Tag: PFL MMA

Exclusive | The Scholar and the Fighter, From PhD to PFL: Dr. Souhil Tahiri “Don’t set limits on yourself.”

Souhil TahiriSouhil Tahiri has defied the odds for his entire life. Despite doing poorly in school, he would later get…

Souhil Tahiri

Souhil Tahiri has defied the odds for his entire life. Despite doing poorly in school, he would later get his PhD. Despite not wanting to be a professional fighter, the French-Algerian is now competing in the lightweight semi-finals in PFL MENA taking place on September 20.

Dr. Souhil Tahiri

All he wanted to do was try to quit smoking, so one day Dr. Souhil Tahiri registered at an MMA gym. Speaking in an interview with Tim Wheaton of LowKickMMA, he explained:

“I just wanted to quit smoking and get in better shape. I’d never done combat sports or any sports before that. My main goal was to quit smoking and maybe get some abs or something basic like that.”

But what added to his drive was coaches telling him that he should not be doing this as he was a scholar. At this point, he was working on a PhD in mathematics. Therefore, a career in MMA simply didn’t add up. But he persisted anyway as he pushed himself to constantly be a better version of himself.

“I kept going with it. I started both journeys at the same time, and everybody kept telling me that it was too late to do combat sports or boxing, that I needed to focus on studying. Even in boxing, when I went to the gym, the coach would say, ‘You’re just a scholar. You’re good at studying, no need to put so much effort into boxing. You won’t go any further.‘”

A vital pillar of Souhil Tahiri is that one never stops growing, or learning. Whether it’s in the ring, cage, or classroom; people should strive to be their very best. Therefore, he kept pushing himself.

“Don’t set limits on yourself … I’m trying to motivate those around me. If you have goals, believe in them and work for them. Maybe you’ll get results, maybe not, but you’ll always benefit in some way.

“Yes, it’s possible. You have to put in hard work, believe in what you’re doing, and just keep showing up. Never let yourself down. Even on bad days, keep going to the gym, keep going to school. I failed many exams and lost many fights, but I kept showing up no matter what. Alhamdulillah, now I’m in the PFL, I have my PhD, and I have a job. So, yeah, things are going well.“

PFL MENA 3

Now, Dr. Souhil Tahiri will face the experienced Sanda fighter Mohsen Mohammadseifi in the semi-finals of the PFL MENA tournament. PFL MENA 3 goes down on September 20.

See the full interview with Souhil Tahiri below:

Souhil Tahiri

Exclusive | Omar El Dafrawy On Driving MMA’s Growth in Egypt: “More and more Egyptians making waves.”

Omar El DafrawyPFL MENA athlete Omar El Dafrawy has been making an impact in the nation of Egypt in growing the…

Omar El Dafrawy

PFL MENA athlete Omar El Dafrawy has been making an impact in the nation of Egypt in growing the sport of MMA at the core level. On Friday, September 19, he will be competing in the Semi-finals of the PFL MENA welterweight tournament.

Omar El Dafrawy on Egyptian MMA

Whether it’s Judo, Boxing, Wrestling, Taekwondo, or Karate, the nation of Egypt has a rich history in combat sports and has collected dozens of Olympic medals. MMA is a natural step for the people of the nation but it still needs a push. Omar El Dafrawy and his gym Fitbox are looking to make an impact.

In an exclusive interview with Tim Wheaton of LowKickMMA, El Dafrawy explained:

“A lot of people are transitioning, but we need more high-profile coaches to guide them through that. We have strong bases in boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, and judo, with Olympians and gold medalists. When the right people who genuinely care about the sport get involved, things will continue to change. I’ve seen it happening, especially as I’ve traveled and invested in myself as an athlete … We’re seeing more and more Egyptians making waves.”

Combat sports is booming in Egypt, and MMA is right at the forefront, he added:

“There are a lot of high benchmarks being set. I think I’ve restructured the sport back home. My background is academic, and people saw that the sport is for everyone, not just those with tough upbringings. They saw that you can be educated—I have a bachelor’s degree—and still be a full-time fighter. There’s a huge gap in the market for education on training and preparation, but that’s what I’m trying to deliver through Fitbox. As for numbers, MMA is booming. There are at least 20 promotions back home, with more popping up. For example, the national kickboxing tournament has 800 fights over two days, just with kids.”

PFL MENA 3

Upcoming at PFL MENA 3, on September 20, El Dafrawy is looking to build on his impressive win streak and advance to the PFL MENA finals later this year. But standing in his way is the experienced Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi. On this matchup, the Egyptian MMA athlete explained:

“I’ve studied my opponent, and I feel confident that I can knock out Jarrah.”

Jake Paul

YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul will soon be competing in MMA in the PFL but still has yet to have an opponent picked. Omar El Dafrawy is throwing his name in the mix whether it be under boxing or MMA rules. Omar El Dafrawy said:

“I want to punch him in the boxing ring first! But seriously, I like what he’s been doing. He’s calling out the people who don’t treat fighters well, like Dana White. That’s why I chose PFL. It’s about building myself and having financial security. PFL gives fighters the freedom to box if they want and respects the fighters. That’s what the sport needs—promotions that understand fighters.”

