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Exclusive | Olena Kolesnyk Finds Team For PFL 6 After Coachless Debut

Olena Kolesnyk is ready to fight hard for a playoff spot in the PFL’s women’s lightweight division. Kolesnyk sat down with Low Kick MMA to discuss her PFL experience ahead of her final regular-season fight at PFL 6 this weekend. Kolesnyk started her season with adversity, losing her first fight with no coaching support in […]

Olena Kolesnyk is ready to fight hard for a playoff spot in the PFL’s women’s lightweight division.

Kolesnyk sat down with Low Kick MMA to discuss her PFL experience ahead of her final regular-season fight at PFL 6 this weekend. Kolesnyk started her season with adversity, losing her first fight with no coaching support in the building.

“I fight, the first [PFL] fight with, no coach, after flying alone for hours from Ukraine.”

Kolesnyk’s coach could not resolve visa issues in enough time to make the journey to New Jersey with the fighter. So Kolesnyk had hoped that she’d be able to fly home after the loss and at least get a bit of training with her coach before her second fight.

“I know like I have a lot of things that I need to fix. And my prediction was that I come back home to see my coach [after first PFL fight] who, unfortunately,not resolve US Visa [issue]. But then, like, PFL told me no you cannot [go home] because of COVID. You need to stay.”

Stuck in the United States and without a coach to help her prepare for the second fight, Kolesnyk did what any intelligent fighter would do.

“I chose amazing gym, I chose syndicated.”

“I have a good coach in my corner, who is cornering a lot of UFC fighters, a lot of high-level names. So his name is Matt Jelly. He’s a Canadian guy. He has huge experience with striking. So yeah, I’m happy now. I’m not alone anymore.”

Kolesnyk will need to have a strong corner as she steps in the cage with Pacheco, who is currently atop the women’s lightweight standings. She will also need the confidence in her skills that she shared during the conversation.

“I can solve some mistakes which I made in the first one [fight]. Yeah, but anyway, like I’m excited to be here. I’m ready for any kind of girls who step in the cage against me. So why not? If only (I) have brave balls to fight with you on the second fight. So how can I say no?”

“One day you need to meet with the toughest girls in this kind of sport if I want to be the best. So why not now? Why not? Friday [June] 25th?”

Do you think Olena Kolesnyk can pull off the upset against Larissa Pacheco and punch her ticket to the 2021 PFL Playoffs?

Exclusive | Mo DeReese Uses Experience As Coach To Prepare For PFL 6

Mo DeReese understands that his fight at PFL 6 against Bruno Cappelozza is “do or die” for his chances at PFL gold in the 2021 season. DeReese sat down with Low Kick MMA ahead of his last regular-season fight at PFL 6 this Friday, June 25. He shared the pride he experienced being named head […]

Mo DeReese understands that his fight at PFL 6 against Bruno Cappelozza is “do or die” for his chances at PFL gold in the 2021 season.

DeReese sat down with Low Kick MMA ahead of his last regular-season fight at PFL 6 this Friday, June 25. He shared the pride he experienced being named head coach for a high school wrestling team. DeReese also shared how coaching has helped him be a better fighter.

“It’s different when you coach. And then I also feel that when I coach, it helps me look at the sport from a different angle. Where when I’m competing or doing it, I’m not looking at. So then I can critique myself when I train and, you know, and remember the things that I’m looking and seeing when I’m doing it. And I think it definitely helps me with actually, you know, being a better athlete.”

DeReese will need that insight as he tries to take out Bruno Cappelozza. The latter is currently atop the heavyweight standings and has already secured his spot in the PFL playoffs. Finished by Denis Goltsov in his first fight of the season at PFL 3, DeReese needs a first-round finish to ensure the necessary points to move on to the playoffs.

No one understands this better than DeReese himself.

