Professional Fighters League (PFL) News
Ray Cooper III blasts MMA judges ahead of PFL semifinals: "They don’t know what the hell they’re doing"
Adam D Martin - July 29, 2021
Welterweight contender Ray Cooper III blasted MMA judges ahead of the PFL semifinals, saying “they don’t know what the hell they’re doing.” The winner of the $1 million grand prize in the PFL season two welterweight tournament, Cooper takes on Rory MacDonald in the semifinals of the promotion’s third season in August. The only reason the bracket is the way it is is that MacDonald lost a controversial split decision to Gleison Tibau in his second regular-season fight. It was an extremely controversial call by the judges, and MacDonald has publicly blasted the judges himself. Now, his opponent Cooper is coming to his defense as well following the bad decision.
PFL signs Marina Mokhnatkina and Martina Jindrova ahead of 2022 season
Drake Riggs - July 28, 2021
The PFL has added to their 155-pound weight class as they begin looking ahead to the 2022 season. Made official on Wednesday, the promotion announced that they have signed the likes of former 145-pound featherweight competitors Marina Mokhnatkina and Martina Jindrova.
Rory MacDonald vs. Ray Cooper III among newly-announced PFL playoff semifinal matchups
Adam D Martin - July 21, 2021
A welterweight matchup pitting Rory MacDonald vs. Ray Cooper III is among the newly-announced PFL season three playoff semifinal matchups. PFL announced the complete list of its season three semifinal bouts this week on its social media, with three events scheduled to take place on August 13, August 19, and August 27.
Anthony Pettis shares video of 2008 win where he KO’d his opponent after having his shoulder separated
Harry Kettle - July 13, 2021
Anthony Pettis has released a great throwback to the start of his mixed martial journey as his PFL run continues. While Pettis may no longer be known as a world class, elite lightweight in the eyes of many fans, the former UFC 155-pound champion will forever be remembered as one of the best of his generation – when he was in his prime, that is.
Pros react after Anthony Pettis suffers split decision loss to Raush Manfio at PFL 6
Chris Taylor - June 25, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis needed to finish Raush Manfio this evening at PFL 6 if he hoped to advance to the 155lbs playoffs. Pettis (24-12 MMA) had made his PFL debut this past April where he was upset by Clay Collard via unanimous decision. The loss, which snapped a two-fight winning streak for ‘Showtime‘, had forced Anthony into a must-win and must-finish situation this evening in Atlantic City.
PFL 6 Results: Raush Manfio defeats Anthony Pettis (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - June 25, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will need to finish Raush Manfio this evening at PFL 6 if he hopes to advance to the 155lbs playoffs. Pettis (24-11 MMA) made his PFL debut this past April where he was upset by Clay Collard via unanimous decision. The loss, which snapped a two-fight winning streak for ‘Showtime‘, has forced Anthony into a must-win and must-finish situation this evening in Atlantic City.
Claressa Shields returns to the PFL cage in August
Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021
Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields returns to the PFL cage in August when she competes for the second time in mixed martial arts. Shields made her MMA debut earlier this month when she finished Brittany Elkin via third-round TKO for a successful first foray into mixed martial arts. It wasn’t an easy fight for Shields, who struggled with her takedown defense for the first two rounds of the fight as Elkin dominated her on the mat. However, Shields was able to conserve her gas tank, and when Elkin started to get tired in the third round of the fight, Shields started to unload massive ground and pound on her opponent and pick up the first win of her MMA career.
Gleison Tibau vows to knock Rory MacDonald out in future PFL rematch: "He already wanted the fight to be over"
Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021
Veteran Gleison Tibau vowed to knock Rory MacDonald out in a future PFL rematch, saying that “he already wanted the fight to be over.” Tibau won a highly controversial split decision over MacDonald in the main event of PFL 5. Most fans and media believed that MacDonald did enough to win the decision, but two of the three judges gave the split nod to Tibau instead. Some fans have suggested it’s one of the worst decisions they have ever seen, but if you ask Tibau, he’s confident he won.
Rory MacDonald reacts following “clear robbery” in PFL 5 fight with Gleison Tibau: “I think that this should be looked into”
Adam D Martin - June 18, 2021
Rory MacDonald reacted following the “clear robbery” in his PFL 5 fight with Gleison Tibau, saying “I think that this should be looked into.” MacDonald was competing in PFL for the second time following a submission win over Curtis Millender in his promotional debut in April. Against Tibau, MacDonald used a game plan of sticking and moving on the outside to outpoint Tibau and take home a decision. He also used his grappling in the first round effectively. However, when the judges’ scorecards were read after the three rounds, it was Tibau winning the split decision, not MacDonald.
