Tag: PFL News

Coker On PFL/Harrison Making Cyborg Superfight: They Have My Number

Bellator CEO Scott Coker is open to dealing with the PFL to negotiate a super fight between Kayla Harrison and Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino. Harrison has teased the idea of a matchup against Cyborg for a few years, dating back to just before the 2021 PFL season. She considered signing with Bellator during her recent free…

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Bellator CEO Scott Coker is open to dealing with the PFL to negotiate a super fight between Kayla Harrison and Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino.

Harrison has teased the idea of a matchup against Cyborg for a few years, dating back to just before the 2021 PFL season. She considered signing with Bellator during her recent free agency before ultimately re-signing with the PFL.

Harrison and Cyborg had once been on complimentary terms, with Harrison going as far as naming Cyborg as the featherweight GOAT over her former teammate Amanda Nunes. But, things have gotten spicy on social media in recent months, with Cyborg going as far as blocking her on Twitter.

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Coker addressed the current state of affairs regarding a Harrison vs. Cyborg cross-promotional matchup happening.

“I’m not sure and, just to be honest, I have not heard from them at all. Nothing,” Coker said of the PFL and Harrison. “I know they have my number, so I don’t understand. They’re doing a lot of social [media] chattering and trying to create a story. But to me, Cris is the greatest female fighter of all-time, and she fights for Bellator. Kayla Harrison is a great, great fighter, she’s proven that. She could be one of the greats of all-time in the future as well, but she has to grow, and to fight somebody, and then keep growing. She’s going to have to put years into it.

“But to me, we’ll see, but I’m confused by what they say and what they want to do because I haven’t heard from anybody. If these social attacks are their way of doing business then I don’t do business like that. Pick up a phone, give me a call. That’s how we do business.”

The PFL plans to launch a ‘super-fight division’ as soon as next year, which could set the precedent for cross-promotion talks between the league and Bellator. Harrison will face Marina Mokhnatkina in her 2022 debut on May 6, while Cyborg will face Arlene Blencowe in her latest featherweight title defense this weekend at Bellator 279.

Coker is focused on Bellator’s return to Hawaii this weekend but seems open to making the Harrison/Cyborg fight happen if the PFL initiates contact with his promotion.

How do you think a Kayla Harrison vs. Cris Cyborg fight would play out?

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Watch: Simeon Powell Earns Wild Knee KO To Open 2022 PFL Season

It didn’t take long for PFL light heavyweight Simeon Powell to steal the show on the 2022 PFL 1 prelims. Powell, regarded as one of the top prospects out of the UK, earned a spot in the PFL after an impressive showing on the league’s Challenger Series show. He earned a unanimous decision win over…

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It didn’t take long for PFL light heavyweight Simeon Powell to steal the show on the 2022 PFL 1 prelims.

Powell, regarded as one of the top prospects out of the UK, earned a spot in the PFL after an impressive showing on the league’s Challenger Series show. He earned a unanimous decision win over Tobias Baker earlier this month.

But Powell didn’t want his first official fight in the PFL to end up in the judges’ hands. With 22 seconds left in the third and final round, he threw a left knee to Clinton Williams’ head that finished him instantly.

Watch Powell’s knockout below.

Powell is now undefeated with a 6-0 record that includes five finishes. His last knockout came via a flying knee against Matthew Nicholson at FightStar Championship 20.

The PFL’s 2022 debut card features a lightweight matchup between Clay Collard and former UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens.

What is your reaction to Simeon Powell’s knockout?

Continue Reading Watch: Simeon Powell Earns Wild Knee KO To Open 2022 PFL Season at MMA News.

Antônio Carlos Júnior Made More In One Year W/ PFL Than 13 UFC Fights

Former The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil winner Antônio Carlos Júnior says his PFL paycheck in 2021 out paid his 13 UFC fights combined. Carlos Júnior won it all in 2021, defeating Marthin Hamlet at the PFL Championships last October to earn the light heavyweight belt and $1 million. He earned impressive wins over former PFL champion…

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Former The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil winner Antônio Carlos Júnior says his PFL paycheck in 2021 out paid his 13 UFC fights combined.

