The 2023 PFL season is almost upon us, and the Professional Fighters League has officially confirmed its lineup for the first event of the new campaign.
PFL 2023: Round 1 gets underway at The Theater at Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas on Saturday, April 1, with one of the biggest stars of their 2022 season set to play a starring role.
England’s Brendan Loughnane captured the 2022 featherweight championship after a memorable final bout against Bubba Jenkins in New York. Now the Mancunian returns in a bid to become a two-time PFL champion, and he’ll kick off his season with a bout against former WSOF champion and ex-UFC bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes.
Loughnane vs. Moraes will form the main event, with 2022 light heavyweight champion, Australia’s Rob Wilkinson, set for action in the co-main event. He’ll take on former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos, who’ll be making his promotional debut.
A third champion, 2021 featherweight winner Movlid Khaybulaev, returns to PFL action on the card after missing the 2022 season through injury. He faces heavy-handed Japanese contender Ryoji Kudo, while 2021 featherweight runner-up Chris Wade takes on 2022 featherweight runner-up Bubba Jenkins. The main card will kick off with a battle between light heavyweights as Russia’s Omari Akhmedov booked to take on PFL newcomer and Bellator veteran Will Fleury.
“We look forward to delivering fans access to our unprecedented MMA season and follow the season-long journeys of world-class fighters competing for one step closer to the $1 million prize,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray, while PFL president of fighter operations Ray Sefo said he was looking forward to the biggest PFL season so far.
“The 2023 PFL regular season is shaping up for our best season yet, and I’m excited to watch our featherweight and light heavyweight divisions compete on April 1,” he said.
“From returning PFL world champions, to league debuts from MMA stars, fight fans across the world are in for a treat starting with PFL 1 in Las Vegas.”
PFL 2023: Round 1 – Confirmed fight card
MAIN CARD
- Brendan Loughnane vs. Marlon Moraes
- Robert Wilkinson vs. Thiago Santos
- Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Ryoji Kudo
- Chris Wade vs. Bubba Jenkins
- Omari Akhmedov vs. Will Fleury
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Krzystof Jotko vs. TBA
- Marthin Hamlet vs. Mohammed Fakhreddine
- Joshua Silveria vs. Sam Kei
- Alejandro Flores vs. Daniel Torres
- Jo Sungbin vs. TBA
- TBA Showcase vs. TBA Showcase