2023 in Professional Fighters League explained

This is a list of events and standings for the Professional Fighters League, a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States, for the 2023 season.

Events

The PFL 2023 season started off with three shows planned in Las Vegas, Nevada, making a return to the city for the first time in three years. The first show aired on April 1, 2023, with the two subsequent shows airing on the Fridays afterward, on April 7 and 14.[1] [2]

The second half of the regular season was held in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 8, June 16 and June 23.[3]

The first playoff event, PFL 7, was held in San Antonio, Texas on August 4, and two following playoff events in New York City, New York on August 18 and 23, respectively.[4] [5] The season finals were held in Washington, D.C., on November 24.[6]

EventDateVenueLocation
14PFL Europe 43ArenaDublin, Ireland
13PFL 10The AnthemWashington, D.C., U.S.
12PFL Europe 3Zénith Paris - La VilletteParis, France
11PFL 9The Theater at Madison Square GardenNew York City, New York, U.S.
10PFL 8
9PFL 7Boeing Center at Tech PortSan Antonio, Texas, U.S.
8PFL Europe 2Verti Music HallBerlin, Germany
7PFL 6Overtime Elite ArenaAtlanta, Georgia, United States
6PFL 5
5PFL 4
4PFL 3The Theater at Virgin HotelsLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
3PFL 2
2PFL 1
1PFL Europe 1Vertu Motors ArenaNewcastle, England

2023 World champions

2023 PFL World champions

DivisionUpper weight limitChampionDate
Heavyweight265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st)Renan FerreiraNovember 24, 2023 (PFL 10)
Light Heavyweight205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)Impa KasanganayNovember 24, 2023 (PFL 10)
Welterweight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)Magomed Magomedkerimov (2)November 24, 2023 (PFL 10)
Lightweight155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)Olivier Aubin-Mercier (2)November 24, 2023 (PFL 10)
Featherweight145 lb (66 kg; 10.5 st)Jesus PinedoNovember 24, 2023 (PFL 10)
Women's Featherweight145 lb (66 kg; 10.5 st)Larissa PachecoNovember 24, 2023 (PFL 10)

2023 PFL Europe World champions

DivisionUpper weight limitChampionDate
Light Heavyweight205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)Jakob NedohDecember 8, 2023 (PFL Europe 4)
Lightweight155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)Jakub KaszubaDecember 8, 2023 (PFL Europe 4)
Bantamweight135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)Khurshed KakhorovDecember 8, 2023 (PFL Europe 4)
Women's Flyweight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)Dakota DitchevaDecember 8, 2023 (PFL Europe 4)

PFL Challenger Series

See also: PFL Challenger Series. PFL Challenger Series is an American mixed martial arts promotion. Young and up-and-coming male and female MMA prospects will compete for a slot in the PFL tournament season and a chance at $1 million. Each week, the PFL Challenger Series will consist of a celebrity guest panel featuring personalities in film, athletics, and music.[7] [8] [9] The PFL Challenger Series will debut on fuboTV. The eight events will stream on consecutive Friday nights starting Feb. 18, and run through March. It will also air on its linear network, Fubo Sports Network.[10]

2023 Contract Winners:

PFL Europe

Starting in 2023, PFL Europe will feature the top emerging European MMA fighters, and will be broadcast during prime local hours with all events staged in Europe. The format will follow the same as the regular PFL Season, with the winner receiving a $100,000 prize and a chance to earn a spot in the 2024 PFL regular season.[19] [20] [21]

Light Heavyweight

Lightweight

Bantamweight

Women's Flyweight

Playoffs

2023 PFL Heavyweight playoffs

2023 PFL Light Heavyweight playoffs

2023 PFL Welterweight playoffs

  • Magomed Umalatov was originally scheduled to face Magomed Magomedkerimov but was unable to continue in the tournament. He was replaced by #5 ranked Solomon Renfro.

