The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league in the world, concluded their 2023 Regular Season in spectacular fashion with a night of action live from OTE Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The twelve fight card featured the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions, along with two Featherweight showcase bouts, culminating with the eight fighters advancing to the 2023 PFL Playoffs.

In front of a sellout crowd, the night’s main event featured 2022 PFL Lightweight World Champion, “The Canadian Gangster” Olivier Aubin-Mercier, clinched a 2023 PFL Lightweight Playoff berth knocking out Anthony Romero at 28 seconds of the third round. Aubin-Mercier remains undefeated in the PFL, 8-0, and will be looking for his second PFL World Championship and million dollar payday.

In the co-main event, 2022 Welterweight Champion, Sadibou Sy advanced to the PFL Playoffs for a fifth consecutive season with a highlight reel wheel kick knockout of Shane Mitchell at 1:35 of round three. The knockout kick was clocked by the PFL SmartCage at 40 mph.

Magomed Magomedkerimov put on another dominant performance, knocking out David Zawada at the 3:54 mark of the opening round. Magomedkerimov’s first round stoppage win clinches the top seed in the 2023 PFL Playoffs Welterweight division and his career record now stands at 32-6.

“The 2023 PFL Regular Season saw non-stop action and remarkable performances across six weight classes that can only come in the PFL’s unique season format,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Congratulations to the great athletes that have earned places in the 2023 PFL Playoffs. The 2023 PFL Playoffs begin in San Antonio with our Featherweight and Light Heavyweight competitors putting it all on the line for a chance to compete for $1million at the 2023 PFL World Championship.”

“The PFL athletes delivered yet another entertaining night of action as the final playoff berths were secured,” said PFL President of Fighter Operations, Ray Sefo. “Congratulations to all of our athletes on a fantastic PFL Regular Season.”

Magomed Umalatov remains undefeated, 14-0, in his career with a dominant unanimous decision win (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) over the previously-unbeaten Nayib Lopez. With the win, Umalatov clinches a playoff spot in the PFL Welterweight division. 

Shane Burgos picked up the first win of his PFL career, shutting out Yamato Nishikawa to win by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26). The commanding win earned Burgos three points in the Lightweight standings. Burgos now has a career record of 16-4.

Clay Collard kicked off the ESPN card in spectacular fashion, stopping 2022 PFL Lightweight runner-up Stevie Ray at 1:04 of the second round. The stoppage win puts Collard in the PFL Playoffs for the second time in his career. 

Carlos Leal clinched his second consecutive PFL Playoffs berth with a knock out of 2022 PFL Welterweight runner-up Dilano Taylor at the 1:13 mark of the second round. Leal, who was a semifinalist last season, improved to 19-4 and earned his ninth career knockout.

In a battle of former PFL Lightweight champions, Natan Schulte outworked Raush Manfio earning a unanimous decision win (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) and clinching a spot in the 2023 PFL Playoffs. Schulte, a two-time champion, makes his return to the PFL postseason and is aiming for a third world championship.  

Kicking off action in the Lightweight division, Bruno Miranda earned a hard-fought split decision win (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) over two-time PFL Lightweight Semifinalist Alexander Martinez. The decision gave Miranda, a PFL Challenger Series contract winner, three points and his seventh-straight win, improving his record to 16-3.

The first Welterweight fight of the night saw Solomon Renfro pick up a win in his PFL SmartCage debut, knocking out Jarrah Al Silawi at 1:44 of the second round and earning five points in the Welterweight standings. The win improves Renfro’s career record to 11-3, his fourth victory by knockout. 

In a Featherweight showcase bout, Brahyan Zurcher, a 2023 PFL Challenger Series contract winner, handed Mike Bardsley his first career loss. Zurcher’s victory came by way of TKO 4:45 into round two. The victory was Zurcher’s first via knockout as he remains undefeated with six wins.

Abdullah “The Ripper” Al-Qahtani, the first fighter to represent Saudi Arabia in the PFL, submitted Lamar Brown at 1:35 of the first round via rear naked choke in a Featherweight showcase bout. The victory is the 25 year old Al-Qahtani’s sixth as a professional.

The PFL will return to action on Friday, August 4 live from San Antonio at Boeing Center at Tech Port, as the 2023 PFL Playoffs commence with the Featherweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. PFL will return to the historic Theater at Madison Square Garden for the final two playoff events on Friday August 18 and Wednesday August 23. The PFL is more than just a fight, it’s a season, and as the 2023 Regular Season concludes, 24 fighters have advanced to another win-or-go-home bout in pursuit of the $1 million purse. 2022 PFL Featherweight Runner-Up Bubba Jenkins looks to return to the Championship stage, while Josh Silveira has an opportunity to continue his dominating ways en route for his $1 million dollar pursuit in the Light Heavyweight 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.