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The main and co-main events for the Professional Fighters League's (PFL) first three regular-season fight shows in 2023 have been revealed.
All three fight nights will occur at The Theatre at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, with the PFL resuming on April 1 and the remaining two events being held on April 7 and April 14, respectively. PFL unveiled the main and co-main bouts for future events in addition to its first three fight cards.
Brendan Loughnane, the 2022 featherweight champion, will battle former UFC title contender Marlon Moraes in the main event of the opening card on April 1. The co-main event features former UFC fighter Thiago Santos, who also decided to sign with the PFL after becoming a free agent this past year, versus 2022 light heavyweight champion Rob Wilkinson.
In his second season with the PFL, Loughnane had a solid game that was finished with a convincing victory against Bubba Jenkins that earned him the featherweight belt plus $1 million. In opposition, Moraes lost by knockout to Sheymon Moraes in his PFL introduction in November, extending his current losing record to five bouts, counting four within UFC.
After suffering consecutive defeats in two encounters, Thiago Santos was given his departure from UFC. He lost to Jamahal Hill via Knockout last time out after losing a decision against Magomed Ankalaev. The Brazilian is 1-5 in his previous six, but the other three defeats were against Glover Teixeira, Aleksandar Rakic, and Jon Jones for the UFC championship.
Heavyweight champion Ante Delija and recently signed PFL signee Yorgan De Castro square off in the 2nd PFL main event. De Castro defeated Junior dos Santos in his recent fight while competing for Eagle FC. Larissa Pacheco, the women's lightweight champion, competes against featherweight Julia Budd in the co-main event; this marks the first time the PFL has introduced that weight division.
In November of last year, Pacheco stunned the odds by defeating two-time Olympic gold champion Kayla Harrison, handing her maiden MMA setback.
The 2022 PFL Men's Lightweight Champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier will welcome UFC star Shane Burgos to the league for his debut game on the third and final event released on Thursday, which airs on ESPN2 and takes scheduled for April 14. Following his agreement with the UFC expired this past year, Burgos enrolled with the PFL as a free agent. Burgos was supposed to make his appearance in November of the previous year, but he failed to do so due to an injury.
Sadibou Sy, the 2022 PFL welterweight champion, will compete against Jarrah Al-Silawi in the co-main event on April 14. Al-Silawi is making a comeback following a 2-1 record with the company last year.
The PFL is the only prominent MMA organization to use a regular season schedule that involves single-elimination playoffs and championship bouts. Furthermore addition, the PFL has a pay-per-view category that is newly launched and features professional boxer Jake Paul as well as its Challengers Series for up-and-coming talents.