Carlos Júnior won it all in 2021, defeating Marthin Hamlet at the PFL Championships last October to earn the light heavyweight belt and $1 million. He earned impressive wins over former PFL champion Emiliano Sordi and former UFC veteran Tom Lawlor en route to the championship.

Before he signed with the PFL, Carlos Júnior had an up-and-down tenure with the UFC at middleweight. He repeatedly had issues cutting down to 185 pounds and didn’t live up to the expectations bestowed upon him after winning TUF: Brazil.

During PFL 1 Media Day, Carlos Júnior was asked if he made more in one year with the PFL than he did during the entirety of his UFC tenure.

“Definitely,” Carlos Júnior told media members. “I don’t know how much exactly, but it was not quite a million. It was a big deal to be able to take care of my family and not have to worry about money.”

Carlos Júnior’s admission is particularly interesting given the recent debate regarding fighter pay in the UFC. It’s unclear how much Carlos Júnior made for each fight last year in the PFL, but he says his $1 million grand prize surpassed his combined UFC paychecks.

Carlos Júnior is far from the only current or former UFC fighter to comment on the UFC’s current pay model. UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and former light heavyweight champ Jon Jones have been critical about how the UFC compensates its roster.

Carlos Júnior will try to repeat as light heavyweight champion, beginning in the 2022 PFL season opener tonight against Delan Monte. He’ll look to keep his undefeated run in the league intact to begin the new season.

What are your thoughts on Antonio Carlos Júnior’s comments?

Continue Reading Antônio Carlos Júnior Made More In One Year W/ PFL Than 13 UFC Fights at MMA News.

2022 PFL 1 Highlights: Collard Defeats Stephens In Absolute War

The 2022 season of the Professional Fighters League kicked off live tonight on ESPN, and MMA News has you covered with the results and highlights! It was the light heavyweights and lightweights on display in tonight’s season premiere. In the main event, former UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens made his PFL debut against Clay Collard. In…

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The 2022 season of the Professional Fighters League kicked off live tonight on ESPN, and MMA News has you covered with the results and highlights!

It was the light heavyweights and lightweights on display in tonight’s season premiere. In the main event, former UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens made his PFL debut against Clay Collard. In last year’s season premiere, Collard spoiled the PFL debut of Anthony Pettis with a unanimous decision victory. Did he do the same to another former UFC standout tonight?

In the co-main event, last year’s lightweight season winner Raush Manfio (15-3) took on Don Madge (10-3).

The featured light heavyweight bout consisted of another ex-UFC veteran, Antonio Carlos Junior (13-5) taking on Delan Monte (8-1).

Keep reading for the answers to all these questions via the highlights from tonight’s main card followed by the quick results!

Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Natan Schulte

Antonio Carlos Junior def. Delan Monte

Raush Manfio def. Don Madge

Clay Collard def. Jeremy Stephens

2022 PFL 1 Main Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 9:00 PM ET)

  • Lightweight: Clay Collard def. Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision (30x27x3)
  • Lightweight: Raush Manfio def. Don Madge via KO (strikes) 
  • Light Heavyweight: Antonio Carlos Junior def. Delan Monte via submission (D’Arce choke)
  • Lightweight: Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Natan Schulte via split decision (29-28, 28-29-28, 29-28)

2022 PFL 1 Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 6:00 PM ET)

  • Light Heavyweight: Emiliano Sordi vs. Corey HendrCory Hendricks def. Emiliano Sordi via TKO (strikes): R2, 2:13
  • Lightweight: Alexander Martinez def. Stevie Ray via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Light Heavyweight: Marthin Hamlet def. Teodoras Aukstuolis via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
  • Light Heavyweight: Omari Akhmedov def. Viktor Pesta via KO (punch): R1, 1:25
  • Light Heavyweight: Rob Wilkinson def. Bruce Souto via TKO (strikes): R2, 0:46
  • Light Heavyweight Showcase: Simeon Powell def. Clinton Williams via KO (knee): R3, 4:38

To learn more about the Professional Fighters League and their unique regular-season scoring system, you can visit their About page here.