2023 PFL Lightweight playoffs

2023 PFL Featherweight playoffs

  • Movlid Khaybulaev was originally scheduled to face Gabriel Braga but was unable to continue in the tournament. He was replaced by #5 ranked Chris Wade.

2023 PFL Women's Featherweight playoffs

Legend
(SD) (Split Decision)
(UD) (Unanimous Decision)
(MD) (Majority Decision)
SUB Submission
(T)KO (Technical) Knock Out
L Loss

Standings

The PFL points system is based on results of the match. The winner of a fight receives 3 points. If the fight ends in a draw, both fighters will receive 1 point. A no-contest will be scored as a draw. The bonus for winning a fight in the first, second, or third round is 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point respectively. The bonus for winning in the third round requires a fight be stopped before 4:59 of the third round. No bonus point will be awarded if a fighter wins via decision. For example, if a fighter wins a fight in the first round, then the fighter will receive 6 total points. A decision win will result in three total points. If a fighter misses weight, the opponent (should they comply with weight limits) will receive 3 points due to a walkover victory, regardless of winning or losing the bout, with the fighter who missed weight being deducted 1 standings point; if the non-offending fighter subsequently wins with a stoppage, all bonus points will be awarded. A fighter who was unable to compete for any reason, will receive a 1-pointpenalty (-1 point in the standings). The fighters who made weight will not receive a walkover, but will earn points and contracted purse amounts based on their performance in the altered matchup.[22]

Nine PFL fighters were suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after failing drug tests; which included former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos and former PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza. Additional fighters impacted by the suspensions are Krzysztof Jotko, Rizvan Kuniev, Mohammed Fakhreddine, Cezar Ferreira, and Will Fleury. Two featherweight season fighters, Alejandro Flores and Daniel Torres, were also suspended. In light of fighter suspensions, they were all removed from the season after the first round of bouts.[23]

Heavyweight

FighterWinsDrawsLossesTotal
Points
Denis Goltsov20020012
Renan Ferreira2001009
Marcelo Nunes1011006
Jordan Heiderman1001006
Maurice Greene1010105
Matheus Scheffel1010003
Danilo Marques1010003
Ante Delija1000003
Yorgan De Castro0020000
Patrick Brady0010000

Light Heavyweight

FighterWinsDrawsLossesTotal
Points
Josh Silveira20020012
Marthin Hamlet2001009
Impa Kasanganay1000105
Ty Flores2000005
Andrew Sanchez1000003
Sam Kei0020000
Delan Monte0020000
Taylor Johnson0010000
Daniel Spohn0010000
Tim Caron0010000

Welterweight

FighterWinsDrawsLossesTotal
Points
Magomed Magomedkerimov20020012
Carlos Leal 20011011
Sadibou Sy2000119
Magomed Umalatov 2001009
Solomon Renfro1000105
Nayib López1010003
Shane Mitchell 0020000
David Zawada0020000
Jarrah Al-Silawi0020000
Dilano Taylor002000-1

Lightweight

FighterWinsDrawsLossesTotal
Points
Clay Collard2000108
Olivier Aubin-Mercier2000017
Bruno Miranda2000006
Shane Burgos1010003
Natan Schulte1010003
Raush Manfio1010003
Yamato Nishikawa0020000
Alexander Martinez0020000
Stevie Ray0020000
Anthony Romero0010000

Featherweight

FighterWinsDrawsLossesTotal
Points
Bubba Jenkins2001009
Gabriel Alves Braga2001009
Movlid Khaybulaev2000108
Jesus Pinedo1011006
Chris Wade1011006
Brendan Loughnane1010105
Marlon Moraes0020000
Ryoji Kudo 0020000
Tyler Diamond0010000
Sung Bin Jo0010000

Women's Featherweight

FighterWinsDrawsLossesTotal
Points
Larissa Pacheco2001009
Marina Mokhnatkina2000108
Amber Leibrock1011006
Olena Kolesnyk2000005
Aspen Ladd1010105
Julia Budd1010003
Evelyn Martins1010003
Karolina Sobek0020000
Yoko Higashi0020000
Martina Jindrová0020000

