Anthony Pettis vs. Stevie Ray rematch headlines PFL’s playoff-opening card in New York

The lineup is set for the PFL’s first set of playoff fights next month in New York.

The lineup is set for the PFL’s first set of playoff fights next month in New York.

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] (25-13) remained the top lightweight seed despite an upset loss to [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag] (24-10) two weeks ago. Ray’s win made him the No. 4 seed – which set up a rematch with Pettis in the four-man playoff field.

On the other side of the lightweight playoff bracket, No. 2 seed [autotag]Olivier Aubin-Mercier[/autotag] (15-5) takes on No. 3 [autotag]Alexander Martinez[/autotag] (10-2). The winners of those two fights will meet in the $1 million lightweight season final in October.

In the light heavyweight playoffs, there’s been a significant shakeup. No. 3 seed [autotag]Antonio Carlos Jr.[/autotag] (15-5) is out of his fight against American Top Team teammate and No. 2 seed [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] (23-7-1), the PFL announced Friday. Stepping in for Junior is another one of Akhmedov’s teammates at American Top Team, [autotag]Josh Silveira[/autotag] (9-0), who finished the regular season in fifth place and was an alternate.

Top light heavyweight seed [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (15-2) will take on No. 4 [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (9-2) on the other half of the bracket.

The PFL’s first set of playoff fights take place Aug. 5 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The four-fight main card of playoff matchups airs on ESPN. A two-fight set of prelims and four fights after the main card stream on ESPN+.

The playoffs continue later in August with welterweights and heavyweights on tap Aug. 13 in Cardiff, Wales, and women’s lightweights and featherweights set for Aug. 20 in London.

The PFL 2022 Playoffs 1 card includes:

POSTLIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • [autotag]Marthin Hamlet[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cory Hendricks[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Adam Keresh[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcelo Nunes[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ricardo Jimenez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brahyan Zurcher[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Elvin Espinosa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Corey Jackson[/autotag]

MAIN CARD (ESPN)

  • No. 1 Anthony Pettis vs. No. 4 Stevie Ray – lightweight semifinal
  • No. 2 Omari Akhmedov vs. No. 5 Josh Silveira – light heavyweight semifinal
  • No. 2 Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. N. 3 Alexander Martinez – lightweight semifinal
  • No. 1 Robert Wilkinson vs. No. 4 Delan Monte – light heavyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • [autotag]Elvis Lebron[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexei Pergande[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lucas Barbosa[/autotag] vs. TBA

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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.

Photos: 2022 PFL 4 Ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 4 ceremonial weigh-ins in Atlanta.

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 4 ceremonial weigh-ins and the fighter faceoffs. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL)

Video: UFC veteran Omari Akhmedov starches Viktor Pesta, earns six points at 2022 PFL 1

Watch UFC veteran Omari Akhmedov put away Viktor Pesta with a brutal right hand at Wednesday’s 2022 PFL 1.

ARLINGTON, Texas. – [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] put himself in a good position to kick off the 2022 PFL light heavyweight season.

The veteran fighter earned a quick, first-round knockout at Wednesday’s 2022 PFL 1 event in Arlington, Texas. Akhmedov (22-7) put away Viktor Pesta with a brutal right hand that sent Pesta towering down to the canvas. The official stoppage came at the 1:25 mark of Round 1.

With the finish, Akhmedov earned six points in the 2022 PFL light heavyweight season.

You can watch Akhmedov’s knockout win below (via Twitter):

With this win, the 33-year-old Russian bounced back from a two-fight losing streak. Akhmedov made his PFL debut in November of 2021, losing via stoppage to Jordan Young. Prior to that, Akhmedov lost a split decision to Brad Tavares, which marked the end of his eight-year run with the UFC.

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2022 PFL 1 weigh-in results: All 20 lightweights, light heavyweights on point to start season

Check out the weigh-in results of 2022 PFL 1 in Arlington, Texas.

Fighters competing in the 2022 PFL season opener stepped on the scale Tuesday to record their official weight for their bouts.

The 10-fight 2022 PFL 1 card takes place Wednesday at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The event airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+ beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The first week will see lightweights and light heavyweights compete as they aim to get a strong start to the new season. [autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] (20-9) takes on [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag] (28-19) in the main event. The co-main will see 2021 PFL lightweight champion [autotag]Raush Manfio[/autotag] (15-3) against [autotag]Don Madge[/autotag] (10-3-1). Representing the light heavyweights in the feature bout, 2021 PFL champion [autotag]Antonio Carlos Junior[/autotag] (13-5) will face [autotag]Delan Monte[/autotag] (8-1).

All fighters competing on Wednesday made weight with no issues, kicking off the season with a smooth start on the scales.

The full 202 PFL 1 weigh-in results are below:

Main Card (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Clay Collard (155) vs. Jeremy Stephens (156)
  • Raush Manfio (156) vs. Don Madge (155.75)
  • Antonio Carlos Junior (205.5) vs. Delan Monte (205)
  • Natan Schulte (156) vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier (155.75)

Preliminary card (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Emiliano Sordi (205.5) vs. Cory Hendricks (205.75)
  • Alex Martinez (156) vs. Stevie Ray (155.5)
  • Marthin Hamlet (205.75) vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis (204.5)
  • Omari Akhmedov (204.25) vs. Viktor Pesta (205.5)
  • Rob Wilkinson (205) vs. Bruce Souto (204.5)
  • Simeon Powell (205.75) vs. Clinton Williams (204.5)

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Defying the odds: The 10 biggest MMA betting upsets of 2021

Check out the biggest upsets of 2021, according to the oddsmakers.