See the full interview with Omar El Dafrawy below:

Senior Vice President Loren Mack Helping the PFL Shape the Future of MMA

Loren Mack PFLOver the past five years, the PFL has rapidly expanded, solidifying its position as a global mixed martial arts…

Loren Mack PFL

Over the past five years, the PFL has rapidly expanded, solidifying its position as a global mixed martial arts powerhouse.

PFL

While much of the PFL’s growth can be credited to its unique season-based format and a strong roster featuring top combat sports athletes, another key driver of its success lies with the individuals working behind the scenes and in the front office, whose contributions have been instrumental in the league’s rise.

Loren Mack

One of those individuals is Senior Vice President Loren Mack, who joined the company in 2020. A long-time executive in sports and entertainment. Mack’s relentless drive has played a major role in the organization’s rise and has helped push the PFL to the top of the competitive world.

Mack has long been part of the MMA industry, having worked in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the early years of the promotion’s time under ZUFFA. During his stint with the UFC, Mack saw the company take off in popularity following the now-legendary first season of The Ultimate Fighter. From there, he witnessed the company’s sustained growth, gaining an understanding of what it takes for an MMA promotion to become successful.

As he did with the UFC, Mack helped Cayman Island-based promotion ONE Championship into an impressive “golden era” and become the backbone of MMA in Asia. The past few years have been quite difficult for ONE Championship, however, as the promotion has lost a number of its marquee names and most popular champions. The promotion’s distribution is also quite tiny, and a number of their top talents have also been released due to a lack of opportunities to fight. 

On top of this, ONE also had to deal with setbacks leading to layoffs in the organization’s offices.

Mack, who had left ONE Championship, saw that he had a real opportunity to make an impact with the PFL following an unexpected hour-long conversation with entrepreneur and business savant Donn Davis, founder and chairman of the league. The rest, as they say, is history.

Since coming on board, Mack has been a crucial part of some of the PFL’s most significant expansions, including breaking into markets in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Africa, and  Asia. During this time, the PFL has also brought in some of the most high-profile names in combat sports.

“We’ve brought in stars like Jake Paul, Francis Ngannou, Aspen Ladd, Shane Burgos, Amanda Serrano, Savannah Marshall, and we even re-signed Claressa Shields,” Mack said. “Those are some of the absolute biggest names in the combat sports world, and all of them will be competing inside the PFL SmartCage.”

More recently,  the PFL has also made even more groundbreaking moves including the landmark purchase of Bellator MMA, securing a long-term broadcast partnership with ESPN, and expanding its global reach to over 160 countries globally — including recent deals in Japan and South America.

Mack’s strategic approach has helped the PFL become a global MMA powerhouse and a legitimate destination for fighters who aspire to showcase their talents on the global stage.

“Finally, the sport of MMA has two world-class promotions in the PFL and the UFC. Having two global platforms that elevate the sport benefits not just the fans, but the fighters as well,” Mack stated. “As we continue to grow, innovate, and reimagine MMA, we have placed emphasis on engaging fans all year long through impactful storytelling and unprecedented access to the sport, our fighters, and the action inside the cage”

Mack, alongside Davis and CEO Peter Murray, has helped steer the PFL to greater heights, as the league has distinguished itself from other MMA promotions through its innovative season-based format. Similar to other sports leagues that feature a regular season, playoffs, and championships. At the end of the global season, champions are crowned and awarded million-dollar purses.  

“When you have some of the best fighters in the world competing for the biggest prize in MMA. there will always be opportunity for content, and that has been a huge factor in the growth of the PFL — not just as a brand, but as an organization as well,” Mack explained. With Mack and the PFL leadership team focused on expanding globally, the league is well-positioned to become a true competitor to the UFC. 

Kayla Harrison Believes Pacheco’s Power and Hunger Will Be Too Much for Aging Cris Cyborg

pfl 3 Kayla HarrisonDecorated MMA and Olympic champion Kayla Harrison has offered her opinion on the upcoming showdown between Larissa Pacheco and…

pfl 3 Kayla Harrison

Decorated MMA and Olympic champion Kayla Harrison has offered her opinion on the upcoming showdown between Larissa Pacheco and MMA legend Cris Cyborg.

Kayla Harrison on Larissa Pacheco vs. Cris Cyborg

Kayla Harrison was a multi-time gold medalist in the Olympics and a multi-time PFL MMA world champion. After a loss to Brazil’s Larissa Pacheco, Harrison jumped over to the UFC. The US-born Olympian has since submitted former champion Holly Holm.

Kayla Harrison

Brazil’s Cris Cyborg will be seeking her fifth MMA world title in the PFL as she takes on Pacheco on October 19. Cyborg has captured gold in Bellator, Strikeforce, Invicta, and the UFC.

Kayla Harrison predicted that Pacheco would defeat Cyborg in their fight at PFL: Battle Of The Giants. This event will be part of the debut of the promotion’s PPV Super Fights division, with both the winner of this fight and the main event between Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira receiving a new Super Fights belt.

