Professional Fighters League (PFL) News
Stevie Ray plans to be the first person to finish former training partner Olivier Aubin-Mercier to win the PFL lightweight title: "We have both submitted each other"
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2022
Stevie Ray is happy to shut up the doubters as he fights for the PFL lightweight title. Following Ray’s majority decision win over Michael Johnson, it was reported he retired from MMA. Yet, he then told BJPENN.com that he only retired because the UFC released him and went on to sign with the PFL. Ray then ended his two-and-a-half-year layoff but dropped his debut to Alex Martinez. After losing to Martinez, he submitted Anthony Pettis to earn a playoff spot and beat Pettis once again to advance to the finals.
Jeremy Stephens aiming for KO win over Natan Schulte at PFL 10 in honor Anthony Johnson: "The guy knocked people out so they don’t f*cking move"
Josh Evanoff - November 23, 2022
PFL lightweight contender Jeremy Stephens is itching for a knockout win this Friday. ‘Lil Heathen’ has been out of action since his victory over Myles Price in June. The back-and-forth win was a massive one for Stephens, as it snapped a seven-fight winless streak. He previously lost to names such as Yair Rodriguez, Calvin Kattar, Mateusz Gamrot, and Clay Collard.
Kayla Harrison admits she's annoyed by Larissa Pacheco trilogy fight being on PPV: "I would have liked to promote it better"
Josh Evanoff - November 23, 2022
PFL women’s lightweight contender Kayla Harrison is less than thrilled about her first pay-per-view main event. The Judoka has been out of action since her submission win over Martina Jindrová in August. That victory helped book Harrison to her third-straight PFL tournament final. The championship event is slated to take place this Friday.
Larissa Pacheco expects Kayla Harrison to return for 2023 season after she wins PFL title: "I'm going to win and she will not take that"
Cole Shelton - November 23, 2022
Larissa Pacheco believes she is at her best ahead of her PFL Championship fight against Kayla Harrison. Pacheco fought Harrison twice in 2019 in the regular season and for the inaugural PFL women’s lightweight title with Harrison winning both by decision. Since then, Pacheco believes she is a true lightweight now and has only improved since their first two fights.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier says PFL lightweight title fight against Stevie Ray may be his retirement bout: "I don't know if I have one more year in me"
Cole Shelton - November 22, 2022
Olivier Aubin-Mercier could be fighting for the final time on Friday. Aubin-Mercier is set to face Stevie Ray for the PFL lightweight title in the championship event from the Hulu Theater in New York City. To get to the final, the Canadian beat Natan Schulte and Alex Martinez in the regular season. In the semifinals, he defeated Martinez again to set up the showdown with Ray.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 102 with Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Brendan Loughnane, Stevie Ray, and Larissa Pacheco
Cole Shelton - November 22, 2022
In the 102nd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with host Cole Shelton is live ahead of the 2022 PFL Championship on Friday. We’re first joined by Oliveir-Aubin Mercier (1:57) ahead of his lightweight title fight. Next, PFL featherweight Brendan Loughnane (16:32) comes on. PFL lightweight Stevie Ray (27:07) then joins the show. PFL women’s lightweight Larissa Pacheco (41:22) closes out the program.
Kayla Harrison reveals PFL 2022 Championship Final against Larissa Pacheco will be her final tournament appearance: "It's f*cking hard"
Josh Evanoff - November 3, 2022
Former PFL tournament winner Kayla Harrison’s time at lightweight is likely coming to an end. The Judoka has been out of action since her submission win over Martina Jindrová in August. The victory moved Harrison to 15-0 in her professional career and also moved her into the 2022 PFL women’s lightweight tournament finals.
Aspen Ladd announces clash with Julia Budd for PFL debut on November 25th: "It's a fighter's dream to fight in Madison Square Garden"
Josh Evanoff - October 12, 2022
PFL featherweight Aspen Ladd is now set for her promotional debut. The 29-year-old has been out of action since her loss to Raquel Pennington in April. That bout wound up being the last in the promotion for Ladd. Following that, she had two failed bookings with former title challenger Sara McMann.
Thiago Santos cities pay dispute as reason for sudden UFC departure to PFL: "The purse is financially better for me"
Josh Evanoff - October 5, 2022
Former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos has explained his sudden departure from the promotion. ‘Marreta’ has been out of action since his bout main event with Jamahal Hill in August. In that showdown, the Brazilian suffered a fourth-round TKO defeat. For his efforts in the ‘Fight of the Night’ outing, Santos received a $50,000 bonus.
