Tag: Will Fleury

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.

2023 PFL 4 lineup set: Brendan Loughnane, Robert Wilkinson, Thiago Santos return to action June 8

Check out the full fight card lineup for 2023 PFL 4, which kicks off the next series of regular season events in Atlanta.

The 2023 PFL regular season continues June 8 with featherweights and light heavyweights in action.

Following the first three events of the season at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, the promotion settles in for its next series of events at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, with each event airing live on ESPN and ESPN+. In a press release Wednesday, PFL officially announced the lineup for 2023 PFL 4.

The main event will see 2022 featherweight champion [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Jesus Pinedo[/autotag]. At 2023 PFL 1, Loughnane (27-4 MMA, 9-1 PFL) began his 2023 season with a second-round stoppage of Marlon Moraes, while Pinedo (20-6-1 MMA, 0-1 PFL) lost a close split decision to Gabriel Braga.

Loughnane currently sits atop the featherweight standings with 5 points, with Bubba Jenkins, Movlid Khaybulaev, Alejandro Flores and Braga all tied with 3 points.

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The co-main bout takes place in the light heavyweight division, with 2022 champion [autotag]Rob Wilkinson[/autotag] facing [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag]. Wilkinson (18-2 MMA, 0-2 PFL) was victorious in his first bout of the season, spoiling the debut of former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos by unanimous decision. Fleury (12-3 MMA, 2-0 PFL) was also successful in the first fight of the regular season, defeating Krzysztof Jotko by split decision.

Santos (22-12 MMA, 0-1 PFL) will look to snap his skid and get back on track at the event, as he faces Mohammad Fakhreddine (15-5 MMA, 0-1 PFL).

Marthin Hamlet and Josh Silveira both have 6 points atop the light heavyweight standings, with Ty Flores, Wilkinson and Fleury at 3 points.

The full 2023 PFL 4 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN)

  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Jesus Pinedo
  • Robert Wilkinson vs. Will Fleury
  • Thiago Santos vs. Mohammad Fakhreddine
  • Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Daniel Torres
  • Marthin Hamlet vs. Sam Kei

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)

  • Josh Silveira vs. Delan Monte
  • Bubba Jenkins vs. Jo Sungbin
  • Krzystof Jotko vs. Ty Flores
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Marlon Moraes
  • Chris Wade vs. Ryoji Kudo
  • Abigail Montes vs. opponent TBA – showcase bout
  • Alexei Pergande vs. opponent TBA – showcase bout

Will Fleury not happy with win over Krzysztof Jotko to open PFL’s 2023 season

Will Fleury spoiled Krzysztof Jotko’s PFL arrival after nearly 10 years in the UFC, but he wasn’t thrilled with his performance overall.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] beat Krzysztof Jotko with a split decision Friday on the main card at 2023 PFL 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Fleury, who spoiled Jotko’s PFL arrival after nearly 10 years in the UFC.

Will Fleury def. Krzysztof Jotko at 2023 PFL 1: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Will Fleury’s split decision win over Krzysztof Jotko at 2023 PFL 1 in Las Vegas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag]’s split decision win over [autotag]Krzysztof Jotko[/autotag] at PFL 2023, Week 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

2023 PFL 1 ceremonial faceoffs video: Brendan Loughnane, Marlon Moraes size each other up

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)

  • Brendan Loughnane vs. Marlon Moraes
  • Rob Wilkinson vs. Thiago Santos
  • Will Fleury vs. Krzysztof Jotko
  • Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Ryoji Kudo
  • Bubba Jenkins vs. Chris Wade

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Mohammad Fakhreddine vs. Marthin Hamlet
  • Sam Kei vs. Josh Silveira
  • Alejandro Flores vs. Daniel Torres
  • Sung Bin Jo vs. Jesus Pinedo
  • Ty Flores vs. Delan Monte
  • Cory Hendricks vs. Impa Kasanganay

PFL 2023, Week 1 predictions: Check out our three unanimous picks to open the season

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		 loughnane2023
Loughnane
(88%)		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson
(56%)		 jotko2023
Jotko
(88%)		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev
(88%)		 wade2023
Wade
(61%)
Matt Erickson
@MattE
37-22		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 santos2023
Santos		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Nolan King
@mma_kings
37-22		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
37-22		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
35-24		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
34-25		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 jenkins2023
Jenkins
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
34-25		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
33-26
trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 jenkins2023
Jenkins
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
33-26		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 jenkins2023
Jenkins
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
32-27
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 santos2023
Santos		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
32-27		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 santos2023
Santos		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 wade2023
Wade
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
31-28
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 loughnane2023
Loughnane		 wilkinson2023
Wilkinson		 jotko2023
Jotko		 khaybulaev2023
Khaybulaev		 jenkins2023
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.

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

Bellator parts ways with 15 fighters including A.J. Matthews, Mandy Bohm, Will Fleury, more

Fifteen fighters are no longer on the promotion’s roster – including one 10-year veteran.

Over a dozen fighters are no longer with Bellator MMA.

Promotion officials recently informed MMA Junkie of 15 athletes who have parted ways with the promotion, though they didn’t specify if the departures are a result of contract termination, free agency or something else.

Twelve of the 15 names are fighters from the promotion’s European series, which has not held an event since October 2020.

Scroll below to see the names who have parted ways with Bellator.

Bellator Europe 8 results: Costello van Steenis earns split decision over Fabian Edwards

Costello van Steenis scored yet another impressive win at Bellator Europe 8.

[autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag] is no longer undefeated.

The heralded Bellator middleweight contender dropped a split decision to [autotag]Costello van Steenis[/autotag] in the main event of Saturday’s Bellator Europe 8 event. The card went down at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy.

As the judges’ 29-28, 28-27, 28-29 scores indicate, the bout was close and competitive. Van Steenis (13-2 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) had success early. “The Spaniard” did well in the striking department in the first round, pushing the action and landing several leg kicks  while avoiding most of Edwards’ (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) strikes. The second round was more clear for van Steenis, as he took down Edwards and controlled the action to eventually advance positions and finish out on mount.

In the third round the tide turned for Edwards. The British fighter pushed the action and took van Steenis’ back off a failed takedown. He remained on top position for the majority of the round.

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In addition to the 185-pound main event, two other middleweights had dominant performances in Milan.

[autotag]Will Fleury[/autotag] used his superior ground game and control to outpoint [autotag]Kent Kauppinen[/autotag]; while [autotag]Michael Shipman[/autotag] outstruck [autotag]Pietro Penini[/autotag] for the majority of their contest. Both Shipman and Fleury picked up 30-27 scores in all three judges’ scorecards for unanimous decisions.

Complete results Bellator Europe 8 results:

MAIN CARD

  • Costello van Steenis vs. Fabian Edwards via split decision (28-29, 28-27, 29-28)
  • Mike Shipman def. Pietro Penini via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Will Fleury def. Kent Kauppinen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • George Hardwick def. Nicolo Solli via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Ion Pascu def. Stefano Paterno via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Alfie Davis def. Akonne Wanliss via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Daniele Scatizzi def. Gavin Hughes via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:41
  • Aidan Lee def. Jeremy Petley via knockout (knee) – Round 2, 1:22
  • Frans Mlambo def. Cory Tait via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-27)
  • Luke Trainer def. Alex O’Toole via TKO (unanswered strikes) – Round 1, 1:22
  • Richie Smullen def. Harry Hardwick via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Chiara Penco def. Aleksandra Toncheva Plamenova via TKO (unanswered strikes) – Round 2, 4:27
  • Danni Neilan def. Claire Lopez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:45

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