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Jeremy Stephens Roasts Anthony Pettis For “Sloppy” First PFL Season

Former UFC fighter and newly-signed PFL lightweight Jeremy Stephens learned a lot watching Anthony Pettis’ struggles last year in the league. Stephens is set to take on Clay Collard in the PFL 1 headliner this Wednesday night in Arlington, TX. After a long tenure with the UFC, Stephens is hoping for a fresh start in…

Continue Reading Jeremy Stephens Roasts Anthony Pettis For “Sloppy” First PFL Season at MMA News.

Former UFC fighter and newly-signed PFL lightweight Jeremy Stephens learned a lot watching Anthony Pettis’ struggles last year in the league.

Stephens is set to take on Clay Collard in the PFL 1 headliner this Wednesday night in Arlington, TX. After a long tenure with the UFC, Stephens is hoping for a fresh start in his MMA career with his move to the PFL.

One curious element of Stephens’ move to the PFL is a potential future rematch with Pettis at lightweight. Stephens fell to Pettis at UFC 136 via a split decision.

Pettis signed with the PFL last year but didn’t live up to expectations. He lost a unanimous decision to Collard in the 2021 opener followed by a controversial split decision loss to Raush Manfio.

Stephens has never been one to shy away from his true feelings about everything related to MMA. During PFL 1 Media Day, he didn’t pull punches when explaining what he feels went wrong for Pettis in 2021.

“For one, he was too fat to make 155,” Stephens told media members. “And to take from that experience with Clay Collard, he didn’t take it serious. They paid him a ton of money, and he didn’t earn it. He went in there and looked sloppy. He went in there and looked like he didn’t show up. Clay Collard went in there, beat his ass up. That’s facts.”

Stephens, like Pettis, is looking to get back in the win column after a tough losing streak to end his time in the UFC. His last win came against Josh Emmett in Feb. 2018.

Pettis will face up-and-coming prospect Myles Price in his season debut on May 6. If both he and Stephens can get back on track, another fight between them in the PFL seems inevitable.

Do you want to see a Jeremy Stephens vs. Anthony Pettis rematch this season?

Continue Reading Jeremy Stephens Roasts Anthony Pettis For “Sloppy” First PFL Season at MMA News.

Fabricio Werdum Opts Against Retirement, Eyes 2022 PFL Return

Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum has decided against calling it quits after reports of his absence from the 2022 PFL season. Werdum hasn’t fought since his controversial loss to Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut that was later overturned to a no-contest. This after Ferreira appeared to tap to a submission from Werdum, the…

Continue Reading Fabricio Werdum Opts Against Retirement, Eyes 2022 PFL Return at MMA News.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum has decided against calling it quits after reports of his absence from the 2022 PFL season.

Werdum hasn’t fought since his controversial loss to Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut that was later overturned to a no-contest. This after Ferreira appeared to tap to a submission from Werdum, the fight wasn’t stopped and Ferreira earned a knockout just seconds later.

Werdum signed with the PFL after the UFC opted not to re-sign him following a win over Alexander Gustafsson in July 2020. He was slated to face Brandon Sayles for his second PFL bout last June but was unable to get medical clearance.

During a recent interview with Ag.Fight, Werdum teased a potential retirement from MMA after a long career in the cage.

“It’s a bit complicated to say that to a fighter after 24 years of fighting,” Werdum said. “Even my wife keeps telling me to say I’m retired, that I’m done. I tell her I won’t say it. … But talking about MMA, I think it’s hard for me to come back because it’s more dedication, staying two, three months in the United States, and I’m living in Brazil for a year and three months now. If there’s a boxing match, I’d do it. … To sum it up: boxing, yes. MMA, no. It would need to be an out-of-this-world offer to make me stop doing what I’ve been doing right now.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

Now, as first reported by Sherdog, Werdum has decided that he would like to compete for the PFL in 2022 and has asked to make his return in June.

Werdum earned the UFC heavyweight title by submitting Cain Velasquez in June 2015. He would go on to lose the belt in his first title defense via a first-round knockout to Stipe Miocic.

MMA News will keep you posted on who Werdum is pitted against should he get his wish of returning to competition in June.

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