ATLANTA, GEORGIA – The Professional Fighters League, the fastest growing and most innovative sports league in the world, begins the second half of the 2023 PFL Regular Season tonight with PFL ATL, featuring bouts in the Featherweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. PFL ATL: Featherweight & Light Heavyweight action takes place live from Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
Featherweight bout: Brendan Loughnane (26-4) vs. Jesus Pinedo (20-6-1)
Headlining tonight’s card will be a Featherweight showdown with play-off implications, as 2022 PFL Featherweight Champion Brendan Loughnane of the United Kingdom faces Peru’s Jesus “El Mudo” Pinedo.
Coming off an inspiring title run in the 2022, Manchester’s Loughnane began the 2023 PFL Regular Season by stopping league newcomer Marlon “Magic” Moraes by second-round TKO at PFL Las Vegas and earning 5 points in the standings. Currently sitting at the top of the league’s 145-pound mountain, Loughnane is a win away from clinching another postseason berth.
Competing in his first PFL season, Pinedo is facing a must-win situation if he wants to keep his playoff hopes alive. “El Mudo” lost a close split decision to Gabriel Braga at PFL Las Vegas, and must leave the PFL SmartCage with his hand raised for a chance to remain in the postseason race.
Featherweight bout: Movlid Khaybulaev (20-0-1, 1 NC) vs. Tyler Diamond (12-2)
In the co-main event, 2021 PFL Featherweight Champion Movlid “The Killer” Khaybulaev meets Tyler Diamond.
After missing the 2022 PFL Season due to injury, Khaybulaev returned to the league in dominant fashion with a unanimous decision win over Ryoji Kudo at PFL Las Vegas. To automatically clinch a playoff spot, the undefeated Khaybulaev will need to score a stoppage victory in any round.
Making his 2023 PFL Season debut, Diamond will need a stoppage victory in order to remain in the playoff race. Diamond last competed in the 2021 PFL Regular Season.
Light Heavyweight bout: Marthin Hamlet (11-4) vs. Sam Kei (8-7)
Light Heavyweights look to enter the postseason, as Norway’s Marthin “The Dark Horse” Hamlet meets Tonga’s Sam “K9” Kei.
Finishing as the runner-up back in the 2021 PFL Season, Hamlet is on track for another postseason berth after an impressive first-round submission victory against Mohammed Fakhreddine at PFL Las Vegas, earning 6-points. Tonight, a win of any kind ensures Hamlet a spot in the Light Heavyweight playoffs.
Previously competing in the PFL as a Heavyweight, Kei made his Light Heavyweight debut this season, but unfortunately came up short, falling by submission to Joshua Silveira. Now, Kei needs to earn a victory in order to keep his 2023 PFL Season campaign going.
Featherweight bout: Bubba Jenkins (20-6) vs. Jo Sungbin (10-2)
Also on the card, 2022 Featherweight finalist Bubba “Bad Man” Jenkins of the United States meets “The Korean Falcon” Jo Sungbin of South Korea.
After coming within one win of becoming a PFL champion and taking home a million-dollar purse last year, Jenkins picked up a unanimous decision victory over perennial contender Chris Wade at PFL Las Vegas. With 3 points under his belt, Jenkins can punch his way to a third-consecutive postseason appearance with a stoppage victory tonight.
Returning to the PFL after competing in the 2021 Season, Jo makes his 2023 Regular Season debut and is looking to overcome the odds and clinch a spot in the playoffs. To keep himself in contention, Jo will need a stoppage win against one of the league’s best 145-pounders.
Light Heavyweight bout: Joshua Silveira (10-1) vs. Delan Monte (9-4)
Kicking off the main card will be Joshua Silveira of the United States going head-to-head against Brazil’s Delan Monte.
A veteran of the PFL Challenger Series, Silveira put on his most impressive performance in the PFL submitting Sam Kei in the first round at PFL Las Vegas to earn 6 points in the Light Heavyweight standings. A win of any kind tonight vaults Silveira back to the postseason after finishing as a semifinalist last year.
Also a semifinalist in 2022, Monte finds himself in a win-or-go-home situation after a unanimous decision loss to Ty Flores at PFL Las Vegas. Tonight, Monte needs a victory if he wants to return to the postseason.
COMPLETE PFL ATL: FW & LHW FIGHT CARD
ESPN Card:
Featherweight:
Brendan Loughnane vs. Jesus Pinedo
Featherweight:
Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Tyler Diamond
Light Heavyweight:
Marthin Hamlet vs. Sam Kei
Featherweight:
Bubba Jenkins vs. Jo Sungbin
Light Heavyweight:
Joshua Silveira vs. Delan Monte
ESPN+ Card:
Featherweight:
Marlon Moraes vs. Gabriel Braga
Catchweight:
Ty Flores vs. Dan Spohn
Featherweight:
Chris Wade vs. Ryoji Kudo
Light Heavyweight:
Impa Kasanganay vs. Tim Caron
Light Heavyweight:
Taylor Johnson vs. Andrew Sanchez
Women’s Featherweight Showcase:
Abigail Montes vs. Brandy Hester
Featherweight Showcase:
Alexei Pergande vs. Akeem Bashir