Who doesn’t love a good upset?

In 2021, MMA saw its fair share of underdogs who defied the odds – in the UFC, Bellator and beyond. While everyone has an opinion of who should win and who should lose, the oddsmakers largely get the final say on what history reflects.

This year, with the help of MMA database Tapology, MMA Junkie has compiled the top 10 betting upsets of 2021. Fights that were eligible were those which numerous major online sports books recognized, and which Tapology recorded prior to line close.

Check out the top 10 MMA betting upsets of 2021 below, per Tapology. Note that only major MMA promotions were included in the tally.

UFC 264 medical suspensions: Why Sean O’Malley – not Kris Moutinho? – faces potential six months

Despite battering Kris Moutinho, it’s Sean O’Malley who’s potentially looking at six months out of action after UFC 264.

Despite battering [autotag]Kris Moutinho[/autotag] for three rounds, it’s [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] who could be looking at six months out of action.

O’Malley needs an X-ray on both hands and both feet after putting on a striking clinic against tough newcomer Moutinho on Saturday at UFC 264. Moutinho, on the other hand, is looking at a two-month suspension for the damage taken in the fight, with no contact for 45 days.

On Tuesday, MMA Junkie acquired a full list of the UFC 264 medical suspensions, which were issued by the Nevada Athletic Commission, from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commission’s official record keeper.

Also facing a 180-day term is [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag], who broke his left tibia and fibula in a first-round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Dustin Poirier. McGregor faces a minimum six months out of action after undergoing surgery on Sunday.

Rounding off the six-month suspension list are [autotag]Ryan Hall[/autotag], who needs clearance for his fractured left hand that he says broke on the first punch landed in his knockout loss to Ilia Topuria; [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag], who fractured his nose in a decision loss to Brad Tavares; [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag], who needs his left orbital bone cleared by a doctor after suffering a first-round knockout to Tai Tuivasa; and [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag], who fractured her nose in a first-round TKO loss to Irene Aldana.

The full list of UFC 264 medical suspensions includes:

UFC 264 post-event facts: Dustin Poirier joins exclusive 20-win club

The best facts and figures to come out of UFC 264, which saw Dustin Poirier make history with his trilogy-fight win over Conor McGregor.

The biggest MMA event of the year so far went down Saturday when UFC 264 took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The highly anticipated lightweight trilogy fight in the main event ended in unexpected fashion when [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] (28-6 MMA, 20-5 UFC) defeated [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) by first-round TKO after the former two-division champion suffered a broken tibia.

Regardless of how it happened, it’s a win for “The Diamond,” who further entrenched his legacy in the UFC record books.

For more on the numbers, check below for 50 pre-event facts coming out of UFC 264.

UFC 264 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Conor McGregor nets $11,000

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 264 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $218,000.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 264 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $218,000.

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 264 took place at the T-Mobile Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 264 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Greg Hardy[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Yana Kunitskaya[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Sean O’Malley [/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kris Moutinho[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Carlos Condit[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Niko Price[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ryan Hall[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jennifer Maia[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jessica Eye[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Brad Tavares[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Zhalgas Zhumagulov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jerome Rivera[/autotag]: $4,500

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 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 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 2021 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $2,332,500
Program-to-date total: $2,332,500

UFC on ESPN 20 medical suspensions: Mike Davis, Victoria Leonardo face up to 180 days

Mike Davis and Victoria Leonardo are facing potential six-month suspensions for injuries sustained in their fights.

[autotag]Mike Davis[/autotag] and [autotag]Victoria Leonardo[/autotag] are facing potential six-month medical suspensions after UFC on ESPN 20.

Davis (9-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who earned the “Fight of the Night” honor in a unanimous decision win over Mason Jones, needs clearance for his left thumb for his hard-fought battle with Jones.

Joining Davis with a potential 180-day term is Leonardo (8-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who needs clearance for her right forearm after suffering a second-round stoppage loss to Manon Fiorot.

MMA Junkie on Friday obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.

The full list of UFC on ESPN 20 medical suspensions includes:

  • [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to right eye laceration.
  • [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Warlley Alves[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days due to rib soreness.
  • [autotag]Ike Villanueva[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Vinicius Moreira[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days due to knockout loss.
  • [autotag]Roxanne Modafferi[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Viviane Araujo[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Matt Schnell[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Tyson Nam[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to right cheek laceration.
  • [autotag]Douglas Silva de Andrade[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Tom Breese[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Ricky Simon[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Gaetano Pirello[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Su Mudaerji[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to chin laceration.
  • [autotag]Zarrukh Adashev[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Dalcha Lungiambula[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Markus Perez[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to scalp laceration.
  • [autotag]Francisco Figueiredo[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • [autotag]Jerome Rivera[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • Mike Davis: Needs X-ray for left thumb, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Mason Jones[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).
  • [autotag]Sergey Morozov[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to “hard bout.”
  • Victoria Leonardo: Needs X-ray for right forearm, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • [autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag]: Suspended seven days (mandatory rest).

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