Tag: Rizvan Kuniev

7 PFL fighters punished for drug tests; multiple bout results overturned

The seven remaining PFL fighters who failed drug tests but had not received punishments were handed theirs Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Seven of the PFL fighters who tested positive for banned substances during the promotion’s 2023 season have been handed punishments by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

At a monthly commission meeting Tuesday in Las Vegas, the NAC announced a list of adjudication agreements that included suspensions, fines, and a few bout results overturned.

Out of the 36 bouts that took place across three PFL events at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in April, 10 featured fighters who were flagged, including three bouts in which both fighters tested positive.

The recent wave of positive tests triggered a response from PFL brass, which stated publicly they are looking to implement a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency testing program similar to the UFC’s.

Bruno Cappelloza, Alejandro Flores, and Krzysztof Jotko already received their punishments during the May event. Scroll below for details of the other seven fighters, who received punishments Tuesday in Las Vegas.

9 PFL fighters face suspensions following failed drug tests in Nevada

Nine PFL fighters are suspended after positive drug tests across three events, including two pairs of fighters who fought each other.

Nine PFL fighters face sanctions from the Nevada Athletic Commission after failed drug tests stemming from their first regular season bouts of the 2023 season.

At a monthly NAC meeting Tuesday, three fighters were handed sanctions, while another six had hearings announced and postponed to a later date.

Out of the 36 bouts that took place across three PFL events at The Theater at Virgin Hotels on April 1, April 7, and April 15, seven featured fighters who were flagged, including two bouts in which both fighters tested positive.

After the reading of the agenda items and announced sanctions, commission members expressed disappointment and concern at the number of PFL fighters who tested positive.

NAC executive director Jeff Mullen mentioned PFL is exploring the possibility of implementing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency as a method of cleaning up the promotion.

PFL released the following statement prior to the hearing Wednesday.

“PFL has been notified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that several fighters who competed in the two PFL 2023 Regular Season events this past April have been temporarily suspended until further review by the Commission,” it read.

“PFL has a zero-tolerance policy related to the usage of banned substances and complies with the U.S. State Athletic Commission requirements. Further, as the PFL moves towards the highest level of testing and compliance in the sport, PFL is engaged with USADA on the implementation of its athlete anti-doping program.

Scroll below to find out which fighters have been flagged.

Rizvan Kuniev def. Renan Ferreira at 2023 PFL 2: Best photos

Check out these photos from Rizvan Kuniev’s victory over Renan Ferreira at 2023 PFL 2 in Las Vegas.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Rizvan Kuniev[/autotag]’s victory over Renan Ferreira at 2023 PFL 2 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill/PFL)

2023 PFL 2 predictions: Three unanimous picks to open women’s featherweight, heavyweight

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2023 PFL 2 card in Las Vegas, which features women’s featherweights and heavyweights.

Pacheco
vs.
Budd		 Cappelozza
vs.
Scheffel		 Kolesnyk
vs.
Ladd		 Ferreira
vs.
Kuniev
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
41-28		 pacheco2023
Pacheco
(76%)		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza
(77%)		 ladd2023
Ladd
(85%)		 ferreira2023
Ferreira
(51%)
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
44-25		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 ferreira2023
Ferreira
Matt Erickson
@MattE
43-26		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 kuniev2023
Kuniev
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
42-27		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 kuniev2023
Kuniev
Nolan King
@mma_kings
42-27/em>		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 kuniev2023
Kuniev
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
40-29		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 ferreira2023
Ferreira
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
40-29		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 ferreira2023
Ferreira
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
39-30
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 ferreira2023
Ferreira
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
39-30
trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 kuniev2023
Kuniev
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
38-31
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 ferreira2023
Ferreira
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
38-31		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 kuniev2023
Kuniev
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
36-33		 pacheco2023
Pacheco		 cappelozza2023
Cappelozza		 ladd2023
Ladd		 ferreira2023
Ferreira

The PFL stays in Las Vegas this week with the start of the women’s featherweight and heavyweight regular seasons.

PFL 2023, Week 2 takes place Friday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, 2022 women’s featherweight season winner [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (19-4), who upset two-time champion Kayla Harrison in November, takes on former Bellator women’s featherweight champ [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] (16-5). Pacheco is a heavy 7-1 favorite at the betting window. Not surprisingly, then, our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Pacheco as one of our three unanimous picks on the main card.

In the co-feature, 2021 heavyweight season winner [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] (15-6) meets [autotag]Matheus Scheffel[/autotag] (17-9) in a rematch. Scheffel outworked Cappelozza for a unanimous decision in the 2022 regular season. Cappelozza is a 2-1 favorite and the second unanimous pick at 11-0.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Aspen Ladd[/autotag] (10-3), a high-profile signing from the UFC, gets her first PFL regular season fight when she takes on [autotag]Olena Kolesnyk[/autotag] (7-5). Ladd is a -450 favorite and our third unanimous pick.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (9-3) meets [autotag]Rizvan Kuniev[/autotag] (12-2-1) at heavyweight, and it’s our lone contentious fight from a picks standpoint. Kuniev is a slight favorite at -175, but it’s Ferreira with the slimmest possible edge in the picks at 6-5.