Photo | Check out the scorecards from Rory MacDonald vs Gleison Tibau
Harry Kettle - June 18, 2021
The scorecards from the three judges scoring Rory MacDonald vs Gleison Tibau last night have been released to the public. PFL 5 is officially in the books and while we may know the four welterweight contenders who will progress through to the playoffs, the process of learning who would go through certainly didn’t come easily.
Pros react after Gleison Tibau upsets Rory MacDonald at PFL 5
Harry Kettle - June 18, 2021
Multiple MMA fighters reacted on social media after Gleison Tibau pulled off an upset win over Rory MacDonald at PFL 5 last night. The two men battled it out as part of the final push towards the welterweight playoffs in the PFL. The overwhelming expectation heading into the bout was that MacDonald would blow the doors off of Tibau and while it wasn’t quite so convincing, many did believe he was the one who should have his hand raised.
Kayla Harrison talks Claressa Shields MMA debut, 'this is not boxing'
Drake Riggs - June 17, 2021
Claressa Shields is officially an MMA fighter following a successful PFL 4 debut against Brittney Elkin this past Thursday. Inevitably, fans are expecting a clash of Olympic gold medals pitting Shields against the 9-0 Kayla Harrison. Currently looking to claim yet another PFL crown through the lightweight tournament, Harrison recently shared her thoughts on the boxing legend’s victory.
Claressa Shields says women's MMA is marketed better than in boxing, 'It's fair'
Drake Riggs - June 14, 2021
Claressa Shields made a successful MMA debut this past Thursday night at PFL 4. The 26-year old Flint, Michigan native is 11-0 as a professional boxer with two Olympic gold medals to her name. Shields now comfortably gets ready to build some momentum in her new sport.
PFL 4 Results: Claressa Shields earns a third-round TKO victory in her MMA debut (Video)
Harry Kettle - June 11, 2021
Boxing star Claressa Shields made a successful debut in mixed martial arts with a TKO win at PFL 4 last night. There was a whole lot of speculation heading into last night’s event with regards to how Shields would look at this level. Some felt as if she’d blow through Brittney Elkin, who was 3-6 coming into the fight, but others recognised that having nine fights more than your opponent in MMA is always going to serve as a helping hand – even with a 3-6 record.
Anthony Pettis pulled from PFL 4 due to illness, gets new opponent for PFL 6
Adam D Martin - June 9, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis has been pulled from Thursday’s PFL 4 card due to illness, and will now fight at PFL 6 instead. Pettis was set to fight Alex Martinez in his second regular-season fight for PFL after losing a unanimous decision to Clay Collard in his promotional debut in April. However, AG Fight is now reporting that Pettis is out of the fight due to illness. Instead, defending PFL lightweight champion Natan Schulte will now fight Pettis’ opponent Martinez on Thursday night, and Pettis will return on June 25 when he takes on Schulte’s opponent Raush Manfio.
Claressa Shields calls teammate Holly Holm the "cheat code" ahead of PFL and MMA debut
Adam D Martin - June 7, 2021
Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields called teammate Holly Holm the “cheat code” ahead of her upcoming PFL and mixed martial arts debut. Shields makes her official professional MMA debut this Thursday at PFL 4 when she takes on Brittany Elkin in a non-tournament women’s lightweight bout. Shields is one of the best women’s boxers on the planet but she has said for a few years now that MMA was her goal, and she will finally make her debut in mixed martial arts later this week against Elkin.
Renan Ferreira calls PFL matchmaking "very shady," claims promotion favors Fabricio Werdum
Adam Martin - June 1, 2021
Heavyweight Renan Ferreira called the matchmaking in PFL “very shady” and claims the promotion favors rival Fabricio Werdum. Ferreira picked up the biggest win of his career when he finished Werdum with strikes in a big upset at PFL 3 last month, but the result of the contest was overturned to a No Contest. The New Jersey Athletic Control Board ruled that Ferreira had tapped out to a submission attempt from Werdum moments before the finish happened. Ferreira remains adamant that he never tapped, but video evidence appeared to be inconclusive either way. Regardless, the result of the fight was overturned, which means Ferreira gets one point instead of six in the PFL heavyweight bracket. Werdum also gets one point due to the overturned result.
Rory MacDonald vs. Gleison Tibau headlines PFL 5
Adam D Martin - May 19, 2021
PFL welterweight Rory MacDonald fights fellow UFC veteran Gleison Tibau in his next regular-season match in the Professional Fighters League. The PFL made the MacDonald vs. Tibau fight announcement official on Wednesday, along with announcing the rest of the PFL 5 card. The event takes place on Thursday, June 17 at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Check out the full card below.