Tag: PFL Challenger Series 2

Manager updates Mark Martin’s gruesome eye injury, what caused bulge at PFL Challenger Series 2

Mark Martin suffered one of the most grotesque-looking injuries in recent memory, but it appears he’ll be OK.

Now we know what caused [autotag]Mark Martin[/autotag]’s gruesome eye injury.

On Friday night, Martin lost to Dilano Taylor by doctor’s stoppage in between the first and second round at PFL Challenger Series 2. Martin had damage inflicted upon his eye, prompting the cage-side physician to examine him. Almost immediately, the fight was waved off after it was evident that Martin’s eye grotesquely bulged out of his head. Martin was transported to the hospital afterward.

On Saturday, Martin’s manager, AJ Ariosa of First Round Management, provided an updated MMA Junkie’s Nolan King on his client’s status. According to Ariosa, Martin’s injury occurred after he blew his nose, and the pressure blew his eye out of its socket. Ariosa said Martin suffered an orbital fracture, but “it’s looking like he’s going to be good to go, no surgery.”

Ariosa added that doctors said Martin should not fly home from Florida to Arizona because “air pressure in the plane could move the fracture, causing pain and make things worse.” Martin and his team could be driving home cross country.

Martin (7-2) found success early in the fight, but a couple of hard shots from Taylor (8-1) caused swelling and damage to his left eye.

Martin, 28, had been riding a six-fight winning streak heading into PFL Challenger Series 2.

Former BRAVE CF champion Jarrah Al-Silawi joins welterweight cast of PFL Challenger Series

Jarrah Al-Silawi will lead a list of surging welterweight prospects in the second episode of PFL’s new Challenger Series.

[autotag]Jarrah Al-Silawi[/autotag] will lead a list of surging welterweight prospects in the second episode of PFL’s new Challenger Series.

Al-Silawi (16-3), a former BRAVE CF super welterweight champion, will take part in PFL Challenger Series 2, which features welterweights including NCAA wrestling standout [autotag]Mark Martin[/autotag] and LFA 170-pound champion [autotag]Carlos Leal[/autotag] (14-3).

Also taking part in the welterweight episode is returning Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace [autotag]Lucas Barbosa[/autotag] (2-1), [autotag]Dilano Taylor[/autotag] (7-1), [autotag]Michael Lilly[/autotag] (7-6), [autotag]Troy Green[/autotag] (4-1) and [autotag]Socrates Pierre[/autotag] (12-6).

PFL’s new Challenger Series officially kicks off Feb. 18 at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., with light heavyweights on tap for Episode 1. The second episode takes place a week later.

The new series airs exclusively on Fubo Sports Network and sees athletes gunning for a PFL contract that could either serve as a developmental deal or see them enter directly into the promotion’s regular season and its $1 million prize. One fighter each week will earn the contract.

Jordan’s Al-Silawi headlines the welterweight talent. Winner of 11 of his past 12, two-time BRAVE CF champ Al-Silawi holds notable wins and finishes over UFC welterweight Carlston Harris, French prospect Abdoul Abdouraguimov and ex-UFC welterweight Ismail Naurdiev.

Al-Silawe explained he wanted to get his feet wet before entering the 2022 season and the PFL Challenger Series is the perfect opportunity for him to do that.

“I’m excited to compete for the PFL before the season,” Al-Silawi told MMA Junkie. “The plan was to join the season right away, but this fight in February, I wanted to take. I’m very excited for my first fight in the PFL. I prepared very well for the fight. I’ve been training for a while, so God willing, this fight will be different.

“It’s my first time to go to America and fight there, so I’m very excited for that. It’s a different place. I’m also excited to show everyone the level in the Middle East. I always say we don’t have too many fighters in the Middle East, but we carry a message. We want to prove to the world that we can compete at the highest level, and this is a big opportunity for me to prove this point.”