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Martin . Damon . Brendan Loughnane vs. Marlon Moraes, Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Shane Burgos among fights announced for PFL in 2023 . MMA Fighting . 2 February 2023 . en . 2 February 2023.
  2. Web site: Okamoto . Brett . Loughnane-Moraes to kick off 2023 PFL season . ESPN.com . 2 February 2023 . en . 2 February 2023.
  3. Web site: PFL announces three shows in Atlanta for second half of 2023 season. March 9, 2023. MMAjunkie.com. Nolan King.
  4. Web site: PFL 2023 Playoffs kick off in San Antonio on Aug. 4. June 1, 2023. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee.
  5. Web site: PFL Playoffs Shift to New York City for Aug. 18 and Aug. 23 Events. June 8, 2023. Sherdog. Jay Pettry.
  6. Web site: 2023 PFL Championships to Be Held in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 24. August 23, 2023. Sherdog. Tristen Critchfield.
  7. Web site: Newswire. MMA Fighting. 2022-01-19. PFL Challenger Series debuts Feb. 18 on Fubo Sports Network. 2022-01-20. MMA Fighting. en.
  8. Web site: Stitt. Anthony. PFL Challenger Series Gearing Up For Debut, With Undiscovered Talent Set To Get A Big Break. 2022-01-20. Forbes. en.
  9. Web site: 2021-12-14. PFL Announces "Challenger Series" To Scout Up-And-Coming Talent. 2022-01-20. MMA News.
  10. Web site: 2021-12-09. Everything you need to know about PFL's Challenger Series. 2022-01-20. FanSided. en-US.
  11. Web site: Abraham Bably nets Professional Fighters League deal on PFL Challenger Series 3. Sherdog.com. Brian Knapp. 2023-02-10. 2023-02-10.
  12. Web site: Denzel Freeman earns final PFL Challenger Series 2023 contract. Sherdog.com. Tyler Treese. 2023-03-17. 2023-03-18.
  13. Web site: Kirven . J.L. . Light Heavyweight Impa Kasanganay Secures Contract on PFL Challenger Series 7 . Sherdog . 11 March 2023 . en.
  14. Web site: Sherdog.com . Professional Fighters League Signs Thad Jean on Week 1 of PFL Challenger Series . 2023-01-28 . Sherdog . en.
  15. Web site: Fridley . Mike . Undefeated Lightweight Elvin Espinoza Earns Contract at PFL Challenger Series Week 4 . Sherdog . 18 February 2023 . en.
  16. Web site: Wells . Matthew . 2023 PFL Challenger Series 6 results: Brahyan Zurcher wins featherweight contract with submission win . MMA Junkie . 4 March 2023 . 4 March 2023.
  17. Web site: Wells . Matthew . 2023 PFL Challenger Series 2 results: Amanda Leve wins unanimous decision, PFL contract . MMA Junkie . 4 February 2023 . 4 February 2023.
  18. Web site: 2023-02-25 . 2023 PFL Challenger Series 5 results: Desiree Yanez earns PFL contract with unanimous decision win . 2023-03-03 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  19. Web site: PFL and DAZN announce historic media rights partnership for Europe . Professional Fighters League.
  20. Web site: PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE BOLSTERS GLOBAL EXECUTIVE TEAM WITH JULIA BOYADJIEVA JOINING AS VP OF INTERNATIONAL EVENT OPERATIONS AND GM OF PFL EUROPE . Professional Fighters League.
  21. Web site: PFL CONTINUES GLOBAL EXPANSION WITH LAUNCH OF PFL EUROPE . MMA UK.
  22. Web site: 2021 Official Rules. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210507024409/https://pflmma-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/downloads/2021_Rules_and_Regulations_4-26-2021.pdf . 2021-05-07 .
  23. Web site: Nine PFL fighters suspended, scrambling season . ESPN.com . 14 May 2023 . en . 12 May 2023.