Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Check out these photos from Yoel Romero vs. Thiago Santos, which took place on the main card of PFL vs. Bellator: Champions in Saudi Arabia.
Check out these photos from [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag]’s unanimous decision victory over Thiago Santos at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions, which took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photos courtesy of PFL)
Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.
This week, the UFC returns to Mexico for UFC Fight Night 237.
The event at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City features a flyweight clash between former champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag].
Many other combat sports events are taking place that feature several familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.
Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing Feb. 22-25.
Scroll below to see how the UFC veterans fared last week, and see the names and details of this weekend’s competitors.
Upcoming event information from Tapology.
Check out the UFC, PFL, and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.
Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.
Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Jan. 15-21.
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.
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.
“Say what you want to say, but we’re still in the game.”
[autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] won’t be deterred after he dropped his PFL debut.
Santos (22-12) lost a unanimous decision to 2022 light heavyweight season winner Rob Wilkinson in this past Saturday’s 2023 PFL 1 co-main event, which took place at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
The former UFC title challenger has now lost six of his past seven fights. His lone win in that stretch came over Johnny Walker in October 2021. But despite his losing skid, “Marreta” vows to come back stronger.
“At the end of the day, we have two options, give up or continue. And how can I give up on a blessing that God grants me, even with all my difficulties and limitations I’m still here, doing and living what I love. Say what you want to say but we’re still in the game.”
At the end of the day, we have two options, give up or continue. And how can I give up on a blessing that God grants me, even with all my difficulties and limitations I'm still here, doing and living what I love. Say what you want to say but we're still in the game. pic.twitter.com/b5cYnoPslu
— Thiago “Marreta” Santos (@TMarretaMMA) April 3, 2023
“I came from nothing, so mentally I never lose. Everything is a win or a lesson.”
Eu vim do nada mano, mentalmente eu nunca perco. Tudo é vitória ou aprendizado.
🇺🇸 I came from nothing, so mentally I never lose. Everything is a win or a lesson.— Thiago “Marreta” Santos (@TMarretaMMA) April 3, 2023
[lawrence-related id=2630396,2630087,2627406]
Santos’ skid began when he took former UFC light heavyweight champion and current heavyweight champ Jon Jones to the brink in a split decision loss at UFC 239. Prior to that, he won eight of nine fights – including TKO finishes of Jack Hermansson, Anthony Smith and former champ Jan Blachowicz.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL 1.
Check out the best photos from Rob Wilkinson’s unanimous decision win over Thiago Santos at 2023 PFL 1 in Las Vegas.
Check out the best photos from [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] at PFL 2023, Week 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. (Photos courtesy of PFL)
Check out the ceremonial faceoffs from the first PFL event of 2023.
LAS VEGAS – The 2023 PFL season kicks off Saturday and the promotion held its first ceremonial faceoffs Friday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels.
2023 PFL 1 features the first of two regular season fights for its featherweight and light heavyweight fighters with a main card on ESPN/ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN+.
In the main event, 2022 PFL featherweight champion [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (26-4) returns against former UFC bantamweight title challenger [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] (23-11-1).
Also on the card, 2022 PFL light heavyweight champion [autotag]Robert Wilkinson[/autotag] (17-2) takes on former UFC light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] (22-11).
Check out the ceremonial faceoffs above and the full fight card below.
MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Check out our staff members’ picks for the PFL 2023, Week 1 main card in Las Vegas, which features featherweights and light heavyweights.
| Loughnane vs. Moraes |
Santos vs. Wilkinson |
Fleury vs. Jotko |
Khayvulaev vs. Kudo |
Jenkins vs. Wade |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 35-24 |
 Loughnane (88%) |
 Wilkinson (56%) |
 Jotko (88%) |
 Khaybulaev (88%) |
 Wade (61%) |
| Matt Erickson @MattE 37-22 |
Loughnane |
 Santos |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Wade |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 37-22 |
Loughnane |
Wilkinson |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Wade |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 37-22 |
Loughnane |
Wilkinson |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Wade |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 35-24 |
Loughnane |
Wilkinson |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Wade |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 34-25 |
Loughnane |
Wilkinson |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
 Jenkins |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 34-25 |
Loughnane |
Wilkinson |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Wade |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 33-26  2018, 2022 Champion |
Loughnane |
Wilkinson |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Jenkins |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 33-26 |
Loughnane |
Wilkinson |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Jenkins |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 32-27 2014 Champion |
Loughnane |
Santos |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Wade |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 32-27 |
Loughnane |
Santos |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Wade |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 31-28 2017 Champion |
Loughnane |
Wilkinson |
Jotko |
Khaybulaev |
Jenkins |
The PFL is back for its 2023 regular season, and featherweights and light heavyweights are up first.
PFL 2023, Week 1 takes place Saturday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, 2022 featherweight season winner [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] (26-4) takes on [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] (23-11-1), a former WSOF bantamweight champion and ex-UFC interim title challenger who has fallen on rough times with five straight losses, including in his PFL debut this past November. Loughnane is the biggest favorite on the card at -750 at BetMGM; the comeback on Moraes is +500. Not surprisingly, our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have Loughnane as one of three unanimous picks on the main card.
The co-main event also features a former UFC title challenger in [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] (22-11), who takes on 2022 light heavyweight season winner [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] (17-2), who has six straight wins by stoppage. Wilkinson is a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, and he has a big 8-3 lead in the picks from our staff members.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Krzysztof Jotko[/autotag] (24-6) will fight outside the UFC for the first time in nearly 10 years when he steps in on short notice to take on [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] (11-3) at light heavyweight. Jotko, who is moving up after years at middleweight, is a -250 favorite and the second of our unanimous picks at 11-0.
Our third unanimous pick is [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag] (19-0-1), who is a 7-1 favorite in his featherweight season opener against [autotag]Ryoji Kudo[/autotag] (11-4-1). Khaybulaev won the 2021 featherweight season, but was out of action all of 2022.
And to open the main card, the man Loughnane beat this past November to win the $1 million featherweight season, [autotag]Bubba Jenkins[/autotag] (19-6), returns to take on 2021 finalist [autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] (22-8). Wade is a slight favorite at -175, and he has the narrowest possible edge in the picks at 6-5.
In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Loughnane (82 percent), Wilkinson (56 percent), Jotko (88 percent), Khaybulaev (88 percent) and Wade (61 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 1.
Check out which UFC veterans are in MMA and boxing action across the globe this weekend.
The UFC idle this week after a trip to San Antonio for UFC on ESPN 43, where [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] picked up a big bantamweight win over [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag].
Elsewhere, many other MMA events are taking place, including Bellator and PFL kicking off their 2023 regular season. Those events, and others feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.
This week, there are a total of 32 veterans of the global MMA leader competing in MMA and boxing this week from March 30-April 1.
Check out the names and details about their bouts below.
Upcoming event information from Tapology.