“He’s [Cappelozza] got him a spot in the playoffs. I don’t know how that’s going to affect him coming into the fight. Me, as you know, I’m coming for the first-round finish. Cause that’s pretty much what I have to get. You know, and if I get a victory, you know, there’s a possibility I might, it depends on what everybody else does, [get a playoff spot]. But yeah, if I get a first-round [KO] I pretty much secure my spot [in the playoffs], especially taken out, you know, the number one. So I just got to go in there and give it my best and let everything go. And I’m going to live or die on that shield. So it’s going to be fun.”

Do you think Mo DeReese can turn it around and secure his spot in the PFL heavyweight division playoffs?

Claressa Shields “Has a Lot to Learn,” says PFL President Ray Sefo

Claressa Shields is one of the hottest names in women’s MMA right now after the legendary boxer earned a come-from-behind TKO win over Brittney Elkin at PFL 4 earlier this month. It was her MMA debut as she begins a new venture away from a sport that she essentially cleaned house in. But as Shields […]

But as Shields continues to develop as an MMA fighter, PFL President Ray Sefo has close eyes on her progress in the octagon as she gets more fights under her belt.

“There’s still a lot to learn,” Sefo told MMA Fighting. “In terms of how she pulled through, I was impressed not only that she was so determined that the fight wasn’t going to end but if she was going to win or lose, she was going to make sure that she was going to give it a fight.”

“It’s a different sport. There’s a lot to learn, not only your wrestling but also your jiu-jitsu game. There is a lot to learn and hopefully, she’ll pick it up fast.”

It wasn’t an easy debut win for Shields who struggled early on with Elkin’s ground game in the opening rounds of the fight. Elkin came close on a few occasions to securing a fight-ending submission, but Shields was able to escape multiple attempts and stay alive in the fight.

The tables turned drastically in the third and final round when Shields showed off an impressive sprawl and takedown defense as Elkin began to fatigue. Shields then showed off her electric hand speed, got the fight to the ground, and was able to get the TKO win via ground-and-pound to end the fight.

Shields trains alongside some of the best MMA fighters in the world at Jackson-Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, NM. She has worked alongside fellow female greats such as Michelle Waterson and Holly Holm, as well as the former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones; among others.

What were your thoughts on Claressa Shields’ MMA and PFL debut?

Gleison Tibau Admits Split Decision Win Over Rory MacDonald Was ‘Big Surprise’

Even Gleison Tibau was surprised to hear himself announced the winner when he fought Rory MacDonald in the PFL 5 main event on Thursday evening. MacDonald appeared to have easily done enough to take home the judge’s decision after three rounds against Tibau. However, the former Bellator to champion, Tibau and the fans watching around the world […]

Even Gleison Tibau was surprised to hear himself announced the winner when he fought Rory MacDonald in the PFL 5 main event on Thursday evening.

MacDonald appeared to have easily done enough to take home the judge’s decision after three rounds against Tibau. However, the former Bellator to champion, Tibau and the fans watching around the world got a shock when he was awarded a split decision win.

Speaking at the PFL 5 post-fight press conference, Tibau heaped praise on his opponent and admitted his surprise at emerging victorious from the bout.

“Rory is a legend, he’s tough, a complete fighter,” Tibau said. “He has good wrestling, striking and grappling. It’s not an easy fight. I’m very happy because I didn’t fight for a long time. My first fight here at the PFL was Zeferino. A tough guy, Brazilian too. It had been a long time since I competed. I wasted time. Today, I’m more comfortable in the cage. I got nervous. The fight was tough. Every fighter I know, when a tough fight goes to the decision, gets nervous. I do not know. It was a big surprise!” (Transcribed by AG Fight)

‘The Red King’ reacted angrily to the decision. MacDonald told media members that an investigation should be launched after he was the victim of a “clear robbery.”

“I’m very disappointed,” MacDonald said. “I believe and everyone I talked to, and everyone online, scored the fight for me. Even three rounds to zero, so I think it was a clear robbery. I thought I was dominant in this fight. It was a hard fight. Gleison brought it, and respect to him, but I believe that I clearly won that fight and I think that this should be looked into.”