PFL announces full fight card for their pay-per-view event on November 25
Harry Kettle - September 29, 2022
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced the full card for their pay-per-view championship event on November 25. For a long time now, PFL has been teasing a big move to PPV in an attempt to further improve their standing as one of the rising mixed martial arts promotions out there. This November at Madison Square Garden, they’ll be putting on a fantastic showcase with six world title fights and a series of fun match-ups, with each of the main bouts coming with the allure of a potential $1 million in prize money.
Marlon Moraes vs. Shane Burgos booked for 2022 PFL Championship event
Cole Shelton - September 27, 2022
Marlon Moraes and Shane Burgos have their first PFL fight set and it will be against one another. According to ESPN – the broadcast partner of the PFL – Moraes officially signed with PFL and has agreed to face Burgos at the 2022 PFL Championship event. The card is set to take place at a location TBD on November 25. Both Moraes and Burgos just recently signed with the PFL after parting ways with the UFC and it will serve as Moraes’ first featherweight fight since 2011.
A.J. McKee hopeful for possible crossover bout with PFL's Anthony Pettis: "That would be kind of lit, low-key"
Josh Evanoff - September 16, 2022
Former Bellator featherweight champion A.J. McKee is down for some crossover fights. ‘Mercenary’ has been out of action since his rematch with Patricio Pitbull in April. Their first outing nearly a year prior saw McKee win the featherweight title by first-round submission. In the rematch, the Brazilian flipped the script and regained his championship by decision.
PFL signs Muhammad Ali’s grandson Biaggio Ali Walsh
Susan Cox - September 14, 2022
The PFL has signed Muhammad Ali’s grandson Biaggio Ali Walsh. The Professional Fighters League signed Walsh, 24, a former collegiate football player at the University of California, to an amateur contract to compete in its tournament finals event this November.
Former Jake Paul-foe Hasim Rahman Jr. teases move to PFL before end of the year: "I'm with it"
Josh Evanoff - August 31, 2022
Professional boxer Hasim Rahman Jr. has his eyes set on the PFL cage. ‘Gold Blooded’ was set to face Jake Paul on Showtime pay-per-view earlier this month. However, the Madison Square Garden headliner was canceled weeks before the event. Paul stated that Rahman Jr. had no intentions of making weight for their 205-pound fight, so he pulled the plug.
Kayla Harrison reacts to PFL offering Cris Cyborg millions for clash: "PFL is here to make some big moves"
Josh Evanoff - August 18, 2022
PFL women’s lightweight Kayla Harrison wasn’t surprised to see Cris Cyborg get a big offer from the promotion. The Judoka is set to face Martina Jindrová later this month at PFL 9. The bout is the semifinals of the 2022 PFL women’s lightweight tournament. If Harrison wins, she’ll move on to the chance to become a three-time tournament winner for the promotion.
Rory MacDonald admits retirement was a long time coming: "It's not who I am anymore"
Josh Evanoff - August 17, 2022
PFL welterweight Rory MacDonald has admitted that his retirement has been brewing for a while. ‘Red King’ is fresh off his knockout loss to Dilano Taylor at PFL 8 last weekend. The defeat was MacDonald’s fourth in his last five contests. Following the defeat, the 33-year-old decided to hang up the gloves and call it a career.
Pros react after Rory MacDonald suffers TKO loss to Dilano Taylor at PFL 8: "Prob time for him to find another profession"
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2022
Former UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald collided with Dilano Taylor in the headliner of today’s PFL Playoffs 2 event in Wales. Taylor (10-2 MMA) had stepped up on short notice for the welterweight semi-final bout, this after MacDonald’s original opponent Magomed Umalatov was forced to withdraw from the event due to Visa issues.
PFL Playoffs 2 Results: Dilano Taylor stops Rory MacDonald in Round 1 (Video)
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2022
Former UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald squared off with Dilano Taylor in the headliner of today’s PFL Playoffs 2 event in Wales. Taylor (10-2 MMA) stepped in on short notice for the semi-final contest, this after MacDonald’s original opponent Magomed Umalatov was forced to withdraw from the event due to Visa issues.