The 2023 Professional Fighters League (PFL) finals are right here, and 6 fighters may have their lives modified ceaselessly once they win a championship belt and a $1 million payday. The 2023 PFL Championship goes down this Black Friday (Nov. 24, 2023) in Washington D.C. from inside The Anthem Area.
Earlier than the explosive championship night time takes place, be taught a little bit bit in regards to the fighters that might be competing …
Light-weight Finals (Important occasion):
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (20-5) is the defending Light-weight champion and, after all, a former Final Combating Championship (UFC) fighter. Aubin-Mercier received the title final yr by flat-lining Stevie Ray (watch highlights). He defeated former UFC fighter Shane Burgos, in addition to Anthony Romero and Bruno Miranda this season.
Random reality: “OAM” tapped out No. 15-seeded UFC contender, Drew Dober, in 2016 (watch highlights).
Clay Collard (24-10) lastly makes the finals after getting so shut the previous two years. Collard is must-watch tv and has been his whole profession — he at all times brings it. This season, he defeated Yamato Nishikawa, Stevie Ray and Burgos (in a “Fight of the Year” contender).
Random reality: Collard had an absolute banger with Max Holloway in 2014.
#OTD in 2014. 21-year-old “Cassius” Clay Collard steps in late discover to face Max Holloway (22 y/o) at UFC FN 49 and places on a scrap.
9 years later they each headline their respective occasions the identical week. Collard tonight at PFL and Holloway this Saturday in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/PxTFzASihi
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) August 23, 2023
Heavyweight Finals (Co-Important Occasion)
Renan Ferreira (11-3) was knocked out of the playoffs final yr by the eventual champion, Ante Deja, however has rebounded. The 6’8” Heavyweight misplaced his first combat of the season to Rizvan Kuniev, however the determination was overturned to a no-contest when Kuniev popped for anabolic steroids. Ferreira received his subsequent two fights through first-round knockout to earn a last spot.
Random reality: Ferreira headlined LFA 74 in opposition to Jared Vanderaa.
Denis Goltsov (32-7) has had excessive expectations of him since his debut in 2019 however has come up brief or had dangerous luck – like final yr when visa points triggered him to withdraw from the finals. This yr, he has been on level and violent, knocking out all of his opponents within the first spherical.
Random reality: He began his skilled profession 3-3
Ladies’s Featherweight Finals
Larissa Pachecho (22-4) was the 2022 Light-weight champion when she slayed Kayla Harrison through unanimous determination in Nov. 2022 (watch highlights). This yr, the Brazilian dropped right down to Featherweight and has been sensational. She kicked off the yr by defeating former Bellator champion, Julia Budd, through unanimous determination after which completed her final two fights through first spherical knockout.
Random reality: Pacheco knocked out Irene Aldana on the Brazilian regional scene in 2013.
Marina Mokhnatkina (11-3) has received 5 straight fights since shedding to Harrison at PFL 3 in 2022. The Russian completed two of her three fights this season, one through technical knockout and the opposite by first spherical submission.
Random reality: Mokhnatkina competed in Bellator twice
Welterweight Finals
Sadibou Sy (16-6-2) is the defending Welterweight champion. Whereas his championship combat in opposition to Dilano Taylor within the 2022 Finals was God-awful, Sy has been very thrilling this season. He knocked out Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi to kickoff his season after which had a “Knockout of the Year” contender in opposition to Shane Mitchell, wherein he slept Mitchell with a spinning wheel kick within the third spherical.
Random reality: His final loss was in opposition to his upcoming opponent, Magomed Magomedkerimov.
Magomed Magomedkerimov (33-6) received PFL’s Welterweight title in 2018 in opposition to Ray Cooper and has been chasing it ever since. He received his first two fights this season through first spherical knockouts after which went the space in opposition to Solomon Renfro. He holds a win over Sy, defeating him in 2021.
Random reality: Magomedkerimov holds two unanimous determination wins over Chris Curtis
Gentle Heavyweight Finals
Josh Silveira (12-1) misplaced within the 2022 semi-finals in opposition to teammate, Omari Akhmedov, however has redeemed himself by occurring a ending streak. The 30-year-old completed all three of his opponents this season within the first spherical — one submission, one technical knockout and one harm stoppage. He’ll defend American Prime Crew as he goes in opposition to a fighter from cross-town rival, Kill Cliff FC.
Random reality: He’s the son of iconic coach, Conan Silveira
Impa Kasangany (14-3) competed 4 instances in 2023, kicking it off on PFL’s Challenger Sequence, successful within the first spherical through technical knockout. The previous UFC fighter has shined inside PFL’s good cage, stopping Tim Caron within the second spherical submission after which knocking out 2021 finalist, Marthin Hamlet.
Random reality: Kasangany fought as little as Welterweight in UFC
Featherweight Finals
Jesus Pinedo (22-6-1) has turned heads in his final two fights by turning PFL upside-down. He misplaced his first combat this season in opposition to his upcoming opponent, Gabriel Braga, however then knocked out 2022 Featherweight champion, Brendan Loughnane, as a +400 underdog (watch highlights). In his most up-to-date combat, he once more upset the chances by knocking out Bubba Jenkins within the second spherical. In brief, Pinedo has been the story of the season to date.
Random reality: Pinedo went 1-1 within the UFC after which obtained reduce.
Gabriel Braga (12-0) might be competing for the fifth time this yr when he enters PFL’s good cage this Friday. Braga stepped up on brief discover to combat Pinedo to kickoff the season and received through cut up determination. His greatest win got here in opposition to former UFC title challenger, Marlon Moraes, stopping him within the first spherical with strikes. He clinched his last spot by defeating Chris Wade through cut up determination.
Random reality: Braga competed on week six of PFL’s Challenger Sequence, however didn’t win the contract
To take a look at the newest and biggest 2023 PFL Championship information and notes be sure you hit up our complete occasion archive here.