“I think Pacheco wins. She’s young, I mean unless she’s been goofing off, you know. Couple mil will do that sometimes. Couple mil in the bank account makes it hard to get out of bed but she’s young, she’s hungry, she keeps getting better, she’s got real power. Cyborg’s at the end of her career.”

Harrison believes that Pacheco’s youth and hunger give her an advantage, provided she remains dedicated despite her financial success. She noted that Cyborg, at 39, is in the latter stages of her career, which might work in Pacheco’s favor. Harrison pointed out that Cyborg, who began her career in 2005, has not shown significant progress or growth in her fight strategy, unlike Pacheco.

“Yeah I think she’s a little bit older and I just think that we like we haven’t seen a lot of progress from her like I don’t see her fight IQ growing. I haven’t seen progression really, she fights the same way now that she fought, you know, however long ago so I think Pacheco is gonna win.”

Harrison is back competing later this year at UFC 307.

PFL 9 2024 Playoffs: Results and Highlights

PFL 9 2024 brendan loughnaneLive from Washington DC, PFL 9 2024 Playoffs went down on Friday night featuring semi-final matchups in the welterweight…

PFL 9 2024 brendan loughnane

Live from Washington DC, PFL 9 2024 Playoffs went down on Friday night featuring semi-final matchups in the welterweight and featherweight divisions. Let’s take a look at the results and highlights for PFL 9 2024.

PFL 9 2024 Highlights

In the featherweight main event, PFL champion Brendan Loughnane continued his quest for a second PFL championship. The British fighter secured his spot in the finals by defeating UFC veteran Kai Kamaka III over three rounds.

Russia’s Timur Khizriev defeated Gabriel Braga to remain with a perfect spotless record and improve to 17-0. The Dagestani athlete has a smothering top game and dangerous hands

Now, in the finals at 145 pounds with one million dollars on the line, Brendan Loughnane will face Timur Khizriev later this year.

The Russian athlete Magomed Umalatov kept his perfect record intact as he defeated Neiman Gracie by decision. The unbeaten Shamil Musaev defeated ONE standout Murad Ramazanov.

Later this year, with one million dollars on the line, in the PFL welterweight final, Magomed Umalatov will face Shamil Musaev. One of these undefeated fighters will receive their first career loss.

PFL 9 2024 Results

  • Featherweight Semifinal Main Event: Brendan Loughnane def. Kai Kamaka III by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
  • Welterweight Semifinal Co-Main Event: Magomed Umalatov def. Neiman Gracie by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Featherweight Semifinal: Timur Khizriev def. Gabriel Braga by Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Welterweight Semifinal: Shamil Musaev def. Murad Ramazanov by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Welterweight: Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Ray Cooper III by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Featherweight: Enrique Barzola def. Tyler Diamond by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Featherweight: Jose Perez def. Jesse Stirn by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Kent Mafileo by KO (Punch): Round 2 – 4:50
  • Welterweight: Shido Boris Esperança def. Tyler Hill by TKO (Punches): Round 1 – 3:31
PFL 9 2024

Cris Cyborg Looking to Make History by Collecting Her Fifth World Title in MMA

Cris Cyborg ChampionLater this year, Cris Cyborg will be looking to defeat Larissa Pacheco and capture a PFL title. The inaugural…

Cris Cyborg Champion

Later this year, Cris Cyborg will be looking to defeat Larissa Pacheco and capture a PFL title. The inaugural PFL Super Fight belt will be on the line on October 19 live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Cris Cyborg

The Brazilian athlete has been a trailblazer in the world of women’s MMA. She fought Gina Carano in Strikeforce in the first female MMA fight on primetime television in the US. She’s collected numerous titles including the UFC, Strikeforce, Invicta, and Bellator. Additionally, she has competed in professional boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and submission grappling, and is well feared for her knockout power.

On X, formerly Twitter, she said:

“My next opponent is 10 years younger. She’s won 10 fights in a row, 7 of those by 1st round KO. She is the betting favorite. She ran Judo Kayla off. Oct. 19th a win over Larissa Pacheco makes me PFLMMA champion and gives me my 5th world championship.“

Here is an outline of the titles Cris Cyborg has won throughout her impressive career.

Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Championship (2009)

  • Opponent: Gina Carano
  • Method: Technical Knockout (TKO) in the first round
  • Year: 2009

Invicta FC Featherweight Championship (2013)

  • Opponent: Marloes Coenen
  • Method: TKO in the fourth round
  • Year: 2013

UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship (2017)

  • Opponent: Tonya Evinger
  • Method: TKO in the third round
  • Year: 2017

Bellator Women’s Featherweight Championship (2020)

  • Opponent: Julia Budd
  • Method: TKO in the fourth round
  • Year: 2020

Larissa Pacheco

Brazil’s Larissa Pacheco is a two-time PFL tournament champion. Currently, she is riding an impressive ten-fight win streak. She has impressive wins over veterans such as Sarah Kaufman, Olena Kolesnyk, Julia Budd, and Olympic medalist Kayla Harrison.

Cris Cyborg

Larissa Pacheco and Cris Cyborg will both be looking to capture PFL gold later this year. Also featured on the card will be Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira.