Tag: PFL News

Updated PFL 6 Card: Budd Out, Kayla Harrison Gets New Opponent

PFL 6 will see a new lightweight main event now that Julia Budd withdrew due to injury, prompting Kayla Harrison to be matched with new opponent, Kaitlyn Young. ESPN was the first to report the news of the main event change. As of this writing, the nature of Budd’s injury is undisclosed. Budd was a…

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PFL 6 will see a new lightweight main event now that Julia Budd withdrew due to injury, prompting Kayla Harrison to be matched with new opponent, Kaitlyn Young.

ESPN was the first to report the news of the main event change. As of this writing, the nature of Budd’s injury is undisclosed.

Budd was a longtime member of Bellator MMA before making the leap over to PFL last year. She was the Bellator featherweight champion in her time there and successfully defended her title three times.

Budd made her PFL debut last year in Oct. 2021 with a unanimous decision win over Kaitlin Young, making her first foray at lightweight a success. She ran into some trouble in her first fight of the 2022 season, losing to Genah Fabian by decision after Fabian missed weight for the bout.

Budd’s replacement, Kaitlyn Young, has a pro MMA record of 12-12, last competing in a unanimous decision loss to Budd last year.

Harrison has yet to lose in her professional MMA career. She is seven years younger than Budd and has been running the PFL lightweight division since 2018. After testing free agency she decided to stick with PFL for the 2022 season and plans to take home the championship and the one million dollar prize at the end.

The updated PFL 6 full fight card is as follows:

Kayla Harrison vs. Kaitlyn Young
Rory MacDonald vs. Sadibou Sy
Ray Cooper III vs. Brett Cooper
Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Joao Zeferino
Jarrah Al-Silawi vs. Magomed Umalatov
Larissa Pacheco vs. Genah Fabian
Nikolay Aleksakhin vs. Gleison Tibau
Marina Mokhnatkina vs. Abigail Montes
Martina Jindrova vs. Zamzagul Fayzallanova
Olena Kolesnyk vs. Vanessa Melo

Continue Reading Updated PFL 6 Card: Budd Out, Kayla Harrison Gets New Opponent at MMA News.

PFL 5 Matchups: Bruno Cappelozza, Anthony Pettis Return

Former UFC and WEC champion Anthony Pettis and defending PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza will headline PFL 5 on June 24th. The PFL announced the full fight card in a press release for the upcoming June 24th event as fighters such as Cappelozza and Pettis push for a playoff spot. Heavyweights and featherweights will be…

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Former UFC and WEC champion Anthony Pettis and defending PFL heavyweight champion Bruno Cappelozza will headline PFL 5 on June 24th.

The PFL announced the full fight card in a press release for the upcoming June 24th event as fighters such as Cappelozza and Pettis push for a playoff spot.

Heavyweights and featherweights will be the main features on the card, except for Pettis’ lightweight fight against Stevie Ray. Cappelozza will face Matheus Scheffel, who fell to 2021 runner-up Ante Delija at PFL 2 back in April via a second-round knockout.

Cappelozza will get a second-straight main event slot after dismantling Stuart Austin in his 2022 PFL debut. He won the 2021 PFL heavyweight title over Delija via a unanimous decision.

Pettis makes his return to the PFL cage after a first-round submission win over Myles Price. He is looking to clinch a playoff spot after failing to reach the PFL postseason last year.

Cappelozza and Pettis’ matchups will be preceded by the return of 2021 featherweight finalist Chris Wade, along with former 145lb champion Lance Palmer. Brendan Loughnane also returns against former Dana White’s Contender Series standout Boston Salmon while Bubba Jenkins faces Saba Bolaghi.

The next three PFL cards, including the June 24th card, will take place in Atlanta, GA at the Overtime Elite Arena.

What are your thoughts on the PFL 5 card on June 24th? What are your predictions for Bruno Cappelozza and Anthony Pettis?

Continue Reading PFL 5 Matchups: Bruno Cappelozza, Anthony Pettis Return at MMA News.

Alex Rodriguez Invests, Joins PFL Board Of Directors

Baseball legend Alex Rodriguez has joined up with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). CNBC is reporting that Rodriguez, along with investment firm Waverley Capital, invested a total of $30 million in funding for the league. Rodriguez will have a seat at the PFL’s board of director’s table after the investment. The exact terms of the…

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Baseball legend Alex Rodriguez has joined up with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

CNBC is reporting that Rodriguez, along with investment firm Waverley Capital, invested a total of $30 million in funding for the league. Rodriguez will have a seat at the PFL’s board of director’s table after the investment.

