2022 PFL Featherweight Champion Brendan Loughnane and Marlon Moraes headline PFL 1
2022 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Robert Wilkinson, Thiago Santos,
Bubba Jenkins and Chris Wade round out PFL 1 main card
PFL 1 live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ on Saturday, April 1 Live
From The Theater At Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
NEW YORK (February 16, 2023) - The Professional Fighters League, the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, today announced the card for its 2023 Regular Season kickoff, PFL 1, taking place on Saturday, April 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of Curio Collection by Hilton, live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. 2022 PFL Featherweight World Champion Brendan Loughnane headlines the card against Marlon Moraes, as he looks for his second PFL World Championship.
In the co-main event, 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight World Champion Robert Wilkinson returns to the PFL SmartCage against Thiago Santos. Santos will be making his highly anticipated PFL debut.
Further action will see 2021 PFL Featherweight Champion Movlid Khaybulaev take on Ryoji Kudo, as both fighters look to take their first step towards a berth in the 2023 PFL Playoffs.
In a contest between two Americans, 2022 PFL Featherweight Runner-Up, Bubba Jenkins matches up with Chris Wade, a former PFL Featherweight Finalist, for a rematch of the 2021 PFL Featherweight Semifinal.
PFL CEO Peter Murray: “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.”
“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,” said PFL President of Fighter Operations, Ray Sefo. “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.”
The 2023 PFL Season will begin on April 1 live on DAZN. The remaining PFL Regular Season events live from The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will take place on Friday, April 7 and April 14.
Full 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
● 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
PFL is the #1 fastest growing company in MMA and the #2 MMA company on a worldwide basis. PFL is the only in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year, making PFL a “win and advance” meritocracy like all other major sports. PFL fighter roster hails from over 20 countries and 25% of PFL fighters are independently ranked in the top 25 of their weight-class. The Company leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage powering real-time betting and next-gen viewing experience. PFL airs live in the U.S. on ESPN and ESPN+ and is broadcast and streamed to 140 countries with 25 leading international media partners.
About Professional Fighters League
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is the fastest growing and most innovative sports league. PFL is the #2 MMA company worldwide on all key metrics and the only with the sports-season format where individual fighters compete in Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship. The Company has four global live fight franchises: PFL League Season, PFL Challenger Series, PFL PPV Super Fights, and PFL Europe.
PFL airs in the U.S on ESPN and ESPN+ and is broadcast and streamed to 140 countries with 25 international leading media partners, including DAZN, DirectTV, Viaplay, Sky Sports, and MBC. PFL has dozens of major brand sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, GEICO, Bose, US Marine Corps, and Celsius Energy Drink.
PFL is backed by blue-chip investors including Ares, Luxor Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, Knighthead, Legends, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners.
MMA is the growth sport of this decade, with over 600 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demo of any sport, and true global revenue streams.
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