Tag: PFL News

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.

Larissa Pacheco predicts war against Cris Cyborg: ‘Who goes down first?’

Larissa Pacheco predicts war against Cris Cyborg: 'Who goes down first?'Ahead of her massive super fight with undisputed Bellator MMA featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg in October, PFL (Professional Fighters…

Larissa Pacheco predicts war against Cris Cyborg: 'Who goes down first?'

Ahead of her massive super fight with undisputed Bellator MMA featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg in October, PFL (Professional Fighters League) favorite, Larissa Pacheco is expecting an all-out war with her compatriot, expecting one of them to suffer a big knockout loss in Riyadh.

Pacheco, fresh from a PFL featherweight tournament success last year after a prior lightweight tournament win the year prior, most recently landed a unanimous decision win over Marina Mokhnatkina in November of last year in the tournament’s finale — extending her stunning winning spree to 10 bouts straight.

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As for Cyborg, the former undisputed UFC, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC featherweight champion, turned in her sixth straight win under the banner of Bellator MMA back in October, successfully defending her featherweight crown for a fifth time with a dominant first round knockout win over fellow Octagon veteran, Cat Zingano.

Larissa Pacheco expects war showdown with Cris Cyborg in October

And ahead of their super fight in the desert in October, Pacheco — who features against Cyborg before a massive heavyweight clash between Renan Ferreira, and Francis Ngannou, is expecting a huge war with the Curitiba striker when they share the SmartCage.

larissa pacheco

“We have an idea of how the fight will play out, but we never know for sure,” Larissa Pacheco told MMA Fighting. “We have a similar style, we’re both aggressive and walk forward the entire time, no turning back. For some people, it’s like a lottery.”

“Who goes down fight? I don’t know, it’s hard to say,” Larissa Pacheco explained. “But all I know is that we’ll both give our all in there. Cris (Cyborg) has a unique style and will do everything she can to win, so it’s going to be a historic fight.”

cyborg title

Also during her 10-fight winning run, Pacheco became the first fighter to defeat former two-time lightweight tournament winner and UFC contender, Kayla Harrison with a unanimous decision success.

Dan Hardy Slams UFC for Ignoring Ngannou’s Legacy, Reflects on Similar Treatment

Dan Hardy Slams UFC for Ignoring Ngannou’s Legacy, Reflects on Similar TreatmentThe UFC’s attempt to erase Francis Ngannou’s legacy doesn’t sit well with Dan Hardy. Earlier this month, the UFC…

Dan Hardy Slams UFC for Ignoring Ngannou’s Legacy, Reflects on Similar Treatment

The UFC’s attempt to erase Francis Ngannou’s legacy doesn’t sit well with Dan Hardy.

Earlier this month, the UFC came under fire after the promotion had seemingly removed Israel Adesanya’s mention of Ngannou from an episode of UFC 305 Countdown.

Dana White later took full responsibility for the situation during a DWCS media scrum and offered an apology to Adesanya. “Someone was editing that and made a conscious decision, thinking that was the right thing to do — that that’s what we would have wanted, what I would have wanted,” White said.

Unfortunately, this was far from the first time the promotion has attempted to scrub the Cameroonian from its history books.

During an event inside The APEX last year, a graphic flashed on the screen during Tafon Nchukwi’s walk to the Octagon that dubbed him the only Cameroonian fighter in UFC history. Ngannou was born and raised in the West Central African country before beginning a 14-month-long journey to Paris when he was 26 years old.

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During a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy shared his take on the promotion’s conduct concerning Ngannou and how it all feels very reminiscent of when the UFC parted ways with another former heavyweight champion, Randy Couture.

“It was sad to see and it didn’t surprise me unfortunately and I did see what Dana’s reply was about the fact that the editors had assumed that’s what he would have chosen and what he would have wanted and look, they were probably right because it’s happened so many times in history. Ngannou and Randy, they’re two fantastically credible names in the sport” (h/t MMA News).

Dan Hardy likens his own situation with the UFC and the erasure of Francis Ngannou

‘The Outlaw’ was also able to draw comparisons to his own experience with the UFC, even if it was on a much smaller scale.

“My history in the UFC is far more mediocre in comparison but even so, at UFC London when Veronica was on the card, there’s posters of all the UK fighters on all of the underground tubes and everything and of course, I’m not there,” Hardy added. “It does happen, they do it a lot.

“It makes no difference to me, I can dye my hair red and walk down the street and people will remember my fights. It’s just kind of a weird thing to see and for people like Randy and Ngannou, they need to be celebrated because they’ve inspired so many people, myself included. They shouldn’t be omitted, they’re part of the fabric of the sport and I think the fans will always remember that.”  