The exact terms of the investment were not fully disclosed. Rodriguez has been very busy in terms of sporting investments. Back in April of 2021, he and Walmart e-commerce executive Marc Lore jointly purchased the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves for a sum of $1.5 billion.

This also isn’t Rodriguez’s first venture into the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Through his A-Rod Corp. firm, the baseball star has also invested in UFC-branded gyms. Spotrac reports that the 46-year-old Rodriguez earned more than $450 million throughout his 22-season MLB career.

As of this writing, PFL is valued at more than $500 million, which is up from $400 million in 2021. PFL is expected to use the funds from Rodriguz and Waverley for global expansion, as well as targeting free agents from the UFC, per PFL founder and Chairman Donn Davis.

“Alex is building a business career in sports that he wants to equal his baseball career,” Davis said. He went on to call Rodriguez “innovative in his approach to investing and building companies.”

PFL claims to have 600 million fans globally, and distribution in 160 different countries. This was a big point of interest for Rodriguez and his decision to invest in the promotion.

“The PFL continues to build and innovate for fans, media, and fighters, and there is massive demand in the marketplace,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

What do you make of Alex Rodriguez getting involved with the PFL? Let us know in the comments below!

Continue Reading Alex Rodriguez Invests, Joins PFL Board Of Directors at MMA News.

PFL 4 Results & Highlights: Martinez Tops Collard, Stephens Victorious

The next round of this year’s Professional Fighters League regular season took place tonight and MMA News will be right here to bring you the results and highlights! The headliner saw Clay Collard taking on Alexander Martinez. After the completion of the first go-around, the lightweights and light heavyweights returned for their sophomore outings of…

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The next round of this year’s Professional Fighters League regular season took place tonight and MMA News will be right here to bring you the results and highlights!

The headliner saw Clay Collard taking on Alexander Martinez.

After the completion of the first go-around, the lightweights and light heavyweights returned for their sophomore outings of 2022.

The card included a host of widely recognized names who looked to better their chances of playoff qualification.

In the main event spot, Clay Collard (21-9-1) headlined for the second time this season. Having spoiled the debut of former UFC champion Anthony Pettis in 2021, the 29-year-old played a similar role at PFL 1 last month, outpointing Jeremy Stephens in a three-round war that will be worthy of its inevitable place in the Fight of the Year conversation at the end of 2022.

Opposite Collard was Alexander Martinez (9-2-1). The Paraguayan opened his 2022 PFL account with a unanimous decision victory over Stevie Ray last time out.

The other PFL 1 headliner, former UFC veteran Stephens (28-20-1), opened the PFL 4 main card against Raush Manfio.

You can peep some of the highlights below!

Jeremy Stephens def. Myles Price

Alexander Martinez def. Clay Collard

PFL 4 Quick Results

Check out the quick results from PFL 4 below!

Preliminary Card – 7PM ET/4PM PT (ESPN+)

  • Josh Silveira def. Marthin Hamlet via TKO (strikes): R1, 3:27
  • Nate Jennerman def. Jake Childers via submission (rear-naked choke): R2, 2:00
  • Robert Wilkinson def. Viktor Pesta via TKO (punches): R1, 3:03
  • Delan Monte def. Emiliano Sordi via TKO (punches): R1, 1:32
  • Natan Schulte def. Marcin Held via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
  • Omari Akhmedov def. Teodoras Aukstuolis via submission (arm-triangle choke): R2, 2:50

Main Card – 10PM ET/7PM PT (ESPN & ESPN+)

  • Alexander Martinez def. Clay Collard via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Antonio Carlos Jr. def. Bruce Souto via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
  • Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Raush Manfio via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
  • Jeremy Stephens def. Myles Price via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Which fight are you most looking forward to at PFL 4?

Continue Reading PFL 4 Results & Highlights: Martinez Tops Collard, Stephens Victorious at MMA News.

