The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, continued the 2023 Regular Season with another action-packed night of fights live from OTE Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
The twelve fight card featured the Heavyweight and Women’s Featherweight divisions, a Heavyweight showcase bout, and the return of Biaggio Ali Walsh. The night culminated with eight fighters punching their tickets to the 2023 PFL Playoffs.
The night’s main event featured two heavy hitters, 2022 PFL Heavyweight Champion Ante Delija and Maurice Greene. Delija controlled the pace, grounding Greene over three rounds to earn the unanimous decision victory, 29-28 on all scorecards and three points in the standings.
In the co-main event 2022 PFL Women’s Lightweight Champion, Larissa Pacheco returned to dominant form against Amber Leibrock. From the opening bell, Pacheco rocked Leibrock with devastating punches en route to a 45-second TKO win to earn six points and clinch the top seed in the PFL Women’s Featherweight Playoffs.
2022 PFL Heavyweight Runner-Up Matheus Scheffel took on Renan Ferreira, a 2022 PFL Heavyweight semifinalist, with a trip to the PFL Playoffs on the line. Ferreria added another quick knockout win to his record, stopping Scheffel in just 50 seconds. The first-round KO gave Ferreira six points and clinched his second-straight PFL Playoffs appearance.
In an Amatuer Lightweight showcase bout, Biaggio Ali Walsh squared off with Travell Miller. Ali Walsh, the grandson of the legendary Muhammad Ali, continued to impress in his amateur campaign, knocking out Miller at the 1:57 mark of the opening round. The knockout is Ali Walsh’s fourth consecutive first round finish and fourth victory.
“The 2023 PFL Regular Season continued tonight on ESPN at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta with eight more athletes clinching PFL Playoff spots and continuing their million dollar dreams,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “PFL’s unique format delivers the best action to MMA fans across the world, with fighters entering the PFL SmartCage knowing what they must do to advance.”
“Tonight eight fighters across the Heavyweight and Women’s Featherweight divisions earned spots in the 2023 PFL Playoffs,” said PFL President of Fighter Operations, Ray Sefo. “Congratulations to all winners and we look forward to our final regular season card next Friday as our Lightweights and Welterweights take to the PFL SmartCage.”
Kicking off the ESPN card, Aspen Ladd took on Karolina Sobek in Women’s Featherweight action. Ladd came up big and scored a second-round stoppage, submitting Sobek with an armbar at the 4:57 mark. The win gave Ladd five points in the Women’s Featherweight standings.
Closing out the ESPN+ card was a Heavyweight affair between Denis Goltsov and Yorgan De Castro. Goltsov scored a knockout victory over De Castro just 18 seconds into the first round to earn six points in the Heavyweight standings. The first round stoppage sent Goltsov to the 2023 PFL Playoffs as the number one seed in the Heavyweight division.
Marina Mokhnatkina and Evelyn Martins were both in the top four of the Women’s Featherweight division ahead of their Women’s Featherweight matchup. Mokhnatkina outworked Martins, picking up the unanimous decision victory, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 to earn three points in the Women’s Featherweight standings and clinch a spot in the PFL Playoffs.
Two PFL Challenger Series alums, Danilo Marques and Marcelo Nunes, faced off in a Heavyweight clash. Nunes needed just 3:40 of the opening round to TKO Marques and earn six points in the Heavyweight standings. The stoppage win was enough for Nunes to earn a spot in the 2023 PFL Playoffs.
Julia Budd and Martina Jindrova continued the Women’s Featherweight action with Budd controlling the fight. Budd earned a unanimous decision win, 29-28 on all three of the judges' scorecards. The victory gave Budd three points and her second win in the PFL.
The first Women’s Featherweight action of the night saw Olena Kolesnyk square off with Yoko Higashi. Kolesnyk dominated Higashi en route to a unanimous decision win, 30-27 across the board to remain undefeated this season. With the win, Kolesnyk earned three points in the Women’s Featherweight standings and a spot in the PFL Playoffs.
To kick off Heavyweight division action, Patrick Brady and Jordan Heiderman made their PFL debut’s in an elimination bout. Heiderman turned in an impressive performance in the PFL SmartCage, with a TKO win at the 2:26 mark of the opening round. Heiderman remained undefeated in seven professional bouts, and earned six points in the Heavyweight standings.
In a Heavyweight showcase bout, Isaiah Pinson and Denzel Freeman clashed in a battle of unbeaten fighters. The exciting three-round opener saw Pinson edge Freeman by split decision, 29-28, 29-28, 28-29. The win pushes Pinson to 3-0 in his career.
The PFL returns to Overtime Elite Arena next Friday, June 23 as the League’s Lightweights and Welterweights make their last attempts to advance to the 2023 PFL Playoffs. 2022 Lightweight Champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier will return to the SmartCage with his eyes set on a second title. Meanwhile, 2022 Welterweight Champion Sadibou Sy looks to return to the Playoffs in the competitive Welterweight division.
All PFL 2023 Season events are live in primetime on ESPN, ESPN2/ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes, as well as on a wide and diverse group of premier global distribution partner platforms reaching 160 countries around the world.