In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Pacheco (76 percent), Cappelozza (77 percent), Ladd (85 percent) and Ferreira (51 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 2.

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Eagle FC 46 results: Rizvan Kuniev defends heavyweight title, taps Anthony Hamilton in Round 1

Rizvan Kuniev successfully defends his heavyweight title with a quick submission over Anthony Hamilton at Friday’s Eagle FC 46.

MIAMI – [autotag]Rizvan Kuniev[/autotag]’s second Eagle FC title defense went as smooth as possible.

The Eagle FC heavyweight champion dispatched former UFC fighter [autotag]Anthony Hamilton[/autotag] in quick fashion in the co-main event of Friday’s Eagle FC 46. Kuniev (12-2-1) submitted Hamilton (18-11) at the 1:17 mark of Round 1.

The card took place at the FLX Arena on Friday night in Miami. The event was headlined by a super lightweight bout between former UFC fighters Kevin Lee and Diego Sanchez.

It was a smooth performance by the champion.

After an initial feeling-out process, Kuniev quickly opened up his offense, missing with a spinning back kick, but then landed a couple of good knees to the body. Hamilton left his next open after a knee, and shortly after, Kuniev locked in the standing guillotine choke. Hamilton was unable to get out and was forced to tap out.

[lawrence-related id=2529736,2529681]

With this result, Kuniev is now on a 10-fight winning streak that spans from 2017 to 2022. He last tasted defeat in 2015, coming up short in a decision loss to former UFC fighter Justin Willis. Kuniev had fought at Dana White’s Contender Series prior to his Eagle FC 46 title fight. He stopped Edivan Santos with ground-and-pound in the third round of their heavyweight contest.

On the other hand, Hamilton was unable to bounce back from his previous setback, as he was stopped in late 2021 at Eagle FC 40. Prior to these pair of defeats, Hamilton was on a three-fight winning streak, which marked the first three bouts following his UFC release in 2017.

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Eagle FC 46 weigh-in results, video: Kevin Lee, Diego Sanchez make 165 pounds for main event

Check out the weigh-in results for Eagle FC 46 event in Miami where Kevin Lee and Diego Sanchez meet in the headliner.

MIAMI – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting from Thursday’s official Eagle FC 46 weigh-ins.

The weigh-ins took place at the host hotel. Eagle FC 46 takes place on Friday night at the FLXcast Arena. The entire card streams free on GoFLX.

Among those weighing in were [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag] (18-7) and [autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] (30-13), who meet in the main event at super lightweight contest (165 pounds). Both men hit their marks, with Sanchez coming in considerably under.

In addition, [autotag]Rizvan Kuniev[/autotag] (11-2-1) defends his heavyweight title against former UFC fighter [autotag]Anthony Hamilton[/autotag] (18-10) in the co-main event.

[lawrence-related id=2529668,2529612]

Below are the full Eagle FC 46 weigh-in results:

  • Kevin Lee (165.8) vs. Diego Sanchez (163.2)
  • Rizvan Kuniev (265) vs. Anthony Hamilton (264.8)
  • Ray Borg (135.6) vs. Ricky Bandejas (135.8)
  • Handesson Ferreira (164.8) vs. Zach Juusola (165.6)
  • Raimond Magomedaliev (174.4) vs. Impa Kasanganay
  • Akhmed Aliev (156) vs. Darrell Horcher (155.6)
  • Ikram Aliskerov (186.2) vs. Nah-shon Burrell (186)
  • Irwin Rivera (135.6) vs. Firdavs Khasanov (136)
  • Archie Colgan (160.4) vs. Dylan Mantello (160)
  • Reggie Peña vs. Ronny Markes (205)
  • Thomas Webb (174.4) vs. Tyler Ray (174.8)
  • Caio Uruguai (146) vs. Sitik Muduev (145.8
  • Manny Walo (183.4) vs. Ryder Newman (184.8)

Dana White’s Contender Series takes on international theme, 10 fights added to upcoming season

Ten fights are on the docket for Season 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series.

The lineup for Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 5 is slowly coming to form. Contracts are going out and fighters are putting their names on the dotted lines.

The upcoming installment has a different flare than recent years, with a large percentage of the roster coming from outside North America. The majority are from Brazil, Russia and beyond. Of the fights that have surfaced thus far, only a few Americans are set to partake in Season 5, which is set to begin in August.

The first known event date is Aug. 31. The series will extend at least through mid-October, with the latest event on the schedule currently set for Oct. 12.

A number of fights have leaked prior to the UFC’s official announcements. Scroll below to see the fights MMA Junkie has confirmed thus far.