Anthony Pettis Is Back To Enjoying Process Of Fighting Following PFL 3

Anthony Pettis had a smile on his face for the entirety of PFL 3 fight week in Arlington, TX. Through Media Day, to the weigh-ins, and more. After appearing to be in the best state mentally and emotionally in a long time, Pettis put it all together with a first-round submission of Myles Price on…

Continue Reading Anthony Pettis Is Back To Enjoying Process Of Fighting Following PFL 3 at MMA News.

Anthony Pettis had a smile on his face for the entirety of PFL 3 fight week in Arlington, TX. Through Media Day, to the weigh-ins, and more.

After appearing to be in the best state mentally and emotionally in a long time, Pettis put it all together with a first-round submission of Myles Price on Friday night.

Pettis secured his first submission win since 2018 when he finished Michael Chiesa at UFC 226. He’s looking for a season of vengeance in 2022 after falling short in his debut PFL season last year.

Just minutes after his first PFL victory, Pettis spoke about how he embraced the moment as he made his walk to the cage to begin his revenge tour.

“Seeing those fans out there, I almost wanted to cry,” Pettis told MMA News during his PFL post-fight press conference. “The emotion of having that energy again, I haven’t felt that in a long time. The emotion of the fans there. That’s what I feed off of, my name is ‘Showtime’ for a reason. Fans are there, the lights are on, I turn into ‘Showtime’.”

Pettis fell well short of expectations in 2021, suffering losses to Clay Collard and Raush Manfio. After being dubbed by many as the favorite to win the PFL lightweight title, he failed to make the playoffs and saw an early exit from the beginning of his PFL tenure.

Pettis signed with the PFL last year following title runs in the WEC and UFC. He was one of the biggest stars in the UFC during his lightweight title reign, which began with a win over Benson Henderson at UFC 164.

When Pettis is in the right mindset, he remains one of the most dangerous competitors in the sport. After earning six points and taking the early lead in the PFL lightweight standings, he’ll look to bring plenty of encores for ‘Showtime’ going forward.

What were your thoughts on Anthony Pettis’ performance at PFL 3?

Continue Reading Anthony Pettis Is Back To Enjoying Process Of Fighting Following PFL 3 at MMA News.

Kayla Harrison On Cris Cyborg Bout: The Ball’s In Her Court

Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison is focused on a third league title and not a potential crossover superfight against Cris Cyborg. Harrison earned a unanimous decision victory over Marina Mokhnatkina at PFL 3 in Arlington, TX on Friday night. Many fans and pundits expected her to make quick work of Mokhnatkina, who proved to be…

Continue Reading Kayla Harrison On Cris Cyborg Bout: The Ball’s In Her Court at MMA News.

Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison is focused on a third league title and not a potential crossover superfight against Cris Cyborg.

Harrison earned a unanimous decision victory over Marina Mokhnatkina at PFL 3 in Arlington, TX on Friday night. Many fans and pundits expected her to make quick work of Mokhnatkina, who proved to be a tougher test than most anticipated.

Harrison’s first win of 2022 was the culmination of weeks and months of speculation during her widely-publicized free agency. A major talking point was a potential fight against Cyborg in either Bellator or a cross-promotional bout.

During her PFL 3 post-fight press conference, Harrison put Cyborg in the rear-view mirror as she moves ahead in the 2022 season.

“On to the next fight,” Harrison told MMA News and other media outlets. “My focus isn’t on Cyborg right now. Obviously, a season with four fights in four and a half months is grueling, it’s a grind. I see a lot of areas where I need to keep getting better, so my focus is on me. Not on Cyborg. I’m tired of talking about her, tired of thinking about her. Now she’s going to be a free agent, the ball’s in her court. If she wants this fight, she knows where I’m at.”

Despite hinting that she feels a fight with Cyborg is inevitable, Harrison seems to be re-focused on the next chapter of her PFL tenure. She re-signed with the league earlier this year after the PFL matched an offer from Bellator.

Harrison had also been linked to a potential fight against Amanda Nunes before Nunes lost her UFC bantamweight title to Julianna Peña.

An interesting element of the discussion is the PFL’s new pay-per-view division that is scheduled to launch next year. Harrison will surely be a big factor in the division’s launch, and a fight with Cyborg could be in the works to kick things off.

Do you think Kayla Harrison could beat Cris Cyborg?

Continue Reading Kayla Harrison On Cris Cyborg Bout: The Ball’s In Her Court at MMA News.