How did you score the PFL 5 main event between Gleison Tibau and Rory MacDonald?

Rory MacDonald Fumes Following ‘Clear Robbery’ At PFL 5

Rory MacDonald angrily called for an investigation into his split decision loss to Gleison Tibau at PFL 5 which took place at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey last night. MacDonald appeared to have easily done enough to take home the judges decision after three rounds against Tibau. However, the former Bellator […]

Rory MacDonald angrily called for an investigation into his split decision loss to Gleison Tibau at PFL 5 which took place at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey last night.

MacDonald appeared to have easily done enough to take home the judges decision after three rounds against Tibau. However, the former Bellator to champion and fans watching around the world got a shock when Tibau was awarded a split decision win.

At the PFL 5 post-fight press conference MacDonald called for an investigation into the result as he feels he “clearly won” the fight and could’ve even been awarded all three rounds.

At the conclusion of his fight with Tibau, MacDonald had no doubt he had done enough to win and would be awarded for his efforts by the judges.

“I was totally sure,” MacDonald said. “I was so surprised when the first judge, they announced and scored it for him. I was shocked. But when I heard the split decision that he got it, I was blown away. What do you say? I just didn’t see it that way at all.”

MacDonald went on to suggest some changes that should be made to MMA judging which often throws up these type of cooky results.

“We shouldn’t have to as fighters, as competitors (worry about the decision),” MacDonald said. “We should be able to fight and rest easy that we have competent, fair, truthful judging in our sport. It shouldn’t be something that we have to worry about and stick our necks out on the line and our health to do something stupid. It’s just crazy. We don’t have this in any other major sporting even. It just seems like over and over and over again, we’re getting this in our sport and it’s just a real shame.” (Transcribed by MMA Junkie)

Do you think Rory MacDonald was robbed at PFL 5?

Claressa Shields ‘Had A Never Quit Attitude’ In Tough MMA Debut

Claressa Shields has reflected on winning her first professional Mixed Martial Arts matchup with a third-round stoppage over Brittany Elkin in her Professional Fighting League (PFL) debut on Friday night. Shields, 26, is one of the biggest stars in women’s boxing is currently a two-time undisputed champion in the ring. She has now turned her […]

Shields, 26, is one of the biggest stars in women’s boxing is currently a two-time undisputed champion in the ring. She has now turned her attention to conquering MMA and was certainly thrown in at the deep end against Elkin (3-6), as she was forced to the ground for lengthy periods in the first two rounds.

Elkin managed to obtain full mount in the opening round and unleashed a barrage of punches that Shields did very well to survive – a testament to her grit and toughness. Shields then displayed how much she has learned from training at Jackson Wink MMA by escaping an armbar attempt from Elkin, before unleashing her own barrage of shots on the feet which Elkin, in turn, did well to survive.

In the third round, Shields excellently scrambled against another takedown attempt from Elkin, and managed to rain down a fury of unanswered punches before referee Gasper Oliver stopped the fight.

Speaking to PFL after the fight, Shields explained how she emerge victorious from a tough MMA debut.

“I feel like I am dreaming, this is crazy. I never doubted myself winning a boxing match,” Shields said. “MMA, it’s like it’s possible I can lose this first fight. I just had a never-quit attitude every round. I may have lost these two rounds, but I’m not losing this fight.”

It’s very interesting to see where Shields goes from here. She has shown a very impressive amount of learning and adaptation in a very short period of time, and she is a part of what is widely considered to be one of the best gyms in the Mixed Martial Arts world in Jackson Wink, who count such elite fighters as Jon Jones and Holly Holm among their ranks. Given the amount of growth we’ve seen from Shields in such a short time, being a big success in women’s MMA is far from impossible for the two-time undisputed champion of the squared circle

How do you think Claressa Shields looked in her MMA debut?