2022
Jenkins
delija2022
Delija
ladd2022
Ladd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
taylor2022
Taylor
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
172-128
trophy copy 2017 Champion
harrison2022
Harrison
loughnane2022
Loughnane
delija2022
Delija
ladd2022
Ladd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
sy2022
Sy
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
163-137
harrison2022
Harrison
loughnane2022
Loughnane
delija2022
Delija
budd2022
Budd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
sy2022
Sy
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
146-154
harrison2022
Harrison
loughnane2022
Loughnane
delija2022
Delija
budd2022
Budd
aubin-mercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
sy2022
Sy
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov

The PFL closes out its 2022 season with six $1 million playoff finals this week.

The 2022 PFL finals take place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, two-time women’s lightweight season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (15-0) goes after her third crown when she meets [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (18-4) for the third time. Harrison is 2-0 against the Brazilian. Harrison is a massive 8-1 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Pacheco is +470. But not all of our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are taking Harrison. One of our pickers has Pacheco in a big upset.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-5) takes on [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (25-4) in the featherweight final. Loughnane is a -180 favorite and has a 7-4 lead in our picks.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (22-5) is a heavy -350 favorite in the heavyweight season final against [autotag]Matheus Scheffel[/autotag] (17-8). Delija, the 2021 runner-up, is one of our two unanimous picks at 11-0.

In a non-playoff showcase fight, former Bellator women’s featherweight champion [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (16-4) takes on [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (9-3), who recently was released by the UFC and signed with the PFL. Ladd is a -230 favorite at the betting window, but it’s Budd who has a narrow 6-5 edge from our pickers.

In the lightweight season final, [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (16-5) is a big -420 favorite against [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (25-10) and is our second unanimous pick.

[autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] (12-6-2) takes on [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (10-2) in the welterweight final. Sy nearly is a 2-1 favorite, but he has just a slim 6-5 picks lead.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (24-7-1) meets 2-1 favorite [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (16-2) in the light heavyweight final. Australia’s Wilkinson has a 7-4 lead from our staff pickers.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Harrison (81 percent), Jenkins (51 percent), Delija (77 percent), Budd (57 percent), Aubin-Mercier (81 percent), Sy (56 percent) and Wilkinson (74 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Championships.

[vertical-gallery id=2599490]

UFC veterans in MMA and bareknuckle action Nov. 25-26

Check out which veterans of the UFC are in action this week.

This week, the UFC is idle following UFC Fight Night 215 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Elsewhere, there are a number of MMA and bareknuckle events taking place that feature familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

These 14 veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA and boxing this week from Nov. 25-26.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

2022 PFL Championships lineup set for pay-per-view, includes 6 title fights and more

2022 PFL Championships feature six title fights, former UFC contenders, and Muhammad Ali’s grandson on the promotion’s first pay-per-view.

The finale of the 2022 PFL postseason is set.

2022 PFL Championships takes place Friday, Nov. 25 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, the promotion announced Wednesday. The eight-fight main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view (8 p.m. ET) after the four-fight undercard on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET).

While there are no surprises in terms of the six $1 million title fight matchups, which were configured during the post-season, a handful of showcase bouts were also added to the card – including one amateur bout involving the grandson of a boxing icon.

The event marks the first time the promotion has put on a pay-per-view card.

See below to check out the full 2022 PFL Championships lineup, with two bouts still to be added, according to promotion officials.

2022 PFL Championships: A look at the 12 finalists

A dozen 2022 PFL finalists will compete in championship bouts this November, including Kayla Harrison, five UFC alums and an alternate.

Dozens of fighters started out in the 2022 PFL season with the goal of fighting for the championship – and million dollar prize that comes with it.

In the back half of 2022, only two fighters in each weight class remain, totaling a dozen overall. Some suffered losses during the season and rebounded. Others were inserted mid-season, rallied, and capitalized. One fighter even won two short-notice outings as an alternate to clinch his spot in the final.

Each finalist had their own unique journey and now are on the verge of becoming millionaires with a single punch or kick – or a 15-minute all-out war. Fate is in their hands.

2022 PFL Championships are scheduled for Nov. 25 at a yet-to-be-announced location in the U.S.. Scroll below to see who the 12 finalists are and learn about their 2022 journeys toward the finals.

2022 PFL Playoffs 1: Best photos from New York

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Check out these photos from the fights at 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 which took place at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL MMA)

2022 PFL Playoffs 1 predictions: Can Stevie Ray upset Anthony Pettis again?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the PFL Playoffs 1 card in New York, featuring lightweight and light heavyweight semifinal fights.

Pettis
vs.
Ray
Akhmeddov
vs.
Silveira
Aubin-Mercier
vs.
Martinez
Wilkinson
vs.
Monte
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
127-74
pettis2022
Pettis
(60%)
silveira2022
Silveira
(59%)
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
(88%)
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
(74%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
136-70
trophy copy 2018 Champion
ray2022
Ray
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
132-74
trophy copy 2014 Champion
pettis2022
Pettis
silveira2022
Silveira
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
132-74
ray2022
Ray
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
128-78
pettis2022
Pettis
silveira2022
Silveira
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
127-79
pettis2022
Pettis
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
126-80
pettis2022
Pettis
silveira2022
Silveira
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
125-81
pettis2022
Pettis
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Nolan King
@mma_kings
123-83
ray2022
Ray
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
martinez2022
Martinez
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
121-85
trophy copy 2017 Champion
pettis2022
Pettis
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
114-92
pettis2022
Pettis
silveira2022
Silveira
martinez2022
Martinez
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
101-105
pettis2022
Pettis
akhmedov2022
Akhmedov
aubinmercier2022
Aubin-Mercier
wilkinson2022
Wilkinson

The PFL returns this week for the first of three sets of playoff semifinals, starting with lightweights and light heavyweights.

The 2022 PFL Playoffs 1 event takes place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+ and ahead of post-lim qualifiers on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, No. 1 lightweight seed [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] (25-13) takes on [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (24-10) in a rematch from the regular season. Ray upset Pettis in their first meeting with a second-round submmission. The fight nearly is a pick’em. Pettis is -115 at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Ray is -110. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers largely are siding with Pettis to move on to the final. They have him with a big 8-3 picks lead.

At light heavyweight, No. 2 [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (23-7-1) meets late replacement [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] (9-0). Silveira was an alternate and not in the playoffs until Antonio Carlos Jr. pulled out. Silveira is a -220 favorite, but it’s Akhmedov with a 7-4 lead in the picks from our staff members.

In the other lightweight semifinal, [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (15-5) is a -240 favorite against [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag] (10-2) and he has a big 9-2 picks advantage.

And to open the main card, our only unanimous pick is in the other light heavyweight semifinal. [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (15-2) is this week’s biggest playoff favorite at -340 against [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (9-2), and he’s got an 11-0 picks shutout.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Pettis (60 percent), Silveira (59 percent), Aubin-Mercier (88 percent) and Wilkinson (74 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2022 PFL Playoffs 1.

[pickup_prop id=”26102″]