After airing some disagreements with the UFC both publicly and privately, Hardy and the promotion parted ways in 2021. Since then, the UFC has continued to ignore Hardy’s place in history as the first British fighter to compete for a UFC title when he challenged Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight championship in 2010.

Dan Hardy vs. GSP

Today, Hardy is the Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe and regularly lends his expertise as a member of the commentary team alongside Couture and Sean O’Connell

Dan Hardy

Dakota Ditcheva compared to Ronda Rousey: ‘She has the potential to be a superstar’

Dakota Ditcheva compared to Ronda Rousey: 'She has the potential to be a superstar'Unbeaten Manchester striker, Dakota Ditcheva has drawn massive comparisons to former undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey — with…

Dakota Ditcheva compared to Ronda Rousey: 'She has the potential to be a superstar'

Unbeaten Manchester striker, Dakota Ditcheva has drawn massive comparisons to former undisputed UFC bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey — with the Muay Thai star on the track to stardom according to PFL (Professional Fighters League) commentator, Sean O’Connell.

Ditcheva, who featured just earlier this month the PFL flyweight tournament semi finals, booked a finale bout with an impressive first round front kick and strikes knockout win over Jena Bishop in Nashville, Tennessee.

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The Sale native improved to 13-0 as a professional with the victory — and awaits Octagon veteran, Taila Santos in the finale of the flyweight tournament under the banner of the PFL later this annum — having landed in the SmartCage just two years ago.

Dakota Ditcheva Bishop PFL

Dakota Ditcheva touted as potential star like Ronda Rousey

Landing stoppages in each of her subsequent seven victories — including six knockout wins and a separate rear-naked choke submission success, Ditcheva is on the fast track to stardom according to another UFC alum, O’Connell — who compared her to inaugural bantamweight queen, Rousey.

ronda ufc 307

“She (Dakota Ditcheva) has the potential to be a superstar but not for the same reasons as Ronda Rousey,” Sean O’Connell told talkSPORT. “Ronda was the pioneer, Ronda was the one that broke the barrier and got women into the UFC and unfortunately, that’s a milestone that can never be reached again even for someone with the star calibre of Dakota Ditcheva. You could make the argument that it’s going to be harder for Dakota to reach those heights of celebrity but she absolutely is capable of it.”

“First of all, because of how incredible she is as a fighter but also, she understands the media game, right?” O’Connell explained. “She knows exactly when to switch off that savage and become the sweetheart again. She’s got the look, she’s got the charisma and when you have that plus the ability to knock women out like she does, the sky is the limit.”

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

Francis Ngannou on fighting through grief: ‘This is for my son’

Francis Ngannou on fighting through grief: ‘This is for my son’Ahead of his return to mixed martial arts later this annum in his debut with the PFL (Professional Fighters…

Francis Ngannou on fighting through grief: ‘This is for my son’

Ahead of his return to mixed martial arts later this annum in his debut with the PFL (Professional Fighters League), former UFC star, Francis Ngannou has confirmed he plans to honor his late son, Kobe as he prepares to take on Brazilian opposition, Renan Ferreira.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC, snaps his two-year hiatus from the sport in October, having most recently featured in his final Octagon outing against former interim champion, Ciryl Gane — unifying the divisional titles with a unanimous decision win over the Frenchman.

ngannou cooper neil

Taking on former world heavyweight boxing champions, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua in the time since, Batie native, Ngannou would drop the former en route to a controversial decision loss — before Watford native, Joshua finished Ngannou with a spectacular knockout defeat earlier this year.

Francis Ngannou plans to honor late son in PFL debut fight this year

And ahead of his PFL debut outing in October in the Middle East, Ngannou revealed he would honoring his late son, Kobe in his fight with Ferreira — admitting he was considering ending his career following his devastating passing earlier this annum.

Renan Ferreira walks back controversial comments made to Francis Ngannou

“FIghting for me is a lifestyle,” Francis Ngannou told assembled media ahead of his PFL MMA debut. “I questioned myself if I should continue or retire, but I didn’t want my son to be the reason for me to do that.”

“It becomes a new purpose for me,” Francis Ngannou explained. “I decided to make a positive out of his 15 months of living. To find strength out of him, as a motivation, to keep going instead of quitting. I think this is the best way of honoring him.”

Furthermore, Ferreira came under fire on social media after he claimed he would be the worst experience of Ngannou’s year — including the passing of his late child, however, explained his comments today — referring to his experience in combat sports solely.

Video - Francis Ngannou faces off with Renan Ferreira after emotional outburst pre-PFL debut

“I just want to make something clear,” Renan Ferreira posted on his official X account. “@francisngannou is a great man & I respect him. When I said that I was going to be his biggest [challenge] this year, I was talking about Anthony Joshua & Tyson Fury, not about his family. I am a father myself.”